Marcellus glanced at Cedric and Javier before raising his hand.
"But Father… isn't that region currently governed by nobles who were openly hostile toward Armand back when we were still a region under the Human Nation? Even before our independence, they refused to acknowledge our autonomy, rejected our offers of aid, and actively opposed our policies. If I recall correctly, they were among the loudest voices calling for our subjugation before we declared independence."
He paused, his expression hardening.
"They rejected our offers to share agricultural techniques, refused our plans to build irrigation systems that could have saved their people from drought, and even turned down the blueprint for the waterway project that would have transformed their entire region's economy. They called it 'Armand propaganda' and accused us of trying to spread influence over their lands."
