Warhammer Divine Throne

PS: "Snake and Rat" has updated, Imperial Waste, Barto’s Son, For the Lady!

In May, in the Old World, in the capital of Brittania, Crona, at the Royal Palace.

The dinner is held inside the banquet hall. The current Knight King Richard is hosting Duke of Connet, Lorne-Rio Cornwall here.

The banquet is lavish. The appetizer is a fillet of halibut from the Vast Ocean paired with lobster mousse, and the main course is Crona roasted venison accompanied by Cornwall soft cake, truffle sauce, braised red cabbage, roasted potatoes, and spiced roasted walnuts, pumpkin, and celery root.

The only sound at the dining table is the clashing of knives and forks. This is a private banquet for two, so the setting is small. Aside from Royal Palace Guard Commander Count Taobot and two attendants, Richard has dismissed everyone else.

The wrinkles on this Knight King’s face were growing deeper. Lorne-Rio Cornwall looked at his uncle’s graying beard and felt uncomfortable in his heart.

Richard is almost one hundred and twenty years old this year. Looking at his aging appearance, deep wrinkles on his face, somewhat stooped body, Lorne-Rio Cornwall found it hard to associate this old man before him with the youthful man who had just been chosen as Knight King, full of vigor, fighting side by side with High Elf Prince Calado Dragon against the Beastman horde.

Back then, Richard was only in his eighties. After John II was deposed, he was selected as King in the King Selection Council. When he first ascended the throne, he was a valiant Paladin, leading the Knightly Army into battle on multiple occasions.

Time flies, thirty years have passed, and Lorne can’t help but feel dazed and also very sad.

Since failing to suppress Laine, and then bearing the responsibility for Jules’ death during Egil’s invasion, Richard has been in a semi-retired state. In reality, the kingdom’s power has fallen into the hands of Regent Duke Lorne. Apart from some necessary occasions and ceremonies, Richard seldom engages in activities of practical significance.

"So you’re saying, Bodric and Laine together reclaimed the Sea God Trident and also helped the empire in a battle?" The elderly Knight King seemed in good spirits, slowly eating and continuing, "What was the outcome?"

"Naturally, the Human Alliance Army claimed victory. Vampire Baron Leopold Haken was beheaded by Laine, while the Corpse Demon King was directly turned into gold by Imperial Grand Alchemist Biersaze Gaert." Lorne nodded, putting down the knife and fork, his tone somewhat lighthearted, "Another victory; the entire kingdom is in the most peaceful era of the past decades. The vampires of Musillon have suffered severe setbacks, and threats from the Beastmen, Green Skin, Undead, and northern Chaos have all temporarily subsided. We have gained rare breathing room and space."

"Laine-Macado will be your greatest rival in the succession to the throne." Strangely, Richard didn’t show much joy. Instead, he furrowed his brow even deeper, "Leon Kohl, are you prepared to compete with him?"

"Certainly." Lorne nodded, looking quite optimistic and even somewhat excited, "I’ve made a pact with him; each of us will strive to see who can conquer Musillon first."

Richard didn’t speak. He was eating very earnestly, cleaning the bones of fish and cutting the venison well, then slowly sending the meat into his mouth to chew.

Lorne ceased speaking too, waiting for guidance from his uncle.

Venison is the finest meat in Brittania. The laws of the Knight Kingdom stipulate that only nobles can eat venison, and if it is scarce for a period, then only the Great Nobles and Holy Grail Knights are qualified to enjoy it.

Richard’s favorite meat is venison. When he was young, he often went hunting in the mountains. Lorne thought, decades have passed, but his uncle’s love for venison remains unchanged.

"Leon Kohl, how many years ago did Laine become a Holy Grail Knight?" Not until they were almost finished did Richard speak slowly.

"Eight and a half years... almost nine years." Lorne answered respectfully.

"And Francois?" Richard asked again.

"About thirty years ago."

"Bohemond?"

"More than fifty years ago." Lorne answered each question.

"And you?" Richard looked at Lorne, his muddled eyes revealing nothing.

"Six years." Lorne felt somewhat puzzled but answered nonetheless.

"Kaled?" Richard asked again.

"Kaled-Galament? Wasn’t he just a month ago honored as a Holy Grail Knight and returned home to become Count Galament again?" Deeply puzzled, Lorne wondered why his uncle was asking about this; he was talking about the campaign against Musillon.

"Laine, Francois, Bohemond, and Kaled—aren’t all of them Holy Sanctuary Holy Grail Knights? Each has battled across many fields, accumulated battle honors and decorations, with countless knights across half the kingdom having fought alongside them. And yet you, a Legendary Peak Holy Grail Knight, aren’t thinking about how to foster good relationships with them and thanking them for their contributions toward the kingdom’s peace. Instead, your sole focus seems to be on attacking Musillon? Where is the respect you ought to have? How many knights in the kingdom do you think will heed your commands when it’s time to compete against Laine?"

"..." Lorne stayed silent, feeling as if he was struck in the head, leaving him dizzy and disoriented.

"As a Lord, the most important things boil down to people and finance. As a candidate for Knight King, the essentials boil down to these two: the support of all the knightly nobility throughout the kingdom and the endorsement from the Lady." Richard sneered, "Do you assume you’re already guaranteed to win? After all, Laine doesn’t even hold a Duke’s title?"