Chapter 1073: The Prophecy of the Lady of the Lake

The large delegation from Nuln had no intention of returning so soon. Having been warmly received in Bretonnia and enjoying the hospitality, they decided to extend their visit. Diplomatically, both Emilia and Frederick had expressed their desire to stay longer, so the Nuln delegation took the opportunity to explore further, engage with more knights, nobles, and merchants, and see if there were more lucrative opportunities to be found.

One reason the Nuln nobles felt comfortable letting Ryan, Emilia, and Frederick stay longer was that the 16-year-old Frederick had already matured in his worldview and had become thoroughly Nuln-ized. He clearly identified as a Nuln native, which alleviated their concerns.

After hosting the Nuln delegation at the Palace of Fontainebleau, Ryan, Sulia, and Emilia made their way to Ryan’s city of Guisoreux and his ducal castle. Returning to familiar surroundings, Emilia was thrilled, even sneaking out her old maid outfit to see if it still fit. Frederick, on the other hand, found it amusing and couldn’t help but mockingly comment on “My high-status mother who still loves playing the maid.”

Ryan, however, was focused on other matters. True to his nature as the Knight King, he wasted no time. Upon returning to Guisoreux with his entourage, he immediately summoned Veronica to discuss the transfer of the Light Magitek Engine to the Land Cruiser.

Veronica, however, was deeply reluctant.

The Light Magitek Engine was her personal property, and transferring its instruments to the Land Cruiser would essentially turn it into a public vehicle—accessible to anyone. Moreover, the engine wasn’t just a war machine; it also served as a mobile living space, allowing Veronica to rest or meditate comfortably during campaigns. Moving the instruments would mean losing this luxury, forcing her to share cramped quarters with the men and making it impossible to escape during future expeditions.

From a personal standpoint, Veronica was against the idea, but as the Council Chairwoman, she struggled to find a valid reason to oppose it. Instead, she resorted to her trump card: seduction and charm. She dressed up like a lamb, hoping to please Ryan enough to drop the matter.

Everyone had their core interests, and Ryan understood that. In his household, only Olica would fully consider his needs, but even she had her own interests—she was simply compensated and satisfied in other ways.

Unfortunately, Sulia had anticipated this. She let Ryan enjoy his time with Veronica before stepping in to clean up the mess. The poor Council Chairwoman, having failed with her traditional tactics, was forced to compromise and agreed to transfer the Light Magitek Engine’s instruments to the Land Cruiser within a set timeframe.

Theresa and Aurora were also compelled to accept the agreement. Besides constructing a large freezing storage facility, they were tasked with an important mission. Perhaps due to lingering resentment over the incident with Hilda Trovik, Sulia didn’t even allow them to meet with Ryan and insisted they complete their tasks on time.

Theresa and Aurora, intimidated by Sulia’s authority, knew they had broken an unspoken rule and could only comply.

Thus, Ryan’s household underwent a swift reshuffling.

At the end of the Imperial Year 2519, during the Winter Festival, in the snow-covered forests of Charonne, at the village of Red Fish, in Angron’s estate.

Two mischievous boys were playing outside, while Angron was training his nephews in close combat.

Inside, the wooden floors were covered with thick fur rugs. The furnishings were not extravagant but meticulously arranged. The fireplace roared with flames, and a massive bull’s head—Angron’s latest trophy—hung on the wall. A cabinet held Angron’s homemade wines, and a large chandelier provided warm lighting.

The room was occupied by five people: Knight King Ryan, Queen Sulia, the Lady of the Lake Morgiana, the dark elf Olica, and the Lady of the Lake herself, Lilith. Excluding Olica, the other four were undoubtedly the core decision-makers of the Knight Kingdom.

The Lady of the Lake, Lilith, sat in the main seat. Having recently completed her divine defense system, the goddess was dressed in a Winter Festival fluorescent velvet gown. The off-shoulder dress accentuated her curvaceous figure, now exclusively Ryan’s. Her long, golden hair, cascading to her waist, was styled in a high elf noblewoman’s updo by Morgiana and Sulia. Her snow-white back and shoulder blades shimmered under her translucent skin.

The gown’s back was fastened with two rows of buttons, connected by platinum chains engraved with elven runes, adding a touch of brilliance to her radiant figure. The long skirt, almost reaching her ankles, was embroidered with patterns of irises, clouds, chalices, and moons, all meticulously stitched with mithril and gold thread.

