The smoke outside Nuln had finally dissipated, and Tamurkhan's ambitions were halted right at the city's gates.
The battle had taken a heavy toll on the city, with over ten thousand soldiers dead. For a city with a population of just over three hundred thousand, this was a significant loss. Nearly every household in Nuln had suffered casualties. The Temple of Shallya, the Goddess of Mercy, became the busiest place in the city, with beds set up outside the temple stretching for two blocks.
Citizens who hadn't fought in the battle instinctively participated in the relief efforts, offering their money, labor, and resources. Some even gave up their homes. The staggering number of casualties made it clear that recovering production and rebuilding the devastated Wissenland would be a colossal task.
But these concerns were no longer Ryan's to bear.
After a brief rest, Ryan and Calard led the knightly army back home. They planned to board ships in Nuln, travel down the Wissen River to the Reik River, and from there sail to the port of Marienburg, before finally reaching Bordeleaux and Mousillon by sea.
In theory, Ryan and his men shouldn't leave so hastily, as the knights needed more time to recover. However, Suria insisted. The lady knight argued that since it was already early winter, if they didn't leave Nuln soon, they might be forced to spend the Winter Solstice in the city. With the seas and rivers freezing over, leaving would then have to wait until spring.
Emilia quickly chimed in, saying how wonderful it would be if they stayed another winter. She promised to take good care of them, especially Suria.
After hearing this, Suria became even more determined to leave. In private, she frequently urged Ryan to go, reminding him that they had fulfilled their obligations and that Nuln was now safe. It was time to return home.
Ryan understood Suria's desire to leave Nuln. On one hand, she had personal reasons as the Duchess, not wanting to stay in someone else's territory. On the other hand, she was also thinking of Ryan's well-being.
In this world, a lord's control over his territory diminishes the longer he stays away.
Ryan had indeed stayed in the Empire for too long. Originally, he planned to leave in May, but now it was October. Everything he had set out to do was complete, and it was time to go.
Emilia was reluctant to see him leave but knew it was necessary. After spending a bit more time with him and settling certain matters, she arranged for ships to take Ryan and his men home.
The knights of Bretonnia received honors, abundant supplies, and the eternal gratitude of the people of Nuln. As they departed, the entire city gathered at the docks to bid them farewell, offering their sincere thanks. The Nuln City Council also bestowed lavish gifts upon the Bretonnian knights, and the Imperial Duchess publicly vowed that if Bretonnia ever needed Nuln's help, Nuln would unhesitatingly come to their aid.
At the end of October, the Reik River was still not too cold. A fleet of dozens of ships slowly sailed down the wide river. Compared to the turbulent waters of the Wissen River, the Reik River was much calmer.
At the center of the fleet was the large sailing ship carrying Ryan and his entourage. This grand passenger ship was like a small palace, luxuriously decorated with fine wood, imported carpets from Tilea, bright magical lamps in the corridors, and even a personal chef.
In the master bedroom, Ryan and his wife, Suria, sat facing each other. Devonshire was crawling around on the floor, a bit unhappy after losing his playmate, little Frederick. The one-and-a-half-year-old boy was being entertained by Sylvia.
Olica, dressed in a white nightgown, was fast asleep on a nearby soft bed. Due to overusing her magic recently, the dark elf had been very sleepy, her face flushed with a gentle smile as she slept soundly.
Ryan took a sip of tea and asked Suria, "My lady, are you satisfied with our time in the Empire?"
"The first half was satisfactory, but the second half..." Suria elegantly sipped her tea. She wore a classic Nuln snowflake-patterned off-shoulder dress, draped with a white fox fur shawl. Her long legs were wrapped in black tights, and she wore suede high-heeled boots. Her golden hair flowed down her back, held in place by a white headband. Her beautiful face bore a gentle smile, as noble and elegant as a sacred iris. She had a regal bearing and a strong maternal presence. She crossed her legs, looked at Ryan with a half-smile, and asked, "Do you feel good about it?"
"No one could have predicted what happened," Ryan shrugged. "When problems arise, we have to solve them. Tamurkhan's forces were greatly depleted by the time they reached Nuln; otherwise, we would have faced an even tougher challenge."
"You know that's not what I'm talking about, Ryan," Suria replied after taking another sip of tea.
Ryan closed his eyes and nodded. "Do you think she's changed?"
Suria didn't answer directly but placed her cup down and said, "You've changed too."
"People change, my lady," Ryan sighed. "You know, Emilia is now the Imperial Duchess of Emanoli. She's one of the most powerful people in the Empire and the most powerful woman. In such an environment, it's easy for her to become arrogant and self-centered. Nuln is her territory, and everyone supports her. It's only natural for her to have some selfish thoughts."
"Yes." Suria accepted this explanation, her heart warming as she watched Devonshire play with his toy lance. Emilia could only do so much; she had no chance of usurping Suria's position as Ryan's wife.
The Empire trip had strained the relationship between Suria and Emilia. If it had been a 90 before, it was now down to a 60.
"By the way, the rumors in Nuln, especially among the unmarried noblewomen and citizens, all show how envious they are of me," Suria continued, her smile turning sly. "Now they all want to find someone like you, Ryan. Apart from everything else, what they envy most is that I get to make all the decisions at home because you're on your own."
"Heh, it's just fear of the mother-in-law," Ryan chuckled.
Everyone knew Ryan had no parents.
Well, that wasn't entirely accurate. Technically, Ryan's parents weren't around, while Suria had her parents fully backing her. This was what Nuln's noblewomen and citizens envied most.
