As Elliot finished speaking, the hall fell into a deathly silence; even the faint breathing sounds seemed to vanish.
The ministers of Duchy of Roland looked at each other, their eyes filled with shock and unease.
They all understood the unspoken meaning in Elliot's words: the premise of re-offering protection was that they would take the initiative to stand on Aldor's side. If Duchy of Roland and other oasis nations continued to hesitate and were unwilling to break away from the orcs and pledge their loyalty to Aldor, would Sentinel Legion, which was about to advance eastward, be protectors or conquerors?
Grand Duke Karim's expression instantly turned grave. He stared intently at Elliot, his fingers clenching white on the armrest of the throne.
He understood the unspoken meaning behind those words, of course. Aldor seemed to be offering a choice, but in reality, he had already drawn a line. If he refused, what awaited Duchy of Roland was likely not the orcs' revenge, but an attack from his former protector.
The sunlight outside the hall was still scorching, but the dappled light filtering through the stained-glass windows was particularly dazzling. Elliot stood in the center of the hall, his face expressionless, simply waiting quietly for Grand Duke Karim's response.
Karim Ben Hassan looked into Elliot's determined eyes, and his Adam's apple bobbed involuntarily.
He swallowed hard, his voice trembling slightly: "You can't do this... Mr. Elliot, the Duchy of Roland and the Kingdom of Aldor are close friends. We've fought together against many enemies and shared glory. How can you force us to make a choice like this?"
A hint of regret crossed Elliot's face. He shook his head slightly, but his tone remained firm: "Your Excellency, I completely understand your feelings. To be honest, I didn't want to see our former allies come to this. But I am merely an envoy. The orders of Crystal Radiance Royal Capital cannot be changed, and the Sentinel Legion's movements are already set. All I can do is inform you of the situation truthfully and give Duchy of Roland a chance to stand on the right side."
Grand Duke Karim remained silent for a long time, and the ministers in the hall held their breath, waiting for his decision, a heavy feeling hanging over everyone's hearts.
Finally, the Grand Duke slowly raised his head and said with a helpless expression, "I understand, Elliot's envoy. I will take your message seriously and discuss it with my ministers. Now, you must be tired from your journey. Why don't you go to your lodgings and rest first? We will send someone to inform you when we have the results."
Elliot nodded, said no more, bowed, and left the palace under the guidance of the Duchy of Roland attendants.
Watching his figure disappear outside the palace gates, Grand Duke Karim slumped back onto his throne, his fingers once again tracing the patterns on the armrests, his movements filled with exhaustion.
Elliot was placed in the Duchy of Roland, a residence specifically for receiving foreign envoys. The residence was exquisitely furnished, with cool well water and fresh fruits.
He was lying in bed resting with his eyes closed when there was a sudden, urgent knocking at the door. His attendant then pushed the door open and entered, his face showing some tension: " Lord Elliot, when we were patrolling outside, we saw orcs coming and going at the palace gates. Do they already know we're here?"
Elliot snapped back to reality, his brow furrowing deeply: "Orcs? How many are there? What are they doing at the palace?"
"I don't know, I only saw three or four people enter the palace gate, but I didn't see them come out," the attendant quickly replied.
Elliot thought for a moment and then said, "Take some men and go into the city to investigate. Focus on confirming two things: first, what are the identities of these orcs, and second, is there an orc army stationed in the city? Remember to be careful and don't attract the attention of the Roland people."
The attendants nodded and left, while Elliot paced back and forth in the room, filled with doubt.
About two hours later, the entourage finally returned, his tense expression slightly relieved: "My lord, I've found out. There are no orc troops stationed in the city, only about twenty orcs. They were sent by Great Chieftain Abar, ostensibly to assist the Grand Duke in handling border affairs, but in reality, they're here to monitor Grand Duke Hassan and prevent him from colluding with other forces. The one who went to the palace just now was probably their leader, likely to convey some instructions to the Grand Duke, but... it's also possible that Hassan invited them there himself, probably to discuss matters concerning us."
Elliot put his hands behind his back, walked to the window of the building, and looked towards the distant palace.
His brows furrowed slightly, and after a moment of silence, he slowly spoke: "We spent a long time dealing with the Grand Duke in the palace today, and the commotion was quite significant. The orcs responsible for monitoring us may have noticed. However, it is also possible that the Grand Duke took the initiative to inform the orcs of our arrival."
The attendant's expression changed, and he stepped forward urgently, saying, "My lord, if the Grand Duke really tells the orcs about us, we're in danger! The Duchy of Roland is still under orc control. To protect himself, the Grand Duke might arrest us and hand us over to the orcs to prove his loyalty! We'd better escape the city immediately, or it will be too late!"
Elliot shook his head, a hint of certainty in his eyes: "Don't rush. I've dealt with Grand Duke Karim a few times before, and I know his character to some extent. He's cautious, even somewhat cowardly. Faced with the Aldor's coercion and the orcs' surveillance, he'd only waver in the middle, lacking the courage to hand us over willingly. If he really had that guts, he wouldn't have just reluctantly compromised in the palace earlier; he would have directly ordered our capture."
Despite saying this, Elliot's expression remained serious; he knew that the current situation allowed no room for carelessness.
"However, we must be careful," he instructed his entourage. "Go and inform the others immediately to check their weapons. Make sure swords can be drawn smoothly, pistols are fully loaded, and grenades have their fuses working properly. Keep them within easy reach. From now on, everyone must be on guard. There must be someone on duty inside and outside the building, day and night. If anything unusual happens, issue an immediate warning."
The attendant immediately nodded and said, "Yes, sir! I'll go arrange it right away!" After saying that, he turned around and quickly walked out of the room.
As the sun gradually sank into the west, it bathed the courtyard in a warm orange-red hue, and then night slowly descended, draping the entire city in a veil of tranquility.
Elliot sat at a table inside the building, the candlelight illuminating his solemn face.
Several hours have passed since my subordinates went out to arrange the defenses, and it has remained completely quiet outside without any unusual sounds.