Marienburg, University District, Central Palace Complex.
The palace complex was the heart and brain of Marienburg, where generations of its leaders had worked and lived. The oldest part of the complex dated back to the time when the Jutones Kingdom ruled here. At least the foundations of the palace area were laid in that era.
Marienburg had endured numerous wars throughout its history: Norse raids, Imperial civil wars, Bretonnian invasions, and the chaos of the Time of Three Emperors. Wars frequently reached Marienburg, and the palace complex had been burned down and rebuilt repeatedly, symbolizing the city's resilience.
The last invasion to reach this place was seven hundred years ago when the Bretonnian Knight King "The Brave" Louis led his forces to capture Marienburg. He plundered the city's wealth and set the entire palace district ablaze, declaring that Marienburg now belonged to Bretonnia.
This event serves as a reminder that Bretonnian knights don't always fight for justice. Often, they are constrained by chivalry and lack a pretext for their ambitions. For example, their violent looting during the Araby Crusades and the ruthless slaughter of Greenskins and Skaven during the recent Karak Eight Peaks expedition are clear examples of their brutality.
Of course, Knight King Louis the Brave paid a heavy price for his foolish actions. His blatant disregard for the Old World's unity against Chaos angered the Lady of the Lake. Bretonnia's occupation of Marienburg lasted only a few years before the Lady's sorceress led Grail Knights to depose Louis the Brave. Marienburg was returned to the Empire, and the disgraced king was stripped of his titles and exiled to a tiny island off the coast of Marienburg, where he lived out his days as a prison warden.
Today, as the official center of Marienburg, the palace complex was where the wealthy merchants, nobles, and generals flaunted their wealth. Many government buildings were architectural treasures that attracted students from as far as Araby, eager to study the works of the continent's greatest architects. Security was paramount here, and the Marienburg Senate spared no expense, constructing a fortified inner city made of marble and granite, with four sturdy towers guarding the roads. The only gate through the walls was custom-built at great expense from the Everpeak, reinforced with magical warding runes and hardened steel.
Currently, the palace district was guarded by the private forces of Grand Duke Schultz—the Iris Guard—and Marienburg's elite Vanguard Knights. These units were always ready with pikes, greatswords, and muskets to eliminate any threats.
Inside the opulent palace, a grand banquet was held today to welcome the Bretonnian Knight King and the Ash Legion's commander. All of Marienburg's elite—merchants, noble families, renowned artists, and mercenary leaders—were present, singing, drinking, and gathering together.
For the moment, despite past conflicts and tensions, everyone appeared amicable, laughing and chatting in this setting. Without question, the most radiant figure of the evening was Queen Sulia. Ryan deliberately allowed his wife to take center stage, and she carried out her role with grace.
However, the banquet concluded rather quickly. Ryan made it clear that he preferred not to host an all-night affair, and the festivities ended after just three hours. As the event drew to a close, Viscount Casanova, head of the Gentlemen's League—the second-largest trading company in Marienburg—approached Ryan and Sulia. Smiling, he said, "Your Majesty Ryan, Queen Sulia, it's such a rare opportunity to have you here in Marienburg. Unfortunately, I haven't found a proper occasion to host you. How about this: I've prepared some fine wine and gifts. Perhaps we could find a place to have a drink? Or I've also got some premium tea from Cathay."
"Hm," Ryan responded, holding Sulia's delicate hand. He wasn't particularly fond of Casanova, whom he viewed as an opportunist. However, Casanova had made himself useful by hiring and sending the legendary duo Gotrek and Felix to Ryan during the Karak Eight Peaks expedition, which played a decisive role. This courtesy could not be ignored.
But Ryan was different now. Instead of agreeing immediately, he turned to Sulia with a smile. "What do you think, my lady? I told you, these days, I'm following your lead."
A flash of surprise crossed Sulia's exquisite face. She hadn't expected Ryan to let her make the decision, and for a moment, she hesitated.
Tonight, the queen wore a mocha black and white mixed lantern evening gown. Given the summer season, Sulia had chosen a low-cut, off-the-shoulder mermaid dress, revealing the deep cleavage of her chest and her porcelain-like skin. A crocodile leather belt accentuated her graceful figure.
To maintain decorum and politeness, Sulia had paired her dress with a pair of flesh-colored, ultra-thin velvet stockings. These handcrafted stockings were so sheer they were almost invisible unless viewed up close. Her long, slender legs shimmered under the light, enhancing her alluring beauty.