Though the skirt was long, the slits on either side were high, revealing her slender legs clad in white unicorn velvet matte semi-transparent tights. Her legs, crossed elegantly, were accentuated by pink diamond-studded stiletto heels and lace gloves, completing her stunning appearance.

Ryan could sense that, after absorbing a portion of the Ancient One’s energy, the Lady of the Lake had reached the level of a God-King. Given time to recover all the fragments of the Crown of Lilith and harness the power of the Sunfire Amulet, she might truly become a Supreme God, rivaling Asuryan.

The Lady of the Lake noticed Ryan’s gaze and felt a sweet satisfaction. She had spent considerable time dressing up for him, and it seemed her efforts had paid off. Perhaps Sulia could arrange for the three of them to spend the evening together.

Sulia, Morgiana, and Olica were also dressed elegantly, each in different styles—Olica in a maid’s lace dress, Sulia in a pleated skirt, and Morgiana in a form-fitting gown—all wearing white stockings. After admiring them, Ryan cleared his throat and asked, “My Lady, have you completed your tasks?”

“I’ve established a defensive barrier using your psychic energy and my divine power. This will shield the Knight Kingdom from some of the effects of the End Times,” the Lady of the Lake said, adjusting her skirt and placing her pink velvet heels together. “Archon has found the final artifact, the Crown of Domination. Though the End Times are not yet upon us, its influence and corruption are spreading worldwide. Recently, scattered demons have appeared in Ulthuan, and beastmen in the Old World’s forests have become increasingly aggressive. Ryan, we’re running out of time.”

“Damn it, we can only watch as Archon is crowned and do nothing,” Ryan slammed his thigh in frustration. It was like knowing Warmaster Abaddon, a host of traitor legions, and the Daemon Primarch Perturabo were hiding in the Eye of Terror but being powerless to act. The Dwarf Ancestor Gods, the first Tsarina of Kislev, and countless heroes had proven with their lives that one could only wait for the Everchosen to strike and seize the opportunity to destroy him. Venturing into the Chaos Wastes or even the Troll Country for more than two months would drive most mad, mutate them, or corrupt them.

The Emperor had long planned to capture Perturabo, but the disgruntled Primarch remained holed up in his fortress in the Eye of Terror, leaving even the Emperor powerless. The Master of Mankind had calculated that a direct assault on Perturabo’s fortress would require him and at least three Primarchs to lead, with the loss of 4,000 Custodians, tens of thousands of Space Marines, and countless Imperial Army troops and fleets—and even then, the odds of success were less than 50%.

After all, corruption strengthens, while redemption weakens.

From another perspective, the same applied here. For instance, Mannfred and Arkhan had long plotted to kidnap Morgiana. They knew she was in Ryan’s territory but were powerless to act.

“There’s still hope, Ryan,” the Lady of the Lake smiled, gently caressing his face. “You and your brother Fulgrim have made unparalleled contributions to the world. Many of the great losses and sacrifices I foresaw have been averted, and many fated tragedies have been reversed—like Belegar’s Eight Peaks. Do you know what the chances of surviving the End Times were before you arrived?”

“What were they, my Lady?” Sulia, holding the Lady’s hand, asked with interest.

“I calculated 10,086 possibilities, and only once did the world survive the End Times,” the Lady of the Lake said, holding the radiant Grail. “In five other scenarios, the world was destroyed, but the surviving human, elf, and dwarf gods seized the opportunity to obtain the Core of Creation and reshape a new world. Only these six scenarios could be considered a form of victory.”

“But since your arrival, many things in my calculations have changed,” the Lady of the Lake hesitated. “Given the current situation, our chances of surviving the End Times are about 10%.”

“Only 10%? Isn’t that too low?” Morgiana, holding the Potion Grail, asked. She wore white leather boots for mobility but had prepared a pair of soft-soled high-heeled sandals in a box by her feet, knowing Ryan would like them.

The Lady of the Lake glanced at Morgiana and sighed. “It’s already remarkable, Morgiana.”

“Yes,” Morgiana lowered her head, not daring to argue, but added, “I believe Ryan, the Lady, and all of us will overcome this.”

