The atmosphere inside the inner chamber of the meeting hall was distinctly different from the outer chamber. The heated floors kept the room warm and cozy, while several marshals were engaged in a heated debate over the next strategic moves.
At this moment, the Lady of the Lake suddenly took Sulia's hand. The goddess and the Queen of Knights were chatting intimately, laughing and smiling. They even switched seats, letting Ryan take the main seat while they sat behind him, whispering and occasionally pointing at Ryan. The Lady of the Lake seemed particularly spirited, her slender, jade-like finger pointing at Ryan's back, while Sulia appeared both shy and slightly reproachful, mostly nodding but occasionally shaking her head as she listened to the goddess.
Ryan suddenly felt as if he had a target on his back.
It had the distinct vibe of two empresses overseeing the court from behind a curtain.
Outside the open door, Veronica, the head of the Sorceress Council, lazily leaned back in her chair and yawned. It was the depths of winter, and the environment was far from pleasant. She seemed utterly disinterested in joining the marshals' debate. Veronica knew very well that all her power and status came from Ryan. Now that her inner conflicts had been resolved, she was even less inclined to involve herself in state affairs. Wasn't it better to discuss things privately with Ryan during their intimate moments?
Dressed in a fiery red fox-fur coat that reached her waist, paired with a silver-gray woolen Bretonnian knee-length dress, sheer flesh-colored Lycra tights with a starry aurora pattern, and matching red velvet high heels with butterfly bows, Veronica glanced at Aurora, who was chatting with Morgiana, and shrugged indifferently.
"Madam President, Lady Theresa is going in. Should we...?" Of course, while Veronica remained composed, her apprentice Melissa, who stood behind her as her assistant, seemed eager to join in.
Hmph! The little hussy can't sit still, Veronica thought with a cold laugh. However, the sorceress decided to give her apprentice some advice. "And do what? She's the King's court lady and the head of the Seventh Intelligence Bureau. What about you? Do you want to be the King's court lady too?"
"I wouldn't dare!" Melissa's face turned pale, and she immediately knelt to apologize.
"What kind of place is this for you to kneel?" Veronica said with a hint of sarcasm. "Just stand there. Don't meddle in things that don't concern you, or even I won't be able to protect you."
"Yes," Melissa replied, her face grim. The apprentice could only reluctantly lower her head in agreement.
Madam President, you're really cutting the bridge after crossing the river!
Meanwhile, Morgiana had agreed to Aurora's request to let Theresa enter. The Lady of the Lake gestured for Theresa to follow her, but after a few steps, Morgiana noticed that Theresa had stopped in her tracks. Puzzled, Morgiana asked, "What's wrong, Theresa? Didn't you have something to report to His Majesty?"
"I... I..." Theresa felt utterly wronged. The sorceress shot a resentful glance at her mother.
Aurora, however, didn't even look at her. The sorceress's face was slightly flushed, clearly a bit embarrassed about selling out her daughter, but after doing it so many times, she had grown used to it. She was now chatting with Sylvie, the head maid of the court, who held considerable authority.
"Come on," Morgiana didn't think much of it. The Lady of the Lake was only concerned about Ryan and the Lady of the Lake, who had been busy since early morning. It was almost noon, and they needed to eat something soon.
"Alright," Theresa replied, her mind racing as she tried to figure out what she should say.
When they reached the door of the inner chamber, Morgiana signaled for Theresa to wait outside for a moment. The Lady of the Lake entered with the food boxes, accompanied by two Lake Maidens, and began arranging the exquisite pastries and fresh fruits she had personally prepared on the table.
The debate inside the inner chamber grew louder.
Marshal Bohemond was particularly agitated. The old duke slammed the table, "Damn those Marienburgers, those greedy merchants! I say we should just send troops and raze Marienburg to the ground. Let those profiteers learn their lesson! What are they thinking, hoarding and speculating on grain at a time like this?"
"We can't do that. Marienburg is Imperial territory. If we interfere rashly, it would be tantamount to declaring war on the Empire," Francois stroked his long beard. The father-in-law wasn't keen on continuing the war. In recent years, he had promoted the most freemen and knights from the commoners, simply because the dividends from the Eight Peaks Expedition hadn't been fully absorbed. The constant waves of massive gains had left him with little desire to keep fighting. "We should first establish contact with the Empire."
"But that's assuming the Empire is willing to cooperate with us," Duke Bordeleaux said unhappily. He added, "Your Majesty, I propose another sweeping campaign, this time targeting Norsca, just like a few years ago. That wanderer, Wulfrik, is always causing us trouble. Let's crush his Ice Dragon Fjord and make him a true wanderer!"
