Chapter 273: The Consort of Wisdom

The Empire's great swordsmen were dressed quite flamboyantly, often wearing tight uniforms and trousers paired with beautiful dwarven plate armor. All the great swordsmen preferred hats over helmets, their hats adorned with large feather plumes. Even on a single person, the colors of a great swordsman's uniform could be called rich, with never the same color on the left and right trouser legs; the colorful hues represented the identity of swordsmen from different families and regions.

Soon, someone arranged for the griffon knights and the great swordsmen to rest elsewhere; Ryan had already prepared a place for them. The Earl himself and the future Countess led Anton towards the second-floor reception room. "Come, Anton, my brother-in-arms, let's sit for a while. I've arranged a fine dinner for tonight, where you can enjoy many different delicacies."

"Oh, I'm looking forward to it." Anton Ferdinand looked interestedly at the luxurious decor inside Ryan's castle: "Your castle isn't very large, but it feels very comfortable."

Opening the door to the reception room, the comfortable heating invigorated everyone present. Before Ryan could speak, Lady Sulia, the Marchioness, smiled and said, "Lord Anton, you are Ryan's brother-in-arms, and in the future, you will also be my brother. Although the Empire and Brittany have had occasional frictions over the past thousand years, we have always supported each other in the most difficult times. Please feel at home here, as Ryan and I are your family."

A few courtesies later, a typical noble lady's gentleness and virtuousness were displayed before Anton, making the visiting griffon Earl feel like he was basking in the warmth of spring: "Please, do not be so formal, Lady Sulia. Just call me brother, the griffon will always be your friend. My father and your father, Lord François, once forged a deep friendship. I believe the friendship between our families will certainly continue."

"Thank you, brother Anton," Sulia said with a standard smile, and within three minutes of sitting down and talking, she successfully made the griffon Earl feel sufficiently close.

Ryan saw everything and continued, "How has the godfather been recently? I haven't heard any news from him."

"All is well with father; the Griffon Knight Order has been resting after wiping out several bandit groups in the Rickwald Forest," Anton nodded, relaxing a bit as Sulia poured him a glass of fine Wunford red wine, and Ryan served up delicious pastries. The griffon Earl relaxed, using silverware to pick up a piece of cake, saying somewhat mockingly, "And incidentally eliminated a gang of rogue knights."

Ryan frowned slightly upon hearing this, "Rogue knights?"

Sulia was even more sensitive, she immediately realized something and worriedly looked at Ryan.

Ryan's expression remained unchanged.

The knightess then tried to strike up a conversation with Anton, "I hear the Empire's north has been quite chaotic lately?"

"Yes, as you said, the chaos invasions have become more frequent. The combined forces of the Hawk and Oster provinces were recently defeated by the Brass Fortress's chaos army. The frontier fortress of Wolfenburg was completely razed by the chaos army once again, until I and Ludwig led a large group of knights and the Empire's army arrived and pushed back the chaos forces, forcing them to retreat to the Brass Fortress," Anton looked quite weary. "In this battle, the vitality of Hawk and Oster provinces was severely damaged, especially Hawk Province, where the military strength has been reduced to an all-time low."

Hawk Province is the Empire's smallest province: just a small piece of land between the Central Mountains and the Talabec River. The majority of Hawk is covered with forests and marauding bands of beastmen tribes, with only the southern settlements and farmlands along the riverbanks being spared.

Before the Great Expedition of the Red Flame, Hawk Province had been very prosperous, but when most of the Empire's knights took part in the expedition, a greatest beastman beast lord declared his rise in the northern Central Mountains of Hawk Province.

His name was the Cruel, Gorthor, the greatest beast king in the history of beastmen.

Let's put his story aside for now; what Ryan knew was that this beast king nearly slaughtered the Oster and Hawk provinces to extinction and almost completely destroyed the provincial capital of Hezigg. If it weren't for the knights who returned in time from the Great Expedition of the Red Flame to defeat and kill Gorthor, the northern Empire might have been overwhelmed by the beast tide.

