The Reik River rushed southwest towards Karonburg, surging with frothy, boiling water as it passed through a narrow gorge. The torrent formed a waterfall, crashing thirty meters down from the cliffs, spraying mist everywhere. White waves rolled and merged, flowing westward, and the damp, cold fog lingered over the nearby forests surrounding Karonburg.
On the northern bank of the river stood a massive black fortress, towering proudly. The immense towers, bastions, and twenty-meter-high walls, all carved from black stone, were tightly interlocked, creating an impregnable fortress. This legendary castle symbolized control over the land, standing like a tiger on a mountain, ready to pounce on any nearby threats. The blue and white wolf banner of Middenland fluttered over the castle, hundreds of cannons neatly lined up, and the family crest of Boris Todbringer was mounted on the gates. The imposing outer walls stretched along the cliffs, and only two gates provided entry through the lower layers of the castle's fortifications.
Karonburg was famous for being home to the Karonburg Greatswords, a legendary regiment renowned worldwide for their unyielding courage and their ability to fight Chaos demons in hand-to-hand combat. During the Three Emperors Era, when the Empire was divided, the Karonburg Greatswords resisted the army of Middenland for a long time, fighting to the death. Even when the Duke of Karonburg, Reinhardt, was killed in battle, the regiment continued fighting, their once-pristine white uniforms stained deep red with blood. Moved by their valor, the Reik Emperor granted the regiment the right to wear dark red uniforms in their honor.
Historically, Karonburg had changed hands many times between Reikland and Middenland. After the Great Holy War, Ludwig the Savior ordered the reunification of Middenland and Middenheim, incorporating Karonburg into Middenland. The Todbringer family, although establishing Middenheim as their capital, retained Karonburg's unique status. The castle housed a luxurious Electoral Palace, where the Grand Dukes of Middenland often spent their winters or went hunting.
What made Karonburg truly special was that its nobles were allowed to swear allegiance to the Grand Prince of Reikland, especially if the Reik Prince became Emperor. For three generations, the Reik Princes had monopolized the Imperial throne, continually exerting influence over Karonburg. By the time Karl Franz ascended, the Karonburg Greatswords had become the royal guard of the Franz family.
The current Duke of Karonburg was Gebhart von Blücher, a Saint-ranked Greatsword known as the "Forward Marshal." Bold and approachable, Blücher was known for leading his troops personally and beheading countless Beastmen and Greenskins in battle. However, he wasn't considered a great strategist—at least not in Boris Todbringer's eyes.
To Boris, Blücher was best when commanding fewer than 10,000 troops. Any larger force, and the "Forward Marshal" would struggle to maintain control. But with fewer men, his reckless, death-defying, and sometimes borderline maniacal tendencies shone through.
Boris Todbringer had risen early that day. Even before dawn, the Elector of the White Wolf was leading his personal White Wolf Guard on an inspection of the Karonburg military camps. Nearly 30,000 soldiers were stationed here, summoned from various parts of Middenland. Boris' elite units were present, including the White Wolf Knights, the Leopard Knights, the Ulric Swordsmen, and the best of the White Wolf Church. However, many of the troops were undisciplined local forces or provincial reserves.
Boris' health had improved significantly in recent years. Thanks to his alliance with Ryan, he had obtained a small vial of Life Essence from the Wood Elves, a product of the ancient Oak of Ages. With the help of the Wood Elf envoy, his long-standing eye disease was cured, and his once mentally deficient eldest son had also returned to normal.
With the blessings of the Wood Elves and Ulric, Boris had broken through the shackles of the Saint rank, ascending to true Sainthood.
Of course, this came at a great cost, but the Todbringer family's treasury had enough treasures to pique the Wood Elves' interest.
Now in his seventies, Boris was still in his prime, appearing as a vigorous and energetic man, a fearsome warrior, and a formidable leader. He regularly led his Middenland forces to seek out enemies in battle, his runic sword inspiring his troops to fight for victory.
However, despite his strength, Boris now found himself in a difficult predicament.
His army was concentrated at Karonburg, and from the Grand Theogonist Emil Wager to the lowest-level Ulric berserkers, all were clamoring for war. They wanted to teach the southern folk a harsh lesson, to take Brunswick, and restore the honor of the crown and capital to the White Wolf City! It was time, they said, to crown the true Emperor of the Empire—the Wolf Emperor, Boris Todbringer!
