Ennoblement? Two at once?
Throughout the camp, all the knightly nobles, freemen, peasants, and even the Damsels of the Lady turned their gazes toward the two Saint Realm sorceresses who were receiving the king's decree.
The idea of wizards being ennobled was almost unheard of. Yet, everyone knew that Veronica and Theresa were long-time companions of Ryan, enjoying his unwavering favor. While Veronica was generally considered the more favored, Theresa had borne Ryan a daughter, Ciel, which made her status equally significant.
Ryan wielded immense authority in the Knightly Kingdom, and since he was granting lands newly developed in Mousillon, no one dared to openly oppose him. The king's personal domain was his to bestow as he pleased, though some might grumble about it being unconventional.
But none of this could change the fact that wizards had indeed been ennobled!
Veronica's apprentice, Melissa, was green with envy, while Theresa's apprentice, Emma, clenched her teeth and lowered her head, a mix of admiration and jealousy rising within her.
Theresa, meanwhile, was in a daze of surprise, disbelief, and fluster. The Saint Realm sorceress knelt on the ground, her leather pants, knee-high boots, and white fox-fur coat touching the dirt. She had never imagined that she, a sorceress, could one day be ennobled. She knelt there, stunned.
Veronica, on the other hand, had seen more of the world and had a different perspective. The head of the Sorceress Council believed this was her due. Though she was ecstatic, she didn't lose herself in the moment. With a sweet smile, she noticed the envious, red-eyed gazes of Melissa and Emma.
Veronica sighed inwardly. Despite the change in name, she couldn't yet resolve the "original sin" of the Sorceress Council.
What was this "original sin"?
Simply put, the origins of the Caladan Council lay in the Sorceress Council, a group that had advised and attached itself to the secular nobility during the era of the Three Emperors, leveraging their influence to gain social resources and wealth to aid their magical pursuits and personal growth.
By the time of the Caladan Council, the first head, Margarita, had been a lover and lady-in-waiting to the Savior, Ludwig, during the Great Holy War. It was through his power, influence, and wealth that she established the Caladan Council.
Now, under Veronica's leadership, the Sorceress Council had been rebuilt through her role as Ryan's lover and lady-in-waiting, relying on his authority, wealth, and strength.
Thus, the sorceresses of the council had developed a fixed mindset: rather than striving on their own, they believed more in the course of history—choosing the right man and attaching themselves to a powerful military noble was more important than anything else.
This mindset was something even Veronica couldn't change—after all, she had risen through the same means.
After reading the king's decree, Talleyrand quickly urged Veronica and Theresa to rise. The limping man's face was full of smiles. As Ryan's private minister, he knew well the weight these two sorceresses held in the king's heart. He chuckled, "Congratulations, Lady Veronica and Lady Theresa. From now on, I must add 'Lord' to your names and address you as 'Your Ladyship.'"
"We humbly accept His Majesty's decree," Veronica and Theresa bowed to Talleyrand once more. Both Saint Realm sorceresses were overwhelmed with joy. They were the first two sorceresses in the history of the Old World to be ennobled, and their names would be etched into history.
Two large silver trays held specially tailored baroness gowns. One was a deep red velvet coat with white fur trim, a crown adorned with a light silver circle and six silver balls, and a custom-made baroness dress. The other was a similar design but with subtle differences.
Veronica, knowing Ryan well, quickly checked and found that hers and Theresa's gowns were indeed different!
Theresa's dress reached her ankles, revealing only the tops of her feet, while Veronica's dress stopped just above the knees, exposing her entire calves.
Similarly, the stockings were different. Veronica's tray held a pair of black semi-transparent Lycra diamond-patterned stockings with sparkling rhinestones, adorned with special bow ribbons at the heels and tops, exuding charm and a touch of cuteness.
Theresa's tray contained a pair of deep blue satin-finish velvet stockings with a faint glow, elegant and sensual yet retaining a cold allure.
"Please, ladies, bathe and change into your new gowns, then proceed to His Majesty," Talleyrand said with a smile. "Wear the new attire."
Veronica and Theresa exchanged glances. Did they not know what Ryan was up to?
They had no choice, and it wasn't particularly troublesome. Both sorceresses nodded, "Understood."
"He actually ennobled us. When Mother mentioned it before, I had given up on the idea. After all, how could a sorceress be ennobled?" Theresa murmured, still in a daze as she held the silver tray. It all felt surreal. "But... at the turkey feast, when Mother asked him about it, he refused. Why now..."
