Warhammer Divine Throne

"There are also exceptions." Laine nodded, "Finding a boyfriend is like a bar. The entrance fee that Miss Claudia set is a hundred Gold Crowns. Once you enter the bar, the men are divided into private rooms, booths, and the bar counter. The men in the private rooms are, of course, the best, but they’re so excellent that they need to be fought over. They can pick any fine wine they want, and if they’re not satisfied, they can change it. They can do whatever they want and never lack women who like them. Women don’t even know if they’re bringing their own liquor."

"Just like you now," Alfred nodded in agreement.

"The men in the booths are relatively less, but they also have waiters offering drinks and various gourmet meals. Their booths can’t hold many women, but entertaining two or three at a time is no problem."

"Just like me," Fidmund smiled as he continued the conversation.

"And then there’s me, sitting at the bar counter, or even with no seat at all?" Alfred said self-deprecatingly, "So I can only wander around slowly with my cheap beer? Looking for my preferred target?"

"You’ve overlooked one point, Afu, which is that you already have the qualification to enter." Laine said with a slight smile, "You have the entry qualification. Only because you’ve already moved into the State Guesthouse do you have the opportunity to meet Miss Claudia and the qualification to talk to her. You must know, the ticket is a hundred Gold Crowns. The men outside the bar, whether holding ninety-nine Gold Crowns or just one, are undoubtedly stopped at the gate. Although pitiful, the men outside the bar have no chance at all."

"So, my advice to you is to slowly look for what you want in the bar, something suitable. Also, strive to find a way to get into a booth." Laine finally concluded, "Being excellent yourself is more important than anything else."

The Temple Knight was silent for twenty seconds before finally nodding. He suddenly asked Laine, "Good friend, were you just like me then? When you had no place to sit in the bar, Veronica took a fancy to you? Then when you got into a booth, Teresa, Amelia, Ollica fancied you? And when you got into the private room, you were already reserved by Lady Surya?"

"No, I met Veronica outside the bar." Talking about this, a trace of emotion flickered in Laine’s eyes, "She didn’t care how many gold coins I had, nor did she ever care about my background. At that time, I had nothing, and she was very beautiful. Do you understand what I mean? She was willing to bet on me just because she believed in my future."

"Lady Veronica truly is bold," Fidmund exclaimed, and the Holy Grail Knight nodded repeatedly, thinking it was very knightly.

Alfred murmured something to himself, implying why Miss Claudia wasn’t such a woman and that Laine was damned lucky.

"Alright, it’s about time." Laine took out a beautifully crafted Dwarf-made pocket watch and checked the time, "We need to get ready to go to the Eastern Palace."

"Is Lady Veronica still sleeping?" After Laine’s series of advice, Alfred felt much better.

He felt Laine was right. For a man, being excellent oneself is the most important, rather than blaming the heavens and others.

"I’ll go call her," Laine stood up.

Pushing open the master bedroom door, the Jialan Witch was already awake. She was wriggling under the covers and gave a start when she saw Laine enter, "Laine! Why don’t you knock before coming in?"

"What are you doing, dear?" Laine found Veronica was blushing and applying ointment with her finger inside her dress.

"It’s maintenance ointment!" The Jialan Witch was a bit embarrassed and quickly put the creamy ointment aside, tidying her dress.

"Maintenance ointment?" Laine picked up the jar and discovered it was made of typical High Elf White Jade. The ointment inside bore potent divine power.

"It was given to us by the Lady of the Lake at that turkey feast; everyone got some." Veronica’s face was very red, "This ointment can maintain our bodies and keep the complexion rosy, though it has some side effects. After applying, the body will have some changes..."

"What changes?" Laine asked curiously.

"It just makes one... Anyway, you only need to know that I use this only when I’m with you," Veronica said somewhat shyly, trying to deflect, shaking her head to change the subject, "Anyway, is it time?"

"Yes, it’s time. Get ready so we can attend the evening banquet," Laine nodded, smiling as he planted a kiss on Veronica’s rosy lips, "Tonight is your stage ~ "

"Yes."

....... Evening banquet divider line .......

That evening, Estalia, Margaret, Eastern Palace.

The Eastern Palace is the oldest and most magnificent of Margaret’s remaining palaces. Its exterior bears a strong Brittania decorative style, majestic and grand, yet inside it has an authentic Tiriel ambiance. Historically, this palace was converted into a retreat for King Jafar because of an Arabi invasion. Therefore, many parts of its interior have a strong Arabi style. The palace has four protruding corners and an inner square corridor courtyard, a classic Estalia traditional architectural style.

The Eastern Palace is both a royal palace and an art treasury, housing numerous paintings, tapestries, antique furniture, and other relics. Four walls are covered with red damask velvet wallpaper, and under the multicolored giant Magic Lamps, the entire hall glitters with silver. The most peculiar and beautiful hall in the palace is the porcelain hall, where all walls and ceilings are made with artistic tiles, brilliant and dazzling.

This used to be the royal palace of the Sunwatcher Family under Duke Margaret, but after the current Duke, Rubio-the Sunwatcher, took over, he decided to use it as the "Festival Palace," typically renting it to the Estalia Merchant Alliance and the War Goddess Church for official and commercial activities. Besides meeting foreign envoys and hosting weddings or celebrations, the Duke’s Family doesn’t usually reside here.

On the red-carpeted banquet hall with a huge oval banquet table, dazzling tableware is permanently set. The leader of the Estalia Merchant Alliance, Amancio Perez, was already standing there waiting.

"Welcome! Sir Laine Macado, I’ve heard a great deal about you. Your exploits need no elaboration; your deeds from Kislev to Estalia are known by all." Amancio Perez’s appearance seemed to be of a man in his sixties, wearing a plain silk robe, his hair half white, with thick brows and big eyes, a square face, and slightly plump build, wearing gold-rimmed glasses, the muscles on his face loosening from age though well-groomed; a small bald patch still marred the back of his head. Accompanied by two Flame Sun Knights, Amancio, like an enthusiastic host, warmly extended his hand to Laine.

"Hello, Mr. Amancio," Laine’s face beamed with a sincere smile as he reached out to shake hands with the famous wealthy merchant.

Speaking of Amancio, this elderly man’s story is also legendary. Born into a merchant family in Margaret, he earned a bachelor’s degree in commerce from the War Goddess Academy at twenty-three, and by thirty-two, he had become a big merchant controlling several trade routes. At thirty-nine, he was elected as the mayor of Margaret City, reaching the peak of personal prestige and wealth.

After stepping down as mayor at forty-six, Amancio orchestrated the merger of three trade associations, forming the Estalia Merchant Alliance. He himself became the Speaker and supreme leader of the Estalia Merchant Alliance. At fifty-five, Amancio officially became the honorary dean of the Margaret War Goddess Academy, and his influence in the city even surpassed that of Duke Rubio-the Sunwatcher from Margaret.

"Welcome, Baron Fidmund de Boldro of Bodlukes, Obion Red Wine from Boldro is my favorite," Amancio continued to greet Fidmund, "I’m very pleased you could grace the Eastern Palace with your presence."

"Hello, Mr. Speaker Amancio," Fidmund forced a smile.

"And of course, it wouldn’t be complete without Female Elder Jialan, Lady Veronica Bernadotte. I must say, your attire is beautiful today," Amancio proceeded to shake hands with Veronica and Alfred, "And Temple Knight Alfred, your contributions to spreading the teachings of the God of Justice are well-known."

"The dinner is ready. Please, everyone be seated, and we can talk as we eat."

"Please!"