Chapter 597: You Demote! I Ennoble!

Kael'thas was truly distressed.

He never expected the situation to escalate to this point.

He now found himself caught in the middle, a precarious position.

After Quel'Thalas was invaded, Kael'thas had a clear understanding that the days of isolationism were over. He wasn't sure what the future held, but he believed that maintaining good relations with neighboring Lordaeron was the right move.

On the other hand, offending the wise Duke of the Alliance wasn't rational either. This not only felt like a wasted emotional investment, but also an ominous premonition that made Kael'thas very uneasy.

If he hadn't been cautious and waited to see the situation clearly, none of this would have happened.

If the previous vote had determined the outcome, Quel'Thalas wouldn't be in this predicament.

The most unexpected part was, after King Llane relinquished his voting rights to Duke Marcus, the leaders of the five nations completed their voting within three seconds, and all of them were against Kael'thas' proposal. This pushed Quel'Thalas into the spotlight.

Gathering all his courage, after shouting 'abstain', Kael'thas mouthed an "apology" to Duke Marcus's side. He wasn't sure if this would improve his standing with Duke Marcus, but doing nothing would be even worse.

"It's okay," Duke Marcus responded aloud, and at least half of the kings heard him.

This left Kael'thas feeling even more awkward.

However, the one who was truly embarrassed was Terenas.

Terenas Menethil was cornered. He never expected that the alliance would show signs of division because of a minor duke.

He was so close to being embarrassed in front of the entire Alliance.

Of course, for the harmony of the alliance, he could suppress the charges against Duke Barov. However, he would face massive domestic opposition, and his plans for Alterac would vanish.

In fact, from the beginning, Terenas knew that fully annexing Alterac in a short time was impossible.

So he had always used a more indirect method, like entrusting the region to someone competent, trustworthy, and seemingly dedicated to peace and unity...

Unfortunately, even the first step of paving the way for Lord Prestor's ascension faced massive resistance.

Terenas really wanted to kill Duke Marcus at this point. Why did the Kingdom of Stormwind, which clearly stated that all refugees would withdraw within a year and had no intention of occupying any part of the Lordaeron continent, suddenly become a thorn in the side of Lordaeron?

If Jandice Barov (previously translated as Illucia) truly was Duke Marcus's woman, Terenas might have been more cautious. No matter how many times he investigated secretly, the women of Lordaeron's court swore that Jandice was pure.

He couldn't understand why Duke Marcus, who seemed uninterested in Alterac, was so determined to protect Duke Barov.

Terenas * Menethil gripped his royal scepter tightly, his facial muscles trembling. Taking three deep breaths, he made a decision.

"In accordance with the iron laws set by the previous alliance, I, as the Lord of the Alliance of Lordaeron, declare - although there is no conclusive evidence that Duke Barov himself participated in the rebellion against the alliance, the Barov family of Alterac is guilty."

Yes, they were declared guilty!

If they weren't, his plans would fall apart; the losses Lordaeron suffered during the war couldn't be compensated; the reputation of the most powerful human kingdom, Lordaeron, would be tarnished. All the political capital spent threatening others, forcing Dalaran into submission, everything would be wasted.

Once an arrow is released, it can't be taken back.

Terenas had to make a move, even if it meant clashing with many kingdoms and offending the legendary hero, Duke * Marcus.

At that moment, Jandice shivered, but Duke Marcus held her hand. Looking up in disbelief, she heard Duke Marcus's statement.

"I deeply regret this verdict. The Kingdom of Stormwind reserves the right to protest in the future."

Duke Marcus was challenging Terenas.

"In accordance with the alliance, the punishment for traitors will be determined by the leader of the alliance..."

Terenas decided to ignore Duke Marcus's statement. But he felt a bit apprehensive. Originally, he planned to sentence Duke Barov to death, given his significant influence in Alterac.

His biggest mistake was underestimating Duke Marcus's influence in the Alliance.

As Terenas looked at Duke Marcus, he saw a clear threat in Duke Marcus's eyes, which made his heart race. Biting his lip, he finally spoke.

"I, in the name of the Lord of the Lordaeron Alliance, declare – considering the Barov family's full support for the alliance during the latter part of the war, their crimes are reduced. Duke Barov is stripped of his title, demoted to a commoner, and the Barov family's lands are confiscated. Their territory will be under the future king of Alterac. Alex * Barov and his family will be allowed to leave with their personal belongings but will be banned from Alterac for life. This is the final verdict!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Duke Barov aged significantly.

At that moment, Duke Marcus spoke again, "It's a regrettable verdict. I also take this opportunity to announce that the Countess of Stormwind, Jandice Barov, will have Redridge Mountains' Lake Everstill and Lakeshire as her territory."

It was a slap in the face to Terenas.

Even though Duke Marcus hadn't taken any action, Terenas felt as if he had been slapped multiple times.

Nobody understood why Duke Marcus went to such lengths.

At that moment, Jandice, standing slightly behind Duke Marcus, was in tears.

Suddenly, she made a shocking decision, raising her head and loudly declaring, "I announce that I, Jandice Barov, renounce the Barov surname."