The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

In the old world, within the village of Bad Smile in the western domain of Rick, inside the largest house—the village chief's mansion—resided Ryan. This best house in the village had been reserved for him. It was now spotlessly clean, and three chickens were roasting over a fire in the center of the room. Ryan, having shed his armor, sat in a wooden chair with a half-smile, watching Veronica handle the roasting chickens while speaking to the demon hunter Abel seated beside him, "Mr. Abel, it's been a while. How have you been lately?"

"Good, that would be a lie," Abel said with a wry smile, shaking his head. "I manage to get by, after ensuring I have enough for equipment maintenance and potion purchases."

"Does maintaining equipment and buying potions cost that much?" asked Theresa, clad in a holographic black leather outfit that revealed hints of pink. The sorceress hadn't changed out of her battle gear. Instead, she was toying with a pair of rune-engraved pistols.

Blue Beloved, a treasure Ryan had acquired from beneath the sacristy of the Brunswick Church of Justice, a pair of pistols that could be filled with magical power.

"Besides that, I need to fund the repairs of Horn's Fortress. It used to be a demon hunter division at Helmgarde, but it's quite dilapidated now. Jules and I decided to restore Horn's Fortress and turn it back into a division," Abel continued, spreading his hands. "We are short on hands and funds, so we can only proceed slowly."

"Indeed, that is true," Ryan had nothing much to add but nodded.

"Also… thank you, Lord Ryan, your decision has relieved much of my burden," Abel said, his gaze falling on the roasted chickens. The aroma filled the room as Veronica carefully controlled the flames, a personal challenge for the witch.

Upon understanding Ryan's hints, the village chief quickly rounded up seven or eight roosters as a token of gratitude. Ryan graciously accepted three, leaving the rest for Rudolph and his company—the Rick guards and their knightly escorts had earned a hearty meal.

"What are seven or eight roosters worth? Even during this season, the market price for such a number wouldn't reach a gold mark. But Ryan's actions relieved the villagers of Bad Smile of their burdens and gave Abel a nod for his hard work. Otherwise, with Ryan accepting nothing, the demon hunter would face tremendous pressure from the villagers.

"Mr. Abel, are you heading back to Helmgarde? Then we are on the same path," Veronica, while roasting the chickens, looked pleasantly at Ryan, a friend of hers. Unlike Theresa, the sorceress was always wary of Abel's identity as a demon hunter.

As night fell, heavy snow began to pour outside. While the chief's mansion wasn't as well-insulated as Ryan's count's castle or the royal inns of Brunswick, the cold wind howled outside. Inside, Sulia's servants were busy with preparations, and Sulia herself was inspecting the room for potential vulnerabilities and hidden passages.

"The chickens are ready!" Veronica, carrying the golden, crispy roasted chickens, brought them over to Ryan and Abel. Abel quickly waved them off, but Ryan handed him a chicken leg, "Don't be shy; you've also been injured."

"Alright then." The demon hunter no longer resisted. He, too, needed meat, a crucial diet for warriors of their caliber.

After dinner, commoners typically didn't have many activities as night fell. They either indulged in intimate moments or went straight to sleep. Candles, while not a luxury, were too costly for prolonged use.

After a quick bath, Ryan opened the door to the inner room, where Sulia had changed into a pristine swan velvet nightgown and was reading by the bedside. The bed was illuminated by a magical goose-yellow lamp. Seeing Ryan enter, the knight put down her book, "Done talking with your demon hunter friend?"

Ryan joined her on the bed, enveloping Sulia in his arms and kissing her lovely face, "Me and Abel? There's not much to talk about, mostly recent matters. He's from Helmgarde and will be joining us on the journey tomorrow morning."

Sulia embraced her husband, feeling like the happiest woman in the world. She nestled against Ryan's chest, soaking in the tender warmth, "I'm not against you interacting with demon hunters... nevermind, I'm sure you have your reasons. My father only advised me to be cautious and brief when speaking with them."

