Looking at the man in his early thirties before her, Aurora, the Elder Sorceress of the Garland Council and a formidable Saint-level powerhouse, felt a surge of mixed emotions.
When she first met Ryan, he was a somewhat shy ranger knight. Aurora had thought he was quite handsome, but she hadn't given him much attention. During that initial meeting, Ryan had practically stood the entire time while talking to her, which she didn't mind at all.
This was a common attitude among the female spellcasters of the Garland Council.
Later, when Ryan defeated the Beastman King "Fang" Gore and was knighted as a Kingdom Knight, joining the White Wolf Knights at the age of twenty-two, Aurora began to see him differently. She started to regard herself as "Norman's savior." When Norman was troubled by rheumatism in his old age, Aurora had actively extended her help and visited the Otterine territory twice.
In essence, Aurora had been nurturing an idea. As her daughter grew up, she needed to find a good husband for her. As for the impoverished Veronica? Aurora believed she could easily outmaneuver her and ensure Ryan remained with her and her daughter.
Did Ryan have any feelings for them?
It was certain he didn't dislike them, at least. At his Kingdom Knight inauguration banquet, Ryan had even pretended to drop his spoon under the table to sneak a peek at them—a rather embarrassing past.
This was why she had sent her daughter Teresa to work alongside Ryan on missions. The Saint-level sorceress harbored a bit of selfishness, thinking Ryan had great potential and might one day become a powerful lord, thus becoming the greatest support for her and her daughter outside the council.
Inside the council, Aurora and Chairwoman Margarita had been embroiled in an internal power struggle for decades, both sides desperately needing more external support.
However, Ryan's growth had far exceeded Aurora's expectations. Now, this young man was a renowned hero of the Old World and a Holy Grail Knight of the Saint level.
Aurora not only failed to achieve her goal but also lost a daughter in the process.
She wasn't sure how Teresa had been completely captivated by Ryan. Not only had she built a wizard tower here, but she also never returned to the council. Looking at Ryan's smiling face, Aurora felt a mix of frustration. The once timid young knight who had stood respectfully before her was now a man who subtly held the upper hand.
Despite her feelings, she maintained a warm demeanor. Ryan was no longer the same as before. He was now a powerful count, one of the most influential nobles in southern Bretonnia, backed by the Lady of the Lake Church and the Holy Grail Knights.
Aurora had little time to think further as Ryan began clapping. With his gesture, the dozen knights and dozens of fully armed soldiers around the winery also started clapping in unison.
"Your territory is like a jewel in southern Bretonnia, your achievements as brilliant as the morning star in the northern sky," Aurora said in a deep voice, having spent considerable effort to muster these words of praise. "How have you been, Teresa, my daughter? Are you well?"
"I'm very well, Mother. I hope you'll take the chance to visit my wizard tower," Teresa said excitedly at Aurora's arrival.
"I look forward to it." Seeing her daughter looking well and dressed in luxurious clothing, Aurora nodded silently in approval.
When was the last time she had to say such flattering words? Aurora could hardly remember.
But times had changed. Becoming a Saint-level powerhouse at thirty versus at sixty were two entirely different things. Given Ryan's current status, even Aurora had to lower her stance to treat him as an equal.
"Hahaha, Aurora, we've known each other for many years. You don't have to go out of your way to praise me like this. It feels strange, and I'm sure it sounds awkward to you too," Ryan said with a smile. "It's cold outside. I've arranged a banquet inside. Please, our visitors from the Garland Council, join us."
Too formal! Too official! Listening to Ryan's words, Aurora instinctively frowned.
The once shy teenager had become a mature, reserved man full of noble formalities and deep cunning.
Aurora, feeling a bit irked, preferred the young ranger knight who had once stood before her, head bowed, rather than the chosen champion of the Lady of the Lake who now spoke with her so ceremoniously.
Despite her inner annoyance, Aurora, a master of social grace, kept a warm smile on her face. She slightly stepped aside, revealing about twenty sorceresses behind her. They wore the signature red Garland robes and standard knee-length ceremonial skirts, made from the finest materials. Among them were twelve official sorceresses and eight young apprentices, all under sixteen. It seemed they were the next batch to be sent to study under Teresa.
