Warhammer Divine Throne

And what about Laine’s disadvantages?

Firstly, Laine’s biggest disadvantage is that he doesn’t have a dukedom. For Lorne, fighting Musillon is doable, while for Laine, it’s a must.

Secondly, Lorne is the designated successor of the current Knight King Richard. In terms of political influence, Laine cannot compare to Lorne, and he must admit this. Behind Lorne are the conservative noble forces of the entire Knight Kingdom.

Lastly, Lorne has more resources than Laine. No matter how prosperous Laine’s Count Glamorgan is, it’s still just a count’s domain. Lorne controls an entire duchy and has the support of Richard’s Le Anglong Duchy, giving him superior financial resources. The two duchies combined can naturally afford to borrow troops from the empire, whereas Laine cannot afford such enormous maintenance costs, and spending money like that is unadvised. Besides, more troops aren’t always better.

This is why the cursed land of Musillon is something Laine is determined to obtain. It’s the last piece of land in the entire Knight Kingdom that can be taken.

As Laine pondered further, there was a knock on the door of his room.

Laine got up to open the door, a bit curious.

The sound at the door was expected, but the real question was who would be on the other side?

Laine opened the wooden door, holding the handle.

Standing at the door was Mogiana.

The Lake God Witch had obviously just bathed, her golden shoulder-length hair still slightly damp. She had changed into a crystal pink silk split nightgown. The soft pink and serene gown complemented her graceful silhouette, appearing both alluring and elegant. Through the high slit of her gown, she revealed a pair of subtly wrapped legs in flesh-colored crystal stockings. Noticing Laine’s gaze, Mogiana blushed slightly and whispered, "What? Do you find it strange? I know you like this, so I had it specially made."

Laine smiled as he took Mogiana’s hand, indicating for her to come in: "It’s very beautiful, I really like it."

"And yet you..." Mogiana felt her whole body start to soften as Laine held her hand. In mock reproach, she tapped his forehead with her finger: "Isn’t this unusual?"

"I’m just curious about how you convinced Surya." Laine led Mogiana by the hand to the bed across the high elf carpet in the room, asking with interest, "I don’t think Surya would be so generous? It’s only my first day back."

On one hand, Surya was generous, but on the other, she was quite possessive. Currently, she didn’t accept any other women alongside her, except for the Lake Fairy, to share her bed.

"That’s because I made a promise." Mogiana’s face bore an enigmatic expression as she gently nestled into Laine’s embrace, placing her finger on his lips: "It’s a secret, as long as you know."

"Alright." Seeing this, Laine didn’t plan to press further. He hugged Mogiana’s slender waist and lifted her onto his lap: "Then... shall we begin?"

"Mm." Mogiana had wanted to chat a bit more with Laine, but as soon as he wrapped his arm around her waist, her whole body went limp and numb, instinctively wrapping her arms around Laine’s neck.

Dammit! My body has completely... all because of this guy Laine. He’s been away for three weeks, too long.

Thinking this, Mogiana gave a soft chuckle, lifted her head, and offered a sweet kiss.

......I’m a line of shivery bliss......

Three hours later.

In the silent bedroom, Laine lay comfortably on the soft bed, holding an utterly limp Mogiana who couldn’t even move a finger, gently stroking her back and her legs wrapped in flesh-colored crystal stockings, as they chatted.

"Laine, do you blame me?" Mogiana’s face was flushed and full of spring radiance. She happily leaned against Laine’s chest: "Regarding Richard borrowing a large army from the empire?"

"Why would I blame you?" Laine shook his head with a smile, kissing Mogiana’s lips softly: "Since it’s fair competition, we must adhere to one standard. I’ve borrowed troops before too. If I can do it, why can’t Richard? Currently, the entire kingdom is watching, and if I dare to break the rules, even if I were to conquer Musillon, the King Selection Council might still not elect me as king, right?"

Laine knew that if he had Mogiana intervene in this matter, he might prevent Richard from borrowing troops from the empire. However, the character and reputation he painstakingly built would likely be destroyed.

Really doing so, does he think all the kingdom’s knights are fools?

"I was also considering that you can’t lose your sense of justice." Mogiana sighed softly, still feeling like she was floating on a cloud, extremely comfortable: "The Oracle of the Lady is such, I will support you, but I won’t favor any side, I’m just worried that you may not have an assured chance of victory."

"There’s never a guaranteed victory in war." Laine shook his head with a wry smile: "I never knew I would win for sure from the start. I can only try to enhance my odds as much as possible."

The thing Laine despised the most were those who, after a war ended, couldn’t wait to collect evidence, and then reverse-engineer the war process using the results, to prove their own wisdom after the fact.

Look, the victor had these reasons and advantages, so I knew all along they’d win.

Look, the loser had these reasons and disadvantages, so I knew all along they’d lose.

Laine had been on the battlefield since his teens, and he understood well that things weren’t that simple because there’s no such thing as a perfect military strategy. Every military operation carries risk, and in the end, a very tiny factor can determine the victory of a war. When battles on the field decide everything, no one can guarantee they’re always right.

Out of ten battles, you win six, and what Laine can do is to consider every problem as much as possible, devise the best plan and execute it, and fight on the front lines in person.

"As long as you don’t blame me." Mogiana said softly: "What has supported this kingdom for a thousand years without collapse is the Knightly Spirit, and within that spirit, justice is a very important factor. If justice can’t be maintained in the competition for the throne, the whole country would have fallen long ago."

"I understand." Laine held the Lake God Witch in his arms a bit tighter with interest: "In fact, I also thought Richard might seek help from the empire, first because of me as a precedent and secondly, the walls of Musillon are dozens of meters high, making it extremely difficult to breach with catapults."

Justice is a strange thing—sometimes it’s worthless, other times it’s crucial enough to decide everything at a critical moment.

In Brittania, the significance of justice is incredibly important when it comes to the succession of the throne. Both Laine and Lorne are cautiously guarding this line, and Laine completely understands that.

Mogiana nodded, and the room fell silent again. The two tumbled and turned in passion multiple times, with the Lake God Witch finding a comfortable spot in Laine’s arms, fully satisfied and dozing off in slumber.

Laine was also ready to rest. He felt the softness in his arms and thought if it weren’t for his extraordinary stamina, surpassing the average person, he wouldn’t be able to handle Mogiana. Mogiana had already recovered her Holy Sanctuary strength, and this was just the first day.

Imagining the life over the next two days, Laine could foresee it being days of both pain and pleasure.

Just as he was lost in such whims, there was another knock at the door.

Laine snapped awake; so late? At this time?

His mind ran a few laps, and he vaguely understood something.

After hesitating for a few seconds, Laine gently disentangled Mogiana’s arms and jade legs wrapped around him, then went to open the door.

Upon opening the door, his wife Surya stood charmingly at the door, her watery fair skin and her perfect S-shaped figure revealing her alluring and seductive feminine curves, exuding a noble and elegant aura!

"Surya?" Laine said somewhat guilty: "I thought you were asleep."

"I’m here to switch shifts." Surya’s expression was playful: "My husband, don’t tell me you’re tired! Then I’d be upset! I’m your wife, you know! You should know to keep some goods left for your wife, right?"

"......." Laine’s face turned green.

But a man can’t say he can’t handle it at such a time, especially in front of his wife. The Count could only follow his wife to her room, showing with practical action that he’s not tired: "Of course, of course."