Lord of the Frozen Winter: Starting with Daily Intelligence Reports

Duke Calvin sat at his desk, setting down his pen, a freshly written letter before him.
He had finally made his decision, agreeing to the marriage alliance.
There was no family meeting, no gathering of other family members for discussion; for matters like this, he could decide on his own.
If a family's lord had to consult others on such trivial matters, what ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ kind of Duke would he be?
As for the parties involved, Louis and Emily Edmond, the third daughter of the Edmund Family, their wishes were irrelevant.
In this ancient empire, in this aristocratic society that valued bloodline and honor, the marriages of children were always bargaining chips for the family to trade and strategize.
Love? That was a story concocted by poets.
An aristocratic marriage was, first and foremost, responsibility, obligation, alliance, an exchange of interests, and a consolidation of status.
If one enjoyed the resources and prestige that came with their status, they naturally had to pay the corresponding price.
Of course, even if accepted, it didn't mean the wedding would happen immediately.
There were still many subsequent matters to discuss; no aristocratic wedding was simple.
What he needed to do now was to send a reply.
It was to express a “preliminary intention” to accept the marriage.
The letter also stated that the Emperor must be consulted before the engagement, so he could be informed in advance.
The reason for letting Duke Edmund convey this was because he was one of the nobles among the Eight Great Families who had a relatively good relationship with the Emperor.
Duke Calvin carefully checked the content of the letter.
There was no excessive emotion, no over-commitment, just an expression of “preliminary acceptance,” which both gave the other party enough face and left a way out.
He nodded, indicating satisfaction.
“Send it.” Calvin folded the letter and sealed it in an envelope with a red family crest.
“Understood,” the butler replied.
After the letter was sent, Duke Calvin did not immediately get up.
He tapped on the desk, his eyes deepening.
“That kid Louis… it seems he has truly stabilized in the North.”
He thought of his many children; in truth, not many of them could stand on their own.
Now, suddenly, there was Louis.

He had initially only seen him as a competent son who could be independent, but he hadn't expected that in such a short time, he could already be favored by a Northern Duke and offered his daughter in marriage.
“I can give him a push,” Duke Calvin murmured, picking up his pen and writing down several orders.
Select a group of civil officials and stewards loyal to the family and send them to Red Tide Territory to assist Louis in managing his new territory.
Allocate a batch of supplies to support the North, prioritizing food, cotton clothing, and cold-resistant medicinal materials for the winter.
Dispatch ten Elite Knights, thirty Formal Knights, and one hundred Apprentice Knights to bolster Louis's military strength.
Within the family's internal authority levels, elevate Louis from “Level Five Authority” to “Level Two Authority,” significantly increasing the resources he can mobilize.
And formally appoint Louis Calvin as the Calvin Family's representative in the North, granting him the authority to represent the Calvin Family there.
After writing, he handed them to the butler: “Arrange these as well.”
“Yes, sir.”
… … … …
Louis woke up from his bed in the tent, sunlight streaming onto his face through the gaps in the tent, and he rubbed his eyes.
After the banquet a few days ago, he did not stay long in Frost Halberd City.
He had drunk at the post-war banquet, received his rewards, and completed all necessary courtesies.
Now it was time to return to Red Tide Territory to continue dealing with a heap of new troubles.
Of course, the first thing Louis did upon waking was still to open the Daily Intelligence System.
The system's light blue screen appeared before his eyes; he glanced at it, and the next second, he almost sat upright in bed.
【1: Duke Calvin agrees to Duke Edmund's proposal for the marriage alliance between Louis Calvin and Emily Edmond】
“…Huh?”
He stared at that piece of intelligence for a full three seconds.
Me? Getting married?
Although he had long known that, as a noble son, he would one day face a political marriage for the sake of family interests, he hadn't expected this day to come so quickly.
But thinking about it carefully, not being married at almost twenty years old was a bit late; he had even thought Duke Calvin had forgotten about it.
He just hadn't expected it to be an alliance with Duke Edmund's daughter.
No wonder that Duke's gaze at the banquet was so strange.
So that wasn't the look for a general; it was for a son-in-law!
Upon thinking of that burly man with two scars on his face and a rather oppressive smile, Louis's mouth twitched.
“I hope his daughter doesn't look like him…”
Fortunately, however, this world did not emphasize monogamy; he could have a harem!
Then he looked at the second piece of intelligence.
【2: Duke Calvin’s fourteenth son will be born in 7 days.】
“…” Louis was silent for two seconds, then let out a helpless sigh.
“He really can keep having children…”
He couldn't help but hold his forehead, wondering, how many children was this now?
Twenty-something? Or thirty-something? He suddenly couldn't keep count.
“If he keeps having children like this, forming a ‘Calvin Royal Guard Knight Order’ would be more than enough.”
No, even a legion might be possible…
Louis thought of those brothers he had never met and whose names he couldn't even remember all of.
He couldn't help but imagine the scene of future family meetings, with Calvin young masters and princesses sitting on both sides of the long table, more and more of them, requiring the expansion of the meeting hall because there weren't enough seats.
Perhaps one day he might even see a scene of ninety-nine vying for succession.
But that had little to do with him anymore.
Now that he had established his own household in the North, he couldn't possibly compete for that almost hopeless ducal title, and his other brothers couldn't take his fief.
The only one he still truly had contact with was his older sister by the same mother, Rachelna.
Louis would occasionally send her updates to let her know he was safe.
She had married a Viscount in the Southeast a few years ago, who was also a vassal of Duke Calvin.
And before Louis came to the North, Rachelna had secretly sent him a lot of money and supplies.
Louis had always remembered this kindness and would repay it tenfold one day.
After a secret chuckle, Louis continued to check the third piece of intelligence.
【3: Several Frostmane Tundra Rabbits appeared foraging 500 meters northwest of the camp.】
He froze, then his eyes suddenly widened, and he sprang up from the bed.
Frostmane Tundra Rabbits, those were one of the most elusive magical beasts in the Northern Wasteland.
Small in size, yet their movements were as agile as wind, silent as still air.
Most importantly, three rare “ice moss fruit” would grow on their backs.
Those were extremely rare combat supplements; boiling and eating them could directly enhance a Knight’s fighting spirit.
For Louis, who was now just one step away from being a Peak Knight, it was like receiving charcoal in the snow!
He unhesitatingly donned his cloak and summoned a few Knights: “Let’s go, hunting.”
Hunting so early in the morning? The Knights were confused.
However, these Knights now followed Louis's commands unconditionally.
So, they immediately mounted their horses and galloped with Louis towards the Northwest.