"Exactly! I agree. A sweeping campaign. These Norscans never learn," Bertrand chimed in.
"I want to join too. This time, I'll make those savages suffer. Even if we can't wipe them out completely, at least we can teach them a lesson," Davout said, equally indignant.
These marshals had already won so much under Ryan's leadership that they were practically drunk on victory.
"Alright, war requires meticulous planning and thorough preparation," Calard spoke up, crossing his arms and shaking his head. "The Norscans' combat strength is growing stronger due to the Winds of Chaos. You must have felt it during the Albion campaign. Our troops used to be able to crush these southern Norscans."
"The kingdom's armies have suffered losses. We need to rest and reorganize," Rokossovsky agreed with Calard. "Your Majesty, the entire Old World is in turmoil and war. Launching another large-scale campaign now would be unwise."
Theresa noticed that Ryan, the Lady of the Lake, and Sulia remained silent, simply listening to the debate. As she watched the Sun King sitting confidently in the main seat, leaning slightly to the side, she couldn't help but feel a mix of admiration and love, but also a tinge of sadness. She had become his personal possession, no longer the proud sorceress who once held the upper hand over him.
Huh? Why is Ryan's beard... shaved again? Theresa suddenly noticed that Ryan's beard, which had grown during the expedition, was now completely clean-shaven, not even a stubble remaining.
It was strange. Every man in the inner chamber had a beard except for Ryan. Only he shaved regularly, always leaving his face smooth and clean.
Why does he... Theresa couldn't figure it out.
She also noticed a pattern: whenever the Lady of the Lake appeared, Ryan's beard would be completely gone by the next day.
"Everyone, you've worked hard. Have some pastries," Morgiana entered with the food boxes, arranging the pastries and fruits on the table. She then whispered into Ryan's ear, "Theresa has something urgent to report."
Ryan finally shifted his attention from the debate to the outside.
There, standing at the entrance of the inner chamber, was his sorceress. Tall and elegant, she paused at the doorway, her cold yet beautiful face tinged with hesitation and grievance. Her light makeup and purple eyeshadow gave her the appearance of a blooming lavender flower outside the hall.
Today, Theresa was dressed almost identically to Aurora, donning a dark Gothic-style peacock-feather mink coat over a white embroidered wool sweater. The only difference was that while Aurora opted for a fishtail skirt, Theresa preferred trousers. Her black wide-leg pencil pants enhanced her sharp and capable demeanor, radiating the aura of a sophisticated career woman.
The Knight-King narrowed his eyes slightly, carefully observing the ankles peeking out from Theresa's pencil pants. Her delicate feet, wrapped in sheer flesh-colored Lycra tights with a starry aurora pattern, shimmered faintly. Her small, elegant feet were clad in matte black pointed-toe red-bottom high heels.
Tsk, tsk, stockings under pants. It seems Olica's years of brainwashing and hypnosis have been quite effective, Ryan thought, curling his finger to signal Theresa to enter. "Someone, bring a chair. Place it next to me."
Theresa was truly weak in that aspect. Usually, after 15-20 minutes, she would start rolling her eyes and could only gasp for breath. So, she often ended up dragging someone else into the mix, whether willingly or not.
It was nothing like the battles he had with the Lady of the Lake and the Lady of the Lake!
"Yes," Olica shot a disdainful glance at Theresa but could only comply in a low voice. A servant brought a chair and placed it next to Ryan. As Theresa sat down, Ryan was about to listen to her report when he noticed her awkward expression. "What's wrong?"
"Nothing, it's just... Your Majesty, will there be a banquet at noon?" Theresa asked, her voice laced with grievance.
As soon as she spoke, both the Lady of the Lake and Sulia, sitting behind Ryan, turned to look at her. Sulia, ever gentle and virtuous, placed her hands on her knees and said, "Of course there will be a banquet, Theresa. You know Ryan. There was no need to ask at this time, was there?"
"Can't wait for Ryan's rewards, huh?" The Lady of the Lake couldn't help but laugh. "Morgiana, go ahead and arrange it. Let everyone in the inner and outer chambers have lunch and dinner together today. This is all thanks to Theresa. Without her speaking up, you wouldn't have had the chance to taste Morgiana's cooking!"
Morgiana, who had just sat down, raised an eyebrow and let out a cold snort before standing up and leaving.
Olica shot Theresa a look of extreme disdain and suspicion.
The marshals all began whispering among themselves. What is this woman trying to do?
Theresa felt utterly wronged. You can't bully me like this! The sorceress's eyes reddened, and she lowered her head.
