Meanwhile, Angron, Rogal, and Clarkson were busy with a makeshift BBQ, grilling skewers and sharing beers while watching the scene unfold.
"Quite the family drama," Rogal commented.
"Interesting. I can just imagine Guilliman and his girlfriend pleading in the throne room for Father's blessing in the future," added Clarkson.
"Watch it. Don't let it burn," Angron warned Rogal. "This is from my personal stash!"
Amidst the cheerful banter, the mood was light and congenial.
"Father-in-law! Please don't treat the Lady this way," Sulia quickly interceded. As the Lady of the Lake's most devout follower, she couldn't stand by. Ryan also stepped forward, "Father..."
"Alright, it's time for me to leave," the Emperor said, having only meant to give a warning and slight punishment. Seeing Sulia's plea, he gestured to the Custodian Guards to release the Lady of the Lake. The goddess weakly fell from the statue, and Ryan caught her. "Ryan, I won't interfere in your personal life. Take this goddess back and enjoy the holiday with Sulia."
"Yes, Father. Thank you," Ryan responded, his face slightly flushed. He knew the Emperor's favoritism towards him. Cradling the Lady of the Lake in a princess carry, he prepared to leave.
"Oh Great One, how can I earn your approval?" The Lady of the Lake asked weakly, lifting her head from Ryan's arms, still making a last-ditch effort.
"I said I wouldn't interfere in Ryan's personal life. Whatever happens between you two is none of my concern. But to earn my approval, you still have a long way to go." The Emperor gave her one last cold glance. "I am sparing you only because of Ryan. Play your role well."
"Rogal, stay with Ryan for a while."
"Yes."
"Clarkson, come with me."
"Yes."
With that, the meeting between the Lord of Mankind and his daughter-in-law ended. After a moment of thought, Ryan decided to spend the night at the forest cabin with Sulia.
That evening, as the snow began to fall, Ryan, Angron, and Rogal took a walk through the forest, their presence causing all the animals to flee in terror.
The forest creek had frozen solid, and the ground was hard with frost. The tall pine trees were heavy with snow, and their thick boots crunched on the forest floor, making a soft "squish-squish" sound.
Under the gloomy sky, endless snowflakes fell like cotton from the depths of the heavens. In the silence, the three Primarchs, each wielding a short bow, attempted some hunting.
Naturally, their archery skills were atrocious. After an hour of hunting, they had nothing to show for it. But they didn't mind; in fact, they found it quite enjoyable, especially Rogal, who tried to shoot a snow hare but ended up hitting Angron in the butt.
If the three had been serious, they could have wiped out all the game in the forest even with wooden bows. But this hunt was more of a game. Neither Ryan, Angron, nor Rogal were skilled with a bow, and they took it all in good humor.
"I really envy you, Angron. Living here without a care, as a farm owner. Perhaps this is the life you wanted," Rogal mused.
"...How are things on Cadia?" Angron didn't answer Rogal directly, instead clumsily wielding the hunter's short bow, asking offhandedly.
"Abaddon had a battle with Father's Custodian fleet and was soundly defeated. Now, he's leading the Black Legion in guerrilla warfare near the Eye of Terror." Rogal tried another shot, missing by several meters. He sighed and gave up. "You know, Abaddon is different from Horus. He doesn't have the courage or the strength to face Father head-on. He can only run away like a beaten dog. Even so, he still has many followers."
"The problem before was that no one could unite all the forces. Father's Empire was like a half-dead beast. When jackals tore a piece of flesh from it, all it could do was twitch in protest." Angron spoke in a low voice. "But with Father's return, everything is different. The price of ruling in the Emperor's name is that when He returns, no one can resist. Not even the High Lords or the Ecclesiarchy can stand against Him. Even at Father's command, those high lords would only kneel and obey."
"I remember Abaddon is also a champion of the Chaos Gods. How is he different from Horus?" Ryan asked curiously.
