Warhammer Divine Throne

"Margaret, the capital and greatest city of Estalia, and the very heart of the entire Margaret Duchy." Walking along the streets of Margaret, Laine said to Fidmund and Alfred, "This city is the most important in Estalia, and the seat of its strongest duchy. A hidden, natural deep‑water harbor was built here. The city enjoys worldwide fame as a friendly port; every kind of cargo finds a market here, drawing merchants from all corners of the world to trade."

"Indeed, this place is Estalia’s trade center, especially the point of departure for many caravans heading out on ocean voyages." Fidmund knew Margaret fairly well; as the Sea God Duke’s eldest legitimate son, he knew this place like the back of his hand. He even took over the explanation: "Normally the docks here are packed to bursting, and public order is excellent. For many years, the Margaret people have maintained a powerful presence in the South Sea, protecting trade across this stretch of water. They are fair and honest merchants who have grown wealthy through tireless effort. Peace Harbor is a natural fortress that carefully shields this land. At the two headlands of the bay they built two mighty, solid coastal defense towers to guard the harbor, and these two fortresses also serve as the port’s lighthouses."

"Though the Invincible Fleet has been wiped out, Margaret still maintains a relatively large Green Water Navy to safeguard the harbor. Their main enemies are the pirates from Tiriel’s ’Pirate Duchy’ of Satusha, those pirates represented by Manannan’s daughter, Airenas-Salt Water Hatred." Fidmund went on, "This is the terminus of the famous trade route, the ’Silk Road’. Merchants from the Far Eastern Zhendan sell silk and spices here, and we Brittania nobles are their main buyers."

"Yes, the Zhendan merchants." Laine nodded. Merchants from Zhendan were rarely seen in the Old World, usually only once in a decade. He had never gotten the chance to meet these Far Eastern visitors, and he reckoned he never would; he had no desire to meet them anyway.

After seeing paintings that depicted what those Zhendan people looked like, he completely gave up any thought of meeting them.

Leaving aside the Dark Elf, Laine, Fidmund, Veronica, and Alfred walked down Margaret’s main street under the escort of a small Imperial Army detachment.

Margaret had roughly thirty‑five thousand inhabitants, and if you counted the suburbs around the city and the floating population, it grew to more than seventy thousand. The streets felt crowded; every major square was crammed with hawkers and merchants selling their goods. The people here enjoyed freedom and the sweet air; they were utterly unconcerned by the threats of Chaos and Green Skins, and moving their leisure and entertainment onto the streets was a Margaret tradition. Song and dance, the arts, street performances, sketching in the open—Margaret folk spent day after day in an endless whirl of amusement, be it day, night, or dawn.

"The people here really are..." The handsome and resolute Fidmund was the most popular target of Margaret’s affections. The Holy Grail Knight’s Holy Grail Badge on his chest and his silk formalwear utterly betrayed his identity. Young girls at play in the squares approached him with blazing enthusiasm, flirting, using their fans to "speak in fan language" to confess their feelings, and offering him many small gifts.

It was the end of April; the scorching sun was already enough to make the women here change into breezy short‑sleeved dresses. Under the siege of so many girls, Fidmund—who had never wavered in the slightest even during the Holy Grail Expedition—looked rather uncomfortable and flustered, which naturally only increased their favor for him.

People are just like that. Fidmund clearly looked like a noble, wealthy, and handsome gentleman; being a little shy was not a drawback, but a bonus.

Laine was, in truth, even more likable. As the Lake Fairy’s Divine Chosen Champion, he naturally carried a heroic aura that commanded respect without anger, and the weighty majesty of one born to rule. Yet this Holy Grail Knight was clearly already taken—Veronica, dressed up as brilliantly as a peacock in bloom, was holding his arm, shooting the women in the square a wolf‑repelling glare.

This man belongs to me!

As for Alfred, who had originally been the most sunny and enthusiastic of them, with his blond hair and blue eyes, he was now the unluckiest. In the war against the Vampires, the Temple Knight had been injured and now walked with a limp. The women of Estalia, like women everywhere, did not care for a cripple.

The Imperial Envoy was a middle‑aged man who looked to be in his forties. Following local custom, he too wore Estalian formal dress as he led the way for Laine and the others. "The Eastern Palace is just ahead, Lord Laine, Lord Fidmund. There you will meet Amancio Perez, leader of the Estalia Merchant Alliance. We have arranged for you to dine with him this evening."

"What about the Grand Tutor?" Laine asked quietly.

"The Grand Tutor will arrive halfway through the dinner." The Imperial Envoy’s attitude toward Laine was reasonably respectful, but toward the people here he was rather arrogant, for in Estalia he stood backed by the mighty Great Empire. "It’s only just past noon now. Please, take a brief rest, or you can stroll around nearby if you wish."

"Very well." Laine nodded. The Imperial Envoy had arranged the finest suite in the State Guesthouse for Laine and the others.

Coming out to receive them was a very beautiful maid. She looked to be about twenty, her brown eyes bright and lively, her black‑brown hair all the more alluring against her fiery features. Her long black brows gave her a bold, spirited look. A short dress showed off her tall, sinuous figure before Laine and the others. The maid bent in a curtsey and gave them a bewitching smile. "Please follow me, Lord Count Laine of Brittania, Baron Fidmund, and this gentleman and lady."