"Mr. Abel isn't a bad person; on the contrary, he's committed to reviving the demon hunter division in Helmgarde. He mentioned a fortress in the Grey Mountains called Horn's Fortress, which used to see demon hunter activity. He and his partner have taken over there," Ryan gently massaged Sul

ia's legs, sensing her body's stiffness.

Whether it was the meticulously crafted gold plate armor blessed by the Emperor, the Leonnese sword graced by the Lady of the Lake, or the White Wolf cape blessed by the god of war Ulric—these divine armaments were a considerable burden for Sulia, not to mention the golden double-eagle wedding ring on her left ring finger.

Indeed, Ryan felt Sulia's back and thigh muscles tensing, signs of fatigue, "Tired?"

"Not really, just not quite used to wearing all this at once," Sulia allowed Ryan to press and use his psychic energy to help relax her muscles, blushing slightly. Although Ryan was her husband, the high-born Sulia couldn't help but feel shy.

"Gradually, you'll get used to it," Ryan continued the massage, taking advantage of the moment, watching the heavy snowfall outside, "And remember, never take off the ring I gave you."

"Ever?" Sulia shifted positions, allowing Ryan to massage her slender waist while lying on the pillow, "But the lady once asked me to take it off, and I did. She returned it quickly, that's alright, right?"

That's why the Lady of the Lake could easily possess you! Oh, my naive wife! Ryan's facial muscles twitched slightly. He wasn't against a threesome, especially since Sulia was agreeable, giving him no reason to object. He was just irked that his wife, a devout follower of the Lady of the Lake, along with the clingy lake sorceress Morgiana, had unwittingly tied him firmly to the Lady's camp—and tightly so.

Well, that's probably for the best. Ryan aimed to become king, and he couldn't deny the Lady of the Lake's support, even if he couldn't say how much the Lady liked him. At least for now and the foreseeable future, their goals aligned.

"What's on your mind, Ryan?" Sulia noticed his distraction.

"I'm thinking about whether to attack the necromancer Heinrich Kemmler at Blackstone Stronghold next, or to reclaim Mousilon," Ryan subtly changed the topic.

"Why are you thinking about that now?" Sulia's golden curls spread across her back as Ryan's fingers threaded through her hair, massaging her, "That involves strategic planning. The former would help me consolidate the power of the dukes within the kingdom and earn the friendship of the dwarves. The latter would boost my personal reputation and advance my journey toward a duke's title."

Sulia pondered for a moment before whispering, "Personally, I'd prefer you attack Blackstone Stronghold because the necromancer Heinrich Kemmler is my father's arch-enemy. His presence could also threaten the Duchy of Winfort. If you decide to attack Blackstone Stronghold, my father will definitely support you fully."

"That's a reason," Ryan nodded, accepting the knight's argument, albeit slightly self-serving, as a valid suggestion. The Duchy of Winfort had prospered for years, boasting over four thousand knights, while Ryan could muster only about two hundred from his own coffers.

"Another reason, Ryan, you've risen too fast. Now, you need to show the nobles of the kingdom your capability, letting them see you deserve to continue advancing toward a duke's title. If you rashly attack the Duke of Connaught's territory or Mousilon, the entire kingdom's nobility will see how eagerly you seek a dukedom, leaving the impression of a Lady's chosen champion too hasty to add to his laurels," Sulia continued softly, "Remember, you've been in Britannia for seven years and have already jumped ranks thrice. Even with the Lady's favor, that's quite fast."

Ryan pondered and agreed. Baron, count, he was now a marquis by marriage.

True, since marrying Sulia, Ryan had added 'Marquis Consort' to his titles, a step up from his count's title, although Sulia's marquessate was somewhat nominal (her estate included only two villages), but the title was genuine.

Sulia preferred the title of Countess, not indicating she'd forsaken her marquessate.

"And, Ryan, you should start appointing barons," Sulia, seeing Ryan silent, knew he was listening but perhaps disagreed with her. The countess simply continued, "You can't directly control all your lands forever."

"Is direct control bad?" Ryan chuckled, "I can handle it."