The weather was cold, and the apprentices shivered. Seeing Ryan, they looked at Aurora with hopeful eyes.
"Alright, let's go inside. Please!"
"Please, Aurora."
Inside the winery, a grand banquet had been prepared. Sylvia and Olica, leading the maid team, served various local Bretonnian dishes on a long table adorned with all silverware and large barrels of wine from Winford, displaying Ryan's current wealth.
Upstairs on the third floor, Sulia and Veronica continued their chat by the window. Sulia remarked playfully, "It seems Elder Aurora isn't used to giving compliments."
"She's used to others begging her," Veronica scoffed, resting her delicate face on her gloved hand. "In the northern Empire and Nord Kingdom, nobles constantly seek her help. When they come to her wizard tower, she can loudly tell them to get out, and they wouldn't dare be disrespectful, or she'd blast them away with magic."
"Are there no strong male nobles?" Sulia asked curiously.
"There are, but not many," Veronica replied. "You know, the northern Empire and Nord Kingdom are harsh, resource-poor, and constantly battling northern tribes. People barely get by, so few can focus on training. Even legendary powerhouses are rare. Becoming a Saint-level powerhouse requires a solid foundation from a young age, great mentors, ample resources, and divine favor. It's very difficult."
"I see." Sulia nodded, standing up. "Since Lady Aurora is here, we should go down and greet her as hosts."
The elegant Countess Sulia appeared to greet Aurora. Smiling, she said, "Welcome, Lady Aurora of the Garland Council. Your presence graces our winery. On behalf of all the nobles and serfs of Glamorgan, and the Winford ducal family of 'The Pure' Redmond, one of the twelve original Holy Grail Knights, I welcome you."
Hearing this string of titles, Aurora's smile froze slightly. She sized up Sulia, noting her regal bearing. Aurora sighed inwardly, realizing the reports were true. Ryan's wife was indeed a true duchess, a high-ranking noble, and her abilities were on par with Teresa's. "Hello, Lady Sulia."
"Welcome, Lady Aurora. On behalf of the Lady of the Lake, the Holy Grail Knights, and the Sisters of the Grail, I welcome you," added Morgiana, the Lady's sorceress. She didn't seem particularly thrilled about Aurora's arrival, giving a brief greeting before sitting next to Ryan, flanking him with Sulia to ensure he couldn't speak privately with Aurora.
This young man's status had changed so much that even the most powerful figures in this country, like the Lady's sorceress, attended this banquet personally? Aurora felt the pressure but sensed a deep hostility from Morgiana, perhaps because she didn't like outsiders encroaching on her domain.
Aurora greeted Morgiana, maintaining a somewhat stiff, warm smile.
Next was Veronica, who simply said, "Hello, Lady Trovic."
"Hello, Lady Bernadotte," Aurora replied coolly.
These two sorceresses were always on opposing sides and couldn't even muster more than a few perfunctory words.
Everyone took their seats, and the banquet began.
In the winter, the lively banquet warmed the originally quiet winery. Undoubtedly, the person most excited at the banquet was Teresa, who sat next to her mother, chatting endlessly. Ryan frequently toasted, and the entire sorceress delegation received a warm welcome.
Aurora brought the latest high-yield grain seeds developed by the Garland Council. These seeds could even survive in the extremely harsh Kislev tundra. With the research of the Wood Elves and Morgiana, the yield would likely increase further.
Aurora also brought new technology for golems and magical crystal cannons. Powerful battle golems could be produced in Veronica's and Teresa's wizard towers, and magical crystal cannons could be mounted on castles or tower tops. These cannons could reportedly wipe out small units with a single shot.
A group of green-skinned boys in the Northern Troll Country of Kislev had experienced the power of a magical crystal cannon. Over a hundred of them were blown to bits by a single shot. This cannon was now ready to be installed on the walls of White Wolf City, named "Yurick's Thunder" by Elector Boris.
Aurora was here to deliver the blueprints.
Naturally, the magical crystal cannon was costly, but such a powerful war machine was something Ryan couldn't refuse. He accepted the blueprints, planning to consult the dwarven engineer Dugan Ironman and the Angron clan's chief engineer Halharver Goldseeker on how to build it after the banquet.
