Late November, Imperial Year 2521.
Inside the royal carriage heading to the Duchy of Parravon, the Knight King Ryan, his queen Sulia, and the Lady of the Lake, Morgiana, were discussing matters.
"Some of the Drakwald Dwarves are unwilling to leave their ancestral lands," Ryan said, holding a military report. The Sun King sighed. "According to the investigation, only about 96,000 Drakwald Dwarves are willing to relocate. Even their leader, Thorghard the Crimson, refuses to leave the ancestral fortress. However, he has sent his two sons, Baldur the Crimson and Tyr the Crimson, to follow Ryan to the south, declaring that Baldur will inherit his throne as the King of Drakwald and the Great Monarch."
"What about the remaining ten thousand or so dwarves?" Sulia seemed to realize something.
"They will remain there, fighting to the last man or until the world ends," Ryan put down the report and shook his head, sighing repeatedly. "It's their choice, and we can only accept it."
Sulia nodded gently. After a moment of thought, the Knight Queen continued, "The Drakwald Dwarves have placed their trust in us. We must properly settle these 96,000 dwarves. Besides Mount Oka, we also need to clear the Blackstone Stronghold and prepare everything necessary."
"Yes, Hex is already handling it," Ryan smiled. "Actually, Belial would be the most suitable for this task, but he's gone to Kislev with Karad and Rokossovsky."
"That's not a bad decision. Belial is..." Sulia hesitated slightly before continuing, "He's too cunning and blindly obedient. He's good at managing the army but not leading it. He makes a great commissar, especially in Kislev, where he's familiar with the area. But you can't rely on him too much."
"That's exactly what Belial wants—for me to rely on him," Ryan nodded slightly. "As a lone minister, his only reliance is my favor. And his thirst for power surpasses everything else."
"What an unpleasant fellow," Morgiana, the Lady of the Lake, remarked. She wore a butterfly-style evening gown in a warm autumn coffee color, adorned with a green laurel crown. Her shoulder-length golden hair was decorated with various jewels—gold, platinum, diamonds, and gemstones. Sitting next to Ryan, Morgiana, who usually appeared aloof and enigmatic in public, was almost tender and clingy in private.
Since Olica's departure, Morgiana had volunteered to take on some of the duties of a "personal maid." After the recent setbacks, neither Ryan nor Sulia had any reason to refuse. Moreover, with the increasing intensity of the Chaos Winds, Lileath had descended to the mortal world, taking charge of affairs personally. This left Morgiana with more free time, allowing her to spend her days close to Ryan.
The Lady of the Lake's long dress had a slit that reached her waist, revealing her slender legs clad in white, glossy lace stockings. Her legs rested against Ryan's trousers, and her cream-colored high heels dangled from her toes, swaying back and forth, teasing Ryan's senses.
During this period, Morgiana had become even more attached to Ryan, fearing that he might assign her other tasks.
"Speaking of which, Sulia, what has the Lady been doing in Parravon lately? Why did she insist on taking Devonshire with her?" Ryan reached out to hold Morgiana's waist, gently caressing her silk-clad legs, enjoying the smooth sensation.
Sulia wore a snow-frosted purple floral pleated skirt. The white silk at her chest was stretched tightly, and her collar was slightly open, revealing a delicate platinum necklace that complemented her fair skin. A diamond fish tail pendant with a white pearl rested quietly on her chest, paired with diamond earrings that added a touch of elegance to her serene yet noble demeanor, like a peony about to bloom.
Her pleated skirt reached past her knees, and her crossed legs were clad in fine black translucent stockings. She wore her familiar red bow velvet high heels. The Knight Queen was both dignified and alluring, her saintly face contrasting with her voluptuous figure, creating a unique and irresistible charm.
"I'm not entirely sure. I only know that the Lady mentioned she needed to discuss something with the Wood Elf Queen, Alarielle, and chose Parravon as the meeting place," Sulia also seemed puzzled. "But for some reason, she asked Devonshire if he wanted to join her. Devonshire has always been interested in the Wood Elves, so he agreed."
"..." Ryan felt that there was something strange about this situation. Alarielle, the Wood Elf Queen, should have entered the depths of the Oak of Ages to sleep by now, but she hadn't. Instead, she was meeting with Lileath. Moreover, Lileath, who usually paid little attention to Devonshire, had taken him along this time.
However, Ryan's trip to Parravon was for another reason.
To put it simply, there was a minor issue with the succession of the Duchy of Parravon.
The current Duke of Parravon was Cassyon. Everything should have proceeded normally, as Cassyon was a conservative in his political stance and had reluctantly accepted Ryan's reforms, including the governor system.
However, recently, Cassyon's son, Casson de Parravon, had completed the Grail Quest at the age of less than 22 and returned to the Duchy of Parravon in glory!
This stunned everyone, as Casson had set out on the Grail Quest at the age of 18 and completed all the Lady's trials in just three years.
