Warhammer Divine Throne

Francois had once discontentedly remarked that the Duchess especially liked to suddenly burst in when the dukes and kings were holding meetings in the capital, and take such opportunities to continually vent her dissatisfaction in front of all the Dukes, causing Casvan to lose face time and again. Influenced by her, Casvan’s temper also became irritable and gloomy.

This shows how important it is for Laine, a newly rising great noble, to have a wife like Surya. Divorce among great nobles is extremely difficult and involves many complications. Especially for someone like Laine, a Divine Chosen Champion, under the marriage granted by the Lady, he is almost impossible to divorce.

Staring at the heavy snow outside the window, Laine was silent for a long time, then softly said to Surya: ”Surya, the intentions of the Imperial envoy this time are not simple. First, I used the relationship with the Godfather to purchase magic ores worth several thousand gold marks from the Empire. Due to the preciousness of these ores, Anton is very likely to bring the Griffin knights to deliver them personally. Also, the friction between Duke of Paragon and the Empire has become more frequent and intense lately... I suspect the Empire is here to probe us.”

”Probe? Probe your and... my father’s position?” Surya immediately realized something, lifting her head with a serious expression on her exquisitely beautiful face. As a Duke’s daughter, her political sensitivity was even stronger than Laine’s: ”The Empire... is already preparing to go to war with Duke of Paragon?”

”Maybe... everything will become clear once we meet Anton.”

”Laine... may I ask your stance? How do you plan to act?” Surya hesitated slightly, then quietly asked: ”My father has always maintained a good relationship with the Empire...”

”Consuming humanity’s precious strength in internal strife is unwise behavior; in this regard, I support His Grace the Duke.” Laine decided to give the female knight some assurance, to ease her mind.

”Thank you, Laine, you’re really good.” Surya instinctively felt that Laine didn’t want her to be caught in the middle, torn by both sides. Her heart warmed, and after thinking for quite a while, she finally made up her mind, lifted her head, and offered Laine her fragrant kiss.

The two entangled for a while on the soft sofa chair before standing up. Surya, with a flushed face, smoothed out the wrinkles on her dress, too shy to lift her head. Laine chuckled lightly and let go of her, feeling a bit proud, moved in a box from outside: ”Surya, look at what I’ve brought.”

Opening the box, inside was top-grade beef, with a beautiful marbled pattern on the surface.

”Is this... marbled beef?!” Surya exclaimed in surprise: ”Laine, how did you manage to get so much marbled beef?”

Marbled beef is a type of beef renowned in the Old World for its fragrance, freshness, and tenderness. It has a very low yield and is a rare luxury even among great nobles, considered a special offering.

”This was sent by Boris Prince-Elector. I thought we could enjoy it together,” Laine laughed, beef being one of the world’s most prized foods: ”Take some with you when you return, let His Grace the Duke and the Duchess have a taste as well!”

”Laine... thank you.” The female knight was very pleased, allowing Laine to hold her small hand, and together they went to the kitchen.

”Today I’ll teach you how to make a pan-seared marbled steak~”

”Pan-seared?” Surya was intrigued, knowing cooking methods only like stewing, roasting, and boiling. This was a method she had never heard of.

”That’s right, let me show you~” Laine embraced Surya’s beautiful form from behind, whispering in her ear: ”Once you’ve learned this, you can cook it for the Duke and Duchess when you return, or even dedicate it to the Lady.”

”Laine, don’t say it like that, it’s too opportunistic~” Surya shyly turned her head, hearing only Laine’s laughter.

The Count Glamorgan Castle under the heavy snow had its own tender warmth and joy.

........

Anton’s arrival was the matter of three days later. The Griffin Earl led dozens of Half-Griffin Knights and over a hundred Great Swordsmen from the Boldro Duchy, escorting a large shipment of goods to Laine’s territory.

Laine opened the castle gates, leading the knights who remained and his family servants to welcome the arrival of Griffin Earl Anton Ferdinand. He wore a standard Brittany Count’s costume, while Surya beside him wore standard Marchioness attire, appearing as if a pair of treasures in the snow and cold wind.

”Welcome, Anton, I extend my sincerest greetings on behalf of the Kingdom of Brittania, wishing you health,” Laine approached the leading figure clad in shining golden full plate armor.

”Hello, Laine, my brother. I’ve brought greetings from His Majesty the Emperor and Griffin Duke, wishing your pond to be as clear and beautiful as the melted snow on high mountains.” An Imperial General, looking around thirty years old, with heroic countenance and eyes bright with divine light, short black hair and temples, rode atop a giant Griffin, leading dozens of Half-Griffin Knights and over a hundred Imperial Great Swordsmen before them, it was Griffin Earl, Laine’s sworn brother Anton Ferdinand.

Anton Ferdinand brought a large number of magic ores, along with several barrels of volatile oil, which were urgently needed by Laine. After writing to his Godfather, Duke Ivan, for purchase, Ivan specifically consulted with Emperor Karl Franz for this matter.

These things have always been strictly controlled rare materials in the Empire, requiring Emperor or Prince-Elector’s direct approval for sale. Fortunately, Laine’s prestige and his special connections with the Empire finally led Carl Franz to pass the order. As a trade-off, Laine would export to the Empire six Half-Elf Warhorses and a large amount of Wood Elf medicine.

Brittania is desperately lacking in ores, especially magic ores.

Some may find this situation unbelievable. Brittania was founded several hundred years later than the Empire, logically speaking, their ore mining should be far worse, so why isn’t there a shortage of magic ores?

The accounts couldn’t be calculated like that, because before Brittania people appeared on the Gray Mountain Range, Elves had colonized here for thousands of years.

”Long time no see, Laine, you are already a Count, truly unpredictable world events. You swore to me that you would get opportunities here, I thought you were an opportunist, but never imagined... you gambled and won?” Anton looked at Laine in Count attire with interest: ”The items you wanted, Father tried to find ways to buy them for you.”

”Thank you very much!” Laine sincerely expressed gratitude. The Dwarfs’ Blacksmith Workshop needs volatile oil, Veronica’s Wizard Tower needs magic ores, Ivan’s willingness to help relieved Laine.

”It’s no big deal! We also need your medicine and Half-Elf Warhorses.” Anton shook his head: ”It’s because we need each other that Father agreed to help.”

”No, I remember a trade route that leads directly to Marinburg on this end, Mr. Oliver the Imperial Merchant is in charge of operating this route. You can buy Wood Elf medicine at Marinburg.” Laine said, as Anton jumped off the Griffin, puzzled.

”Too little, Wood Elf goods from your side almost instantly get snatched away completely, many nobles and merchants frantically purchase and hoard the scarce Wood Elf medicine, we can buy some on Marinburg’s black market, but those heartless merchants have raised the price several times.” Anton shook his head: ”We need more... Who is this?”

Griffin Earl noticed the female knight standing beside Laine.

”This is my fiancée, Surya Kumani Antley de Winford.” Laine held Surya’s hand, introducing to Anton: ”This is my sworn brother, Anton Ferdinand, the Griffin Earl.”

”Hello, lovely Miss Surya, my future sister-in-law.” Anton’s eyes lit up, knowing Surya was Francois’s legitimate daughter.

This added a bit more assurance to completing his tasks.

”Hello, Lord Anton.” Surya expressed her respect with perfect etiquette to Anton.

”Let us go inside, Laine... I’ve come this time to discuss some matters with you.” Anton quickly shifted his attention from Surya, whispering closely to Laine.

”I understand.”