Gerhart looked at the letter in his hands addressed from Berengar with disbelief; he could not believe that the young Viscount was so bold that he would openly threaten to invade the County of Steimermark over the decision to rescind Adela's engagement. The justification for doing so would be solid enough to prevent anyone from coming to Gerhart's aid, especially in this time of turmoil where nobody would be able to spare the forces to help him retain his regency.
However, this was not the most abysmal piece of news that he had received; there was also a letter from his father which openly declared Gerhart's decision to break the betrothal as invalid and demanded that Gerhart relinquish his regency in favor of his younger brother Heimerich. By indulging in his desires to keep Adela away from his wretched cousin, he had cost himself the favor of his father, who now deeply questioned his eldest son's capability as a ruler.
