The northern landscapes were vast, covered in endless snow.
In the hidden bay connecting the Kislev Bay to the Sea of Claws, a standard passenger ship, shrouded in mist, sailed slowly toward another destination on the Kislev Bay.
Onboard were only the most essential Bretonnian crew members, a few Old Guard veterans, two dwarfs, and Belagar's eldest son, Young Thorgrim Ironhammer, alongside his good friend Jed the Honest. The two stood on the ship's deck chatting. Meanwhile, Otto Arnoux, a wealthy Bretonnian merchant, hid inside the cabin by the fire, trembling from the cold but brimming with anticipation of the immense wealth awaiting him.
Inside the luxurious cabin of the ship, however, was a different world entirely.
The warm, cozy room wasn't very large, but it was richly decorated. Thick carpets covered the floor, elegant tapestries adorned the walls, and the faint sound of seawater lapping against the hull could be heard outside. Inside, two people were enjoying afternoon tea.
Ryan and Morgiana sat across from each other, both their faces flushed.
Today, the Lake Witch Morgiana had specifically chosen a glamorous floral-pink body-hugging dress from the Dream Garden Collection. A golden belt highlighted her exquisite figure. Her golden hair cascaded down her shoulders like a waterfall of light. Her long, slender, pale legs were wrapped in velvet, ultra-thin, floral-patterned, fluorescent tights, accentuating the fine curves of her legs. Her smooth strides caused waves of silky ripples to form, while her delicate feet were adorned with glittery, sky-blue high heels.
Morgiana's face was tinged with a deep blush and an expression of grievance. As she picked up her teacup, intending to say something to Ryan, she noticed the cup was empty. Reaching for the teapot, she realized it was also empty. Helpless, she stood up to prepare more tea. "Ryan, would you like more tea?"
"Hmm, shall I make it instead?" Ryan asked with a smile. He couldn't help but laugh at the look of frustration and resentment on Morgiana's face.
Emilia was pregnant again. Two months along, in fact. Otherwise, she would have had no excuse to skip this trip to visit Dragon City.
Emilia was thrilled—this would be her third child with Ryan. The Imperial Duchess had contentedly gone off to focus on her pregnancy. Sometimes, Ryan couldn't help but wonder why his "little maid" was so remarkably fertile, while, aside from Sulia, it seemed nearly impossible for his other partners to conceive.
It had to be due to magic and divine power. When Ryan thought about it, he realized that except for Emilia, most of his other partners were either grand mages or divine avatars. Emilia, on the other hand, was relatively pure in this regard, though her noble lineage was incredibly high. It was said that when one reached a certain level of power, their bloodline could change, benefitting their descendants.
Of course, the one most upset by this news was Morgiana. The Lake Witch had long been deeply resentful of Emilia monopolizing Ryan's time. Not only did Emilia monopolize it, but she also succeeded where Morgiana couldn't. Despite being with Ryan for so many years and clinging to him every chance she got, Morgiana had yet to conceive. This drove her mad with frustration.
Upon hearing of Emilia's pregnancy, Morgiana had lost her composure and slammed the table in a fit of anger. She then demanded to join Ryan on this trip, insisting that he take her along.
What could Ryan do? Faced with such an unreasonable woman, he could only agree.
This was going to be another bittersweet journey, Ryan thought, shaking his head with a wry smile. Morgiana's wild passion last night had been slightly terrifying.
As Morgiana stood up to prepare the tea, Ryan quietly leaned back in his chair with a book in hand. The voyage had been uneventful, providing the Knight King with a rare opportunity to relax. Berchmond and François were managing the ongoing war efforts, while Lawn handled domestic affairs. With all the major decisions already made, Ryan could afford to step back for now.
Finally, he had a moment to think about nothing at all. Ryan closed his eyes, reclining against the soft chair. He now understood why many rulers, who were ambitious in their youth, grew weary and complacent by middle age. Ten years of dealing with endless internal affairs could crush anyone's spirit. As they aged, their energy and stamina diminished, and they often became lethargic.
Ryan himself didn't have issues with stamina or energy, but his challenge was the lack of a fully developed bureaucratic system to support his governance. Unlike Emperor Karl Franz, Ryan didn't have a complete administrative structure to rely on, forcing him to handle many matters personally.
That was the true value of a bureaucratic system—it allowed a leader to escape the monotonous and repetitive grind of daily governance, focusing instead on major military and political decisions.
