Final Regression of The Legendary Swordmaster Chapter 63

Edward sat alone in the Marquis office, the room still smelling faintly of fresh wood and stone dust. The rebuilding had been efficient, as the desk before him was wide and plain, carved from dark oak, covered in scrolls, ledgers, and sealed reports stacked with careful order. Sunlight filtered in through tall windows, casting long shadows across the floor. Outside, he could hear distant drills from the training yard, steady and rhythmic, a sound that reminded him that stability was being forged piece by piece.

He was reviewing a supply ledger when there was a knock at the door. It was firm but not hesitant, the knock of someone who knew they belonged there.

"Enter," Edward said without looking up.

The door opened, and a young woman stepped inside. She closed it carefully behind her and walked forward with measured steps. She wore a simple but well fitted uniform in the colors of the territory, practical rather than decorative. Her dark hair was tied back neatly, and her eyes carried the sharp focus of someone used to sorting problems rather than avoiding them.

"My Lord," she said, bowing respectfully. "My name is Thaleia. I was appointed as your secretary by the administrative council three days ago."

Edward finally lifted his gaze and studied her for a moment. He nodded once, neither surprised nor dismissive.

"I was informed someone would be assigned," he said calmly. "Sit. And tell me what you have."

Thaleia straightened, moved to the chair across from his desk, and sat without hesitation. She placed a thick folder on the desk and took a small breath, as if preparing herself.

"I will be direct," she said. "The territory is stable, but the pressure from the royal court has shifted rather than eased. Production is holding, morale is cautious, and the alliances you formed are still intact. However, there is a growing issue with the new trade route we established with the Southern Baron."

Edward leaned back slightly. "The river and road corridor agreement."

"Yes," Thaleia replied. "That one. It was functioning well for the first two weeks. Goods moved steadily, tariffs were paid, and both sides benefited. But three days ago, the royal army began patrolling the route."

Edward’s eyes narrowed slightly, not in anger but in focus. "Patrolling how."

"Officially," Thaleia said, "they claim it is routine border security. In practice, they are stopping caravans, inspecting cargo excessively, delaying shipments for hours, sometimes days. They are not confiscating goods, but the delays alone are enough to cause losses."

Edward tapped his fingers lightly against the desk. "And they are not entering our territory directly."

"No," she answered. "They stay just outside the formal boundary. Close enough to interfere, far enough to claim neutrality."

Edward exhaled slowly. "Predictable."

Thaleia frowned. "With respect, my Lord, predictable does not make it manageable. Merchants are already complaining. The Southern Baron has sent two messages expressing concern. He has not accused us, but he is clearly watching how we respond."

Edward nodded. "What measures have you taken."

"We attempted rerouting," Thaleia said quickly. "Smaller caravans, alternate schedules, night movement. The royal patrols adjusted within a day. We tried sending formal notices citing trade agreements. They ignored them. We also attempted to raise patrol presence on our side to deter interference. That only made the royal officers more rigid. They claimed overlapping jurisdiction."

Edward let out a quiet breath. "Classic pressure without escalation."

"Yes," Thaleia said, her tone sharpening. "They are choking the route without breaking any law openly. If this continues, merchants will withdraw on their own. The Baron will not risk angering the court for our sake."

Edward leaned forward. "What do you suggest."

Thaleia hesitated, then spoke carefully. "There are only three realistic options. The first is to endure it and absorb the losses, which will weaken us financially. The second is to abandon the route, which sends a message of retreat. The third is to escalate indirectly, which carries risks."

Edward raised an eyebrow. "Explain the third."

She nodded. "We could encourage the Southern Baron to lodge a formal complaint. The royal court would be forced to respond. But that puts the Baron in a dangerous position, and he may refuse. Alternatively, we could involve neutral merchant guilds, turning this into an economic issue rather than a political one. But guilds move slowly, and the damage may already be done by the time they act."

Edward listened in silence, absorbing her words. He then spoke evenly. "You have done thorough work."

Thaleia allowed herself a brief nod, then continued, clearly holding back frustration. "There is also the matter of perception. If word spreads that royal patrols can disrupt trade with your territory freely, other nobles will hesitate to form agreements with us. This is not just about one route."

