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Chapter 19 - The God of War Wants an Audience

Isolde had no time to deal with Sylas today. She was busy hosting a banquet in honor of Aethelred's great hero, Victoria.

The banquet was held in the great hall of the palace. Isolde sat on the highest throne. Seated below her was the woman hailed as Aethelred's God of War, Victoria.

Victoria was twenty-seven this year, but her appearance and demeanor made her seem nearly forty.

This wasn't to say she was unattractive. On the contrary, Victoria possessed a mature, striking beauty—or rather, a beauty that seemed like that of a woman in her thirties or forties.

But everyone knew Victoria was a slovenly single woman.

She was Aethelred's God of War, yet she didn't practice with blades or spears. Her days were spent studying military strategy and drinking heavily.

The court's rewards to her were basically all spent on buying wine.

Often, when Isolde needed her, someone had to be sent to the taverns to carry her back.

Besides her alcoholism, she also disliked bathing. Her clothes were always dirty.

Even now, at a banquet hosted by Isolde, she wore a stained grey dress, her hair a messy cascade, with no regard for her image whatsoever.

Naturally, the banquet featured performances by handsome young men singing and dancing. Watching these dancing men, Isolde's mind was filled with thoughts of Sylas in the dungeon.

She lost interest after a brief glance.

Then, she noticed that Victoria also seemed uninterested. She just stared at the wine flask before her, drinking flask by flask.

"Marshal Victoria, how is the fare today?" Isolde asked with a smile.

Hearing this, Victoria replied with remarkable candor, "Thank you for your hospitality, Your Majesty. This is a rare and exquisite delicacy."

She looked at her wine flask, adding with slight excitement, "Your Majesty, this wine of yours... is truly wonderful."

Isolde chuckled. "Haha, my Marshal still loves her drink so much. The wines stored in my palace are all awarded to you."

Victoria's somewhat bleary eyes immediately lit up. She bowed enthusiastically. "Thank you, Your Majesty!"

Victoria's love of wine was known to all. Seeing the ruler and her subject in such harmony, the atmosphere was naturally jubilant.

With such a heroic sovereign and an undefeated God of War, Aethelred's unification of the mainland was within sight.

For a time, the banquet's mood soared.

After the banquet concluded, Isolde summoned Victoria to the Royal Study.

For discussions between ruler and subject, fewer people were better.

After granting her a seat, the two began to talk intimately.

Victoria had drunk much wine, but her mind was still clear.

She said respectfully, "Your Majesty, the last remnants of Lyonesse have been eradicated.

Alaric has fled onto the east with Cordelia and is no longer a threat.

The details have already been presented in my report."

Isolde, of course, knew this news; she had read Victoria's report.

The lands of Lyonesse were now completely Aethelred's territory.

The only fly in the ointment was that these stragglers hadn't been captured. But, having lost their foundation, they posed no threat of causing trouble.

Isolde nodded with a smile. "In your opinion, would they try to reach Wealdham by sea?"

Victoria was slightly taken aback. She hadn't expected Isolde to ask such a foolish question.

Logically, the wise and mighty Empress shouldn't joke like this?

She wasn't sure how to answer for a moment, only managing to stammer, "They won't.

Rowena the Recluse of Wealdham is obsessed with alchemy and the occult, having withdrawn from court life almost entirely.

She wouldn't dare rashly accept Lyonesse remnants. And Alaric wouldn't dare go there either.

The moment she shows her face, she'll be tied up and delivered to Your Majesty."

Isolde was in high spirits. She clapped her hands and laughed. "Excellent! Marshal, your merits in conquering Lyonesse are supreme. If there is anything you want, name it!"

"Your Majesty has already rewarded me with several casks of fine wine. I am already satisfied," Victoria said with a bashful smile.

Though somewhat slovenly, she behaved very properly before Isolde.

Isolde: "How can that be enough? With such great achievements, if I don't reward you properly, wouldn't that break protocol?

Those who know you would say you are noble and selfless. Those who don't would think me stingy."

Victoria said modestly, "Ah, I am not noble or selfless. I just wish to serve."

Isolde knew she had few material desires.

Someone like Victoria only wanted to achieve great deeds and secure her place in history.

She was a genius in warfare, focused on grand matters, hence her disregard for minor details.

But the more she was like this, the more Isolde found her difficult to control.

If you take all the fame, won't I be overshadowed eventually?

She said with a smile, "How about this, Marshal. You are not yet married. Would a marriage be a suitable reward?"

Such a person must be firmly in my grasp.

Victoria had no family, no ties, standing alone.

If she weren't settled with a family, what if she ran away later?

Family was the key to stability. Otherwise, there wouldn't even be a clan to execute if needed.

Victoria didn't object outright. She scratched her messy hair somewhat inelegantly and smiled, "Your Majesty, in my childhood, there was an engagement arranged by the neighbors.

Later... the other party thought I was hopeless, and the engagement was called off.

So, now I have some reservations about marriage."

Victoria was born in the countryside. Her family was poor and looked down upon by relatives and friends.

She worked tirelessly to make something of herself. Now she had finally succeeded.

But the scars in her heart had never fully healed. She dared not let them heal completely. They were her wounds, but also her motivation.

She still wanted to achieve more, to prove her worth!

The two discussed marriage for some time. Finally, Victoria steered the conversation back to official matters.

She said to Isolde gravely, "Your Majesty, Aethelred may seem powerful and prosperous now, but internally, it is already rotting.

The nobility grows ever larger, the laws ever more chaotic.

We are winning victories, but victory can only slow the decay. I believe—"

"Marshal Victoria..." Isolde called out softly. Her expression was calm, but her tone brooked no argument.

Victoria suddenly sobered up. She swallowed the words she was about to say.

Isolde then smiled, speaking very kindly, "My Marshal, you are drunk. We can discuss these matters another time."

The issues Victoria spoke of, Isolde knew them well. The ills plaguing Aethelred were clear to her too.

But it wasn't yet time to act. She had to wait.

Victoria let out a long sigh and nodded resignedly. "Yes... yes." She made to rise and take her leave.

But then, she suddenly remembered someone.

Weighing her words for a moment, she asked, "Your Majesty, I... have an impertinent request."

Isolde said curiously, "Speak freely."

Victoria: "During the standoff with Lyonesse, their swordsmen were naturally no match for our Paladins.

However, the presence of one individual almost erased the disparity between our armies.

I have heard this person is now Your Majesty's prisoner. I boldly wish to request an audience with him."

"..."

The air seemed to solidify. The atmosphere in the Royal Study shifted from the earlier lightness of ruler and subject united in purpose to one of extreme oppression.

Isolde was silent for a long time.

Then, she suddenly sneered coldly and said, "My Marshal still remembers this person?"

Victoria replied frankly, "I merely wish to see this opponent. His name is Sylas."

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