A love letter or two hundred days—that was the question.
Writing a letter might seem simple, but Ryan was no Fulgrim. The Primarch of the Emperor's Children excelled in all forms of artistic expression—music, poetry, and prose. Fulgrim could play electrified ukulele tunes, recite poetry in eight languages, and even perform Lustrian folk songs with ease. Ryan, by contrast, devoted most of his energy to military and political affairs. His literary skills were competent but far from masterful.
Talleyrand's earlier praise of Ryan's letter concealed a subtle truth.
"Magnificent, Your Majesty. Too magnificent—for human standards."
The key lay in the final phrase: "for human standards."
The cunning elf was hinting that while the letter was passable, it was hardly extraordinary.
The interpretation of Talleyrand's words depended heavily on the ruler's acuity. A ruler capable of discerning his true meaning could harness Talleyrand's talents as a loyal and capable advisor. However, handling such figures required constant vigilance. A ruler had to keep them guessing while steering them skillfully.
Talleyrand loved wealth and comfort, just as Beria loved power and women. These were manageable vices in Ryan's eyes.
The likes of Teclis' brotherhood, however, brought different challenges. The comparison to Finubar—mockingly called a Psyduck by his peers—was a cautionary tale.
Ryan resolved not to set a precedent. Two hundred days? Impossible.
His expression turned sour. Among his companions, Morgiana and Sulia were the strongest, both physically and magically. Sulia, blessed by the Emperor, was almost unyielding, while Morgiana, as the vessel for the Lady's divine power, could absorb much of Ryan's energy.
Following them were Olica and Lileath. Olica valued private time with Ryan more than mere physical intimacy. Lileath, on the other hand, was so shy she often dragged Sulia along for moral support.
After them came Emilia and Veronica.
And then, there was Teresa, whose stamina was so low that she usually surrendered within twenty minutes.
The ringing of a bell outside spared Ryan from Morgiana's relentless demands. The sound bypassed the magical barrier she had placed on the door.
Morgiana glared at the door in frustration but relented for now. Ryan seized the moment, smoothing out the folds in her gown and the wrinkles around her silk-clad ankles. He gave her a quick kiss on the lips.
"Dinner's ready. Let's discuss this later."
A few minutes later, in the banquet hall of Christopher Castle, Hochland
The Imperial delegation sat on the right, while the Bretonnians occupied the left. The divide was clear.
Hochland's Elector Count, Edbrand Ludenhof, observed Ryan's calm demeanor. The Knight King showed no signs of internal discord, leading Edbrand to sigh inwardly. His attempts to provoke the Bretonnians had failed.
No wonder Ryan was hailed as a Knight King equal to the legendary Arthur.
"Your Majesty, knights and noble lords of Bretonnia, welcome," Edbrand said. "Tonight's banquet is a venison feast. In Hochland, venison is not uncommon, and I've heard that knights are particularly fond of it. We've prepared an entire deer-themed banquet for you."
"Thank you, Count Edbrand," Ryan replied with a polite smile. Noticing that Veronica and Teresa were absent, he turned to Aurora.
"Where are Teresa and Veronica?"
Aurora, dressed in a classical Bretonnian gown of white and gold with a butterfly bow adorning her elegant neck, exuded mature grace. Her honey-colored tights and pointed black heels accentuated her commanding presence as a Saint-level ice mage.
"This is the King's personal companion?" Edbrand thought. "She must be highly favored to act so boldly."
Aurora seemed in good spirits for two reasons. First, years of effort (and Ryan's protection) had elevated her to the pinnacle of the Old World's hierarchy. Second, she enjoyed teasing Ryan.
"They said they wouldn't attend matters of state and are dining in their rooms," Aurora replied, her tone playful. "Teresa also mentioned that if His Majesty has time to write love letters, he'll need to write two more after dinner."
"Indeed, one for each of us," Morgiana chimed in, surprising everyone by agreeing with Aurora.
Ryan reluctantly nodded, conceding for now. Perhaps after the campaign, he could take Morgiana on a solo hunting trip or a warm getaway. She wasn't hard to appease in private.
Meanwhile, Aurora frowned, her mind wandering to fragmented memories she couldn't fully recall. Her nights were increasingly haunted by strange dreams.
The venison banquet was simple but hearty. Servants roasted whole deer, seasoned generously with exotic spices, and paired the meat with corn, potatoes, and carrots. The knights reveled in the unexpected feast. Even Morgiana indulged, while a portion was sent to Veronica and Teresa.
As the Bretonnians enjoyed the meal, Edbrand raised a new topic.
"Ryan, we've received intelligence from Ostermark. It mentions undead knights clad in blood-red armor harassing Chaos forces in the occupied regions. They target scattered warbands and occasionally engage larger Chaos formations. Do you know anything about this?"
"Undead joining the war?" asked Louen, the Bretonnian Regent, visibly uneasy. "Is the information reliable?"
"It seems credible. These red-armored knights operate in groups of 100 to 200, attacking vulnerable Chaos units," Edbrand explained. "They've even clashed with Chaos champions in duels, with mixed outcomes."
The room fell silent, the implications sinking in. Chaos champions were formidable foes, and for undead knights to hold their ground against them was extraordinary.
"This is an opportunity," Edbrand urged. "Chaos is distracted. We should seize the chance to reinforce Wolfenburg and rescue as many of our kin as possible."
"Undead are no allies to humanity," Ryan said after a pause. "To them, we are livestock. Chaos is merely a predator that threatens their herd."
"True," Boris Todbringer added. "But that doesn't make them friends. Edbrand, are you sure you're thinking clearly?"
Edbrand smiled bitterly. "I know they're no friends. But for now, they're fighting Chaos."
Bertrand, Davout, and the other Bretonnians remained cautious. Ryan, while sympathetic to Edbrand's plight, refrained from committing to any immediate action.
After the banquet
Ryan returned to his quarters for a strategy meeting. A large map of the Empire's northern regions hung on the wall, marking Chaos-controlled areas in black.
The situation was dire: nearly a quarter of the Empire was overrun, but hope remained. Chaos forces led by Archaon had suffered setbacks, and their main army was now deep in Ostland.
Ryan pointed to Wolfenburg on the map. "The question is whether Chaos can take Wolfenburg before we arrive."
"Archaon's erratic strategy suggests personal vengeance against Baron Oleg von Zhukov," Louen observed.
"Perhaps. But we must consider all possibilities," Ryan replied.
At that moment, Talleyrand burst into the room.
"Your Majesty! News from Middenheim!"
"What is it?" Ryan asked, still focused on the map.
"Sir Norman… has passed away," Talleyrand said quietly.
Ryan froze. His finger, poised on Wolfenburg, dropped to his side.
The room fell silent, the weight of the news palpable.
Louen clenched his fists, old memories and pain surfacing. The other knights exchanged solemn glances.
Morgiana's eyes glistened with unshed tears. She longed to comfort Ryan but knew now was not the time.
The Knight King stood motionless, his broad shoulders trembling ever so slightly.
"Understood," he finally said, his voice heavy with emotion.
"Dismissed."
The room emptied, leaving Ryan alone with the map, his shadow cast long against the wall. The silence was broken only by the howling wind outside.
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