Of course, the desire to be Emperor was undeniable. Boris often found his mind filled with anger at the southern nobles. Didn't they understand how much Ulric had sacrificed for humanity? Without Ulric's aid, there would have been no coronation of Charlemagne, no founding of the Empire! And now, even the honors due to Ulric and the North had been stolen by the southerners. What more did they want?
Many times, Boris had been tempted to order his troops to march and give Karl Franz a taste of northern fury. This was the rage of Ulric!
But reason always held him back. A full-scale civil war in the Empire wasn't what Boris wanted, nor what Ulric desired.
What Boris hoped for was to force Karl Franz and the Church of Sigmar to submit through the threat of war.
Yet to Boris' disappointment, even after amassing his troops at the border for over a week, Brunswick showed no sign of backing down or extending an olive branch. Instead, they gathered their forces along the Reik River and the capital, ready to confront Middenland.
Tensions were rising. As Boris walked through the camp, a squad of Teutonic Guards flanked him, protecting his safety. The Teutonic Guards were the elite of the White Wolf Knights, dismounted warriors and temple knights of the White Wolf Church, personally selected by the High Ulric and the Knight-Commander. Being chosen as a Teutonic Guard was the highest honor within the White Wolf Knights. Already fearless, these warriors became even more steadfast in their resolve after receiving this honor.
Originally, Ryan was supposed to join them one day.
"Good morning, soldiers!" Boris rubbed his hands together, breathing in the cold air. Even in January, Karonburg was bitterly cold, but the Elector relished the chill. He greeted the soldiers who were just waking up and lighting their campfires. The Grand Duke of Middenland and Elector of the White Wolf was clearly beloved by his men, who responded with heartfelt greetings. Boris noticed many of the soldiers were maintaining their weapons and practicing reloading. He frowned but did not stop or encourage them.
"Ulric is with us, Your Grace. You're up early today," said Axel, the Knight-Commander of the White Wolf Knights. His thick beard contrasted sharply with his bald head. Upon seeing Boris, Axel greeted him. "I thought you were in the palace; I must have missed you."
"Anything new?" Boris asked quietly.
"The arrogant and foolish Reiklanders seem eager to experience Ulric's fury and thunder," Axel said, resting a massive war hammer on his shoulder. "Middenlanders are fearless and resilient. It's time the Old World remembered that."
"It's not that simple. We are still Imperials," Boris shook his head. "We just want to use the threat of war to force Karl Franz back to the negotiating table, to compensate for our losses, and apologize."
"True, but we still need a war," Axel nodded. "So, when do we start?"
Boris sighed inwardly. The entire atmosphere in Karonburg had been filled with fervor and grief recently, and it was difficult to quell. Still, Boris hoped for a decisive victory, like the Battle of Helmgart, to both teach the southerners a lesson and let Middenlanders vent their frustrations, before considering negotiations.
At that moment, Boris' standard-bearer, von Tuggenheim, approached quickly.
Upon seeing his godson, Boris' lone eye softened with affection. The young man, in his thirties, was his godson and right-hand man. His father, Filren, had been Boris' closest advisor and friend, dying in a duel with the Beastmen King, Khazrak the One-Eye. After that, Boris took Tuggenheim under his wing, becoming a strict but caring godfather. Tuggenheim had lived up to Boris' expectations, excelling in every way during his training, whether it was reciting Ulric's prayers or mastering swordsmanship and hunting.
By his twenties, Tuggenheim had become a full White Wolf Knight and soon joined the Teutonic Guards, earning the honor of bearing the White Wolf's sacred banner. Despite his prestigious position, Tuggenheim was humble and often shared meals with ordinary soldiers, understanding the struggles of the common folk.
"Godfather!" Tuggenheim, dressed in a wool cap and white wolf fur cloak, with steel-plated wolf armor underneath, approached quickly. He leaned in to whisper in Boris' ear, "The Imperial Duchess has arrived, leading a unit of Nuln Knights and Nuln Ironclads. They are just outside the castle!"
"The Imperial Duchess?