Her golden curls cascaded down, framing her delicate makeup and showcasing her regal aura—a perfect blend of nobility and beauty that belonged solely to her.
Casanova couldn't help but discreetly admire the queen, thinking to himself that it was no wonder the infamous Adabe had been tempted. As Marienburg's second-largest merchant, Casanova had seen countless women, but none could rival Sulia's beauty.
Of course, being a savvy businessman, Casanova kept his thoughts to himself and maintained a composed expression. He extended his enthusiastic invitation, "Your Majesty, I've known Lord Ryan for over a decade, and we've become good friends. Friends should stay in touch, don't you think? I'd also like to introduce you to some acquaintances."
"Very well," Sulia eventually agreed, encouraged by Ryan's supportive gaze.
Casanova's "simple gifts" turned out to be anything but. He had prepared an entire set of high-end High Elf cosmetics and a necklace crafted by Marienburg's finest jewelers, adorned with emeralds, sapphires, and rubies, dazzling with radiant colors.
As Ryan's queen, Sulia had seen her share of treasures. She understood that Casanova must have something important to ask of Ryan, so she accepted the gifts with grace. "You're too kind, Viscount Casanova."
Ryan smiled warmly and nodded. Casanova then led the group to a lakeside pavilion in the garden, surrounded by water on three sides, making it an ideal place for private discussions.
To Ryan's surprise, they were joined by Lord Li, the Cathayan ambassador and wealthy merchant.
Lord Li appeared elderly, dressed in full Cathayan official attire with a red-topped lapis lazuli cap, a peacock feather in his headdress, and a yellow robe adorned with embroidered mandarin ducks. He wore black-rimmed glasses, though he lacked the traditional queue hairstyle. Smiling, he greeted Ryan, "I've long heard of your reputation, King Ryan. It is an honor to meet you today."
"Greetings, Lord Li," Ryan acknowledged with a nod, then sat down with the others. Casanova, watching Ryan's demeanor, felt a sense of nostalgia. Years ago, when Ryan first arrived in Marienburg, he had been just another promising figure in a city full of them. At that time, Casanova was Marienburg's second-largest merchant and treated Ryan politely but with a sense of superiority.
Now, Ryan was the King of Bretonnia, one of the most powerful leaders in the Old World. After the triumphant return from Karak Eight Peaks, Ryan's status was untouchable. Even the haughty High Elf ambassadors showed deference by addressing him as "Your Majesty."
It felt like a lifetime ago. Casanova marveled at how much had changed. Once everyone was seated, he signaled the maids to bring in a fruit platter, which included dried and fresh fruits, and some expensive Cathayan tea. The maids began preparing the tea.
A few minutes later, the pavilion was filled with the aroma of the tea.
Ryan raised his cup, inhaling the familiar fragrance and admiring the color of the green tea. Closing his eyes, he took a sip. "Good tea."
"Haha, this tea was brought from Cathay, after much effort," Casanova chuckled. "In my recent trade dealings with the Cathayans, I managed to acquire two boxes. If Your Majesty enjoys it, feel free to take one with you when you leave."
"Then I'll thank you in advance, Viscount," Ryan said with a smile, holding his cup. "You've done me many favors, sending me Gotrek and Felix when I needed them most and now offering me such fine gifts. I don't know how I'll ever repay you."
"There's no need to talk of repayment," Casanova replied with a wry smile. "But I am worried that I may not be able to enjoy such fine tea in the future. Cathayan tea and silk are becoming increasingly scarce."
Ryan and Sulia exchanged a glance, and Ryan winked at her. Sulia, catching on, asked, "Why would that be, Viscount Casanova? Surely, with your influence, you won't have to worry about that. You've earned the gratitude of knights and dwarfs alike."
"Hahaha, indeed," Casanova chuckled, clearly pleased with the queen's praise. His recent strategic realignment was something he took great pride in. "It is an honor to be praised by Your Majesty."
However, Casanova quickly grew serious. "But this time, I must say, I, along with Huggmans, Becker, and Claude, are truly in a
difficult position. Even Grand Duke Schultz finds himself in the same predicament."
"…" Sulia immediately sensed something was amiss. She instinctively glanced at her husband, who had just put down his teacup and gestured for Casanova to continue.