“Yes, I believe so too,” the Lady of the Lake said to Ryan. “What we must do now is ensure stability within the realm and maintain the morale of the people and the army. You’ve done well, but I have an additional request.”

“What is it, my Lady?” Ryan asked.

“I need you to destroy Morghur,” the Lady of the Lake said. “We must further ally with the Asrai. Only by eliminating Morghur can we free the Wood Elves from his corrupting shadow. The Wood Elves and Athel Loren’s power are immense and will be of great help.”

“As soon as Morghur appears,” Ryan nodded. Indeed, though the Wood Elves were reclusive and unpredictable, they had provided significant trade assistance upon his arrival in Bretonnia, designating him as their sole distributor and granting him an unshakable status and substantial financial resources.

In several crucial battles, including the Battle of La Maisontaal Abbey and the pivotal Battle of Landuin’s Tomb, the Wood Elves had appeared when most needed. Though largely motivated by their own interests and preventing the war from spreading to their forests, their assistance was invaluable.

This was a debt of gratitude, and in return, Ryan had ensured the Wood Elves enjoyed years of peace, with the Knight Kingdom shielding them from external threats, allowing the isolationists to enjoy their tranquil forest life.

Overall, the Wood Elves were still on Ryan’s side.

“Don’t underestimate Morghur, dear,” the Lady of the Lake sighed, seeing Ryan’s confident expression. “The Shadowgheist Morghur has devoured the mortal avatars of many Wood Elf gods. Even these deities were no match for it. What’s worse, Morghur cannot be truly killed. Perhaps you’re the only one in the mortal world capable of destroying it. Morghur is a demigod, though its combat strength isn’t its main asset—its corruption and near-immortality are.”

“But didn’t Araloth kill Morghur when he was only at the peak of Legendary?” Ryan asked curiously.

“Yes,” the Lady of the Lake nodded. “That’s because Morghur wasn’t armored. Its defense relied entirely on its corrupting aura, which fluctuated in strength unpredictably. Araloth seized the moment when Morghur’s defenses were weakest, using a Godslayer Arrow forged on the Vaul’s Anvil to strike from a distance, then finishing it off in close combat.”

“But you may not have such an opportunity. The Everchosen’s coronation has made the winds of chaos increasingly. Whether Morghur’s defensive aura has any pattern is unclear,” the Lady of the Lake shook her head, her pink heels tapping the floor. “The Warp is also becoming more dangerous. All the elven gods are descending into the mortal world, choosing their avatars. I must also descend soon.”

“Who will your avatar be?” Ryan asked.

“Originally, Morgiana, Sulia, or Araloth’s daughter Carona could have served as my avatar,” the Lady of the Lake smiled proudly. “But with your energy, I don’t need an avatar. From today, I will be Lady Lilith by your side.”

The four discussed their next steps and the kingdom’s policies. Morgiana was tasked with stockpiling more food, while the Lady of the Lake would ensure Bretonnia’s lands remained free from chaos.

“My Lady, here’s a joint proposal from Talleyrand and Belial. They suggest inviting the Everqueen of the High Elves, who is already en route, to visit Bretonnia. They’ve also proposed a grand canal tour to showcase our kingdom’s recent achievements,” Sulia presented the proposal to the Lady of the Lake.

“You want to invite Alarielle to Bretonnia?” the Lady of the Lake frowned slightly. “Is that… necessary?”

“If we don’t occupy the battlefield of public opinion, others will. That’s Talleyrand’s line,” Ryan said seriously. “I think he’s right, my Lady.”

“You’re not interested in the Everqueen, are you?” the Lady of the Lake teased. “I must warn you, Alarielle is not only the heir apparent and Isha’s chosen but also destined to marry the next Phoenix King. And officially, she’s the daughter of Finubar and Alarielle. Tyrion won’t let you off easily.”

“I’ve already chosen you, my Lady,” Ryan shook his head. He knew his priorities.

“Inviting her isn’t out of the question… but it requires careful planning,” the Lady of the Lake nodded slowly. “Show her your influence, dear.”

“Your influence over the dwarves, the Wood Elves, and the entire Old World. Let the High Elves see how powerful you are. Only then might the Everqueen consider accepting our invitation.”

“Don’t underestimate Alarielle. Like all High Elves, she speaks of emotions but thinks of business. Only by proving your worth will she consider altering her plans and passing through with her delegation.”