"Oh, my little Caladan princess! Isn't being ennobled wonderful?" Veronica feigned annoyance, her face beaming as she held the silver tray, admiring the dazzling baroness gown. She couldn't help but let her eyes sparkle. Ryan had ennobled her! Ryan had truly ennobled her! This was something she hadn't even dared to dream of. "Hurry up, hurry up!"
"But..." Theresa still couldn't understand why Aurora had begged so humbly, yet Ryan had refused, while she hadn't shown any particular desire for it, yet Ryan had been so generous.
Unable to figure it out, Theresa, who had just arrived and hadn't even settled in, was offered the use of Veronica's private bath in the manor. It was the first time the two ladies-in-waiting had bathed together.
After bathing and changing, the two newly ennobled baronesses emerged radiant. Theresa, tall and coldly elegant, carried a hint of excitement, while Veronica, tall and sweet, scanned her surroundings with sharp eyes. They strode out in their stockings, drawing endless envious and jealous gazes.
Just as they stepped out of the courtyard, Ryan was already waiting outside.
"Your Majesty!" Theresa, somewhat flustered, quickly moved to kneel.
"Ryan! You're here?" Veronica, on the other hand, immediately approached him.
"Good, good, good. The people, the clothes, the titles—all good," Ryan said with a smile. "I personally chose the outfits for you, and they look perfect. Rise, Theresa. From now on, you need not kneel before me. It's unnecessary."
"Darling, why aren't you with your marshals? Coming to see us instead?" Veronica cooed, deliberately twirling in front of Ryan to show off her baroness gown. She then placed her hands on her hips, beaming with pride. "You finally decided to ennoble me, huh?"
"Back in Nordland, to celebrate a young warrior's promotion to Legendary rank and his knighting, his little sorceress partner, who came from humble origins and had no significant wealth, thought long and hard before presenting herself as a gift, tied with a ribbon bow," Ryan nodded, speaking loudly enough for the entire camp to hear. "At that time, I promised you that I would never let you down. I would never betray your expectations."
"Baroness, council, status, honor, and even more... I can give it all to you, my dear. Are you satisfied?" Ryan reached out and took Veronica's hands, clad in black lace gloves, speaking with deep emotion. "Let the Caladan flowers bloom once more in the mortal world. With me by your side, whether it's Chaos, greenskins, the undead, or anything else, we will never be parted again!"
"You still remember. After all these years, you still remember," Veronica was now in tears. "I was always afraid you'd forget. I was always afraid that only I remembered, and you had forgotten."
"Back in that little castle in Ostland, after we first tasted the joys of love, we lay together, watching the brightest star in the night sky through the window, and you said the same thing," Ryan's face was filled with nostalgia. "You said men change when they gain power and influence, that I would forget."
"I will never forget!" Ryan declared firmly.
The head of the Sorceress Council was overwhelmed by Ryan's heartfelt confession. She let out a small scream, covering her face with her hands as tears streamed through her fingers. "You just love making me cry, don't you, Ryan? You're such a jerk!"
After speaking with Veronica, Ryan turned his attention to Theresa. The Sun King smiled, "Dear Theresa, do you remember? Our first meeting, when you and Lady Aurora warned and scorned me for my little tricks. Then we set out on our adventure together, stumbling along the way. You were so naive back then, hahaha!"
Theresa blushed, unable to meet Ryan's eyes. "I... I was inexperienced back then..."
"Then came the adventures, where I fought tooth and nail, and you... well, you mostly just tagged along," Ryan chuckled. "And when we finally set sail for Marienburg, just as you were starting to be useful, the council called you back. I couldn't help but wonder, what exactly were you here for?"
"Ugh!!!" Theresa was both embarrassed and annoyed, thinking to herself how Ryan's words to Veronica were so romantic, while his words to her were all about her past embarrassments.
Did she really mean so little to Ryan compared to Veronica?
"Yet, despite all that, your pure heart and golden spirit shine through. You left behind everything in the council, the path your mother had set for you, and came here to find me. During the battle of Helmgart, you nearly died protecting civilians from an assassin's blade. I know the limitations of your sorceress bloodline, but it doesn't matter. I'm here for you. Do you trust me?"
"I do," Theresa could only nod.
"Hahahahahaha! Good, very good!" Ryan laughed heartily, taking both his ladies-in-waiting by the hand. "Come with me, Baronesses. Let's go inspect the Parravon Hunters!"
Veronica and Theresa exchanged glances, but before they could say anything, Ryan had already taken them by the hand and led them to the carriage.
About five minutes later, Ryan, accompanied by Veronica and Theresa, arrived at the Parravon military camp.