Even more surprising was that upon his return, Casson expressed a strong desire for the ducal title. He told his father, Cassyon, that he hoped his father would retire and let him take over as Duke.
Normally, Casson was not the first in line for succession, nor was he the eldest son. Moreover, Cassyon, in his fifties, was still in his prime and not yet at the age to pass on the title.
But one thing overshadowed all else: Casson had completed the Grail Quest. A month before his birthday, Casson was now a bona fide Grail Knight, a legendary Royal Pegasus Knight.
Helpless, Cassyon sought the advice of the Sun King Ryan and the Lady of the Lake, Morgiana. After investigation, it was found that Casson was an ardent fan of Ryan. This young Grail Knight had grown up listening to Ryan's great stories, admiring murals of his deeds, playing with Ryan's figurines, and dreaming of joining Ryan on grand campaigns.
Casson had always believed that his father's opposition to Ryan was foolish, as the benefits and profits Ryan brought to the duchy far outweighed the costs. With his cheerful and sincere demeanor, Casson quickly gained the approval of Ryan and Morgiana. Cassyon was forced to retire, and the ducal title passed to Casson.
Thus, the son successfully overthrew his father in a classic case of "the student surpassing the master."
After ascending to the ducal throne, Casson invited the Sun King and his queen to visit Parravon. The young Grail Knight and Duke excelled in personal bravery and military leadership, but like most knightly nobles, his administrative skills were lacking.
Ryan's visit to Parravon was primarily to address several issues. The first was to strengthen the defenses along the Grey Lady's Path, a trade route from Parravon to the Empire's Nuln. This route was one of the main trade arteries between Bretonnia and Nuln, with grain flowing to Nuln and military products coming to Bretonnia.
However, the situation along this route had become unstable recently. Lord Lietpold, whose lands bordered the Grey Lady Mountains, had grown envious of the route's prosperity and attempted to impose additional taxes. Then there was Baron Klodwig, who had long coveted several peaks to the south of his territory, which were part of the Empire's lands.
"Speaking of which, I recently received a letter from Fred," Ryan mentioned something interesting.
In Nuln, Frederick had begun confiscating properties. The eldest son had taken matters into his own hands, cracking down on speculators, doomsayers, and disloyal nobles corrupted by Chaos. Many of these nobles had hidden deeply, but none could escape Frederick's scrutiny.
Once discovered, they were all dealt with—their properties confiscated and their fates sealed.
In the past few months, Frederick had confiscated the wealth of five noble families, accumulated over centuries.
In his letter to his father, Frederick excitedly wrote:
"Economics is so simple!"
Simple, my foot! Ryan couldn't help but laugh in frustration.
He didn't bother to argue with his eldest son. Emily might not be skilled in military matters, but she excelled in administration. Ryan wasn't worried that Frederick would stray from the right path.
The carriage continued its journey toward Parravon Castle.
Meanwhile, in a clearing within the famous Parravon Forest, Lileath, the Moon Goddess of the Elven Pantheon and the Mistress of the Lake, was meeting with Alarielle, the Queen of the Wood Elves.
Alarielle had brought a group of Sisters of Thorn, her handmaidens. Unlike Orion, whose soul was feared and wild, the Sisters of Thorn were both respected and feared by the Wood Elves themselves. They seemed to embody both the light and dark aspects of Alarielle's soul.
In short, the Sisters of Thorn would grant any request, but they would quickly demand a price, known as the "Law of Surprise."
They always responded swiftly to calls for aid, but the price they demanded often exceeded what the rescued were willing to pay. They might fight for a young warrior with unparalleled skills, but they would take his kind soul as payment.
They might answer a Wood Elf maiden's desperate plea for love, only to take her firstborn child.
Even if the petitioner offered something in exchange, the Sisters of Thorn would rarely allow them to choose the price.
Sometimes, the price would far exceed the petitioner's ability to pay.
The Sisters of Thorn were eternal beings, seemingly immune to aging and disease. They could only be killed by physical attacks. When a sister was slain, her body would be taken to a sanctuary within the Oak of Ages, placed in a coffin made of ivy-wrapped roots. She would lie there for weeks or months until the arrival of spring, when the surge of magic and life energy would revive her. But if her body was too damaged, disfigured, or corrupted, her soul would flee the mortal world, and her sisters would seek vengeance on her killers.
Standing several dozen meters behind the Lady of the Lake were Foch, a new recruit of the Grey Knights, and over thirty true "Sons of Bretonnia"—spirit knights raised from the male infants who had disappeared into the Lady's realm. Foch was amazed that these knights had become semi-ghostly entities, yet he sensed no corruption. With the Lady's assurance, Foch said nothing and simply stood guard.
Lileath and Alarielle sat facing each other. The Lady of the Lake smiled at Alarielle, while Devonshire, Ryan's eldest son, sat nearby, curiously observing the Sisters of Thorn and trying to maintain his composure as the Sun King's heir.
