Arthur remained silent for a few moments.
He knew that this decision could change a lot of things. Joining the alliance could open doors for him that he would never have gained on his own, but at the same time, it could drag him into unpredictable conflicts.
"What about the leadership? Who will make the final decision?" Arthur asked, trying to gather more details before making his stance.
He then added, "You mentioned that someone with circumstances similar to ours proposed this alliance. Will he be the leader?"
Edward nodded slowly before answering in a calm voice, "That's correct. The person who proposed this alliance will also take the lead. It's Gerard Glovas."
Arthur raised an eyebrow in interest.
The name wasn't unfamiliar to him; Gerard was officially just an ordinary knight, having inherited his title from his father, who belonged to a side branch of the Glovas family.
However, the truth known within noble circles was far more complicated—Gerard was, in fact, the illegitimate eldest son of Earl Glovas, born to a maid who worked in the castle.
Although the Earl later married a noblewoman and had several legitimate children, he did not abandon Gerard as most nobles did with their illegitimate children.
The reason for this might have been that Gerard's mother was a beautiful woman with high social intelligence, who knew how to win the Earl's sympathy and improve her standing with him.
Or perhaps the Earl himself was a compassionate father who could not deny his blood or abandon his son.
Whatever the reason, the Earl provided Gerard with a comfortable life, granting him resources and opportunities that the legitimate children of other nobles, like Arthur himself, could never dream of receiving. Yet, there was the issue of his legal status in the kingdom.
Gerard was not recognized as a legitimate son, and he had no right to inherit his father's title or estates, meaning he was considered just a commoner, not a noble.
To solve this legal dilemma, the Earl arranged a formal marriage between Gerard's mother and a distant, declining member of the Glovas family.
This man was merely a tool in the Earl's hands, for shortly after the marriage, he disappeared without leaving any trace.
But before his disappearance, the Earl had granted this man the hereditary title of knight and a small piece of land as a fief, a title that Gerard officially inherited thereafter, despite the mysterious circumstances surrounding it.
In this way, Gerard became a knight legally recognized in official eyes, even though, in the eyes of many nobles, he remained merely an "illegitimate son."
It became impossible for anyone to dare treat him with contempt or belittle him, for anyone who did so would find themselves facing the wrath of Earl Glovas, the compassionate father and one of the pillars of power in the southwestern region.
"Gerard, then..." Arthur murmured, his mind racing as he considered the situation. After a moment, he raised his gaze to Edward and asked,
"What's his goal with this alliance? He doesn't seem to be seeking protection, especially with the Earl backing him. The army leaders would never dare put him in danger on the front lines. Earl Glovas supports him fully. But what does he really want?"
Arthur paused, his brow furrowing as he continued, "It's hard to believe he was forced into this campaign like us. Don't tell me he's only after participating in this battle. The man is clearly ambitious. He must have something bigger in mind—that he's aiming for a higher status or looking to strengthen his power in ways we can't see yet."
Edward nodded slowly, as if he had expected this kind of question.
Then he said in a calm tone, yet full of confidence:
"I think you're right, Arthur. After hearing your request to join the alliance and knowing where it came from, I too thought that Gerard might not be someone who easily accepts the status quo. He grew up under the scrutiny of others because of his illegitimate status, and despite the support he received from the Earl, that didn't grant him full recognition or an official place among the nobility."
The Earl's lands and title won't be his, even though he is the eldest son. Anyone in his position would find it difficult to accept this and swallow it.
"He is an ambitious man, and this ambition has been nurtured by the Earl's support for years, but ultimately he knows that his current position won't guarantee him a bright future if he stays where he is."
Arthur frowned slightly as he pondered Edward's words.
The picture was becoming clearer in his mind, and he now had the feeling that Gerard wasn't just seeking survival or staying under the Earl's shadow; he was aiming to build his own glory.
Ultimately, Gerard was a player in the balance of power, not content with merely being an ordinary knight fighting under the banner of the Glovas family, but striving to seize the opportunities available to change his position in society.
"So, you're suggesting he might be trying to change his identity by proving his military worth in this campaign?" Arthur asked, turning his gaze to Edward as he tried to understand the true motivations behind the alliance.