In Ryan's military reforms, the Duchy of Parravon and the Duchy of Montfort were crucial testing grounds. Among these, Ryan placed the most emphasis on the "Hunter Regiments" mentioned in the earlier reforms.
What were Hunters?
Hunters referred to specific light infantry and cavalry units—semi-professional soldiers skilled in rapid mobility, ranged combat, and guerrilla warfare in mountainous and forested terrain.
In simpler terms, Hunters were composed of caravan guards, semi-professional freemen conscripts, and armed woodsmen and hunters. While their quality fell short of freemen regiments, they were superior to peasant infantry in both morale and tactical skill. They weren't suited for open-field battles but were effective in policing actions.
Ryan valued Hunters highly. These light infantry couldn't hold the line or excel in ranged combat, but they could harass enemy forces. More importantly, as a reserve force, Hunters could be trained into regular soldiers within 15 to 30 days when needed. In peacetime, they served as rapid-response units for policing, escorting caravans, driving off beastmen and greenskins, and protecting villages and trade routes.
It was well-known that Duke Folcard of Montfort had little affection for Ryan. Moreover, with Axe Bite Pass being the primary trade route between the Empire and Bretonnia, Montfort already had a well-established system of policing forces and rangers, making the development of Hunters less of a priority. Since Ryan required local dukes and merchants to fund the Hunters, Duke Folcard paid little attention to them.
In contrast, the Duchy of Parravon, which conducted extensive trade with Nuln via the Grey Lady Pass, found the Hunters indispensable. The Grey Lady Pass was vital but unsafe, leading to the rapid growth of Hunter regiments.
Now, thousands of Parravon Mountain Hunters had assembled (this force was not counted among the Knightly Army).
Duke Casson immediately gave the order: "Begin!"
The soldiers, clad in yellow-and-black surcoats over breastplates and leather armor, began their drills.
They swiftly moved across an open field, using trees, bushes, rocks, and even snow as cover. Hundreds of soldiers quickly dispersed across the terrain, armed with short bows, crossbows, and Empire-imported handguns, with curved swords or longswords at their waists. They appeared to be fleeing, but in reality, they were spreading out.
Once the soldiers found suitable positions, they secured the area. Several beastmen were released from cages. These ferocious creatures could take on ten men each, but under the Hunters' flexible and mobile crossfire, they were soon riddled with arrows and bullets.
"Loyalty! Unity! Victory!"
"Loyalty! Unity! Victory!"
The Hunters then demonstrated their rapid response capabilities during night operations or encampments, their mobility in traversing mountains and forests, and their tactics against small beastmen warbands, goblin raiding parties, or minor greenskin warbands.
Of course, anything stronger would be beyond the Hunters' capabilities.
"Knights always disdain evasion, preferring frontal charges and decisive battles. I almost thought all Bretonnians were like that. I didn't expect Parravon's Hunters to have a bit of the Nordland Marine Corps' flavor," Veronica said, clinging to Ryan's arm. A breeze blew by, causing the sweet and charming head of the council to blush and quickly press down her skirt, letting the bow ribbons on her stockings flutter in the wind. "These troops are decent for policing actions, but they're not suited for open-field battles."
"They're not meant for open-field battles. If such a need arises, the Hunters can be trained into excellent freemen soldiers," Ryan nodded slowly, smiling. "What do you think, Theresa?"
"They're still a bit slow. Light infantry should be faster, but most of the time, we're not fighting humans," Theresa also blushed, feeling something was off. She wondered if she had forgotten to wear something after her bath, but her baroness gown, the embroidered shirt underneath, the baroness crown on her head, the stockings on her legs, and the high heels on her feet assured her that her attire was complete. She could only say, "I'll look into it when I return and see if the workshop has any suitable tools."
"Loyalty! Unity! Victory!"
"Loyalty! Unity! Victory!"
The Hunters, seeing the Sun King inspecting them, were ecstatic, their chants echoing loudly.
"Did you come up with this chant, Casson?" Ryan found the slogan somewhat familiar.
"Simple, clear, direct. I came up with it," Duke Casson said proudly. "As I saw during the Grail Quest, knightly virtues and many theories are too complex. For soldiers, it's better to keep things straightforward."
"Indeed. It's impressive that you have such insight," Ryan was intrigued. "In that case, let me bestow something upon this regiment!"
Ryan took the banner of the Parravon Mountain Hunters and, on its reverse side, inscribed his words.
These three words would become the soul of the Bretonnian Hunters, and the banner would become a sacred relic.
"Loyalty, Honor, Unity."
—King Ryan "The Sun" Malcador.
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