In mid-December 1523, just a week before Christmas, both kingdoms, Stormvale and Solaris Reach, lost their status and were reabsorbed into the Kingdom of Unified Crowns. Lord Rowan found himself in the Anarchy Territories of Stormvale, specifically in the Eastern Territory. This area was vast, prompting competition among other lords who sought to claim the land through territorial warfare. However, Lord Rowan chose a different approach. He relied on persuasion and negotiation with the former citizens of Stormvale, assuring them that his armies would protect them rather than harm them.
As a result, the former citizens welcomed Lord Rowan as the new Lord of the Eastern Sea Islands. This diplomatic strategy caused other lords to withdraw their claims, especially after a new law was enacted. The law stated that any lord who used force or harmed the former citizens of Stormvale would face execution by both the Kingdom of Unified Crowns and the Starcrest Empire. This was enacted because the citizens had done nothing wrong; they were merely trying to defend their hometowns.
A week later, Lord Rowan de Ashbourne, received two promotions in both nobility and military rank. Additionally, Brook Island, a small island situated between the Eastern Sea Islands and the Wintermere Territory, declared itself a vassal of the Ashbourne Family. This means that Brook Island is now part of the Ashbourne Family, facilitating trade and transport between the Eastern Sea Islands and Wintermere Territories.
As a result of his achievements, Lord Rowan was elevated from Baron to Count and from Battle Knight to Herald Knight, commanding a force of 5,000 soldiers. He organized his troops into three divisions: Light Force, Medium Force, and Heavy Force. The Light Force prioritized mobility and fast attacks, while the Medium Force served as a balanced option between the Light and Heavy Forces. The Heavy Force focused on power, strength, and heavy firepower.
At the same time, he initiated a recruitment process to increase his commanding force to 7,500 soldiers, specifically targeting certain roles such as Battle Healers, Aura Shatters, Anti-Magic Casters, skilled battle horse riders, individuals with flight abilities, and those with tactical and strategic expertise. He also sought engineers for constructing traps. This recruitment was announced after Christmas and New Year, as Lord Rowan wanted his fellow citizens and soldiers to spend time with their families and loved ones. He returned home to Wintermere to celebrate the holidays with his family.
A week later, in January 1524, a new year had begun, bringing forth another issue for Rowan. His mother, Seren, insisted that he either get engaged or married. However, Rowan was preoccupied with dealing with matters concerning the Eastern Sea Islands and Brook Island, which left him busy and scrambling for excuses to avoid commitment. Unfortunately for him, it was too late, as his mother had already arranged a match for him with a noblewoman near the Capital City of Regalis (formerly known as Solaris Reach).
Consequently, Rowan, along with 1,000 soldiers serving as his escorts, left Wintermere. They utilized a magical transfer to head to the Grand Dukedom of Brightmoor. Upon arrival, Rowan was taken aback by the unexpected news regarding his mother's matchmaking efforts. He was set to meet Lady Elira de Brightmoor, the daughter of the Grand Duke, who held the third-highest noble rank in the Kingdom of Unified Crowns, after the Sovereign Duke and the King himself. Rowan found himself questioning how his mother was connected to the Grand Duke of Brightmoor.
On the second day of January 1524, Lord Rowan arrived at the Brightmoor Family Grand Mansion in his noble carriage, accompanied by twenty knight escorts. This impressive structure spanned over five floors and extended across several hectares. The mansion emanated a powerful aura, with magical users guarding the Brightmoor Family for generations.
As Rowan stepped out of his carriage in his formal attire, he and his knights were greeted by the maids and butlers. He noticed that each of them was an Advanced Level Aura User and Mana User, which impressed him. The presence of such skilled individuals indicated that the Brightmoor Family must have significant resources to attract and support such talent.
"Lord Rowan de Ashbourne, I am the Head Butler of the Brightmoor Family. You may call me Luke," the butler said. "Our lady is currently busy meeting with the vassals of the Brightmoor Family. Please wait for her in the guest room."
Rowan replied, "Of course. Those matters are undoubtedly more important, so I shall wait. Thank you, Luke." He was escorted, away from his knights, to the guest room. Rowan, a patient young man molded by his father's teachings, waited calmly for several hours until afternoon, reading the latest news from the Kingdom of Unified Crowns and sipping hot cocoa.
After a short wait, the guest room door opened to reveal a stunning lady in a white formal dress. Her elegance and beauty left Rowan momentarily speechless. He quickly gathered himself, knelt, and kissed her hand as a gesture of respect while introducing himself.
"I am Count Rowan de Ashbourne, Lord of Wintermere and the Eastern Sea Islands. It is a pleasure to greet you, the Grand Duke's daughter, Lady Elira de Brightmoor."
Lady Elira smiled and accepted his greeting as they both took their seats across from each other.
"It is an honor to meet you as well, Count Rowan," she replied. "I must apologize for the delay; the vassals were voicing their concerns about some recurring issues that the family seemed to keep revisiting. Now, back to the topic at hand..."
"The reason you came here is to discuss the engagement, but from what I gather, you don't have feelings for me. Let's see..." She paused, thinking, and Rowan was surprised by her response. "You have no interest in being engaged or getting married, is that correct, Rowan?"
Rowan smiled and nodded in agreement. "As you know, Lady Elira, I just turned 18 years old. I mean, being engaged is fine, but getting married feels a bit early. Some mothers insist on their sons getting engaged or, even better, married. For me, either being engaged or married is acceptable, but as you know, I'm currently busy managing the territories I've claimed."
Lady Elira understood what Rowan was saying and smiled. At the same time, Rowan noticed a glow in Elira's eyes. He wondered if he was hallucinating, but it felt real—like something significant was about to happen.
"I understand, Rowan. I will inform your mother about our meeting and be ready for your return tomorrow. Instead of going back to your hotel, you can stay at our grand mansion. Don't worry; I've already asked the butlers and maids to prepare your room, including arrangements for your knights to sleep here tonight." Rowan accepted the kind offer, but he couldn't shake the feeling that something significant was going to happen tonight that would change his life.