Chapter 233: Set in Stone

"The... Lady?" Count Bonowa almost reflexively called out.

Despite her face being obscured by mist, as a devotee of the Lady, Count Bonowa couldn't fail to recognize the object of his faith from childhood.

For the knights of the kingdom, the faith in the Lady of the Lake is ingrained in their very bones, a belief branded deep within their souls.

"I disagree!" The Lady of the Lake, with her dazzling radiance, stepped out from behind the castle. Her cold yet calm gaze made the king's envoy subconsciously kneel, his hands trembling uncontrollably as he stuttered: "My... my Lady?"

"I do not agree with either of these royal decrees." The Lady's indifferent words swept over Bonowa like a bone-chilling wind. She extended her hand, and the royal decrees on the ground flew into her grasp: "Ryan is my champion. Did Richard ever pray to me? Did he seek my opinion?"

Before everyone's eyes, the royal decrees disintegrated into dust in the Lady's hands.

The king's envoy turned pale, kneeling there, unable to utter a word.

"Take your things and go back, Bonowa. I need you to relay to Richard that all of Ryan's actions are with my express permission," the Lady spoke coldly. "Or does Richard believe I am mistaken?"

"No! No! His Majesty would never think so!" The envoy was drenched in sweat, kneeling in fear. In that moment, he seemed to see the anger hidden in the Lady's eyes.

In this country, the king could not deny the Lady of the Lake, for to do so would be to deny his own legal and legitimate rule.

Ryan was personally ennobled by Richard and received the sword-bearing ceremony from him. Theoretically, Ryan was indeed directly under the king's jurisdiction, but he was also a subordinate of Duke Winfort, theoretically under François's management as well.

However, Ryan's most important identity is that of the Lady of the Lake's Chosen Champion, a reason for the Lady to be angered.

In their brief interactions, François quickly grasped the situation, consulting with Ryan on everything. But Richard never understood, always believing Ryan was his vassal who must obey his commands, because matters of the divine are separate from those of mortals.

The atmosphere in the hall was suffocating. The king's envoy was timid, his face as white as paper, sweat soaking his body, like a dog with its spine broken, daring not to speak except to bow repeatedly.

"Go back and tell Richard that he need not concern himself with Ryan's affairs. Doing his job as king is the best repayment to me." The Lady's eyes flashed with anger before returning to calmness, signaling Bonowa that he could leave.

The king's envoy, who entered with arrogance, left like a defeated dog, barely able to walk straight, almost crawling to his horse. The count was terrified, trying to speak but barely able to muster a whisper: "Let's go... let's hurry."

All knights yearn to see the Lady, but Count Bonowa could never have imagined his first encounter with her would be under such circumstances. Thinking of the Lady's indifferent demeanor, the envoy felt as if he was on the gallows, his neck constricted by a rope, tightening inch by inch towards death.

Escape! Run! I never want to come to this place again in my life!

Run!

The robust warhorse carried the king's envoy and his party away into the twilight.

An hour later, in the Lady of the Lake's tower, second floor.

In the elegantly furnished inner chamber, the Lady of the Lake unquestionably took the seat of honor. The Holy Grail, sought after by countless knights, was placed beside her, and she was adorned in a dress of irises, embellished with diamonds and gold, showcasing her divine grace.

In the prayer room were only Ryan and Sulia, their subordinates found the Lady's appearance unbelievable. They all immediately knelt in submission. The Lady routinely encouraged everyone, then gestured for Ryan and the duke's daughter to join her.

The duke's daughter was somewhat uneasy, wanting to kneel, but the Lady smiled and shook her head: "It's okay, Sulia, sit down."

"My Lady, I..." The female knight was still very uneasy.

"Sit down. There's no need for such formality between me, Ryan, and you. We're like friends here. Have some tea, enjoy some pastries. Try them, I made them myself." The Lady's radiant smile lit up the chamber as she personally served a plate of pastries and high elf honey tea.

"Sit down, Sulia, it's okay," Ryan also urged, gently pulling the female knight's hand. The Chosen Champion spoke warmly.

Sulia finally relaxed a bit, tightly holding Ryan's hand, the two of them sitting side by side at the table.

Moonlight streamed through the window into the chamber, the magical lights casting a soft, yellow glow. Ryan tasted a pastry and, after pondering for a moment, slowly spoke: "A conspiracy, my Lady. Without you, I would have been caught in a dilemma."

"If I had agreed, all my efforts would have been in vain—my work on public safety, my attempts to build an army, my efforts to recruit dwarves—all would have turned to dust. I would have led an expedition of no more than a thousand men into the desert to eat sand, playing hide and seek with skeletons, perhaps unable to return for years, even decades."

"If I refused, Richard would have a direct reason to wage war against me," Ryan continued gravely. "Then, I certainly wouldn't surrender without a fight. The only answer would be war. Duke Leonnace and Duke Montfort, who support Richard, would stand with the king, while Duke François and Duke Bodrick, who support me, would stand by my side. Thus, any small incident could trigger a civil war within the kingdom."

Sulia nodded silently, looking at Ryan worriedly while also cautiously observing the Lady, eager to hear her response.

