The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

Meanwhile, at the Royal Inn in Brunswick, Ryan and his group had just finished dinner and were gathered around the fireplace, watching the snow fall outside. Brunswick was still celebrating the Winter Festival, and the snow would remain until the end of February.

Inside, two children were playing together. Despite being very young, Devonshire often needed Sylvia's help to stand, but he was learning quickly. He crawled and walked, following his older brother and calling out loudly, "Brother, brother!"

Frederick felt a strong sense of kinship with Devonshire and played enthusiastically with his younger brother.

By the fireplace, the adults were chatting. Both Ryan and Sulia focused on Amelia, who now held three of the highest noble titles in the empire. Amelia had been through many frustrating experiences during her two years in Nuln, and only the thought of Ryan and her son kept her from running back to Bretonnia.

As Amelia spoke, she occasionally revealed some of the empire's secrets. Ryan and Sulia listened with polite smiles, remembering every word.

Amelia expressed her frustration. She was naturally embraced upon her return to Nuln, supported mainly by the two elite units—the Nuln Ironsides and the Blackstone Guard—as well as the Black Lady of Nuln, Elspeth von Draken, the Supreme Wizard of the Amethyst College. The Chief Justice of Nuln, Theodore Bruckner, also supported her rule, representing several knightly orders in Nuln.

However, as Amelia pointed out, she couldn't compare to Ryan. The nobles of Nuln would only seek her out when endless debates in the city council needed her decision on significant matters.

Amelia was smart and had learned much from her years with Ryan, gaining valuable experience in internal affairs. As a result, she could resolve issues quite perfectly, mediating between parties and enhancing her authority in the court.

Moreover, Amelia could always secure large contracts, particularly massive arms deals. Over two years, with Ryan's connections, Amelia secured military orders worth over 30,000 gold crowns for the Nuln gunpowder factories from Bretonnia alone.

This earned Ryan the title of "Nuln's Close Friend."

Recently, the Grey Legion under Fugen placed an order exceeding 50,000 gold crowns through Ryan, which shocked all of Nuln. The massive order nearly emptied the city's armory, and the Nuln gunpowder factories were now working at full capacity to meet Fugen's needs. Nuln was the only place in the Old World capable of fulfilling such a huge order in a short time.

Fugen even proclaimed, "I'm not afraid of running out of money, but I worry Nuln might run out of supplies."

For Nuln, an industrial city, a series of large orders was clearly a significant boon.

Thus, Amelia was highly respected and loved in Nuln, and her life was going well.

"So, how are Nuln's relations with Brunswick?" Sulia was concerned about this aspect. The knight, having removed her high-heeled boots, sat beside Ryan, her long black silk legs together. Although Sulia wasn't afraid of the cold, she enjoyed the warm, cozy atmosphere.

The Duchess had initiated "fireside chats" during Ryan's campaigns, inviting various guests, including nobles, merchants, freemen, and even hardworking serfs, to the castle's reception room for warm, friendly conversations. With her dignified elegance and approachable manner, Sulia established a stable communication bridge between the nobility and the commoners, earning respect and understanding.

In some ways, Sulia was more influential than Ryan in the hearts of all the residents. While Ryan was like a towering mountain, Sulia was like a gentle stream, refreshing and soothing.

In contrast, Amelia's approach was more detached, never leaving her electoral palace.

"Pretty good, I suppose. Karl Franz oversimplifies things," Amelia chuckled. "Theoretically, Nuln is under the emperor's jurisdiction, but it's ultimately a free city. With the position of Duke of Nuln vacant, the city council has been self-governing. Karl thought my family's good relationship with his would make Nuln obedient to his Brunswick court. But he didn't consider that with me in Nuln, the city council wouldn't follow his orders. I wouldn't oppose the council just for him. My presence only slightly increases the emperor's influence in Nuln."

"But it's better than nothing," Ryan glanced at Frederick playing nearby. "At least he has a godson."

"Nuln's sense of identity with the empire comes more from Ludwig the Savior, as it's his hometown," Amelia remarked, holding her delicate face with a gloved hand. "As for Karl Franz, Nuln people aren't interested in him. Or rather, they don't care about anything outside Nuln and generally look down on outsiders."

"And what about Wissenland?" Sulia asked, curious about Amelia's other title.

"Historically, Nuln and Wissenland have never been united. The current union is only because I hold both titles," Amelia explained, looking conflicted. "Wissenland residents never consider Nuln people as fellow provincials. They disdain Nuln's luxurious lifestyle and arrogance, seeing its citizens as parasites of the empire. In contrast, Nuln people scorn Wissenland's poverty and their reliance on guerrilla tactics against orcs and beastmen. For Nuln people, war's romance lies in muskets, cannons, steam tanks, line formations, and cavalry charges."

"Hahaha!" Ryan laughed, the Duke of Mousillon shaking his head with a wry smile, remaining silent.

A dark elf in a black and white maid outfit and white thick tights sat beside Ryan, hugging him from behind. Olica, the dark elf, laughed mischievously, "Stupid humans, complicating things. It's simple: start a war, and the losers become slaves."

"Hahaha!" Ryan laughed even harder.

"What's so funny? Why are you laughing?" Amelia was displeased by Ryan's laughter. The imperial duchess lifted a long, slender leg wrapped in black velvet stockings and threw her slipper at Ryan's face, exasperated. "Do you know how much effort it takes to keep the two territories from internal conflict? I'm not like you, who can resolve issues with a word in Bretonnia!"

