Warhammer Divine Throne

”You’re worried about the kingdom’s northern defenses, aren’t you?” Surya tucked her dazzling golden hair behind her ear and said softly, ”The good news is that the pressure from the Barbarian raids in the north has greatly diminished. The Beastmen in Arden Forest are no longer a threat; the nobles only need to guard against raids from the dark elves, so the pressure is relatively low.”

”Hm... did you talk to Francois about my last suggestion?”

Laine now usually calls his father-in-law by name, which was considered a great disrespect in the Celestial Dynasty, but in this world, only very close people address each other by name. This mutual addressing indicates a good relationship.

”I did. Father has considered your proposal. He does not oppose your idea but insists that the candidate must be someone who has fully proven their courage, strength, and faith to qualify for nomination,” Surya said softly.

”Naturally.”

......

Old World, Brittania, capital Crona, within the royal palace.

In the banquet hall, several distinguished guests and the Knight King were sitting together, having dinner.

Duke of Winford, Francois, and his legitimate son Julius sat on the right side, while Duke of Connet, Lorne-Rio Cornwall sat on the left, with Knight King and Duke Le Anglong, Richard, in the center.

”We all know the situation. This war ended in a pyrrhic victory. Dale was severely injured, Jules died in battle, Leonais lost more than half, and Crona’s army also suffered a loss of nearly forty percent. Francois, this time, we must thank you for coming with three thousand knights and ample supplies to support us. Otherwise, I would have been very worried about the turmoil that might occur in the capital if news of defeat arrived,” Richard said to Francois, with a deep concern on the Knight King’s face. ”This time, the kingdom’s forces suffered greatly. Leon Kohl, I must also thank you for bringing men and supplies to support us.”

”You’re welcome, Your Majesty. It is my duty,” Lorne-Rio Cornwall replied spiritedly. This Duke was newly appointed and eager to achieve something. He was also crowned Champion by the Lake Fairy, although slightly inferior to Laine’s Divine Chosen Champion status. As someone favored by the Goddess, ever since he completed the Holy Grail Trial and returned to Connet, the new Duke started reorganizing his territory.

Lorne couldn’t participate in this war due to the cunning Egil sending several small tribes to harass the coastal areas of the Connet Duchy, binding Brittania forces. Lorne had to stay at the castle to command and repel these small tribes.

Unlike Francois, Lorne’s side did not have his successor. The great nobles of Brittania liked to bring their legitimate sons or daughters to occasions like meeting the king, letting them gain experience. However, Lorne was already in his forties, and not only did he not have any children, but he didn’t even have a wife or a lover, living a solitary life.

Instead, seated beside him was his trusted subordinate, a Holy Grail Knight named De Liones.

In Brittania, nobles find it challenging to meet the Knight King, especially for such private meetings. If the King does not grant opportunities, knights wanting to meet him must submit formal written requests undergoing thorough reviews or secretly bribe the King’s personal attendants, asking them to report and request a meeting.

Among them, the attendants serving the King during toileting and meals are the most favored, as they often get to be alone with the King and can take the chance to speak. Daily, hundreds of Ranger Knights arrive in Crona, trying to find ways to see the King, hoping to gain their fief and rise to Kingdom Knights or even Barons. It’s hard to tell if the Ranger Knights Richard receives each day via attendants are all bribed, but people know that attendants of noble character reject such bribes.

”The kingdom’s urgent task is to recuperate. We should immediately send a diplomatic notice to His Majesty Carl Franz, requesting the quick release of captured knights back to the country, to halt the initiation of new knightly wars, restore the number of knights, and issue orders for those Knightly Expeditionary Army members stationed overseas and in the New World to return, otherwise, the kingdom’s north is too vulnerable,” Francois suggested to Richard, though they had differences and discord, these were internal conflicts. At this moment, as a Holy Grail Knight, Francois wished for everyone to unite and overcome difficulties.

”I understand. I’m already making arrangements.” Richard thought of Jules’s death in Leonais, feeling a stabbing pain in his heart. The Knight King struggled to utter words; Francois understood Richard’s sorrow and discomfort. The Duke himself felt bothered, so after dinner, he took the initiative to bid farewell, ”Then Julius and I will take leave first.”

Francois and Julius departed, while Lorne remained. Richard walked ahead, Lorne following, and the two arrived in the palace gardens.

Amid the lush sea of irises and lilies, Lorne spoke to Richard, ”Uncle, Mr. Francois’s opinion is very reasonable; I think it can be considered.”

There was a blood relation between Richard and Lorne.

Richard’s father’s uncle was Lorne’s grandfather’s cousin, so in terms of generations, Lorne is Richard’s first cousin once removed, meaning Richard is Lorne’s father’s father’s cousin’s first cousin’s son.

”Francois?” Richard shook his head, his face increasingly lined and graying: ”He is an excellent Holy Grail Knight and an exemplar of knightliness. I indeed don’t like him, but I won’t deliberately reject his ideas due to personal feelings. Leon Kohl, what I want to teach you is that you can dislike someone; you can hate someone. But you can’t instinctively oppose their views because you dislike them. You can’t oppose for the sake of opposing, just like I don’t like Laine Macado but still made him a Count.”

”I understand.” Lorne nodded, standing under the night sky, with Gelonni’s Sword at his waist. His tone was filled with deep regret: ”I really can’t believe Jules just died like that, such a powerful person...”

”Death is not terrifying; what’s scary is dying insignificantly,” Richard similarly gazed up at the night sky, where only a few dim stars twinkled: ”We will forever see Jules in memories and epics. He’s merely moved to another world, continuing his fight for the Lady. This time, we must also thank Laine Macado; if it weren’t for him killing Egil, we might be preparing for Crona’s defense by now.”

”For the Lady!” Lorne prayed with fervent devotion.

Richard turned to look at Lorne for a while, then suddenly laughed: ”Leon Kohl, do you know, I once considered arranging a marriage between you and Francois’s daughter, Surya, or perhaps Bohemond’s granddaughter, Eva.”

”Why bring this up suddenly?” Lorne felt a bit inexplicable. It’s true he wasn’t married, but Holy Grail Knights are long-lived, living over a hundred years is no issue. There’s no rush for marriage, and even if he needed to marry, Richard shouldn’t intervene to this extent, should he?

”Francois is a very wise and foresighted person; he chose Laine early on,” Richard ignored Lorne’s words and continued: ”The marriage between Marchioness Surya and Count Laine is well-matched, blessed by the Lady, a union welcomed by everyone. When the time comes, you’ll have the honor of attending as a guest.”

”Of course.” Still feeling perplexed, Lorne noticed the King didn’t want to continue discussing and readily agreed: ”Laine is an excellent young man, also the Lady’s Divine Chosen Champion, making significant contributions to the kingdom multiple times; I should attend.”

”...” Richard observed Lorne’s response but remained noncommittal, neither agreeing nor disagreeing, just silent. Lorne could only follow this silence.

The King and Duke stood under the night sky for five minutes.

”Uncle, spring nights are chilly. You should go and rest early,” Lorne saw Richard not responding for a long time and tentatively suggested.

”... Lorne, if, I mean if.” Richard finally decided, turning decisively, with firm eyes: ”If I announce my abdication this year, designating you as the next Knight King, what would you think?”

”What?!”