"Correct, that's Richard's plan, but I must add something. Given Richard's character, he wouldn't want to spark a civil war. He would keep pressuring you, hoping you would yield and admit your mistake," the Lady pointed at Ryan with a delicate finger. "Then, because of your resistance, the entire kingdom would be at risk of civil war. My champion, Ryan, you would bear great pressure. If you then admitted your mistake and yielded, Richard would achieve his goal."

Ryan nodded bitterly, aware that even if he won a civil war, the nation would be left in ruins.

That wasn't what he wanted.

After a moment of silence, Ryan continued: "I still don't understand why the king would target me like this."

"Richard isn't targeting you; he fears change. He's old, and his thinking is rigid, as if he's stuck in a mold," the Lady of the Lake explained as she gathered her golden hair behind her head. She picked up a cup of tea, delicately tasting the high elf honey tea. "People like him are like startled birds, hiding in their cages. They lock their doors, bolt their windows, and any slight disturbance fills them with fear and unease. Ryan, your actions have touched upon their sensitive nerves. With me around, they dare not act rashly, but if you truly plan to... it's best to prepare early."

"I understand," Ryan acknowledged, having already thought through his future path.

At this moment, Sulia, with some trepidation, spoke up, her voice tinged with sadness, "Actually, in matters concerning my father, His Majesty Richard acts the same..."

The Lady of the Lake looked interestedly at Sulia sitting next to Ryan. Even in the eyes of a goddess, the duke's daughter's beauty was outstanding, evoking a hint of envy because the girl before her had Ryan's undivided love.

With a playful glance, the Lady realized some matters were better settled sooner rather than later. Ryan already had several women by his side, and the arrival of two witches from the Council of Magi was a clear signal. Now, with Ryan's rapid rise and remarkable improvement in strength, it was prudent to push for early resolutions to avoid future complications.

"I have a question, my champion. When do you and Sulia plan to get engaged?" the Lady suddenly asked, smiling.

Sulia's hand tightened, her embarrassment nearly overwhelming. As a devout follower of the Lady, she was at a loss for how to respond when the subject was broached so directly. Her fair skin flushed red, her sea-blue eyes filled with panic: "That... my Lady, I haven't discussed this with my father yet..."

"And what of it? Do you truly believe François, your father, is unaware? If he objected, could you visit Ryan's castle so freely? If he objected, could Ryan visit you in Helenshield so openly?" the Lady's exquisite face took on a serious expression. "My point is, you two should settle this sooner rather than later."

"Since it's the Lady's divine command, I have no objections," Sulia said, her cheeks flushing as she lowered her gaze.

"And what about you, Ryan?" The pressure shifted to Ryan.

Sulia immediately looked at Ryan, her expression anxious but also filled with unstoppable anticipation. After all they had experienced together, from Malinbourg to Brittany, and having expressed their feelings for each other, she was confident, especially with the Lady's support.

"I have no objections, my Lady. It would be my honor," Ryan replied without hesitation, sharing a smile with Sulia as they intertwined their fingers.

"Then let's schedule your engagement ceremony for next year. I will participate," the Lady said, satisfied with the outcome. "That will be all for today. Sulia, I'll be staying here for a while, and you're welcome to visit anytime. My decree will be issued soon, and I'll send Morgianna to arrange these matters."

"Thank you so much, my Lady!" Sulia, seeing Ryan's agreement, radiated joy. She stood up and bowed deeply in gratitude, barely containing her excitement. Her years of courtly training helped her maintain her composure, but her slightly trembling body betrayed her emotions.

Her relationship with Ryan was always clear to François, who approved of the match. From any perspective, Ryan was an ideal choice—strength, wisdom, prestige, age, and appearance; he matched Sulia perfectly.

François was particularly pleased that Ryan was an orphan.

His foster father was in Nord, and his godfather in the Empire, meaning Sulia wouldn't face any mistreatment since Ryan had no elders here.

This was a significant point. In both the Empire and Brittany, noble families often intermarried, creating a complex web of familial and blood relations. This often led to confusion over seniority and the suppression of those married into the family.

Ryan, however, faced none of these issues. As a lord in Brittany near the capital, Sulia's father could frequently see her and support her, ensuring a happy and fulfilling life for his daughter.

The delay in their engagement was mainly due to the duke's considerations. François had entertained the idea of adopting Ryan as his son-in-law, suggesting Ryan change his surname to Antrai. 

Ryan gently refused: "My duke, if you truly understood my background, you wouldn't have proposed this."

After this soft rejection, François backed down and didn't rush the engagement, waiting for the awkwardness to pass. Sulia's less frequent visits to Ryan were also due to this.

Sulia was almost certain that once the Lady issued her decree, her cunning father would seize the opportunity to agree. She understood her father as well as he understood her desires.

...

Leaving the Lady of the Lake's tower, Sulia hurried away on her pegasus, leaving Ryan amused and warmed by the thought: It's indeed time for a home, for a wife.

This happy mood didn't last long before Dias, the ranger who had sought refuge with Ryan, brought troubling news just two days before the Winter's Crest festival.

"My baron, there's movement among the vampires of Musillon. The Red Duke is slowly but surely assembling a large army!"

"Gather everyone, we need to have a meeting immediately!"

... Update! Seeking recommendations for the new week!

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