"By now, I'm sure both Your Majesties are aware of the dwarfs' demands," Casanova said earnestly. "They want 38,000 dwarven gold coins—every single one of them—and they've only given us three days."
"Setting aside whether the Marienburg Senate can even raise that amount in such a short time, we simply don't have that many dwarven coins in circulation," Casanova explained. "Your Majesties, you must know how much dwarven coins have skyrocketed in value recently."
The massive influx of dwarven gold from Bretonnia into the Old World markets, a result of the Karak Eight Peaks expedition, had caused a significant shift in exchange rates. Previously, the exchange rate for dwarven coins to Imperial gold marks was between 1:2.5 and 1:3. But instead of devaluing with the increased supply, the value of dwarven coins had surged dramatically.
The core reason was the intrinsic value of dwarven coins. They were well-forged, with high gold content, and beautifully crafted, making them a stable form of currency. In contrast, human kingdoms' gold coins were often debased, and private minting was rampant. Many merchants would even scrape off the edges of legitimate coins to extract precious metals.
In such an environment, people sought out dwarven gold as a stable store of wealth, driving up its value. Banks in Marienburg and across the Old World scrambled to exchange for dwarven coins, using them as reserves. As a result, the exchange rate for dwarven coins had soared to 1:3.5 against Imperial gold marks.
"In short, Huggmans and the others are at their breaking point," Casanova sighed. "They're already gathering troops, preparing to retaliate."
"That's impossible," Ryan scoffed. "My dear Viscount, throughout history, farmers may revolt, but merchants have never started a war."
"Haha, Your Majesty knows us merchants all too well," Casanova replied with a bitter smile. "But let me be frank: Huggmans and his allies have made it clear they'll never accept the dwarfs' terms. They'd rather spend 150,000 gold marks hiring every army in the Old World or bribing the High Elves than give in to those short-beards."
"They're doomed to fail," Ryan shook his head. "The Imperial Council, led by Emperor Karl Franz, has already convened over this matter. Of the fifteen Elector Counts, fourteen have sided with the dwarfs. Only the College of Magic abstained. The High Elves won't get involved, and as for me—if the Jutones Trading Company wants to fight, we'll meet them on the battlefield. Does Huggmans really think his forces can stand against my Old Guard?"
"Of course not, Your Majesty. The Jutones Trading Company is no match for your forces. But if it comes to fighting, Marienburg will inevitably be dragged into war," Lord Li finally spoke, his voice calm and kindly. "When that happens, the city will face long periods of closure. Trade will grind to a halt, and the port will suffer from the conflict. Your Bretonnian trade routes here will also be affected."
"Are you asking for leniency?" Sulia asked, holding Ryan's hand, her tone curious. "For them?"
"For all of us," Casanova laughed warmly. "The Jutones Trading Company isn't just any company, Your Majesty. Huggmans is a descendant of the Jutones royal family, and he commands a private army. He also has Imperial protection and carries a certain royal pride. If he's pushed too far, and leads a desperate charge, the city will be engulfed in flames. Neither Grand Duke Schultz nor anyone else wants to see that, right? You are friends of the Grand Duke, after all."
"Nobody wanted things to escalate like this," Lord Li added with a smile. "The fruit of the yellow melon—how can one bear to pluck it again?"
"Hahaha!" Ryan laughed softly to himself, thinking that the merchant class had its own peculiar brand of weakness.
In short, the merchants weren't truly preparing for a desperate fight—they were backing down, looking to negotiate. First, they'd present a tough front, then try to talk things out.
It wasn't a bad move. Ryan wasn't entirely ready for a conflict either, and the aftermath of a battle would be complicated.
After all, Marienburg was still legally part of the Empire.
And Teclis was about to arrive.
"Your Majesty, we're not saying we won't pay the dwarfs. Could you perhaps speak to them on our behalf? Ask them for more time? And perhaps reduce the amount slightly?" Lord Li offered, pouring more tea and offering Cathayan pastries. "We're all trying to find a peaceful solution, after all."
"How much more time? And by how much would you reduce the amount?" Ryan asked casually, still holding Sulia's hand. "I'll need specific numbers. Otherwise, I won't have much to tell the dwarfs."
"Of course, Your Majesty," Casanova nodded, feeling a bit more at ease. Although the dwarfs' grudge wasn't directed at him, his business would still suffer if fighting broke out. His interests were tied to the merchants of Marienburg.
"Perhaps we could…"
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