"Good day, Uncles." Kayal bowed with a smile.
"Hahaha, Andre, is this your son? He's not strong at all!" The Grand Duke of the North, a man with the largest physique, laughed heartily, his voice like a booming bell. He was Westbury Allart, the Grand Duke guarding the northern frontier of Scotland. His build was the most imposing among the four Grand Dukes; in fact, his mount was a demonic rhinoceros. He was the strongest of the four Grand Dukes.
Facing his mockery, Kayal gave a wry smile: "Uncle Albert, please don't tease me." This Uncle Albert's stronghold is very famous in modern times: Manchester!
Many people don't know this place, but if you mention a representative team: Manchester United, the Red Devils of Manchester United, many would suddenly understand.
Currently, Manchester is merely a desolate and harsh land. There are no trains, no railway tracks. All that exists are countless invasions from Scotland. Due to the Grand Duke of the North's territory having a natural harbor, even invaders from Ireland often row small wooden boats to invade the Northern Territory.
Unlike other territories where a lord's cities and towns are scattered across the land, only the Northern Territory uses an ice-sealed fortress structure to enclose all its citizens. As a territory where everyone is a soldier and military preparedness is developed, the entire five hundred thousand citizens have taken the concept of'scorched earth' to the extreme. Like a vast wilderness, despite having snow-capped mountains and grasslands, nothing remains!
Two thousand knights only need to patrol the national border and coastline, killing any enemy they encounter! Killing all enemies! The twenty thousand acres outside the Northern Territory's city are all excellent farmland, just like Grand Duke Andre of the East. Grand Duke Andre is responsible for external and Roman invaders. These two are the most steadfast pillars of Camelot's outer defenses.
The Grand Duke of the South and the Grand Duke of the West, on the other hand, are absolute weapons against internal rebellions. Their two thousand light cavalry can travel north or south to any location in a single day, crushing any rebels.
It can be said that these four individuals are the nation's sharpest weapons and its pillars. If it weren't for the fact that the others didn't have a good son with Kayal's business acumen, they wouldn't have developed to two thousand cavalry regiments over so many years.
But it's enough! If the combined strength of these four Grand Dukes supports His Majesty the King... no one can stop them!
If following the original history... perhaps one or several of these four Grand Dukes had problems!
Kayal smiled as he greeted each of them, one by one, with his father, while pondering in his heart. King Arthur, from the final perspective, had no moral failings. Although some of his actions were a bit naive, they were merely limited by the thinking of the era. As for why it led to the discord between the king and his ministers... Kayal lacked clues and couldn't guess.
"I say, Andre, does His Majesty the King really have a bastard son?" Grand Duke Robert of the South asked in a deep voice. Generally, tall people have low voices, with only a few exceptions being particularly loud and booming.
"Without a doubt. You know my son is a disciple of that woman, Merlin, right? Although I don't particularly like her, I do admire her cunning strategies." Grand Duke Andre, uncharacteristically, started swearing.
"Hmph, that woman carries an unpleasant aura. Even your son has become weak because of her." Grand Duke Bill of the West drank his ale, his tone sharp. Although wine tasted better, he hated anything weak and was very cutting with his words. Such a person would undoubtedly be given a name in later generations: 'tsundere', translated in Chinese as 'Tsundere' (proud and aloof, but soft inside).
"I apologize, my father's words were a bit excessive." A rather handsome young man scratched his head and offered a wry apology to Kayal.
"No, to be honest, I'm actually more relieved and happy that Uncle can speak like this in front of us." Kayal chuckled, which surprised the other three even more.
Kayal's words were clear: a Grand Duke who could speak like this in front of him would not stab him in the back. And someone who could speak directly to his father was clearly close to his father and would not harm him.
As for the verbal insult, Kayal easily brushed it aside.
Such profound wisdom at such a young age... This young sage, it's said he received this title at seven years old? A civilian title, unlike a knight's, which can increase intelligence and ability... has this seemingly refined fellow already become something akin to a monster?
Kayal smiled: "I don't really care about the bastard son issue, but I think we must keep those noble lords in check." Kayal gently stroked his teacup: "Those lords are all incredibly arrogant. Tonight, many will surely be stirring... If, on the day we draw swords, some fools think that strength in numbers can defeat us and cause trouble, His Majesty the King would probably become a laughingstock."
Kayal smiled, subtly but firmly steering the conversation: "Father, shouldn't you all warn them? Do you know how to write the two words 'royal honor'?"
Grand Duke West of the North grinned, his old face, like that of a humpback whale, filled with bloodlust and ferocity: "That's right, the two words 'honor' aren't spoken with words... Let's teach them a lesson with their blood."
"Heh heh... Uncle, there's no need to be nervous about those mere clowns... I'm more concerned about Her Majesty Queen Igraine and Princess Morgan..." Kayal continued to smile, but his eyes narrowed. "According to reliable intelligence, Princess Morgan was taught magic by my teacher, Merlin... for a full decade, but my teacher never told me anything..." Strange light flickered in Kayal's narrowed eyes: "What exactly are those women planning... it truly makes me uneasy."
"I've long said that woman is no good, and even that little girl makes me uncomfortable. Their schemes are too deep!" Grand Duke Robert of the South said, displeased.
"Just kill them." Grand Duke Bill of the West's eyes flickered with coldness, and a murderous aura involuntarily emanated from him: "Wasn't it that woman who had us transferred away from His Majesty's side ten years ago! Although the plan was good, I don't believe His Majesty's sudden transformation from a powerful knight to a body worse than Claudius's skin happened without that woman's interference."
"Bill, relax." Andre's expression was also very serious: "Regardless, they are the Princess and Her Majesty the Queen! We cannot touch them without concrete evidence!"
"Hmph!!" With a roar, Grand Duke West of the North punched the wooden tea table into splinters: "This is truly frustrating!!!"