"So, you traitors! I offer you only two choices!" The thought swirled in Duke Hagen's mind. As a noble Holy Grail Knight, he was filled with rage at the chaos within his domain. Though he understood the suffering of the peasants, he felt uncertain about how to address the situation.
As an exemplar of chivalry and the eight knightly virtues, Duke Hagen, who had participated in the Holy Grail Crusade, was aware of the hardships faced by the common people. He knew that the peasants' plight wasn't their fault but rather the doing of the eternally cursed Kemmler. Kemmler deserved the harshest punishment from the Lady!
Well, Kemmler was dead, and that account was settled.
Yet, as a ruler, Duke Hagen recognized that easily forgiving the rebellious peasants would set a dangerous precedent, which he could not accept.
Duke Hagen struggled to find a solution. If possible, he would rather mount his warhorse in the name of the Lady of the Lake and resolve the issue with his own valor. Asking him to come up with a solution to this dilemma was truly difficult.
At this critical moment, newly-appointed Sir Bertrand approached Duke Hagen with Ryan's plan. In essence, they would play both the good cop and the bad cop.
Duke Hagen was familiar with Bertrand's exploits. Although he looked down on the low-born knight, Bertrand had grievously wounded Kemmler, earning the Duke's grudging respect. Upon hearing Bertrand's suggestion, the Duke was pleased and agreed to the plan.
Before the rebellious peasants, the soldiers made way, revealing two paths.
The first path led to a nearby barn, guarded by armed dwarves. The elite dwarf unit, holding hammers and axes, was led by Captain Raymond, who stood on a platform and shouted, "Due to our agreement with King Belegar, we need manpower to farm the valley below the Blackstone Fortress. Those willing to work the fields must go to the valley and start from scratch. Your lives will no longer be your own! You must do whatever the dwarves command!"
"After five to eight years of farming, if you perform well, you can atone for your rebellion and regain your status as free citizens!"
"Or, if you don't wish to accept this, there's a second option!" Raymond pointed behind him. "Commence your performance!"
The second path led to the execution ground, where five or six executioners stood ready with nooses swaying in the wind.
The peasants gulped. Anyone with a bit of intelligence knew what choice to make. The crowd of peasants murmured and whispered among themselves.
"How… how do we know you're not deceiving us?" An elderly peasant, trembling, stepped forward to ask. "It's not that we don't trust you, but…"
"The Duke won't deceive you, because this is part of the agreement with King Belegar. It's not the Duke who needs you, but King Belegar who needs manpower! The dwarves never deceive!" Raymond vouched personally. "As for its credibility, ladies and gentlemen, I can guarantee it!"
"What makes you so sure?" another peasant questioned.
"Because I am one of you!" Raymond removed his helmet and pointed to his face. "I was also a fugitive peasant! I was fortunate enough to escape to the territory of Count Ryan-Makado! Through hard work and atonement, I became a conscript, then a soldier, and eventually was appointed as a captain! I am now a sergeant! Do you see? I am a free man now!"
"Believe my words. I swear by the Lady, it's all true!"
"Boom!" It was as if a cannon had exploded among the rebellious peasants, sparking an intense discussion.
"Would the knights really be so kind?"
"Come on, haven't you heard? It's not the Duke who wants to pardon us; it's the dwarves who need workers!"
"That's good news! As long as they need us to farm, they won't easily take our lives!"
"The Duke is a noble Holy Grail Knight. He wouldn't lie!"
"Is that Raymond really a fugitive peasant? He doesn't look like it!"
"He swore by the Lady! How could it be false?!"
After much deliberation, the peasants made the obvious choice.
"We are willing to help the dwarves farm!"
...
"Ryan~ Do you think the rebellious peasants will agree to farm for the dwarves? Will Duke Hagen accept this?" In Ryan's winery, the count was working when a pair of alabaster arms wrapped around his neck from behind, whispering in his ear.
"They will. Holy Grail Knights are unlike many of your Empire's nobles. Throughout their long crusades, each Holy Grail Knight is deeply aware of the common people's suffering." Ryan, reviewing documents, smiled knowingly. "Although Duke Hagen isn't particularly skilled in internal affairs, he has the merit of being willing to delegate. He may not be able to come up with solutions, but he will agree to our conditions because he needs an out, just like we do."