Suria didn't have to deal with these issues. She could manage the household and raise their child as she saw fit, discussing major decisions privately with Ryan. In contrast, most noble families were entangled in complex bloodlines and lived with relatives they barely knew, leading to constant conflicts.
It was slightly better in this world, but the fundamental problem remained.
"Yes, I attended many tea parties in Nuln, where several noblewomen and ladies confided in me about being mistreated at home," Suria said, clearly intrigued. "I heard many stories, and to be honest, they were quite alarming."
"Alarming about what?" Ryan quipped, "Like I'm mistreating you or something?"
"Pfft~ I didn't say that. You've always treated me well, very well." Suria shook her head. She was interested now and got up to sit beside Ryan, holding his hand and leaning on his shoulder. She asked shyly and expectantly, "But what if? Ryan, my husband, what if I had a conflict with your biological mother? Whose side would you take?"
Ryan's face turned green.
The dreaded question every man fears: Who would you choose, me or your mom?
After pondering for a moment, Ryan could only sigh and answer, "The core issue in mother-in-law conflicts is fundamentally a struggle for control over household resources. Typically, the head of the household, the husband, holds the title and power, managing finances and people. The mother-in-law wants to control her son, while the daughter-in-law wants to control her husband. Their goals are the same. Suria, you won't face this problem."
Suria gave a soft "hmm" in agreement. Indeed, she wouldn't encounter this issue. Additionally, the customs in this world were different. Typically, after marriage, mothers-in-law and daughters-in-law didn't live together, so they didn't see each other often. She had only met Ryan's biological father once and his adoptive parents once. During her meeting with the Emperor, Suria had a conversation with him, and the Emperor had clearly acknowledged her position as Ryan's wife, which was enough.
Suria fell silent, and Ryan, holding her slender waist, was lost in thought.
He remembered that in his previous life, mother-in-law conflicts were often a significant or even the primary cause of family breakups. When browsing a site called Zhihu, he frequently saw many daughters-in-law venting their frustrations. After reading some of their posts, he could empathize.
How could there be mothers-in-law who were so heartless, cruel, and inhuman, constantly stirring up trouble?
But after spending enough time on Zhihu, Ryan realized something: daughters-in-law aren't inherently innocent and kind, and mothers-in-law aren't born evil and insane.
It's just that mothers-in-law don't know how to post on Zhihu or make up stories.
The thought made Ryan chuckle. He hugged his wife and said, "What's the matter, Suria? Not only are you
my wife, but now you're also acting as a priestess and confessor for others?"
"You know how it is, Ryan. Nuln's afternoon tea parties often veer off into that direction. Many ladies and noblewomen like to confide in me about their relationship problems," Suria replied with a lingering sense of unease. "They always want my advice."
"Break up… Oh no, I mean, suggest they divorce! Always suggest divorce!" Ryan said naturally. "Of course, they should split! Better a clean break than prolonged pain! It's the right thing to do! Should they stay together for the New Year?"
"From now on, Suria, whenever anyone asks you for relationship advice, just tell them to divorce. Divorce now, divorce immediately, and head to the church to file the papers!" Ryan added boldly. "Do this enough times, and no one will bother you with this anymore!"
"Hahaha~" Suria laughed, playfully punching Ryan's chest. "What kind of advice is that? You can't just divorce on a whim! As the Lady's chosen champion and a paragon of chivalry, I can't believe you'd give such advice."
Indeed, divorce in this world wasn't that simple, especially for nobles. The intricate ties between land, families, and regions made it far more complicated than just getting a divorce at the church. The agreements that had to be reached and the many repercussions made it incredibly difficult to make such a decision, and it often drew the attention of higher powers or even angered the gods who had blessed the marriage.
As a result, divorces among the nobility were exceedingly rare.
Neither Ryan nor Suria wanted to continue this conversation, as they were both very happy and satisfied with their marriage. So they quickly changed the subject. Suria glanced at Olica, who was still sleeping soundly on the bed. "Is Olica okay?"
"She's fine, just exhausted from using too much magic," Ryan shook his head. "She just needs to rest for a while."
"Daddy~ Mommy~" Devonshire called out as he jumped around the room. "I miss Mama Lilith! Mommy, when will Mama Lilith come play with me?"
"Hehe~ She'll come see you when we get home," Suria said, picking up her son as the family shared a moment of warmth.
After feeding little Devonshire some food, Suria asked, "By the way, why did you let that black-hearted Leupold come along? I think he's really just a…"
"A rogue, a scoundrel, a lowlife?" Ryan crossed his arms, looking confident.
Suria didn't respond, but her expression said it all.
The day after the Battle of Nuln, Leupold had approached Ryan, requesting asylum. The mercenary baron asked Ryan to take him in, hoping his contributions in the war would earn him a place in Ryan's service.
"Leupold is indeed a very unsavory character, but that doesn't mean he's useless," Ryan felt there was no need to hide anything from his wife. "I plan to send him to the Border Princes. The Border Princes is a lawless and unclaimed territory. As long as he has our support, it won't be difficult for him to establish a so-called 'principality.'"
"So you plan to support him in becoming a warlord in the Border Princes?" Suria immediately grasped Ryan's intention. "Is it… to prepare for the Eight Peaks expedition?"
"Mm-hmm," Ryan nodded. Leupold was a man with very obvious strengths and weaknesses, and knowing how to use him was key to maximizing his value.
"Then you'll need to give him a title," Suria suggested. "Only with a title will he be motivated to serve you, serve us, and serve the kingdom."
"A title, huh? I've already thought of one," Ryan said, acknowledging that Suria's suggestion made perfect sense.
"What title?"
"How about… the *Bretonnian Independent Regiment*?"
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