The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

Traveling along the Reik River for five days, the group gradually approached the Imperial Capital, Altdorf.

By late November, the weather had turned bitterly cold, and the water levels in the Reik River had begun to decrease. The further upstream they moved, the murkier the water became, cluttered with countless merchant ships, ferries, and fishing boats. This river was the lifeline of the Empire, facilitating the transportation of goods and fishing across half the empire.

As they observed the murky, foul-smelling waters and debris washed up along the riverbanks, Tigris frowned. Riding a pure-blood elf steed alongside Emperor Karl-Franz, with the high elf and Imperial armies trailing behind, many high elves couldn't help but display looks of disdain at the human territories' chaos and filth.

Compared to Bretonnia's castles and vast plains, the Empire seemed much dirtier, its villages and cities patched up like tattered clothes, displeasing to the aesthetically minded high elves.

"Many are heading upstream," Tigris remarked to Emperor Karl-Franz.

The long procession included not just armies but also dense crowds of people, forming a dark, gray line moving directly towards the river's source—the capital upstream.

"The Empire faces many threats: greenskins and goblin tribes from the mountains, bandits and beastmen from the forests, overly high taxes from some nobles, and the turmoil in the north," the Emperor said gravely. "Some villages survive the winter; others do not... People always hope to find opportunities in the capital, a job, or a ration."

"The turmoil in the north affects here?" Tigris asked, looking intently at the Emperor.

"A year ago, the King of Norsca, Egil, led his tribes south to raid Nord, reaching as far as Hakendorf before King Harald of Nord could stop him," the Emperor explained. "Despite this, thousands from Nord were displaced, many heading south to see if they could find work."

Tigris mulled over this in silence, giving a slight nod to signify his understanding.

The Reiksguard, the Emperor's personal guard, maintained strict discipline, their silver armor and white crests a stark contrast to the young history of their knightly order, established after the abdication of Savior Ludwig. Regarded as one of the strongest knightly orders in the Empire, some even placed them on par with the Griffon Order.

Seeing Tigris disinclined to speak, the Emperor continued: "But now, the pressure from the north has lessened. Egil is dead, and Norsca, briefly united, has fractured again. Countless tribes have risen without clear leadership; their rushed attempt to move south was decimated by General Heilberg in conjunction with the Nord army. We annihilated tens of thousands, which should keep them quiet for a while."

"Such victory over chaos is always temporary," Tigris replied bluntly. "Tens of thousands is a significant loss for the northern tribes, but under the blessing of their dark gods, they could recover in as little as five years."

"Then at least we've gained five years," the Emperor replied with a smile. "For humans, five years is not insignificant."

Considering human reproductive capabilities and the generational span of twenty years, Tigris did not contest this, knowing many elf scholars had concluded that humans rose to dominance post the Long Beard War because of their prolific nature.

After a while, the Imperial capital was in sight.

Altdorf, the heart of the Empire, rose majestically from the Reikwald Forest. The city, surrounded by walls over twenty meters high, spanned forty square kilometers. A marvel of human achievement, Altdorf had stood strong from the Empire's inception, though not always its capital, it had always symbolized the Empire's spirit.

The tall walls were lined with cannons, and patrolling soldiers surveyed the area from above. Over two millennia, every inch of Altdorf was filled with buildings, with residents forced to build upwards when land ran out, their constructions now towering over the walls.

"Altdorf, formerly known as Reikdorf, was where Charlemagne was born and raised. The city has a permanent population of two hundred thousand, with a transient population nearly reaching a million," Ryan introduced to Sulia, Sylvia, Veronica, and Theresa as they approached. "Throughout history, Altdorf has faced many invasions, like the notorious greenskin warlord 'Ironclaw' Gobbad, who once reached the city's gates and killed the Emperor of the time. He ultimately failed, and so did the famous vampire Vlad von Carstein who once pushed the city to its limits. Manfred, whom I've encountered, also met his defeat here."

Emblems of the Empire, the golden double-headed eagle, and the gold lion with a warhammer of the

 Franz family adorned the city gates. Despite the wide gates, the entrance was crowded with dozens of carriages and nearly a thousand people waiting to enter.

As the group approached, the Reiksguard sprung into action, clearing the way.

"Make way for the Emperor! Make way for Karl Franz!"

The gates thundered open, and all citizens moved aside, allowing the large entourage swift entry.

The sight of high elf troops left the human residents astonished and somewhat fearful.

Unconcerned with the civilians' reactions, Tigris and Emperor Karl-Franz led the way into the city, followed by Ryan and others.

Entering the city, a gloomy and dim atmosphere enveloped them. The sun vanished behind tall buildings and walls, and the sudden change in light made Ryan squint. Once his eyes adjusted, he saw a dirty, chaotic street.