Compared to their last meeting, Alarielle seemed exhausted. She lowered her head, breathing heavily, her long, moth-like eyebrows drooping. The Wood Elf Queen shook her head. "My daughter, the world is changing. The Oak of Ages is rotting, Orion has stepped into the flames, and all my strength is being used to fight the corruption itself. I can no longer help you."
"You can, Mother," Lileath said, wearing a soft, shimmering lake-colored pleated dress that trailed on the ground. Her stunning face showed a hint of seriousness. "You must hold on. A greater storm is coming."
"A greater storm... I know what that is. It's the Dark Gods and their chosen lackeys," Alarielle nodded weakly, forcing herself to stay alert. "It's the cycle of fate, my daughter. Are you truly planning to stay with that human? If you die, it will be a true death."
"This is my decision, and I've staked everything on it," Lileath's expression was resolute. She shook her head. "It's too late for regrets now."
"Very well," Alarielle sighed. "I'm afraid to sleep now. I can feel that if I fall asleep within the Oak of Ages, everything will change irreversibly when I wake. So I can only hold on, hoping that after winter passes, things will improve."
"They won't improve, Mother. They will only get worse," Lileath said.
"Not even Asuryan can help?" Alarielle asked. "He was once so powerful. When the Phoenix King descended from his throne to charge at the Dark Gods, even the four Chaos Gods had to retreat."
"That was the Asuryan of the past, not the present," Lileath shook her head.
Alarielle fell silent.
As Lileath and Alarielle spoke, two Wood Elf maidens appeared in the forest. They were identical in appearance, stunningly beautiful, with the wild charm unique to Wood Elves. Their fair, delicate skin, slender phoenix eyes, elegant noses, and thin lips accentuated their graceful figures and feminine curves.
However, there were slight differences. One had black hair and pale lips, wearing a half-face mask. She was lively and playful, flitting around the forest like a butterfly, teasing small animals.
The other had white hair and crimson lips, also wearing a half-face mask but on the opposite side. Her expression was cold, sharp, and almost intimidating. She seemed annoyed by her sister's antics and showed no interest in playing in the forest.
But she soon noticed Devonshire sitting nearby.
Devonshire seemed to exude an irresistible allure, capturing the elf maiden's attention.
The teenage boy had inherited Ryan's威严 and handsomeness, as well as Sulia's fair complexion and delicate features. His youthful innocence made him shine like a flawless piece of jade.
The white-haired, red-lipped elf maiden's eyes lit up. She quickly walked over and sat down on Devonshire's left, asking bluntly, "You're his son?"
"Ah, yes. Greetings, Twilight..." A strong scent of forest and the maiden's natural fragrance filled Devonshire's senses. He quickly greeted her, recognizing her as one of the Twilight Sisters who had appeared during the recapture of Mousilon. However, he didn't know her name or whether she was the elder or younger sister.
"You can call me Araloth, son of the Sun King," the Twilight Sister named Araloth said in a commanding tone, pressing her body close to Devonshire's. "You seem... different from other humans."
"Araloth, really!" The other elf maiden quickly noticed her sister's actions. She abandoned the small animals she was playing with and rushed over, immediately sitting down on Devonshire's right. "Oh! You're Ryan's son, Devonshire! Alaros has mentioned you many times. Come, little brother, let me see what makes you so special?"
"Araloth, this has nothing to do with you!"
"Don't be so greedy, Araloth. You should learn to share."
The Twilight Sisters bickered for a moment but soon reached a consensus. They pulled Devonshire closer, asking him questions and offering him fruits. Araloth was cold and alluring, while her sister, Naestra, was sweet and charming.
Devonshire, sandwiched between two tall, beautiful women (or so they seemed), felt utterly out of place. At less than 16 years old, he was still inexperienced and blushed deeply, lowering his head in embarrassment.
He could only shoot a pleading look at his mother, Lileath.
Mom, save me!
Lileath noticed the scene and understood.
Indeed, Ryan's bloodline possessed an innate, powerful charm, and this was evident in Devonshire. Even the Twilight Sisters, who typically despised men and humans, were drawn to him.
The young queen had resisted the brothers' charm due to the curse of Khaine and the blessing of Isha, coupled with her political wisdom honed through years of court intrigue, which made her realize she could never be with a human.
But the Twilight Sisters had no such restrictions. In fact, the power of the magical weave made them even more wild.
Watching her son being sandwiched between the two sisters, Lileath felt a sudden spark of realization.
The Lady of the Lake glanced at the scene and smiled at Alarielle. "Mother, look."
"Naestra and Araloth seem to like the Sun King's son. That's rare," Alarielle followed Lileath's gaze to where the Twilight Sisters and Devonshire were sitting.
"I have an idea."
"What idea?"
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