When they said "wait a moment," it turned out Ryan and the others had to wait quite a while outside the cabin.
By the time Veronica and Morgiana finished discussing the allocation of magic-gifted children and joined them, Ryan had already been rolling on the snow with the pandas for a while. Only then did the Emperor and young Devonhill emerge from the cabin.
It was rare to get a chance to meet the Emperor. Among the women present, aside from Sulia and Olica, who were calm and composed, everyone else had taken great care in dressing up, hoping to present their best selves before Ryan's father. However, the Emperor seemed utterly indifferent to their efforts. When he appeared, flanked by little Devonhill, he offered only a slight nod to Sulia and a glance at Olica. He said nothing, his expression unchanged, as if the grandfather who had just been playing with his grandson had vanished entirely.
Veronica, on the other hand, was ecstatic. Opportunities to meet the Emperor were rare, so the Head Sorceress had spared no effort in her preparations. She wore a long gown made of luxurious wood elf silk, slit high up her thigh, and styled her signature voluminous curls into a more reserved updo befitting a noblewoman.
The Emperor didn't ignore her entirely. While he didn't look directly at her, his eyes lingered briefly on the ring she wore—a band marked with the emblem of the fire lizards. What he was thinking, however, remained a mystery.
Lileath, the Lady of the Lake, on the other hand, was practically sulking. The goddess had specially donned an ethereal pale-yellow gown styled after Ulthuan's courtly fashion. Not only had she dressed up, but she'd also applied makeup and adopted a deferential attitude befitting a daughter-in-law.
And the result?
She was seated behind Sulia and Olica, which she could grudgingly accept. But to her shock and dismay, she was placed even behind Veronica, relegated to the very back. At the subtle suggestion of the Custodes, she found herself sitting further back in the seating arrangement.
Tears welled up in Lileath's eyes as she bit her handkerchief in frustration.
This is bullying! Utterly unfair!
But before she could voice her grievance, the Emperor began to speak.
"This time, with the theft of the Phoenix Flame and the defense against the Chaos invasion, you performed adequately, Ryan. Your efforts haven't gone unnoticed."
"Yes, Father," Ryan replied humbly. He lowered his head slightly. "It was thanks to the soldiers' loyalty and competent planning, combined with sound strategy and tactics, that we achieved those results."
"I only said 'adequate.' I didn't say you did exceptionally well." The Emperor's icy tone cut through the air. "Compared to Jonson and Guilliman, you have a tendency to hesitate and lose focus. You're too concerned with avoiding mistakes, and as a result, you miss better opportunities. Additionally, you allowed Russ to blackmail you with the Spear of the Alcohol God and still chose to assist him. As a general, such emotional decisions are unbecoming. You need to learn more from Jonson."
Father, maybe you should lecture Guilliman and Russ first, Ryan thought bitterly, but he didn't dare say it out loud. The Gray Knight Primarch could only lower his head and accept the criticism. After all, the incident with Russ could indeed have been handled better.
Meanwhile, little Devonhill stood at his grandfather's side, the Emperor's massive hand resting on his small shoulder. The child watched his father being scolded by his grandfather with wide, water-blue eyes inherited from both parents. To him, the scene was endlessly amusing.
"And then there was your foolish venture into the Pyramid of the Phoenix Flame with Fulgrim. I understand you had no choice, but if it weren't for my negotiations with Asuryan, you would never have obtained the scrolls." The Emperor's tone remained cold. "Next time, it won't be so easy. You need to find your own solutions. In fact, you already have a clear path ahead of you, but you haven't realized it yet."
With that, the Emperor turned his gaze toward the goddess sitting far off.
"Whimper~" Lileath's lip quivered as she became even more flustered. She could only murmur in protest, "Asuryan hasn't spoken a word since decreeing that the gods must not interfere in mortal affairs. I've tried countless methods, but none have been ideal. Breaking into the Pyramid of the Phoenix Flame was a desperate gamble, even for Ryan and Fulgrim. How was I supposed to know you would suddenly decide to steal something from there? Such plans typically take centuries to prepare."