"Can you handle it in the future too? My husband, you always like to be hands-on. You could do that as a baron, as a count, but what about the future? If you become a duke or a king, will you still handle everything yourself? For instance, Hex, Olivier, Armand—they are all capable men, but haven't had the chance to prove themselves. Hex graduated from the Imperial College, yet under you

, he only trains the infantry. Olivier, a distinguished knight recommended by the Duke of Marinburg, is sent to deal with bandits. And Armand, a Grail Knight, surely can't be your banner bearer forever. And then there's Lucian, a talented knight from the Winfort Academy, whom your father-in-law specifically entrusted to you, yet he remains underutilized," Sulia caressed Ryan's face, "Start preparing early, so when the time comes, you won't be without resources."

Ryan sighed deeply, "My lady, I am fortunate to have you as my wife, and poor Yuli!"

"Your brother's misfortune? Ryan, what are you talking about?" Sulia, charmed by his earlier words, was puzzled by his last comment.

"Your wisdom could easily make you Fransois's heir," Ryan also lay down, pulling Sulia into his arms, jesting, "Yuli simply doesn't match up. It seems he's preparing for his Grail Quest."

"Don't you dare speak ill of my brother! He's just a bit cold and obsessed with the knightly path. It's not that he truly doesn't understand, he just doesn't want to spend time on it!" Sulia pinched Ryan's waist, "Father was the same in his youth. Only after completing his Grail Quest and taking over the ducal title did he gradually become more composed... Father even dueled another knight over a dancer when he was young!"

"Oh, tell me more!" Ryan grinned, intrigued by the past of his wise and dignified father-in-law.

"Ah! Ryan, you scoundrel!" Realizing she'd spoken out of turn, Sulia's face flushed red, "It's time to rest."

"Yes, indeed, time to rest," Ryan's hand gently loosened the tie at Sulia's waist of her white nightgown.

…

Two days later, in the domain of West Rick, Helmgarde.

In the midst of a snowstorm, Ryan and his companions reached the foot of the Grey Mountains. Through the mist, a majestic city built on the mountainside came into view.

Helmgarde, an important trading town in Rick's domain, served both as a city and a fortress. Home to about 3,800 permanent residents, the Empire stationed thousands of soldiers here to guard the Axe Bite Pass, combat frequent bandits and greenskins, and prepare for possible invasions from Britannia.

The fortress city was encircled by three walls, carved from the granite of the mountainside, appearing to float in mid-air from afar. Another wall stretched from the city across the valley, and no smuggler could bypass the towering walls and sole gate.

"The ruler of Helmgarde is Count Reinhardt von Mackensen, a 'Border Count,' a title a half-step above ordinary counts, bestowed with independent fiscal and military authority by the Emperor. However, should he fail to defend Helmgarde, his position could be reassigned at any moment," Rudolph explained to Ryan, "While officially home to only 3,800, the actual population is likely over five thousand, with transients pushing numbers to ten thousand or more. This city, known for its lucrative taxes, also faces significant military pressures. Just recently, the Battle of Helmgarde erupted."

Ryan shrugged, having observed that battle from afar. Emperor Karl achieved a decisive victory with a perfectly executed flank charge against Duke Caspar von Carstein's forces.

"Helmgarde's garrison, over a thousand strong, is famed for the Mackensen Musket Corps. Those three hundred musketeers, always battling the greenskins, bandits, and beastmen of the Grey Mountains, are well-regarded," Wagner added, "The corps is equipped with the finest long-barreled muskets from the Nuln armory."

As they approached Helmgarde, the guards, recognizing the crest of Rick's Guard Knights, waved them through without delay.

Just inside the city, a group of dwarf peddlers caught Ryan's attention.

"Selling various gauntlets, shields, picks, and axes! Custom orders for dwarven arm braces, helmets, and plate armor!" the dwarves shouted in Helmgarde's market, a renowned border trade hub. Here, Britannian wines and brandies, fine cloths, and quality horses were hot commodities, while dwarven merchants offered iron, lead, silver ingots, and dwarven weaponry, alongside Rick merchants selling Empire black beer and grains.

"Eh, isn't that...?"

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