"Abaddon and Horus are very different. First, Abaddon is not a Primarch." Rogal brushed the snow off his bald head and looked directly at Ryan. "Ryan, you know what a Primarch is, don't you?"
"They are creations of the Warp, crafted through perfect techniques to embed infinite Warp power into a flawless physical vessel, combined with the Lord of Mankind's genes, forming a tight integration." Ryan extended his hands.
In his left hand, a platinum psychic flame burned brightly.
In his right hand was a strange 'I' symbol, half gold, half silver, with peculiar extensions and an eye-like design in the middle.
If Sulia were present, she would recognize that this symbol matched the psychic mark on her lower abdomen exactly.
"There's no doubt, Ryan, my brother, you are the final gift Macado left for Father. This symbol is Macado's psychic mark!" Rogal's face showed a satisfied look, as if confirming his suspicions. "Clearly, Macado used some secret method to create the last Primarch, and that Primarch is you."
Pausing, Rogal continued in a lower voice. "The creation of the Primarchs was the result of a deal between Father and the four Chaos Gods. Undoubtedly, Macado witnessed the entire process. He probably gained the knowledge and power needed to create a Primarch. Whether it started when the Primarchs were swept away by the Warp storm or during the final assault on Terra, Macado completed his work and ultimately sacrificed everything for you, Ryan Macado."
"Perhaps. But you haven't explained why Abaddon isn't as powerful as Horus," Ryan felt an inner warning, as if this discussion should not continue.
"Abaddon is the chosen of the four Gods, but he is not a Primarch, so his potential is inherently limited compared to Horus. Moreover, although Abaddon, like Horus, is the champion of the four Gods, he does not carry their blessings." Rogal looked like a wise and benevolent priest, seemingly accustomed to his role of listener and advisor, finding joy in it.
"The blessings of the four Gods are crucial. That's what gave Horus the strength to confront Father directly." Angron agreed. "Horus was already the strongest Primarch, and with the four Gods' blessings, he could push Father, weakened after years on the Golden Throne, to the brink."
"Then prepare yourself, brother," Ryan suddenly smiled. "The end times are coming soon. Our adversary will also be a champion of Chaos, blessed by the four Gods."
"I look forward to it," Angron swung his axe, felling a towering tree behind him.
...
After the hunt, Ryan returned to the second floor of the forest villa. When he opened the door, the scene before him brought a knowing smile to his face.
The Lady of the Lake lay dejectedly on the bed, a stark contrast to her usual composed and omnipotent demeanor. Sulia sat beside her, offering comfort. Seeing Ryan enter, Sulia quickly stood up. "Ryan, you're back?"
"Yes, I'm back." Ryan brushed the snow off his clothes and hung his coat on the rack. He first embraced Sulia, giving her a gentle kiss on her soft lips, then sat down at the bedside with a smile. "My Lady?"
The Lady of the Lake's silky golden hair spread across the white sheets. Hearing Ryan's voice, her body trembled, but she made no response.
"My Lady, I think you need a hug." Ryan extended his arms gently, embracing the Lady of the Lake. Her exquisite face, now tinged with deep frustration, finally met his gaze. "Does it please you, my champion, to see me so humiliated? Am I so lowly that I can't earn your Father's approval?"
"No, my Lady, not at all," Ryan soothed, letting her rest against his chest, stroking her back through the fabric. "Father is the Lord of Mankind. He dislikes other races. He has always denied being a god, and thus he resents other deities. He has slain countless gods. My Lady, his sparing you actually signifies a degree of acceptance, but..."
"What manner of being is your father? He summoned me here and, with a mere gesture, sealed all my divine powers. The strength I pride myself on was scattered like dust before him." The Lady of the Lake tightened her embrace around Ryan, leaning into him. She murmured, "Don't forget, I am the Lady of the Lake, the Elven Goddess of the Moon, Dreams, and Wealth, Lilith. I am also the Mist Goddess Lileath of the Wood Elves! I embody the power of three deities. My strength rivals that of Kurnous and Asuryan. But your Father, what is he? That radiance, brighter than a star, illuminating an entire star sector? And you are his offspring?"