"Exactly. From the beginning, Ryan's choice was flawed," the Emperor retorted, his gaze unwavering. "By fully committing to you, he severed any possibility of forming strong alliances with Asuryan, Kurnous, and Khaine. Yet these three deities are crucial to preventing an elven civil war. Now, even I am powerless to intervene. The elves will soon descend into all-out war, rendering all your efforts laughably futile."
Ryan hadn't even opened his mouth to respond when Sulia stepped forward to defend him.
"Ryan's choice wasn't wrong, Father." The Knight-Queen rose to her feet. She started to curtsy but stopped when the Emperor shook his head, signaling her not to. Undeterred, she continued, "This is a paradox. If Ryan hadn't chosen the Lady, he would never have become a king or reached his current stature. Without the power and resources he's gained, he wouldn't have been invited to Ulthuan or built significant connections with the Wood Elves and even the Dark Elves. So, Father-in-law, your critique is based on Ryan's current foundation, which is itself a product of his earlier choices. That's a paradox in itself."
"There will always be those who prioritize innate talent, faith, and principles over empirical truths. How do you know that if Ryan hadn't chosen this alien deity, he wouldn't have still achieved kingship?" The Emperor's tone remained calm but firm. "Everyone has their limitations in understanding and perception. In truth, Ryan's future had multiple paths, all within my plans."
"But I firmly believe none of them would have led to a better outcome than what we have now," Sulia argued resolutely. She stood tall and unwavering, her radiant beauty illuminated by the winter sun streaming through the cabin's windows. "Every possible path Ryan could have taken would have been riddled with insurmountable obstacles, requiring shortcuts and relentless effort. And among all the options, the Lady offered the most complete and robust support. No other route could have achieved the same results—or done so as quickly. Father-in-law, I'm sure you understand that."
The atmosphere grew tense. In the courtyard of the forest cabin, Sulia, as a daughter-in-law, had openly defied the Emperor!
"Are you challenging me?" The Emperor's voice betrayed no emotion. "Do you realize how many would give anything to be in your position as my daughter-in-law?"
"Sulia!" Ryan immediately tried to intervene. He instinctively shielded his wife with his arm and then knelt on one knee. "This was my decision, Father. I'll bear the consequences. Sulia was merely agitated and spoke out of turn."
He tugged at Sulia, trying to pull her down to kneel with him.
"Silence! Who said Sulia was out of turn?" The Emperor's voice grew even colder. "I was speaking to my daughter-in-law. What right do you have to interrupt? Sit down!"
Angron burst into laughter, barely able to contain himself.
"Uh…" Ryan was left utterly flustered by his father's rebuke. Embarrassed, he muttered an acknowledgment and returned to his seat, pulling Sulia with him.
From his chair, Ryan glanced around to gauge everyone's reactions.
Angron and little Devonhill were both grinning mischievously, clearly entertained by Ryan's predicament.
The Custodes remained stoic, ever vigilant.
Olica was silent but observant, her amber eyes glinting with intrigue. The dark elf's thoughts were an enigma as always.
Lileath was caught off guard by Sulia's defense of her. The goddess's expression oscillated between touched and anxious. She fidgeted but dared not rise, restrained by the Emperor's unspoken command.
Sylvia was visibly distressed, gripping the hem of her skirt tightly.
To Ryan's surprise, Veronica maintained a neutral demeanor. The Head Sorceress kept her head down, deliberately distancing herself from the conflict. It was clear she had no intention of getting involved.
No one in this backyard is easy to deal with! Ryan thought, exasperated.
The Emperor continued, his gaze fixed on Sulia. "So you think your Lady deserves my recognition and praise?"
"No, Father-in-law," Sulia replied, though her confidence wavered under the Emperor's scrutiny. She gritted her teeth and held her ground. "I simply believe it's unfair to dismiss twenty years of effort with a single remark."
"Effort? What effort?" The Emperor's tone dripped with disdain. "You're merely one of countless human women I've seen, none particularly remarkable. Your so-called goddess, your vaunted chivalry, your professed love for Ryan—they're all illusions. Beyond bearing him a child, what have you truly contributed? Administrative tasks? Mediocre diplomacy? Most of your power comes from me and your Lady. How much is truly yours?"
Sulia opened her mouth but found no words. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she struggled to process the Emperor's cutting words. Yet, she stubbornly shook her head, refusing to back down.