"The threat of chaos is getting closer," Anton spoke in a low tone, "The Sky Mages predict that it won't be long before a larger horde of barbarians will try to attack the north of the Empire. We do not wish to suffer too much from internal strife, Ryan."

"Brittany has just repelled the vampire armies, and we suffered heavy losses in the Knights' War three years ago. The dukes need to rest their armies, we need to build up strength," Ryan also spoke quietly. "Human kingdoms are now very weak."

Outside, the heavy snow continued to fall, the reception room warm as spring.

Anton stood up, his face showing some unnatural caution as he walked to the glazed windows, looking at the snowscape outside. In the distance, the thriving town of Gien emitted smoke from heating, the lush Châlons Forest was covered in pristine snow as usual, and the mountain road to Helensheld was blocked by heavy snow, every winter this road was covered by waist-deep snow.

"He seems to have something to say," Sulia tapped Ryan's hand. "Ryan, go over."

"I know." Ryan stood and walked to Anton's side. "So, the Empire is prepared?"

"The cause began a month ago," Anton looked out at the heavy snow. "Long-standing frictions have made life miserable for the border residents, so we proposed negotiations. Duke Paravion agreed, coming to Brunswick with his wife for the negotiations. At the time, His Imperial Majesty was busy with internal affairs, so Elector Umberto 'Sun Lion' Colleoni represented him in the negotiations with Lord Casvane."

Hearing that Casvane came with his wife, Ryan and Sulia's faces turned pale.

This was trouble!

"During the negotiations, we could never agree, and the process was repeatedly interrupted by Lord Casvane's wife bursting into the meeting room," Anton's tone was indescribably strange. "The Duchess was too rude and overbearing, Elector Colleoni could not stand it, and openly rebuked Lord Casvane and his wife…"

"So, the negotiations broke down?" The knightess took over the conversation.

"Yes, the negotiations broke down," Anton's tone carried an unclear implication. "Therefore, His Majesty sent me here."

Ryan's face became serious.

This was why he had to withdraw from this winter's campaign.

"You are a respected opponent and comrade, Ryan, your exploits over the years are well known even in the Empire. His Imperial Majesty has never restricted the spread of rumors, he even sent the Rick Guard to help stir things up. Maybe… I mean maybe, the Empire has to have a war with Casvane to let both sides cool down,

 and your stance is very crucial," Anton continued.

"What's so crucial about me? I'm just an earl, not a duke. You should be talking to Lord François or Lord Berchimond," Ryan's voice carried a slight hint of mockery. "Talking to me is useless."

"No, talking to you is the most crucial step," Anton smiled. "The reputation and position you hold in this country, even my father cannot match. You are also the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, your word is very important. If I'm not mistaken, right now Brittany's young knights are all imitating your every move. Your word is like a weathervane for the knightly class, am I right?"

Sulia immediately understood, completely.

Given Ryan's enormous prestige in Brittany, just by showing a little unwillingness to oppose the Empire, all the dukes would think this was the Lady of the Lake's will, making them very cautious about the idea of war. And the young questing knights, just by Ryan taking a stand, most of them would refuse to fight the Empire.

The Empire was indeed eyeing the special relationship between Ryan and the Empire, thus sending an envoy straight to the heart of the matter!

"I need some time to think," Ryan gave his response. "You've come a long way, Anton, rest first."

"Alright," Anton nodded.

Twenty minutes later, inside Ryan's master bedroom, Ryan and Sulia sat together discussing the course of events.

"I don't want to see human nations in civil war, Sulia." Ryan held the knightess in his arms, distressed. "But it seems this war is now unavoidable."

"Ryan, the Empire has the same intention; they want to use your influence," the knightess gently stroked Ryan's handsome face. "You are the Lady's chosen champion. If you declare you want to oppose the Empire, then perhaps ten thousand questing knights might join Casvane's side. If you state you do not wish to oppose the Empire, then the dukes will also be very cautious about whether to stand with Casvane."

"Do I have that much influence?" Ryan smiled a bit uncertainly. "It always seems a bit unreal to me."

