Click, click, click—the sound of hurried footsteps echoed through the Elector's Palace. These were the footsteps of Duchess Emmanuelle, wearing her high heels. Emmanuelle was dressed in the standard Elector attire: a magenta blouse, a black pencil skirt, red tights, and high heels adorned with skull motifs. She briskly walked towards the city council meeting.
The stunningly beautiful Elector's face was shrouded in gloom. Emmanuelle had never imagined that a massive Chaos army would appear in the Border Princes, seemingly poised to invade the Empire.
Now, Nuln, having learned of the Chaos army's presence, was gripped with panic. Many people were already packing up and fleeing, citizens were shouting about the end of days, and the markets were being looted for food and valuables. Several nobles were putting their mansions up for sale, leading to a rare drop in Nuln's real estate prices for the first time in over a century.
And this was just from the news that the Chaos army was in the Border Princes.
Naturally, the Nuln City Council, led by Emmanuelle, responded immediately. High Priest Casimir IX sent out priests to arrest fearmongers. Warrior priests and witch hunters took to the streets, loudly proclaiming that the Duchess would stand with the people. The Nuln army took over city security, declaring a state of alert.
One comforting thought for Emmanuelle was that Ryan had agreed to stay. This gave the Duchess some confidence. She was accompanied by two maids, and she noticed that her palace, while still orderly, had an air of desolation.
Ludwig's Blackstone Hall, where the Savior once gathered the Empire's southern forces to unite the Empire, was constructed of the finest granite and marble from the World's Edge Mountains. Silver-plated pillars supported the ceiling, and the walls were adorned with heraldry. A six-meter-tall black statue of the Savior sat at the highest point in the hall, quietly watching everyone.
Ludwig's appearance was not as beautified as the one in Altdorf. Nuln's pride was not a handsome man; Emmanuelle thought the Savior was nowhere near as handsome as Ryan. His features were as plain as a country farmer's, wearing a monocle, with a bald head and a single black braid down the back.
But this man saved the entire Empire, the entire world.
Under such solemn and sacred surroundings, everyone in Blackstone Hall seemed insignificant. They formed two lines around the empty council center, sitting behind high platforms. Their expressions varied, but without exception, they all looked worried and tense. They wore the most expensive silk or satin robes and clothing, adorned with jewels and gold. Among them were nobles and officials, warriors and wizards, all awaiting the arrival of the Imperial Duchess.
The doors opened, and Emmanuelle stepped into Blackstone Hall with a serious expression, walking directly towards the Savior's statue, her face displaying only severity and nobility.
Emmanuelle took her seat.
There were many attendees, and the Duchess calmly assessed the situation.
Grand Marshal Erstein was present, representing Nuln's military.
High Judge Theodore Bruckner was present, representing Nuln's various knightly orders.
Ironclad Army Commander Jubal Falk was present, symbolizing the will of Nuln's Gunnery School.
Wisenland Marquis Olger Holk was present, representing the Wisenland nobility and military. The elderly marquis stood straight, his title suggesting a lineage long enough to have Ludwig make an exception.
Grandmaster Pfitzmann of the Order of the Blazing Sun was present, wearing dazzling runic armor, accompanied by several fellow knights. As one of the Empire's seven knightly orders and the wealthiest, Emmanuelle was pleased to see them here. She noticed her distant cousin, Jannie Bernardino, holding her Blazing Sun helmet behind Pfitzmann. Jannie had once disguised herself as a man to temporarily take Emmanuelle's place as Elector but had always dreamed of becoming a Blazing Sun knight. Now she had achieved her dream.
Nuln's City Defense General Drake, Chief Engineer Gunter Maybach of Nuln's Armory, and several prominent nobles were also present. They were undoubtedly military nobles.
Some were absent, and the Duchess frowned.
"The Duchess is here; I believe we can begin." Grand Marshal Erstein, with his thick beard, looked like a lion. "Very well, a Chaos army has appeared in the Border Princes! The Border Princes have turned into a hellish wasteland. Let's consider, what can we do?"
"What can we do?" Marquis Olger shouted. "We need Nuln's help! The Wisenland army cannot defeat Chaos!"
"We don't even know how to defeat Chaos, Lord Olger," General Drake said. "None of us know. If we did, the Savior would have succeeded. What we can do is survive bravely, repel them time and time again, and be ready for their return!"
"You're talking nonsense. You expect us to pretend nothing happened?" Olger roared. "How did you become City Defense General, Drake? Charlemagne curse you!"
"No one can survive under the Chaos threat."
"But we can't send our troops to their deaths!"
"You will be punished for your cowardice!"
"Hiding behind walls is not bad! Sending troops to the Border Princes now is suicide!"
The empty Blackstone Hall erupted into arguments. Emmanuelle banged her gavel on the table to restore order. "Enough! Quiet! We still have time. Don't panic!"
The room fell silent. Emmanuelle assessed the attendees and asked an attendant, "Has our Emperor responded?"
"Emperor Karl Franz is shocked by this news. However, he and his army are fighting a Beastmen horde and a Chaos warband in the Central Mountains," the attendant replied. "The war is not ending soon; Nuln must rely on itself."
"That's our Emperor, and that's Altdorf's court. We can never count on them. In the most critical times, Nuln can only rely on itself!" High Judge Theodore Bruckner's face was filled with disdain for the Imperial court and the Emperor. Emmanuelle knew this disdain had been built over time.
"Very well. I suppose the paupers of Stirland can't help us either. What about Averland? What does Elector Umberto say?" Emmanuelle asked, barely suppressing her anger.
