Eris' group arrived at the gates of Sharpsburg with rain pouring down from above. Two men in full armor were standing outside of it, riding on destriers with pistols on their chests. One of them rode over. He bowed to the noblewoman.

"Lady Hapsburg," the man said. "Your fiance is expecting you."

Clasping her hands in an exaggerated manner, Eris widened her eyes. A massive smile crossed her face.

"Oh, wonderful! I guess that Armand got my letter, then?" she asked.

"That is correct, Lady Hapsburg," the man answered. "My companion will inform Lord Armand of your arrival. Now that we know your party's numbers, he can prepare a proper feast for you."

The other man rode into the city. Jacob raised an eyebrow.

"A feast? All for his fiance's arrival?" he questioned.

"Yes. Lord Armand has missed her dearly," the man replied.

"This is probably Armand playing along with my deception. But it's still so very romantic. I can't wait to see him again," Eris thought.

Soon, Eris' party was riding through the streets of Sharpsburg. The pathways were narrow and crooked. However, the smells of the city were quite good. Incense lined houses. The scent of baked goods flowed through the air. Men in the streets cleaned up whatever horses crapped out before it could fester.

In addition to this, Eris noted that there were merchants in exotic clothes in the town. There were also several gibettes hanging over the gate with the corpses of bandits in them. Hunters were showing off the bodies of dangerous beasts.

"I wonder what Sharpsburg was like before Armand took over? Did he clean up this place, or was it always like this? Did the last lord rule over it well?" Eris shook her head. "Why do I care? I mean, I want Armand to prosper, but why do I care about whether or not the people are attacked by criminals?"

The girl pushed those thoughts to the side. She kept riding on towards the manor in the center of town. There, Eris dismounted along with her mercenaries. Some of Armand's servants took their horses to the stables. Then, she and the others with her entered the mansion.

Armand was waiting for them at the feasting table. He sat on one end of it, an empty chair next to him. There was a smile on his mouth, and he made sure his eyes were smiling too.

"Welcome, my beloved Eris," Armand said.

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He inclined his head and gestured to the chair next to him. Eris wasted no time in sitting down on it.

"And welcome to her guests," the Concord continued. "I have prepared a feast for your arrival. Consider this a welcoming gift."

After a moment of hesitation, the people who arrived with Eris sat down. The delay told Armand that not everything was right between them and her. Or perhaps between these newcomers and him?

"Thank you, My Lord," Jacob bowed. "We are honored to be in your presence."

Armand waved it off.

"There is no need for that. You escorted my beloved Eris here. Please, introduce yourselves," he said.

There was more hesitation from the revolutionaries. Armand stopped himself from glancing at his fiance.

"Eris, just who the hell did you get involved with this time?" he thought.

"You can call me Jacob," the commoner finally spoke. "We are part of an organization that Lady Hapsburg has joined. And we hope that you will join it someday too."

Armand shrugged.

"Perhaps I will, perhaps I won't. I am a very busy man, you must understand. My duties keep me occupied," he spoke in his most formal voice.

"Not as occupied as you might think, but occupied enough that I can deny any offer you make me and still look reasonable," Armand thought.

Francois looked around the room. A skeptical look crossed over Nadine's face.

"I wasn't aware that nobles had any duties, aside from taking taxes," she said.

"That is one of them," Armand replied. "Others include overseeing property disputes, dealing with bandits, organizing public events, seeing to the protection of their lands, and ensuring that there are stores of food in case there is a famine."

He then placed a hand on his chin, a contemplative look crossing his face.

"If you didn't know that, you must be from really far in the countryside," Armand noted.

Nadine shook her head.

"I'm from a big city, and I still don't see how most of that stuff is useful," she said.

A contemptuous look crossed her face.

"I mean, you're protecting a bunch of hick farmers. Inbred yokels and ignorant country folk. You don't do much for the good people living in cities," she pointed out.

Francois nodded.

"I'm afraid that I would have to agree. Cities do not benefit from the noble class," he stated.

"Most cities in Foldzar are ruled by mayors," Armand pointed out. "Most of those mayors are nobles themselves. There are some cities ruled by hereditary nobility, but most of our lands are in the countryside, towns, and villages. Your average noble has no more duty to the cities than the average commoner does."

The boy then gestured to a window.

"Sharpsburg itself barely qualifies as a city. Most people would consider it a large town. And, counting the lands my family holds that I do not, it is the only city House Concord rules over," he explained.

"But you nobles will still have estates in cities, even if you don't rule them," Nadine pointed out.

Armand shrugged.

"If you don't want nobles to buy houses in cities, then that is something to discuss with the mayors. The mayors that you voted for."

Eris stood up.

"Oh, my dearest Armand," she said. "Perhaps we could have a private conversation together."

"You stupid subhumans! Armand is kinder than me, but even his patience will wear thin sooner or later!" she thought.

Armand stood up.

"Of course, my beloved Eris," he gave her a nod before thinking. "Eris, I hope you didn't get saddled with some idiots."

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