Marquis Branford decided to accept Ghislain’s proposal, recognizing the potential benefit to the pro-royal faction. However, he intended to reduce Ghislain’s influence, determined to prevent the rise of a new ducal family after the civil war. 

Though he doubted that Ghislain could reach such power, he was cautious about this particular man.

‘His military force is growing too quickly. While it benefits us now to leave him be… the real issue will be after the war. I can’t let him amass continuous funding,’ the Marquis thought.

If both the royal family and Branford’s faction backed the road project, it would …