Walter knew that the only reason he was still alive was because Lance didn't care.
Because he was certain that Vick had reported to Hamlet, and he intentionally used this to express his dissatisfaction, showing a desire to trade Ovando for his family's return.
As mentioned earlier, before the Lord returns, no one else can make a decision; they can only suppress the matter, or else his wife would have already come to deliver a message.
Once his wife comes to deliver a message, it means the Lord definitely knows about this issue. Given that he knows Walter is gathering soldiers yet only sends a squad of cavalry and doesn't even write a letter, or deliver a single word, the intention is obvious.
It's a deliberate disregard, as if one wouldn't pay attention to an ant's movement in a corner, not even considering it a demonstration but rather a joke.
What more can be said, just accept fate.