"Devonhill," the Emperor said suddenly, turning to his grandson. His voice was cold and emotionless. "Do you think your mother is correct?"
The boy hesitated for a moment, then answered clearly, "Yes!"
"Oh? And why do you think your mother is right?" For the first time, the Emperor's expression shifted slightly, betraying a flicker of curiosity.
"Because every victory is great, and every victory is priceless," Devonhill replied earnestly. "Grandfather, you can't equate your victories with my father's and mother's. It wouldn't be fair to them. Father's choices weren't wrong! Every monumental triumph is built on countless small victories."
"And do you know how many such victories I've achieved in my lifetime?" The Emperor asked, his tone carrying a faint trace of amusement.
"Countless!" Devonhill declared, his blue eyes sparkling. "During the Great Crusade, you achieved thousands of victories, saved countless worlds, and rescued humanity from the brink of extinction!"
"But now I am the Emperor, the Master of Mankind. I no longer need such praise or recognition. These accolades are meaningless to me. Should we still extol them?" The Emperor's voice was laden with meaning.
"Because you never forgot your purpose or abandoned your mission," Devonhill responded, his youthful voice filled with conviction. "Otherwise, you wouldn't have unified Terra, created the Primarchs, and launched the Great Crusade to restore humanity's glory!"
The Emperor's stern expression softened, and he even chuckled. "First Warrior? Hahaha!"
Ryan sighed in relief as the tense atmosphere finally dissipated. The Emperor stroked Devonhill's head gently, then gestured toward Sulia. "So, you also think your Lady needs my acknowledgment?"
"Not everyone is like Uncle Jonson!" Devonhill shook his head. "Mortals need praise and recognition to affirm themselves. Only Uncle Jonson doesn't care about such things. But Grandfather, Uncle Jonson is weird. He's a strange uncle!"
"Hahaha~" The Emperor laughed heartily before nodding. "I intended to teach Ryan and Sulia something, but it seems the lesson came from you instead. Sit down, Sulia, my daughter-in-law. Let's talk."
"Yes," Sulia said, wiping her tears with a handkerchief as she returned to her seat.
"I wanted to use this as an example for Ryan. In life, you must make choices," the Emperor began, his voice contemplative. "For instance, by choosing Sulia, you inevitably distanced yourself from the Empire, Emilia, and Nuln. Similarly, you severed any chance of aligning with other Bretonnian noblewomen."
"Likewise, by choosing this alien deity and allying with Teclis among the High Elves, you ensured you would never truly be on the same side as Tyrion, Imrik, or Finubar."
"And by choosing Olica, you've made it impossible to align with the Witch King, the Hag Queen, or their executioners."
"In the same way, if you had remained a mere count, your courtiers like Veronica and Teresa would have inevitably come into conflict. At that point, you would have had to choose between them." The Emperor fixed his gaze on Ryan. "Even now, do you know why they continue to clash?"
"It's about resources, Father. Limited resources," Ryan admitted helplessly. "There's only so much time, energy, and alignment to go around."
"If you want to accomplish anything, you'll inevitably offend someone and make enemies," the Emperor explained. "Trying to please everyone and hoping for smooth sailing is the mark of a jester—a fool incapable of true leadership."
"Sulia," the Emperor continued, turning to her. "You stood up to me, and that's commendable."
"Father-in-law..." Sulia began, her voice trembling as she dabbed at her eyes. "That wasn't my intention."
"Asuryan is the key to salvation," the Emperor stated flatly. "Only he, as a god above gods, can directly counter Chaos. But since you've chosen Lileath, you must not waver. Stand firm in your path. This is your choice. So walk it resolutely. In this, you should take notes from Sulia, Ryan. Fear of mistakes and emotional decisions are your flaws."
"Understood!" Ryan replied, bowing his head.
The Emperor reached into his robe and retrieved the Sunfire Amulet, tossing it to Lileath. The goddess scrambled to catch it.
"Consider this partial credit for your contribution in the Saint Gilles matter," the Emperor said.
"Now, I must take Saint Gilles' soul to Baal. There, the Tyranids are battling the Blood Angels."
"But before I go, Saint Gilles told me he has something to give to his sister-in-law—Sulia."
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