"Is that so~ Mr. Ryan is truly amazing~" The little maid, Emilia, said with sparkling eyes, full of admiration. "To come up with such a plan."
"What a poor attempt at flattery, Emilia." Ryan playfully pinched her smooth cheek. "Why have you become like this? I don't like insincere praise."
"But we spend so little time together." Emilia pouted. "You always have to be with Sulia. We barely get any time together; it's never enough!"
"Sulia is my wife, Emilia." Ryan felt a bit awkward talking about this. The little maid before him would one day become the Elector Countess and Duchess of Nuln. Feeling slightly uneasy, he tried to divert the conversation with a smile. "By the way, didn't Sulia take you to a court banquet recently? What did you see?"
"What could I see? It was just the usual women's talk—about fashionable clothes and shoes, and gossip among the nobles. I met a bunch of baronesses, countesses, and even the Duchess of Brionne and the Duchess of Carcassonne. But without a doubt, the star of the banquet was your Sulia. Everyone knows who her husband is and how much she is favored by the Lady." The little maid replied with a hint of jealousy.
After the Winter Festival, Sulia took Emilia to Helenhild for a grand banquet, inviting noble ladies from southern duchies. Ryan had not attended, being uninterested in the gossip among women and busy with the administrative duties of his territory. "In the future, you won't be overshadowed, Emilia. I heard that Grand Marshal Erstein will lead an army to receive you?"
"Yes, the Black Lady, the Chief Justice of Nuln, the Grand Marshal of Nuln, along with the Nuln Armored Corps and several knightly orders, will come to greet me. We have about six weeks left, Ryan. Just six weeks to be together." Emilia puffed her cheeks.
"You're talking as if we won't be able to see each other again." Ryan teased. "I noticed you had Veronica establish a magical teleportation circle connecting Nuln's wizard guild?"
"That's different." Emilia hummed softly, unwilling to say more.
"I'm going to watch an honor duel. Would you like to come with me?" Ryan set aside the signed documents and smiled. "It's going to be a spectacular duel."
"An honor duel?" Emilia's large eyes blinked, and she asked quietly, "Between whom?"
Ryan explained to Emilia.
It turned out that Sulia's brother, Ryan's brother-in-law, Julius, was preparing to start his own Grail Quest. As a Kingdom Knight, Julius felt increasingly inferior to Ryan, even fearing that his sister, Sulia, might surpass him. Unable to accept this, especially after the battle at La-Maisonelle Abbey, Julius had resolved to embark on his own Grail Quest.
Before setting out, Julius wanted to test his skills in swordsmanship and lance combat. So, he came to Ryan's territory to find Ryan's brother, Angron. Strictly speaking, Angron was also part of the family. Ryan had even given Angron the title of Count's Chief Instructor.
However, Angron had recently left his forest lodge for a trip south. He had said he wanted to see the sights, but Ryan knew it was because the Emperor and Clarkson were visiting. Angron planned to go to Tyrell to buy some coffee and sparkling fruit wine.
Since he would ride his gryphon, he didn't have to pay taxes.
Instead, Julius found Lorgar, who was exploring local customs and beliefs. The Primarch of the Word Bearers, eager for a challenge, readily agreed.
"Let's go. We'll watch the duel between Lorgar and Julius, our two brothers." Seeing Emilia's interest, Ryan gently took her hand. "After the duel, we can dine at the 'Grail Tribute' tavern in town and then check on what Alfred has been up to."
"Alright!" Emilia's face blushed as she quickly agreed. "Just the two of us?"
"Or would you prefer to invite others?" Ryan asked, with a playful smile.
"Mr. Ryan, you're so mean, testing me when you know my feelings. Your heart is really black!" Emilia's face turned dark with a hint of a threat. "How about I kidnap you to Nuln and keep you locked in a tower, tied with iron chains? I'll feed you well, and you'll serve me exclusively at night and help me raise our children."
"Hahahaha~" Ryan laughed heartily, taking Emilia's hand. "Let's go, just the two of us."
"
Mm!"
The conversation with the little maid had taken longer than expected. By the time Ryan and Emilia arrived at the duel arena, the honor duel had been underway for quite a while.
"For the emperor! His will be done!"
"In the name of the Lady, I will prevail!"
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!] [www.p@treon.com/INNIT]