"Ryan, do you prefer Assam or Darjeeling?" Morgiana asked as she sorted through the tea leaves. The Lake Witch had just spent the afternoon "exercising" with Ryan but was already planning for the evening.
"Darjeeling," Ryan replied absentmindedly, his eyes still on the financial reports.
This expedition had been extraordinarily profitable. The entire operation had been funded by the Empire, sparing Ryan any logistical or payroll expenses. The spoils of war, tribute from Rus, and the bolstering of his reputation had all yielded substantial gains.
But the most significant reward was Erengrad itself. By integrating the city into Ryan's trade routes, it promised a steady flow of wealth. Combined with the Dragon City trade, the Kingdom of Knights' economy was set to flourish even further.
"Guess who?" Suddenly, two small hands appeared from behind, covering Ryan's eyes.
"???" Ryan was momentarily confused. Wasn't Morgiana making tea? How did she suddenly appear behind him?
But the familiar scent of irises soon gave it away. Ryan decided to play along. "It must be Olica, right?"
"Wrong! Guess again!" The voice sounded a little annoyed.
"Oh! I get it—it's Emilia sneaking aboard to surprise me," Ryan continued to tease.
"Hmph!" The person behind him seemed genuinely upset now. She pinched Ryan's cheek hard and playfully smacked the back of his head. "Ryan, you scoundrel! You can't even recognize your own wife!"
"Hahaha!" Ryan laughed heartily, setting the documents aside and turning around. "How could I not recognize you, Lilith? You knew I'd know it was you and just wanted to toy with me, didn't you?"
"You rascal!" The Lady of the Lake giggled and lightly tapped Ryan on the head with her fan. "You should've played along and acted surprised!"
Today, Lilith was dressed in a flowing, icy-blue summer gown. The long dress trailed to the floor, but its high slits reached nearly to her hips. The goddess radiated divine light as she descended upon the mortal realm. Her plunging neckline showcased a deep cleavage that bounced with her every move.
The goddess's curvaceous figure made the dress cling tightly to her body. She held a small fan in one hand and gracefully sat beside Ryan. Her elegant posture caused the dress's hem to rise slightly, revealing her thighs wrapped in sheer, nude stockings. Her legs, perfectly round and smooth, extended to delicate calves. Her crimson peep-toe heels exposed soft, tender toes, painted with pink nail polish that shimmered under the divine glow. The thin stockings further accentuated her flawless skin, making her feet look as if they were carved from white jade.
Lilith playfully nudged Ryan's pant leg with her delicate, stocking-clad foot. The unicorn-thread crystal stockings glimmered under the divine light, making her alabaster skin look even more alluring. Her tiny foot was so dainty it seemed like a work of art, veiled in a misty sheen. "So, Ryan, do you like it?"
"Y-yes, I do," Ryan stammered, lowering his head in embarrassment. Lilith's smile widened; she knew her man too well. Over twenty years together, and Ryan's preferences had remained remarkably simple. Sometimes, the goddess didn't know whether to be grateful for discovering his quirks early on or to mock his lack of sophistication.
"My Lady, why are you here?" Ryan finally asked after enjoying the view. "This is Kislev Bay—a dangerous place near the Northern Wastes. You shouldn't be here; it's too risky."
"With you by my side, what do I have to fear?" Lilith replied dismissively, gently opening her floral fan. "Morkar is dead. For now, the Chaos Gods have lost their anchor in the mortal world. They won't be able to intervene in the Old World for at least a year or two. This journey is safe."
The fan bore an ancient elven proverb:
"Foresee your own disaster and evade it. Foresee your enemy's disaster and lead them into it."
"My Lady!" Morgiana entered at that moment, placing the teapot on the table. Seeing the Lady of the Lake, she immediately knelt before her. "Your presence here—is there a divine oracle?"
"An oracle?" Lilith looked at her First Chosen with mild disdain. "Kneel! You useless girl! I've given you so many opportunities, and you've squandered every one of them
! I couldn't stand by any longer. That's why I'm here—to personally show you how things are done!"
"What?!?" Morgiana froze in shock.
"Oh yes, my little lake fairy," Lilith teased, stepping on Morgiana's head with her delicate foot. The goddess tilted her head playfully, a mischievous glint in her eyes. "Watch and learn, my dear Morgiana. Tonight, I'll show you how a real Lady of the Lake wins her man's heart!"
Morgiana looked up, eyes wide, utterly speechless.
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