"Exactly. Gerard isn't stupid, and he knows very well that it is impossible for him to gain more influence in the future within the Glovas domain. That piece of land is the maximum the Earl can offer him, without shaking the foundation of the family or angering his wife, who has already started to tolerate the Earl's actions."
Edward continued "If I'm not mistaken, he might see this campaign as an opportunity to find a way out for himself as a noble, not just in the region but in the noble society as a whole. If he wins, he might even seek to establish an aristocratic family independent of the legacy he never had a share in."
"He wants a higher status than just being the Earl's illegitimate son, and he has already received the support of the Glovas family in that. This is indeed our great opportunity, Arthur. We just need to be careful in choosing our steps."
Arthur absorbed what Edward had said, and now he had a clearer understanding of Gerard. Gerard wasn't seeking to stay under the new Earl, who was likely his younger half-brother.
Therefore, the campaign was a golden opportunity for him to change the course of his life. Gerard's idea was similar to the idea of many noble heirs, like Arthur himself, as everyone was looking for a way out to fulfill their ambitions.
But this opportunity wasn't just an alliance for self-preservation; it was an offensive move against those who sought to impose secondary roles on those who aspired to something greater.
Arthur took a deep breath and then asked with focus, "You mentioned that there is support from the Glovas family, but didn't you say that their family has reached the maximum level of support possible?"
Edward responded confidently, his hand moving in a thoughtful gesture. "Yes, that's true. But if you look at the situation from a broader historical perspective, you'll see that the southwestern region has enjoyed peace and stability for decades, untouched by direct war.
Yet, what appears to be a blessing has, in reality, become a burden on the nobility. Why? Because every noble family here has stretched its resources to the limit. Their lands are fully occupied, leaving no room for expansion or growth.
Many nobles still enjoy comfortable lives, but their children—even those with titles—grapple with limited resources, their existence barely distinguishable from commoners. Some knights, despite their rank, can only dream of owning land, even after years of loyal service to their lords—a stark contrast to the nobility in other regions."
After listening to Edward's words, Arthur sank into deep thought, recalling the history of his former world and the world he now lived in.
He thought to himself, "In the Middle Ages, wealth was often built on wars and conquests. In the absence of these factors, progress became impossible internally, unless a civil war broke out that would allow the nobles to seize new lands as spoils or defeat their enemies and demand reparations for losses."
The marriages between different generations of local nobles created a complex web of family connections that ensured mutual loyalty.
As the ties between families grew, entering an internal war became increasingly risky.
Once such a war began, it could lead to long-term instability in the region, creating a bloody legacy that would persist through the generations.
Maintaining harmony became critical, especially since the southwestern region was a major grain reserve for the kingdom and was close to the borders with neighboring kingdoms.
There was even a royal knight army stationed here as an internal and external deterrent.
Then, as Arthur pondered for a moment, Edward added with a more realistic tone,"That's why the only solution most of the major families see is to seek an exit beyond their current territories. This campaign could be the golden opportunity to open doors for new development. Not only to strengthen the noble families that have surplus and unused financial resources, but also to ensure the future survival of these families."
With Edward's explanation, Arthur understood the current situation of the noble families in the region and concluded that if they didn't find a way out, an internal crisis would inevitably arise. Conflicts between brothers over inheritance rights and power would explode.
It wouldn't be the first time old stories resurfaced about brothers poisoning each other or duels to determine who the rightful heir was, as everyone began to compete and pounce on one another.
Then, Arthur added with deep thought, "The rest of the regions in the kingdom must be facing similar situations, even if they aren't in the exact same position. After all, the kingdom hasn't seen wars for decades. With temporary peace, no real pressures, or major ambitions, and the lack of nighttime entertainment or the closure of the path of hard work toward class ascension, it has left people across all layers of the kingdom with no choice but to take the horizontal direction in their development. Instead, they focus on studying the essence of life whenever they have free time, which has led to a population saturation crisis."
Arthur continued, carefully reviewing the situation: "Now, even if this campaign doesn't help recover the old lands, it will help alleviate the internal pressure and reduce the numbers of additional nobles and citizens. Could this be the reason why the other dukes and the king agreed to the campaign request from Duke Kreiman? Did they all sense the impending crisis and its consequences?"