"You do, Ryan," Sulia's smile bloomed like a flower, and she kissed Ryan's face. "Otherwise, my father wouldn't have agreed so quickly to our engagement."

"So… my fiancée, what do you think about this?" Ryan asked with a wry smile. "I don't want to be an enemy of the Empire, but I also don't want to fall into my brother's trap. I want to remain neutral, but…"

"You should tell Lord Anton outright that you will not be an enemy of the Empire, but out of respect for the Lady, you cannot make a public statement. All you can do is remain silent, Ryan, trust me, my father and Lord Berchimond will make the same choice as you," Sulia continued analyzing. "You have enough strength to not take sides, you are now a legendary peak Grail Knight, neither we nor the Empire side can find a champion to match you."

"My silence means that a war between Duke Paravion Casvane and the Empire is really going to happen, Sulia," Ryan furrowed his brow. "I've said before, I don't want to see human kingdoms at war."

"You're wrong, Ryan." Sulia shook her head vigorously, her golden waist-length curls flying in the air, releasing the scent of whole iris flowers. "We cannot allow a full-scale war among humans, but a small-scale war is still necessary. No matter the outcome, this war will calm people down, the Empire on the other side of the mountain is, and so are we in Brittany."

"Without a fight, how would we understand the power disparity between two nations, without a fight, how would we welcome true peace?" The knightess's lips curled into a smile. "Let Casvane and the Empire go to war. Regardless of the outcome, we will benefit. Casvane won't be a match for Karl-Franz, not from any angle."

Ryan's eyes gradually lit up.

Yes, he didn't need to take a stance, he just needed to use the Lady of the Lake as a shield, he just needed to remain silent, then he would have his cake and eat it too. The Empire would owe him this favor, otherwise, they would face the attack of thousands of questing knights. Brittany wouldn't blame him either, because this was the Lady's will, and many dukes had good relations with the Empire, they would seize the chance to choose silence along with Ryan. They would also owe Ryan a favor.

Human infighting is not desirable, but constantly trying to talk peace and forcibly maintaining peace is also full of difficulties. On the contrary, as Sulia said, a small-scale war could let both sides cool down and return to the negotiation table. This is the true peace.

Peace sought through struggle endures; peace sought through compromise perishes.

Sulia had actually outlined such a clear best option for Ryan in such a short time!

Ryan couldn't help but pick up Sulia and spin her around a few times, kissing her lips several times: "Thank you so much, Sulia, you really are my lucky goddess! Having you as my fiancée is my fortune!"

"Ah! Don't do that~ Ryan, Olica is still here!" Little bear slippers fell on the floor, Sulia blushed and hugged Ryan's neck, the dark elf maid Olica was standing in the room watching them!

The knightess was always shy about their intimate actions between the two of them, if it was really just the two of them alone, maybe it would be fine, but Olica had been serving Ryan for a long time, and in front of the dark elf, Sulia always felt uncomfortable.

In the void, a beautiful figure watched the blissful knightess and snorted softly.

...

"Lord Anton, please stay here during this time," in the guest room outside the castle, several maids were arranging the room for the griffon Earl.

At that moment, a little maid in a white long maid's dress pushed a trolley, bringing many daily necessities to the griffon Earl's side, her steps very hurried: "Lord Anton, please rest well, dinner starts at seven o'clock in the evening, I have to go now."

After speaking, the little maid hurriedly tried to leave, but Anton still noticed the maid's plain appearance, a trace of doubt and curiosity appearing in his eyes.

"This voice… sounds like Emanoroli… but she doesn't look like her."

The bizarre thought circled in Anton's mind then disappeared, he shook his head self-mockingly: "I must be hallucinating, Emanoroli disappeared over a decade ago, how could she appear in Brittany, and be serving as Ryan's maid."

"Phew~ I'm so tired, let me rest for a while…"

PS: Some readers say that the protagonist has not visited his foster father, isn't that a bit ungrateful? I want to say that the correspondence between the protagonist and his foster father has never been interrupted, but visiting is very troublesome, ancient times are not like modern times, running there takes a lot of effort and two to three months' time, the protagonist has too many things to attend

 to and cannot spare the time.

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