Warhammer Divine Throne

In conclusion, the transition from Baron to Count is a pivotal step. Now, Laine has crossed it; he has become a true hereditary Great Noble. A Count now possesses the ability to independently wage war, appoint officials, and manage territories autonomously.

The royal document was handed over to Laine, as the King’s Envoy, Armand, smilingly said, ”Greetings, Count Glamorgan.”

Glamorgan? Laine felt an indescribably strange sensation with this title, as if it were describing some foolish person or matter.

Not dwelling too much on it, Laine smiled and said, ”Hello, Mr. Armand.”

”Congratulations, Lord Laine, Champion of the Lady.” Armand smiled, ”Congratulations on your promotion. May I ask for a drink?”

Before Laine could respond, Marchioness Surya approached with a smile, ”Of course, Mr. Armand, most welcome.”

At the same time, the female knight reached out her small hand, her fair fingertips tracing across Laine’s palm, suggesting he should heed her first.

Laine thought that the attitude of this Kingdom’s envoy was quite pleasant and didn’t seem intent on causing him trouble, though he wasn’t sure why Surya specifically prompted this. Nonetheless, he obediently listened and said warmly, ”Certainly, please proceed to the reception room.”

As the King’s Envoy headed for the reception room, Laine deliberately fell behind a step, ”Surya?”

The female knight gently held Laine’s hand, whispering in his ear, ”Laine, do not be discourteous to your future vassal.”

”Future vassal?” Laine was a bit puzzled, but Surya indicated he should quickly enter. The female knight took out a bottle of Winford’s finest wine, ”Lysa Lus,” and entered together with Laine.

Delicate glass goblets were placed on the table. Surya deftly opened the cork, pouring the red wine into the goblets, then offered it to Armand, ”Hello, Mr. Armand.”

”Hello, Surya, congratulations on winning the crown of the Knight Championship.” Armand nodded with a smile, then noticed Laine and Surya holding hands, a look of realization flashing in his eyes.

Armand’s appearance seemed to be in his early thirties, yet the weariness in his eyes indicated he was no longer young. His long black hair parted in the middle draped down on both sides; his face was unremarkable, but his blue eyes held a strength of their own.

”Let me introduce, Holy Grail Knight, Armand de Aquitaine, victor of the Knight Championship twenty-one years ago, one of the first Holy Grail Knights, the last bloodline of Duke Fredermond of Aquitaine and the King’s Standard Bearer,” introduced Surya to Laine.

”So, you are...” Laine’s mouth hung open, staring at the man before him—the last bloodline of Duke Fredermond of Aquitaine? And also a victor of the Knight Championship? A Holy Grail Knight?

”I apologize for my rudeness; I didn’t recognize you at once!” Laine quickly apologized.

A tired look crossed Armand’s face, and he forced a smile as endless memories surged to mind.

He recalled the events of years past when he was still an enthusiastic young knight, his mind filled with thoughts of avenging his family and ancestors. He was the last bloodline of the First Duke Fredermond of Aquitaine. When the Blood Red Duke massacred his family, his line (born of a female courtier, without inheritance rights) was spared due to being at war in Arabi.

Armand had vowed since childhood to make the Red Duke pay with blood. At seventeen, he claimed victory at the Knight Championship. At that time, King Richard had just ascended to the throne and was eager to achieve something. Richard intended to feoff Armand as a Baron, but he refused; Armand didn’t want fiefdom, only revenge.

In his twenties, Armand embarked on the Path of the Holy Grail, beginning his expedition. It took nearly ten years to travel the Old World, finally earning the recognition of the Lake Fairy near the capital of Estalia, Margaret, after slaying a fearsome Legendary Beastman Beast King. He drank from the Holy Grail and became a Holy Grail Knight.

Returning to Kulona, Armand received his due honor. Like his ancestor Fredermond centuries ago, Armand became the King’s Standard Bearer in the capacity of a Holy Grail Knight, responsible for raising the Knight King’s war banner, the ”Lake God’s War Banner.”

Indeed, it was the war banner blessed by the Lake Fairy that the First Knight King Arthur received, embellished with the image of the Lake Fairy holding the Holy Grail and an iris flower. This banner possessed the divine power of the Lake Fairy, under which Arthur led the knights to unite the land.

It’s said that as long as this war banner appeared on the battlefield, the knights would never retreat and fight to the last man. Under this banner, the knights never feared, never fled.

”I should be the one thanking you, Lord Laine.” Armand emerged from his memories, unable to hide his excitement, his voice filled with anticipation, ”Regarding the Red Duke...”

”I have slain him,” Laine nodded, ”Ended him thoroughly, I can assure you.”

”I’m not doubting you, Lord Laine, but… the Red Duke has always been a swift runner, retreating from the battlefield the moment things turned unfavorable. The speed of the Zombie Dragon is unmatched. How did you seize the opportunity to kill him?” Armand asked urgently. As the King’s Standard Bearer, a Holy Grail Knight should not exhibit such impatience.

Yet under such deep-seated hatred, no one could remain calm, not even a Holy Grail Knight.

”He is a vassal to Alboim Wallace, swift indeed, but I am no slouch,” Laine suddenly quipped playfully, ”I learned from a certain Lady Zhang that as long as you run fast enough, not even time can catch up with you.”

”???????” Armand and Surya couldn’t understand what Laine was saying. As they sought to inquire further, Laine signaled them to stop, and he produced a sword, ”As it stands, today I return this sword to its rightful owner.”

”This is… the Aquitaine Sword!” Armand immediately reached to receive the sword.

The hilt of the Aquitaine Sword bore the pattern of the iris flower, its blade inscribed with mysterious runes. For centuries, this sword had been passed down through generations of Dukes of Aquitaine, until it reached the hands of the Blood Red Duke.

Armand took the Aquitaine Sword without hesitation, as it originally belonged to him. The last bloodline of the Duke of Aquitaine tenderly caressed the blade with a voice tinged with melancholy, ”Finally returned.”

”I attempted to purify this sword, but…” Laine meant to convey that the Aquitaine Sword had entirely lost its power, turned into an ordinary sword.

But Armand paid no attention. The Holy Grail Knight slashed his own hand.

Hot and sacred blood dripped onto the blade of the Aquitaine Sword, producing a sound like scorching.

A miracle occurred: when the Aquitaine Sword was raised once more in Armand’s hand, it was restored. The Red Duke could not utterly transform it despite possession of five hundred years. In the divine cleansing of the Holy Grail Knight’s sacred blood, within the bloodline of Aquitaine, it revived. The decay and rust on the blade vanished, emanating a sky-like pure halo.

Then, Armand knelt before Laine.

”I, Holy Grail Knight, Armand de Aquitaine, swear in the name of the Lady to serve the Lady’s Divine Chosen Champion, Laine Macado.”

Laine placed the sword on Armand’s shoulder with a solemn expression, the white flames of the Goddess of Revenge burning, the purifying flame roaring over the blade, ”I hereby grant you the title of my knight, my Lord Standard Bearer.”

The simple ceremony of liege fealty and sword grant was thus completed. Soon after, Armand produced a magnificent war banner, infused with sacred power. Woven from the soft velvet and silk left by the High Elves, it depicted the Lake Fairy holding the Holy Grail and an iris flower.

The incredible occurred, surpassing the realm of fiction. Reality is always more unbelievable than a novel.

”The King did not allow me to take this banner. He said it belongs to the royal family,” Armand smiled, ”But the Lady decreed to me in a dream that this war banner never belonged to the King; it belongs to the royal family alone.”

”According to Her Oracle, it belongs to you now.”