Negotiation

The cavalry soon reached the gate and immediately went inside. After securing the prince, Riz ordered them to retreat in a phased manner. Ryntum's soldiers slowly retreat near the wall while launching an attack. The archers get ready to shoot in case the enemy enters their range.

"Don't let them retreat!" shouted at the attendant. He needs to save him. The second prince was snatched right in front of him. If the king knows, the punishment will be horrible.

To his despair, the soldiers are busy saving themselves from the attacks. They have no time to think about others right now.

This is how Riz does things. Provide them with several options and make them hesitate to choose. While they hesitate, he will rip off the benefits.

Once the soldiers are in, the gate is closed leaving behind the enemy stupefied. Everything is happening so fast. From the start to the end, they feel like it all has been calculated. Ryntum never wants to beat them in war but aims for the prince.

"What happens? Where is the enemy?" The Duke asks. He just arrives at the west side only to see the worn-torn soldiers on the battlefield. From the look of the situation, the signs of battle are everywhere.

"They just retreat." the attendant weakly said.

"What? Here as well? Did they manage to destroy all of your trebuchets?"

The attendant shook his head, "No. Our trebuchets remain untouched by them."

"Then what are you waiting for? Hurry up and smash their wall down." Duke raises his voice. He had just suffered from a defeat in Ryntum's hand yet the west side was unable to tear down the wall. The duke begins to think of them as incompetent.

"We can't do that, milord. They had captured His Highness."

"WHAT?! But how?" His biggest fear comes to reality. Niel's life is in danger which one way or another can affect his future in the kingdom's political stage.

The attendant starts to describe everything that happened.

"You fool!! All of you can't protect even one person and you dare to call yourself a royal knight? You should just quit being a royal knight." The duke vented his anger on the knights. They can only bow their heads.

The duke shook his head as he sneered at them, "I will make sure you guys quit once the war is over. The most fearsome group of knights is being outwitted by one teenager. The quality of the royal knight has fallen too low."

A long time ago, the requirement to become a royal knight was so stringent. But it was open for anyone to apply regardless of their status. Getting accepted as a royal knight was seen as a symbol of dignity and honour. It brings glory to the knight and his few generations to come.

However, the situation now is different. Most of them are young nobles whose parents use bribery to get them in. The noble families want "honour" and "dignity" without any effort. As a result, the quality of the royal knight gradually plummeted. The commoner no matter how talented they are won't choose to join it anymore due to oppression and bullying by the nobles.

Every noble family is fine with it. To them, it is natural for them to use the money to fulfil their wishes. Now, the problem has come to light.

"Go and send a messenger to him. Let's negotiate." The duke decided.

....

*Thud*

Niel was thrown by the knights on the cold stone floor. Riz is currently in one of the prison cells on the underground floor of the mansion.

"You commoner!! Do you know who I am?"

"Yes, I know and I'm not a commoner. I'm something of royalty myself so don't use your status on me," said Riz while smacking Niel's head.

"Since you know who I am, then hurry up and untie me. If my father knows about this, your entire family won't be safe in this kingdom."

Riz looks at him as if he is an idiot. He opens his mouth, "You know that my family is already unsafe here, right? It won't change anything whether I let you go or not."

Niel is getting restless. His brain is trying to come up with an idea. "That's right! Ask the duke to negotiate. I'm sure he is more than willing to do it."

"Don't worry. I'm sure he will." Riz gave him a reply. Duke Baroks is the head of the second prince faction after all.

*Creak*

Charlotte opens the door, attracting attention from both Riz and Niel.

"Milord, Duke Baroks want to negotiate with you."

"See?" Riz said to Niel.

He gives an order to her, "Let him into the town and ask him to wait at the west gate. I will bring the second prince with me."

"As you wish, milord."

Niel is happy to hear Riz's words. He is already inwardly scheming his next move. He secretly glanced at Riz with eyes full of hatred. 'I will retreat first before coming back with several folds of soldiers and raze this town to the ground.'

"Alright, tie him up. Bring him to the west gate." Riz leaves the room first. He has something to prepare for the negotiation with the duke.

At the west gate, a table and tent were set up as per Riz's order. The duke and his bodyguards are escorted inside the tent. Riz still has not arrived yet.

After waiting for almost an hour, Duke complained. "Where is that brat? How long is he going to make?"

"I am sorry for being late." Riz entered the tent with a smile. Beside him is one soldier who is holding Niel in captivity. His hand was tied and his mouth was covered. Riz didn't want any useless noise interrupting him.

"Brat, that's not how you treat the royal family." The duke said with a stern voice.

He replies, "I know but I don't care. Let's make this quick shall we? What do you offer?"

"Hand over the prince to me and we will retreat from here. I will persuade the king to cease his hostility to your family with the condition you accept a demotion from marquess to viscount."

The duke stopped for a second to see Riz's reaction. Since Riz doesn't show any expression, he continues, "In addition, your family need to let go of the territory of Gyalcakes."

"Pfft...How shameless you can be." This is the first time he meets someone making a request without any shame on his face. "Did you forget who has an upper hand in war? Did you realise which side is losing and which side is winning? If you are not sincere, I will negotiate with someone else. The first prince seems to be a good option."

Duke of Baroks begins to panic. He knows what Riz is implying. If Niel falls into the hand of his brother, then death is certain. "Then what are your terms?"

"I want a part of your territory, specifically from the north which borders Ryntum to the Portsburg in the south. I also want you to cease all the hostile action toward Ryntum."

"Bullshit!! That's like sixty percent of my territory."

Riz nonchalantly said, "Not like I care. You can choose between your territory or your prince."

"Do you think we can't take him right now with force?" The duke tries to threaten him. Each of his bodyguards reaches their sword's hilt. There is only Riz and another soldier with him in the tent.

The situation is getting tense but Riz remains calm, "Is that your choice? Do you realize you're currently in my town?"

"It doesn't matter. If you are dead, Ryntum army is as good as defeated."

Riz sighs, "Come in!"

One soldier suddenly barges into the tent and shoots the duke in his head with his arquebus. The duke instantly died. Hearing a shot coming from the tent, several more come in and kill duke's remaining bodyguards.

Niel's eyes are wide open. He didn't expect Riz to dare kill a duke. He struggled to say something but his mouth was covered. Riz only hears his incomprehensible muffled voice which he ignores.

He looked at Niel and said, "I guess I have to negotiate with your brother, huh?"

Fear encroach on his heart. He tried to struggle and break free from the rope but failed.

Riz ordered a soldier, "Cut off his head, I have a use for it. Feel free to throw the body away."