Edward stood from his chair and walked toward the window, his hands clasped behind his back. "They want to isolate us without drawing blood."

"Yes," Thaleia said. "And they are succeeding, slowly."

Edward turned back to her. "You said you tried night movement. How were the patrols able to adjust so quickly."

Thaleia paused. "Because they are not acting blindly. They have informants among the merchants. Possibly even within the caravans themselves."

Edward nodded. "That can be dealt with."

She shook her head. "We thought the same. We rotated crews, changed schedules without notice, limited information flow. Still, they adapted. Either their intelligence network is broader than expected, or someone higher is coordinating directly."

Edward returned to his seat. "Which means this is not a local decision."

"Exactly," Thaleia said. "This pressure is sanctioned."

Edward folded his hands on the desk. "If we confront the patrols directly."

"They will claim provocation," Thaleia replied immediately. "And the court will use it as justification to escalate openly."

"If we ignore them."

"They will strangle the route until it dies."

Edward was silent for a moment. "What about using private escorts under noble authority."

"We tried," Thaleia said, a trace of irritation slipping through. "The royal officers demanded verification papers for every escort, every trip. They delayed them under the excuse of authentication."

Edward gave a faint smile. "They are thorough."

Thaleia sighed. "My Lord, with respect, I do not see a clean solution within the usual framework."

Edward’s smile faded. "Then we stop using the usual framework."

She looked at him sharply. "Meaning."

"Meaning," Edward said calmly, "we stop treating this as a trade issue and start treating it as a political signal."

Thaleia leaned forward. "That is dangerous."

"Yes," Edward replied. "But remaining passive is more dangerous."

She hesitated. "What do you intend to do."

Edward tapped the ledger on his desk. "First, we temporarily suspend high value shipments on that route. Only essentials move. Let the patrols waste time inspecting grain and timber. Second, we open two minor trade corridors with lesser lords, not for profit but for visibility. Let it be seen that trade still flows."

Thaleia frowned. "We tried partial suspension. It reduced losses but did not change patrol behavior."

"I am not done," Edward said. "Third, we invite merchant representatives from three guilds to visit the territory openly. We show them stability, security, and transparency. We do not complain about the royal patrols. We let the guilds experience the delays themselves."

Her eyes widened slightly. "You want them to witness it."

"Yes," Edward said. "Guild pressure carries weight the court prefers to avoid."

She considered it. "They may still side with the court."

"Some will," Edward agreed. "Some will not. We only need one to raise concern."

Thaleia exhaled slowly. "That still does not solve the immediate blockade."

Edward met her gaze. "That is where I step in."

She stiffened. "My Lord, if you personally intervene, the court will react."

"That is the point," Edward said. "They are testing how far they can push without me responding. I have been silent for a month. That silence has been interpreted as caution. It is time they reinterpret it."

Thaleia shook her head. "If you appear at the route, the royal officers may claim you are intimidating them."

Edward smiled faintly. "Then I will not appear as a Marquis. I will appear as a landholder inspecting commerce within his rights."

She opened her mouth, then closed it again. "They will still report it."

"Let them," Edward said. "Every report adds weight to my presence. Every delay they cause after that looks deliberate."

Thaleia was quiet for several seconds. Then she spoke carefully. "My Lord, may I be honest."

"Always," Edward replied.

"This path leads to confrontation," she said. "Not today, but soon. Once you take the lead, there is no returning to passive defense."

Edward nodded. "I am aware."

She studied him. "Then why now."

Edward’s voice lowered slightly. "Because they believe I am contained. Because they think pressure alone will force me to break or bend. And because if I do not respond, my allies will question my resolve."

Thaleia straightened. "Then you are certain."

"Yes," Edward said simply. "I will take the lead on this case."

She rose from her chair and bowed, deeper than before. "Then I will prepare the necessary documentation and notifications."

As she turned to leave, Edward added, "And Thaleia."

She paused and looked back.

"You did well bringing this to me directly," he said. "I will rely on that honesty going forward."

A faint, determined smile crossed her face. "I will not disappoint you, my Lord."

She left the room, closing the door behind her. Edward returned to the window and looked out over the territory. The land was quiet, but tension still hung in the air.