"Hahaha~ Wanting to stay for a meal is no big deal," Ryan laughed, breaking the awkwardness. He stood up and shielded Theresa behind him. The Knight-King glanced outside and, sure enough, saw Aurora's face lit up with a look of "complete victory," proudly showing off the fact that her daughter had been granted a seat and even received a personal response from the Sun King. "Your mother sent you, didn't she?"
"Yes..." Theresa thought to herself that Ryan knew everything.
Selling out her daughter again. Aurora is really addicted to this.
"Alright, everyone," Ryan said after a moment of thought. "It's almost noon. I'll have someone arrange a banquet. Let's have lunch, take a break, and continue discussing this afternoon. We need to figure out what to do next."
"Yes!" Everyone nodded.
"Theresa, I have a task for you. Send an encrypted copy of the Chaos cultist list to Count Metternich at the Imperial Embassy in Marienburg," Ryan said.
Theresa nodded softly in agreement.
"And, come be my personal secretary for a while," Ryan smiled. "Just like before."
"Yes..." Theresa pursed her lips and lowered her head.
The sorceress couldn't tell if she was afraid or excited, but she found herself completely unable to refuse any of Ryan's requests. His words were so commanding, so intoxicating, so captivating that she couldn't think straight. She could only agree immediately.
"Call Aurora over," Ryan continued, his smile carrying a deeper meaning. "I have a task for her."
...I am the personal secretary's dividing line...
In Marienburg, within a hidden underground chamber of a high-end building in the inner city.
Several figures in black robes were discussing matters under dim lighting. The one speaking was a follower of the Celestial Dragon Emperor from Cathay, Hong Fuchu, also known as the leader of the Tzeentch cult, the Changer of Ways.
Hong Fuchu held a list in his hand. If anyone could see it, they would recognize it as the list of Chaos cultists that Knight-King Ryan had sent to the Imperial Embassy in Marienburg. Yet, somehow, it had ended up in the hands of these individuals.
"Look at this list. We've been exposed!"
"No, we haven't been exposed. Metternich never saw this list," one of the black-robed figures extended a hand that had mutated severely, now covered in crow feathers and eagle talons. He grasped the parchment, "The messenger thought he delivered it, and the embassy thought they received it, but our people successfully swapped it. What Metternich received was a chart of Bretonnia's rainfall and harvest for this year."
Everyone in the room breathed a sigh of relief, except for Hong Fuchu, who shook his head. His narrow eyes blinked as he stroked his three long whiskers, "We can swap it once, but can we swap it a second or third time? We'll be exposed eventually."
"This is her handwriting! This is her scent!" At that moment, the black-robed figure at the head of the table began to tremble uncontrollably. He grabbed the parchment and pressed it to his nose, inhaling the faint lavender scent that lingered on it. "It's her! There's no mistake. I could never mistake it. This is Theresa's handwriting, Theresa's scent! I've returned, centuries later, I've returned from the Warp!"
The others in the room were baffled by the black-robed man's actions.
"Unfortunately, I returned too late. Theresa has already been taken by that trash, Ryan," the black-robed man licked the words on the parchment with his forked tongue until they disappeared. He then removed his black hood, revealing a horrifying face covered in eyes from forehead to cheeks. A dozen eyeballs rolled simultaneously, "But it's fine. If I can't have her first, I'll have her last."
"Our plans to lure Ryan Malcador into Albion and assassinate him in Couronne have both failed, my lord," another Chaos cultist said. "Our years of groundwork in Bretonnia have been almost completely destroyed."
"That trash is too powerful. We can't confront him directly," the black-robed man's eyes blinked incessantly. "Even Be'lakor couldn't defeat that trash. We stand no chance. But now that trash has uncovered many of our bases and operations. If we don't act soon, all our previous preparations will be wasted."
"The Purple Hand, the Red Crown, the Children of Misfortune, and the Hedonists are all ready. They've even convinced the Crimson Skull Cult to join," Hong Fuchu reported.
"Good. Have them begin immediately. As for Marienburg, we must continue spreading rumors, stirring up conflicts between citizens, merchants, and soldiers, and inciting tensions between the provinces, especially between the followers of Sigmar and Ulric," the black-robed man continued. "Merchants love to hoard and speculate, buying low and selling high. We should provide them with ample assistance."
"Yes!"
"Before the great Everchosen, Archaon, marches south, I, the Daemon Prince of the Crow God, the Thousand-Eyed Demon, Banda, will make the world feel pain first," the black-robed man stood up.
"Are you ready for my plan, Ryan Malcador?"
"The competition for Theresa has never stopped!"
And so, guided by the will of the Crow God, several intricate assassination plots were set into motion.
The operation was codenamed "Shoot the Sun, Eliminate the Pest."
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