Peasants, vendors, and beggars lined the streets, dressed simply and often filthily. Despite their personal feelings, most bowed respectfully to make way for the procession.

The city reeked of dumped refuse. Ryan glanced around and saw hundreds of heads; the streets were more crowded than he had anticipated. Even the corners were packed with people. Clothes hung from lines in dirty alleys where men, women, and children peeked out, eager to catch a glimpse of the Emperor, his troops, and the rare high elves.

Canals ran throughout the city, carved by residents for water, washing, and sewage disposal. Tall buildings filled Ryan's view, their smoke blotting out the sky as voices and noise drowned out his hearing.

This was Altdorf, a city magnificent and grand, yet surrounded by slums and mud, chaotic and damp, full of vices and order, cruelly yet tenderly welcoming all who arrived.

No city better represented humanity—noble yet base, kind yet deceitful, intelligent yet foolish, virtues and sins intermingled. This was Altdorf, the Imperial capital, the birthplace of Charlemagne.

After crossing several streets, the Imperial Palace appeared before them.

The palace, crowned with a fifty-meter-high golden dome adorned with a griffon holding a warhammer—the emblem of the Franz family—rose with grand granite walls and marble floors framed by silver columns. Since the abdication of Savior Ludwig, Emperor Leopold had expanded the palace further.

Despite the grandeur, the surrounding heroes' statues reminded all of the endless sacrifices made in countless wars, preserving humanity amidst threats from Chaos, greenskins, and the undead.

"Lord Tigris, Lord Ryan, assembling the council will take some time. Yes, the Electors can teleport directly to the capital, but they still need to address their territories' affairs or at least arrange them to the point they can leave," Emperor Karl-Franz said. "You'll need to wait here for a few days; it won't be long. During this time, you can explore the city. My soldiers will ensure your safety—or rather, ensure the civilians' safety around you."

"Are there any places we shouldn't visit?" Ryan asked purposely.

"Ha, the palace dungeons hold many forbidden books and tomes, but that's no issue for you or Lord Tigris. The Cathedral of the Righteous has many secrets under it; you'll need to speak with Archbishop Vekma if you wish to visit. The Imperial College of Wizards also houses many powerful creatures," the Emperor nodded. "These aren't off-limits, but please inform the relevant parties before you visit to allow them to prepare adequately."

The secrets of the Empire were no mystery to Tigris, as many of the forbidden books and seals were under his supervision.

Thinking of the benefits of legitimacy, Ryan mused that for Emperor Karl, being rightfully and officially recognized meant he had no fears of Tigris and him exploring: "I heard the royal zoo has many rare and exotic animals?"

"Yes, if Lord Ryan is interested, we can arrange that later," Emperor Karl-Franz responded generously.

"Let's rest for now," Tigris said, uninterested in the zoo. "Tomorrow, Ryan, you, Miss Trovick, Lady Bernardotte, and I will visit the Imperial College of Wizards... Your Majesty, who is the current Chief Wizard?"

"The current Chief Wizard is Cenarius Gehrman, also the Supreme Dean of the College and Dean of the College of Fire. However, I'd rather introduce you to Byelshazer-Gailt, Otto, and Gregor Matak," the Emperor dismounted, his attendants approaching as he continued: "You'll stay in the royal guesthouse next to the palace; I've arranged rooms for you."

"Lord Tigris, Lord Ryan, please follow me," an Imperial general stepped forward. "I am Heinrich Flynns; you may call me Flynns."

Two hours later, in the Imperial royal guesthouse.

In a luxuriously decorated suite, the bathroom door opened, and

 a flushed, limp Sulia was carried out by Ryan, her golden curls sweeping the high-end carpet as she murmured deliriously in her husband's arms, "Ryan~ you, you're bad~"

"My lady, you are too beautiful," Ryan kissed his wife's lips, cradling her gently out of the bathroom.

He loved seeing Sulia like this, the noble-born knight only showing such expressions in their private moments, expressions Ryan cherished as befitting a sweet newlywed.

The couple stayed in the most luxurious "Noble Suite" in the guesthouse, equipped with every amenity.

"You're the one who's truly bad," Sulia managed to regain her composure, about to speak more when she noticed a beautiful figure sitting on the vast white bed, her golden hair spread across the sheets: "Oh! No!"

Sulia nearly fainted with embarrassment.

The Lady of the Lake sat wearing a pink velvet off-shoulder evening gown on the soft bed, her cheeks suspiciously flushed as she swung her legs uncomfortably, speaking in a sour tone.

"Ryan, it seems you've been quite happy lately?"

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