In mid-April of the Imperial Calendar 2513, spring had arrived, and throughout Bretonnia, the spring plowing was in full swing. The serfs toiled diligently in the fields, paying a tithe to the Lady of the Lake, a shield tax to the knights, while also sustaining their families.
The spring sun shone brightly, and the Duchy of Mousillon had finally returned to its former peace. Here, former Imperials, native Mousillon citizens, people from Lyonesse, and newly settled Kislevites gathered, sharing old stories. The city still felt somewhat empty, but because of this, it brimmed with opportunities.
There were many ancient rumors about how the first Grail Knight, the perfect knightly figure Landuin, and his son Laroche had supposedly buried a vast treasure deep beneath Mousillon. After Ryan reclaimed the city, he publicly declared that any expedition team from the Old World was welcome to explore the depths of Mousillon.
This sparked a massive surge of adventurers, with the first to respond being Bretonnia's errant knights. Known for their recklessness and desire for glory, errant knights often sought deeds to prove their worth and ascend to the rank of knights of the realm.
The errant knights ventured into the depths of Mousillon, encountering many enemies, including the remnants of undead, mutated creatures born from centuries of corruption, and Skaven nests scattered throughout the underground.
Although the errant knights suffered losses, they also gained considerable rewards. Soon, they discovered a hidden undead necromancer and several Skaven warlords, which prompted knights on crusades to join the fray. One crusader knight, named Tibert, encountered the spirit of Duke Laroche deep underground. Laroche's spirit guided Tibert to a long-forgotten shrine where he found an artifact: The Silver Cross Helm, blessed by Laroche himself.
Using this silver helm, Tibert defeated the necromancer and, after a long campaign, earned the favor of the Lady of the Lake, becoming a Grail Knight.
Tibert's success drove the kingdom's knights into a frenzy. Soon, Mousillon became a haven for adventurers, with many knights hoping to ascend through such exploits. This sparked a wave of exploration, with numerous treasures and relics discovered over time. The underground of Mousillon even attracted adventurer groups from the Empire and Dwarven clans.
However, what no one knew was that this was all part of an elaborate plan orchestrated by Ryan and the Lady of the Lake.
After centuries, the reforms Ryan introduced had sparked a wave of fervent devotion. The Lady of the Lake's divine power had reached its peak, unseen in centuries. This newfound power manifested in her ability to grant the Grail's honor to more crusader knights, bless weapons and equipment, and even create holy water. Laroche's spirit appeared by her command.
The purpose? To eliminate the hidden undead, Skaven, and Chaos remnants lurking in Mousillon's depths while simultaneously reviving the city's economy by attracting adventurers.
Every few months, the Lady of the Lake would place a blessed item—be it a weapon, piece of armor, amulet, or holy water—somewhere in the underground. When these items were discovered, the knights would praise the Lady, and more adventurers would flock to Mousillon.
In the midst of this revitalized Mousillon, a gentle rain drizzled down as Ryan and Sulia enjoyed afternoon tea in the palace courtyard. Olica and Sylvia stood by their sides, while the Earl of Devon, Hex and his wife, the Baron of Biocari, Juan and his wife, the Baron of Melrowen, Armand and his wife, the commander of the Old Guard, Bertrand and his wife, and vice-commander Davout were all present. Ryan had also invited Belial and his maid Holkina. The group enjoyed their tea while discussing recent events.
After the deaths of Lopus and Olivier, these individuals had become Ryan's innermost circle.
The light rain fell softly, nourishing the grass and turning the courtyard's greenery into a deep, vibrant hue. The stone bricks turned gray as the fresh, sweet scent of rain filled the air. Ryan sat slightly relaxed in a reclining chair, dressed in casual clothes, enjoying the rain with his loyal vassals. The small, gentle spring rain was a pleasing respite.
The courtyard was small, with lush trees and flowers, and the pond rippled gently. Although much of the area was still under construction, it didn't stop Ryan from stealing a moment of leisure. His attention turned to his wife, Sulia, who was the center of attention, dressed in a graceful court fishtail gown of soft gray fabric and sheer silk stockings. Her elegance captivated everyone, especially Holkina, the young Kislevite, who was overwhelmed by Sulia's kindness and composure. Having never attended such a high-level gathering before, Holkina was so awestruck that she kept making mistakes, prompting laughter from everyone. Since neither Ryan nor Sulia seemed bothered, the others merely smiled and carried on.
As for the men, the atmosphere was equally friendly, with even Davout receiving warm treatment, though Belial remained an outcast due to his eerie presence. This didn't bother Belial, who knew that the more the nobles shunned him, the more Ryan would value him.
Sipping his tea and breathing in the moist air, Ryan looked toward the overcast sky and the palace, still taking shape in the spring rain. He turned to Earl Hex: "Any word from Lucian?"
"Marquis Lucian should have arrived in Estalia by now," Hex replied respectfully. "Barring any unforeseen circumstances, by June, all three garrisons in the Badlands will be operational."
"Good. Make sure the follow-up support continues," Ryan nodded. Lucian had been promoted to Marquis of the Badlands, tasked with overseeing the region, commanding an army composed of volunteers, veteran knights, over a thousand old soldiers, and numerous new recruits. Most of them were young men eager to earn their place through warfare.
Hex, now in his forties and sporting a goatee, found himself puzzled by why Ryan had recently shaved his beard, though he quickly dismissed it as unimportant. He refocused on the missed opportunity of Lucian's promotion, which still weighed heavily on him.