Get me one too!
In return, Ryan would provide the Garland Council with rare magical plants, many precious goods from the Wood Elves, and imported magical books from the High Elf kingdom of Safrey.
While the Garland Council could still import High Elf magical books from Marienburg, the rarest items were those from the Wood Elves. These forest-d
welling folks were stubborn, only recognizing Ryan and trading exclusively with him. Regardless of what the Old World's major powers tried, the Wood Elves always shot emissaries full of arrows, leaving one survivor to return.
As a lord, Ryan wanted a diverse power structure in his territory, not wanting the Lady of the Lake's influence to dominate. Thus, he warmly welcomed Aurora, especially since Teresa had become his courtier. The cooperation with this mature and beautiful mother-in-law was now logical.
After the meal, Ryan arranged for guest rooms so the weary travelers could rest. "Lady Aurora, I've prepared the guest rooms. You must be tired from the journey. Please rest well, and if you need anything, you can speak to Head Maid Sylvia or directly to me if necessary."
"Anything?" Aurora smiled, her eyes fixed on Ryan's face. "I just hope Lord Ryan treats me a bit more warmly and not so distantly. That would make me very happy."
"Haha, that's my fault," Ryan laughed, admitting his mistake. He held the sorceress's small hand and said softly to Teresa, "Dear Teresa, it's been a while since you've seen Lady Aurora. Why don't you stay here tonight?"
Teresa nodded. The sorceress indeed wanted to have a private chat with her mother. "What about you, Ryan? You haven't seen my mother for a long time. Want to stay and chat?"
"No, I have things to do." Ryan shook his head, seeming genuinely busy. After settling the sorceress delegation, he hurried off.
Once Ryan disappeared around the corner, Aurora's smile faded. The mother and daughter entered the guest room, fully furnished. Aurora closed the door, set up a magic circle, placed her leather bag on the table, sat down, and sighed. She looked at the somewhat anxious sorceress with a half-smile. "Satisfied now, my daughter?"
"Mother!" Teresa sat across from Aurora, excited but unsure where to start. "Ryan is just busy."
"Yes, men being busy is normal, and it's a sign of their excellence, especially for someone like Ryan." Aurora removed her fox fur coat, revealing her impressive figure. Her Saint-level magical aura fluctuated as she sighed. "But I still prefer the young man who stood before me, answering timidly. Now, Ryan is too mature, mature to the point where I doubt you can handle such a man. I know you too well, my daughter. You aren't proactive in daily interactions and don't know how to win a man's favor with small gestures."
"Ryan isn't like that." Teresa shook her head repeatedly. "He's very good to me. Without his help and the dwarven engineers and craftsmen he brought, my wizard tower wouldn't have been built so easily."
"Accepting you and finding you likable are two different things." Aurora shook her head. The Saint-level sorceress looked at Teresa, sighed, and said, "I regret encouraging you to build the wizard tower here. Initially, I wanted you to become Ryan's wife, but now I don't want you staying by his side, yet you've become his courtier."
"He's the man I've chosen. I have no regrets!" Teresa said firmly. She moved her long legs and sat beside Aurora. "You'll help me, won't you, Mother?"
"My daughter, you have the same stubbornness I had when I was young!" Aurora lovingly stroked Teresa's cold, beautiful face and identical black hair. The Saint-level sorceress, despite everything, loved her daughter. "I'm here, aren't I? Mother will help you."
"But there's one thing you must tell me honestly." Aurora asked playfully, "You've already... done it with Ryan, haven't you?"
"Why... why ask that now?" Teresa's face turned crimson.
"Tell me, or Mother won't help you." Aurora was interested in her daughter's embarrassment. "How often? How does he perform? With his physique and abilities, he should be quite good. I can see from Sulia's appearance that she's well-tended."
"Two or three times a week. Ryan is... very gentle, and it's very comfortable," Teresa said shyly. "And his preferences, you know..."
"Good."
Ryan's situation is like that of a promising official in his early thirties in the Celestial Empire, destined for a higher position. Even though Aurora's rank is technically higher now, she must lower her stance, as it's inevitable that Ryan's future status will surpass hers. This is logical and shouldn't be considered unreasonable.
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