"Mm-hmm~" Ryan nodded with a smile, prompting the Lady of the
Lake to pound his chest with her tiny fists in frustration.
The goddess realized she had no retreat left. She deeply understood that the Emperor had spared her solely because of Ryan. Any betrayal on her part would bring true destruction. "Damn it! Ryan, had I known you were the progeny of such a being, I would never have chosen you as my future consort! But now, I have no choice!"
"Yes, my Lady," Ryan chuckled like a satisfied dog. "You can't escape now."
The Lady of the Lake, being a noble goddess, took only a moment to recover from her dejection. She gently pushed Ryan away, sat up, and motioned for Sulia to join her, speaking with a hint of jealousy, "So, I am to call you Lady Sulia from now on?"
The goddess took a small lemon from her side and began to nibble on it.
"Oh no, my Lady, please don't say that!" Sulia had been through quite a shock today. Yet, as the Lady of the Lake's most devout follower since the age of three, she hurried to the goddess's side, speaking earnestly, "I'm willing to share Ryan with you. Please don't say that."
"Hey, why do I feel like a slab of butter? You all have knives, slicing me into pieces? Dividing me into portions?" Ryan grumbled. Then he couldn't help but laugh. "Even so, Sulia, you and the Lady have already gotten the largest pieces. Isn't that enough?"
The Lady of the Lake wanted to say that she should have been his wife originally. But with Sulia present, the goddess knew that revealing her plans now wouldn't be beneficial. In fact, it might even raise Sulia's suspicions. Given the Emperor's attitude, even if it weren't Sulia, it wouldn't be her turn.
Most likely, it would be that little maid, Emilia.
At this thought, the Lady of the Lake felt a pang of fear. She realized she had invested too much in Ryan, to the point where she had neither the capacity nor the energy to retreat. The only option was to press forward, both in her plans and her emotions.
"Don't worry, my Lady. Father won't interfere in my personal life." Ryan gently took the Lady of the Lake's hand. He smiled, saying, "We'll continue as planned. Our life goes on. Our plans continue. I'll be with you and Sulia. Father has grander missions to focus on. We still have many challenges to face. I remain your chosen champion."
"Yes, my Lady, I'll be with you too. I swear it." Sulia added softly, holding the goddess's other hand. "My husband is your husband. The three of us will be together."
The Lady of the Lake finally calmed down. The three of them collapsed onto the soft bed to rest. Today, the Lady of the Lake wasn't wearing stockings. Her long dress revealed a pair of delicate, bare feet. Sulia, as usual, wore black stockings. Ryan's large hand gently roamed over the knight's black-stockinged legs.
With the magical lights turned off and the curtains closed against the snow outside, it was a quiet and peaceful Winterveil night. Despite the various upheavals, they had reached a mutual understanding.
"My Lady, can you and Ryan finally... you know, do that now?" Sulia blushed as she finally broached the topic, shyly yet assertively. "It doesn't always have to be me... It's embarrassing."
"Embarrassing? Who was it that, upon realizing she was possessed, immediately bathed and changed into stockings, waiting for her husband's attention?" The Lady of the Lake teased, her gaze almost making Sulia faint with embarrassment.
"My Lady, don't tease Sulia... she's only doing it for me..." Ryan's face flushed, and he quickly defended Sulia.
"This little matter... if Ryan likes it, I'll wear them too. But that's not what I wanted to discuss." The Lady of the Lake blushed slightly. She leaned on Ryan's shoulder, stroking his face. "It's just not the right time yet, Ryan. Do you remember our conversation in the tower?"
"Yes, I remember," Ryan nodded, understanding that the Lady of the Lake didn't want Sulia to know too much at once and was being vague.
"My union with Ryan needs to happen at the right moment, not now." The Lady of the Lake whispered to Sulia and Ryan. "For now, the three of us can spend some time at my tower. We'll bring Morgiana along and discuss what to do next."
"Alright."
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