Hex's skill lay in managing and training troops, executing Ryan's commands flawlessly. However, his lack of adaptability in unforeseen battlefield situations made him unsuitable for leadership in the Badlands, so Ryan had chosen someone else.
"Any news from the Arden Forest?" Ryan asked Juan and Bertrand next. While it was difficult to completely eradicate the Beastmen and Greenskins, Ryan's strengthened kingdom had kept them confined to the forest's depths.
"No, Your Majesty. We've swept along the forest's edge," Juan reported. "No sign of Beastmen. Marquis Turas of Loire led a similar sweep, thanks to the Cold Creek Guards you sent him, and wiped out two Beastmen warbands."
"Beastmen are like that—they're a nuisance to hunt down. They love playing hide-and-seek with us, but if we don't clear them out, they'll attack our villages, towns, fields, and livestock," Ryan said seriously. "Make sure to keep sending regular patrols. We can't be complacent."
"Yes, Your Majesty," everyone agreed.
"Bertrand, Davout, many of the Old Guard soldiers and officers are now married, but we need to maintain discipline. Aside from official holidays, each soldier gets two days off every ten-day period, and unless there's an emergency, no one is to leave the barracks outside of these days. We'll allow some free time after dinner, before curfew."
"Yes, Your Majesty," Bertrand immediately nodded. Despite recently getting married himself, he had returned to his post after only two weeks, always feeling an urgency to stay ahead.
"According to the latest report from Haimeng Pass, the ironclad ship we ordered is en route to Bretonnia. Your Majesty, it's time to give it a name," Armand interjected, bringing new information. "King Belagar's son, Sorgrin Ironhammer, and his dwarven crew are aboard."
"A name?" Ryan's interest was piqued. "What do you all think? Let's brainstorm together."
"Name the ironclad ship?" The group became intrigued.
"Name the ironclad," Ryan repeated, reclining in his chair and looking around the group. "We spent a fortune on this ship, commissioned from the dwarves of Haimeng Pass."
Everyone exchanged hesitant glances. Seeing their uncertainty, Ryan decided to call on someone directly: "Hex, you start. We'll go around."
Earl Hex, caught off guard by the king's request, took two minutes to think before suggesting: "Your Majesty, since this is our first ironclad, it should have a name with significance. Perhaps we could name it after Landuin or Laroche? Or even call it King Ryan or Queen Sulia?"
"Landuin has already been used, and Queen Sulia... let's not use that just yet." Ryan glanced at his wife, who was sipping tea, clearly uninterested in the discussion. "Naming it after myself seems a bit too self-aggrandizing."
"I have no other suggestions, Your Majesty," Hex quickly passed the responsibility to someone else.
"Juan, your turn," Ryan continued.
"Your Majesty, I think we could name it after famous naval commanders. Perhaps Hood, Richelieu, or Eldridge?" Juan suggested.
"Hood? Richelieu?" Ryan frowned, shaking his head. "Good names, but they've been used before. No repeats... Ar
mand, what do you think?"
"Why not call it Arthur or Artoria?" Armand proposed, though his suggestion was a bit too conservative. After considering it, Ryan still shook his head: "That seems too grand for the first ironclad. If we name this one that, what about the next?"
Bertrand suggested names like Elizabeth, Isabella, or Lexington, but Ryan rejected those with a pained expression.
Davout proposed names like Glory, Unicorn, or Lady of the Lake, but Ryan quickly dismissed them. By now, the king's face was twisted in frustration. Couldn't anyone come up with a decent name?
Ryan sighed inwardly. Did I walk into the wrong scene? he thought, exasperated.
After much deliberation, Ryan turned to Belial: "Belial, what do you think?"
"Your Majesty, how about Aurora or Crown Prince?" Belial responded seriously, not even cracking a smile. "Borodino would also be good—it was the village where the late Tsar Boris won a great victory against the northern tribes."
"Hmph! This is a Bretonnian warship! We can't use Kislevite names, Belial! Remember which country you serve!" Hex rebuked him sharply, before offering his own suggestion: "Your Majesty, we need this ironclad to project Bretonnian power overseas, correct?"
"Of course," Ryan nodded.
"In that case, I have some name ideas that fit the theme," Hex continued. "How about Dingyuan, Zhenyuan, Ningyuan, Jiyuan, or Weiyuan?"
"..."
"I'm speechless," Ryan covered his face with his hands, sighing in exasperation. "I'd rather call it Raider, Black Legion, or Planet Killer—at least those names wouldn't sink as easily."
With no better suggestions forthcoming, Ryan turned to his wife: "Sulia, do you have any good ideas?"
"How about Enterprise?" Sulia proposed gently, lifting her teacup. "Enterprise not only refers to a business venture but also represents a virtue—'progress' and 'forward momentum.' It reflects the state of our kingdom after the Great Expedition's success and suggests a promising beginning."
"Perfect! Enterprise it is!" Ryan was relieved to finally hear a suitable name. His heart swelled with gratitude toward his wife.
Just as Ryan was basking in the moment, his dark elven maid Olica approached and whispered, "Master, Lady Veronica, Lady Aurora, and Lady Teresa have sent word. They are approaching the port of Le Angoulan."
"Good. I'll be ready," Ryan nodded, already shifting his focus to the next matter.
Now, how to handle the remnants of the Garland Council would depend on his upcoming negotiations with Veronica, Teresa, and Aurora.
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