!" Boris exclaimed, astonished. "Emmanuelle von Lebwitz-Bernardino? What's she doing here in Karonburg instead of staying in her warm palace in Nuln? Doesn't she know there's about to be a war?"
"I'd guess the Duchess is here to play mediator for that dog Karl Franz," Axel said dismissively, twirling his hammer. "Boris, what's the plan? Are we going to meet this Imperial Duchess? We should at least be polite."
Boris Todbringer glared with his one eye. Around him, the Teutonic Guards, his godson Tuggenheim, White Wolf Knight-Commander Axel, and Duke Blücher of Karonburg awaited his command.
Although the devout men of Ulric held a certain "disdain" for women, believing that men and women should stick to their respective roles and that warfare wasn't a woman's business, Emmanuelle von Lebwitz had earned her pride. She had once been Ryan's maid before returning to the Empire, and now, she had become one of the most powerful women in the Empire. After defeating the Nurgle Champion Tamurkhan with just the forces of Wissenland and Nuln, her fame had spread across the Old World.
Thus, Emmanuelle now commanded considerable respect within the Empire. Boris had no reason not to meet her. They weren't at war, and their positions were equal.
But why had Emmanuelle come here, leading a unit of Nuln Knights and Ironclads? A seasoned warrior like Boris could easily guess: she was here to mediate. In simpler terms, she had come to help that dog Karl Franz!
"Meet her? Of course, I'll meet her!" Boris suddenly laughed. The White Wolf Elector's laugh was odd, both cruel and cold. "Tuggenheim, open the gates and let the Duchess and her forces in. Arrange breakfast and lunch for them."
"Breakfast and lunch?" Axel asked curiously. "Boris, it's just dawn!"
"Yes, dawn. But when did I say I'd meet her right away?" Boris waved dismissively. "I will meet her, but not now. She's traveled a long way. Let the Imperial Duchess 'rest' for a while. After all, I'm 'busy with military affairs.'"
"Hahaha!" Everyone understood Boris' meaning, and laughter rippled through the camp.
Seven hours later, inside the Electoral Palace at Karonburg.
After being kept waiting for seven hours, the Imperial Duchess Emmanuelle finally had the opportunity to meet Elector Boris. She wore a fitted black coat trimmed with white heron feathers, paired with white wool tights and ivory high-heeled boots. As she was led into the grand hall, her face was filled with anger and frustration. Clearly, being left waiting all morning had pushed the Empire's most powerful woman to the brink of rage.
"My apologies, Duchess, but military matters kept me occupied. After all, Karonburg is not a place for hosting banquets," Boris remarked arrogantly, barely hiding his amusement. "Please, take a seat."
Emmanuelle sat down across from Boris, her face dark with fury. She signaled for the attendants to leave, and Boris nodded in agreement. Once they were alone, the White Wolf Elector spoke nonchalantly. "Alright, I know why you're here. You've come to speak on behalf of that dog, the puppet emperor. I've already guessed your intentions. But let me tell you, Emmanuelle, I'm not interested in hearing it. Say something else, or you can leave."
Emmanuelle clenched her gloved hands tightly, her forehead veins bulging. Forcing a twisted smile, she replied, "Yes, Boris, you're right. I did come to talk about this situation. But now, I'm not interested anymore. Let me know when you start your war. Then Ryan and I can begin our negotiations."
"What? Ryan?" Boris was taken aback by Emmanuelle's response, staring at her in confusion for several seconds. "What do you mean, negotiations with Ryan? This matter is between Middenland and Reikland. What does Ryan have to do with it?"
"I'm waiting for you to start the war!" Emmanuelle's smile grew even more twisted. Her emotions were clearly on edge. "Once you declare yourself the Wolf Emperor, I'll immediately announce that Nuln and Wissenland are joining the Kingdom of Bretonnia! Sulia can be Queen, and so can I. My dowry is even richer than hers! And if Felbach and his Talabecland share the same thought, then I'll make Ryan Emperor!"
"Go ahead, fight! You and Karl tear each other apart. That way, my son will be the future Emperor of mankind! What do you think of that idea?"
"WTF?!" Boris was stunned, his mouth hanging open in shock. His remaining eye stared incredulously at Emmanuelle.
What was this woman thinking? What did she want?!
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