"Elector Umberto has led the Knights of the Golden Fleece and 20,000 troops to Blackfire Pass," Grandmaster Pfitzmann of the Order of the Blazing Sun said. "But whether they can stop the Chaos army is unknown. Perhaps we need to send enough reinforcements?"
"We are barely able to defend our own city, let alone send reinforcements!" General Drake objected. "We should strengthen Nuln's defenses."
"Are you neglecting Wisenland's safety?" Marquis Olger protested.
"Scorched earth policy! Preserve our living forces!" Grand Marshal Erstein clearly sided with Drake. "Gather all Wisenland's troops in Nuln! We must assemble enough forces to possibly defeat this Chaos army… or hold out until that damned Emperor and his damned reinforcements arrive!"
"No! Erstein, what are you thinking? Do you believe you can command us all?" Olger's weathered face turned red. "Wisenland's lands cannot be easily abandoned!"
"Then you will all die there, picked off by Chaos!" the Grand Marshal insisted. "If you choose this, fine. Take your men to die; I will hold Nuln against the Chaos army! Let's agree on the division of labor!"
"Erstein, you bastard!"
"You old fool!"
The arguments echoed in Blackstone Hall. Emmanuelle raised her gavel to restore order again, but hurried, disjointed footsteps were heard outside. Ironclad Army Commander Jubal Falk and several ironclad soldiers blocked the door. "Private meeting, no entry!"
But the bald head and the black robe with twin-tailed comet and iron cross symbols at the door silenced the hall. Falk signaled the ironclad soldiers to clear the way.
It was Nuln's High Priest, Casimir IX. He entered quickly. "By Emperor Charlemagne, what are you arguing about? Where is the Duchess? Where is the Grand Marshal?"
"I'm here, High Priest," Emmanuelle said. She was considering whether to tell everyone that Ryan had agreed to stay to calm the situation. She turned to Casimir IX. "I hope you bring good news."
"Good news?!" Casimir IX almost laughed. He tightened his grip on his twin-tailed comet staff. "My Elector Lady, are you hoping for a twin-tailed comet to destroy this Chaos army?"
"That would be best, dear High Priest. Tell me the situation," Emmanuelle responded sharply. "Otherwise, stop wasting my time. The city needs you and your warrior priests, witch hunters, and flagellants to maintain order!"
"Indeed! I should be doing my duty, if not for your damned servant summoning me here for this damned meeting!" Casimir IX was also furious. "The Church of Sigmar divined, and the Lord's oracle and the divination results both indicate an unprecedented disaster will befall Nuln, this city of the Savior!"
His words caused gasps and uneasy whispers.
Panic and unease gripped everyone in Blackstone Hall.
Everyone looked to Grand Marshal Erstein and High Judge Theodore Bruckner. The former was the military leader, the latter the only Sanctuary-level strongman in the hall.
Some suggested retreating to Altdorf for safety, but Emmanuelle immediately refused.
"Yes, a
great catastrophe is imminent," a voice echoed as the hall doors opened again.
A slender, beautiful woman, appearing no more than thirty, holding a large scythe, entered. She wore a purple dress and robe, her face unusually pale, with gray-white hair floating unkempt.
Nuln's Black Lady, Head of the Imperial College of Wizards' Amethyst College, and Sanctuary-level Death Wizard Elspeth von Draken, stood before them.
"Black Lady, Nuln's guardian! You're finally here," Emmanuelle stood up to greet the Sanctuary wizard. The Duchess respected and feared Elspeth, who stayed away from Nuln's court and the wizard guild, appearing only when significant events occurred.
"The Border Princes are in ruins," Elspeth whispered. "The winds of death told me who's coming. If we can't stop him, this world will be destroyed, and the Empire will collapse."
"He is Tamurkhan, son of the Kurgan Emperor, Chaos God Nurgle's chosen champion. Soon, he will bring all filth to visit us. We must be ready; we must kill Tamurkhan," Elspeth whispered. "Or Nuln will turn to ash."
"Can we defeat this Tamurkhan?" Emmanuelle asked her most pressing question.
"Tamurkhan is powerful but not invincible," Elspeth said quietly. "But this city needs strong warriors, very strong."
"Nuln needs me. I will face Tamurkhan," Theodore Bruckner stood up, being one of Nuln's two Sanctuary-level strongmen.
"We need Theodore's strength, but we have a better option," Elspeth nodded. "We also need the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, Ryan Mackado. Only he can give us a chance in this war."
"Otherwise, we can only hope Theodore finds a chance for mutual destruction."
The Black Lady never joked. Her words made everyone in Blackstone Hall turn to the Duchess. Ryan was Emmanuelle's man and little Frederick's father.
"My Duchess! We need Ryan Mackado's strength!"
"Please let Ryan help us!"
"My Duchess, it's up to you."
"Duchess, Nuln needs your help!"
Within a minute, the hall was filled with pleas. The nobles implored Emmanuelle, knowing Ryan had no obligation to help Nuln; his only connection was through Emmanuelle and their son.
Emmanuelle seemed troubled, facing everyone's pleas. She looked helpless. "But he's about to leave Nuln. He has already planned his journey. The knight kingdom across the mountains needs him more than Nuln does."
"My Duchess! The fate of this city rests on you." A noble earnestly begged. "Please negotiate with Ryan. Whatever he demands, we will try to meet."
"Yes!"
"I agree!"
"We understand your difficulty, but this is for Nuln, please, Duchess."
Under the watchful eyes, Emmanuelle appeared angered. Her face changed several times before she nodded reluctantly, her golden bangs covering her bright eyes.
"I'll try my best."
"Also, spread the news in the city that Ryan's visit is over. At this critical moment, he is considering leaving Nuln despite the council's pleas," the maid's eyes gleamed with cunning.
"Yes!"
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