Ryan caught the slipper, still chuckling. "I understand, Amelia. Your temper has grown over the past two years!"

"Hmph!" Amelia huffed, "I had no choice. Being too nice only invites bullying."

Sulia, holding Ryan's hand, was about to speak when heavy footsteps sounded at the door.

"Who is it?" Sylvia, the head maid, wondered aloud. It was nearly seven in the evening—an unusual time for visitors.

Sylvia quickly deduced the situation: being the Imperial Royal Inn, few people could enter without alarming the guards or Ryan's attendants and old guards. She decided to wait and see.

Indeed, a moment later, the door opened, and Ryan's attendants, who had heard the noise, spoke briefly with the visitor before returning to their rooms and closing the doors.

Soon, a knock came at the door: "Knock, knock. Is anyone home?"

"Who is it?"

"The Protector of the Empire, the Defender against Darkness, Heir to all the Holy Heritage of Emperor Charlemagne, Emperor Himself and Son of Emperors, Elector Count and Grand Prince of Reikland, Grand Duke of Brunswick, Karl Franz, is here," the visitor formally announced a portion of his titles.

The door opened, and Ryan, Sulia, and Amelia hurried to greet their guest, "Welcome!"

Emperor Karl Franz, dressed in a purple and gold casual outfit, entered. To everyone's surprise, he was accompanied by his wife, Helena, a beautiful woman with a slightly plump figure, long blonde hair, and dressed in a heavy wool coat and a gown adorned with jewels.

Even more surprising to Ryan was that Emperor Karl Franz held the hand of a boy who looked about seven or eight, dressed in a small officer's uniform with a cloak emblazoned with skulls, iron crosses, and laurels. The boy resembled the emperor, with a sturdy build and eyes showing a hint of wariness.

A servant also held a three-year-old girl, who, unafraid of strangers, boldly observed Ryan and the others.

"Godfather! It's Godfather!" Before Ryan could speak, his son Frederick shouted joyfully, running unsteadily to the emperor. "Good evening, Godfather!"

"Heh," Karl Franz picked up Ryan's son, affectionately rubbing his stubbled cheek against Frederick's face. "Frederick, are you having fun in Brunswick?"

"Yes! There's Dad, Mom, and Godfather, and Grandpa Ludwig and Uncle Gelt!" The stubble made little Frederick squeal in delight, clearly more attached to Karl Franz than to Ryan, likely due to more frequent meetings.

Ryan felt a bit annoyed. The duke spoke up, "Your Majesty, what a pleasant surprise!"

"Hope I'm not intruding," the emperor said, setting Frederick down with a smile. "This is an informal family visit, no need for formalities. You're not a duke, and I'm not an emperor. I thought it was time our families got to know each other… This is my wife, Helena, my son, Luitpold II, and my daughter, Anna."

"Hello!" Ryan greeted Emperor Helena and their eldest son, Luitpold II. From their demeanor, it seemed the imperial family was quite happy together.

There were rumors in the imperial court that Emperor Karl Franz was very henpecked, as he had no female courtiers since his marriage, having only two children, both by his wife, Helena.

His eldest son, Luitpold, was

 named after his father, the previous emperor, and was commonly known as Luitpold II.

"Son, let me introduce you to Ryan-Malcador, Duke of Mousillon, Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, a hero of humanity, who has slain countless enemies and whose glory is known throughout the Old World," Karl Franz said, leading his son to Ryan. "You've always wanted to meet him, so I brought you here today!"

The emperor's tone was calm but subtly different, in a way that was hard to describe. Ryan, puzzled, watched as the seven- or eight-year-old prince's eyes lit up. The boy quickly approached Ryan, saluted, then looked up with admiration, his eyes sparkling with excitement, like a fan meeting his idol.

Seeing Frederick's affection for Karl Franz and Luitpold II's admiration for him, Ryan felt an odd, uncomfortable sensation.

Looking up, Ryan saw Karl Franz wearing a similar expression. The two fathers exchanged glances, a mutual understanding passing between them.

A bond only men could share.

Both parties introduced their families.

"Amelia, so you are here!" the emperor greeted Amelia with a smile.

"If you're here, why can't I be?" Amelia waved impatiently, "You're a godfather; he's the biological father."

The emperor smiled knowingly and said no more. Sulia, Amelia, and Helena, three influential women in the human realms, instantly hit it off. Sulia tactfully led them to see her collection, leaving Karl and Ryan by the fireplace.

"I knew you'd come," Ryan said calmly.

"I'm here as a friend, not an emperor," Karl Franz said, staring into the fireplace. After a moment's silence, he asked, "But do you consider me a friend?"

"Does it matter?" Ryan smiled. "We are allies, so we must be friends. If we stop being allies, friendship won't be possible."

"Heh, true," the emperor chuckled. Yes, some things were inseparable for him and Ryan.

"In that case, let me ask you something as a friend," the emperor hesitated before continuing, "Suppose you were the emperor of the empire now, faced with the candidates for the three Chief Royal Wizards: High Chancellor of the Light College Otto, former Chief Wizard and High Chancellor of the Fire College Gehrman, and the newly risen Grand Alchemist Gelt. Whom would you choose?"

"Hmm..."

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