Free Web NovelChapter 1045: Chapter 455: Whispered Conversations
This time, Laine’s embrace of his wife turned into holding both of them, as the Lake Fairy forcibly squeezed in, and Surya made space for the Lake Fairy.
For Surya, sharing her husband with the Goddess was her happiest moment, a double joy.
"...Lady, can’t you refrain from doing this?" Laine awkwardly hugged the Lake Fairy, helping her find a comfortable position beside him before saying, "I never stop you from coming over, but don’t launch surprise attacks!"
"How could I not appear when I hear such things? Didn’t I tell you that Surya and I are together?" The Lake Fairy lazily lay on Laine, her enchanting face full of amusement as she looked at him. "What, you don’t like it?"
"It’s not that I don’t like it, but when we are talking about something private, Lady, you..." Laine looked very conflicted.
"Hmm? You were willing to have me join during your honeymoon, and now you don’t want me involved?" The Lake Fairy pinched Laine’s cheek, her tone carrying a hint of threat, yet she didn’t force him to make a statement, instead resting on his left shoulder. "I can offer a lot of suggestions for you, right? Surya?"
"Yes, Laine, it’s not a problem for the Lady to hear our conversation; she’s not an outsider." Surya was resting on Laine’s right shoulder, and the female knight spoke with a smile, "Where were we?"
"We were talking about Surya planning a Winter Festival banquet... Surya, are you serious?" Laine sighed helplessly and had to hold both the Goddess and the female knight tighter.
"Why not? It’s more convenient to manage if we unify things." Surya probed for Laine’s opinion. "Besides, everyone should gather; Amelia will leave after New Year’s, and it won’t be convenient to meet again soon."
"Alright, if you insist." Laine didn’t have much of an opinion on this. He already had no shortage of women around him, and after the wedding, he promised no more would be added. Surya usually managed the inner courtyard, so strengthening the authority of the female knight was necessary, and Laine supported it.
"I’ll act as a notary at the event," the Lake Fairy’s emerald eyes shifted. "I will also participate."
So the banquet was decided just like that.
After a few words, the topic returned to the issue of land reclamation near the Black Stone Stronghold and Duke Hagen of Jisoleox. With the Lake Fairy’s interruption, Laine and Surya lost any trace of sleepiness and simply lay together chatting: "If everything goes as expected, Duke Hagen will agree to let the Dwarves assist in quelling the bandits. At that time, we’ll adopt both suppression and appeasement for those rebellious peasants. As long as they are willing to surrender, we’ll handle it leniently, providing food, work for the Dwarves, develop barren land, and establish trading posts. Within three to five years of hard work, they can redeem themselves. The peasants would agree; actually, I don’t like to solve problems by force. Such bloodshed is pointless. The peasants not having enough to eat is not their fault, but rather a result of Kemler’s attack. Now, those rebellious peasants not only are harmed by the undead but also have to go through another suppression under the name of rebellion by the nobles, only to be forgiven with ’leniency’ by the nobles. It’s truly ironic. It would be great if, like with my previous ’Edict of Virtue,’ all bandits would surrender voluntarily and accept reformation under one decree."
"It’s different. The original bandits were a historical remnant problem, and you could use the new Earlship as a reason for lenient treatment. But the peasants in Jisoleox are genuinely rebelling. If not suppressed and only appeased, it gives the peasants the impression that the nobles fear rebellion. In the future, if peasants rebel again, they will do so without hesitation, thinking they will be forgiven anyway," Surya gently said. "This precedent cannot be set, Laine. I understand your feelings, but we must treat the peasants’ contributions fairly without encouraging rebellion."
"Yes, how ironic. The peasants work hard all year round, only to be forced into rebellion due to an undead calamity, and in the end, we have to send troops to suppress them, and they have to work hard again to redeem themselves." Laine sighed. Talking about this made him somewhat helpless.
Historically, how to handle rebellion has always been a hotly debated topic, much like the debate between doves and hawks. There’s no perfect answer, and it always needs specific analysis according to the situation. As for the Duchy of Jisoleox, a combination of suppression and appeasement is the ideal approach.
"Laine, you shouldn’t focus too much on this. The peasants farm, and the knights provide protection. This hasn’t changed in the kingdom’s thousand-year history. You and Francois sacrificed so much to eliminate Kemler and his Ancient Tomb Legion. Without you, the entire kingdom would be embroiled in a bitter battle against the Undead Army. Had you failed at La-Mesnil Abbey, Kemler, with the Staff of Nagash, would have been unstoppable. How many would have died then? I might have had to descend myself to oppose him," the Lake Fairy spoke softly, knowing Laine felt troubled. "It’s not your fault."
"I can now understand what it’s like to sign an extermination order." Laine suddenly smiled, saying something that the Lake Fairy and Surya couldn’t understand, but he didn’t give them time to ponder. Instead, he continued, "Maybe this time, we should send Sir Bertrand with a battalion to support Belgar."
"That thief was also knighted. He’s the greatest beneficiary of this war. Eighty years later, he’s another peasant knighted. He’s just a step away from becoming part of the knightly nobility," Surya said gently. "Now he’s a renowned hero nationwide. As a peasant of common origins, having him lead the army sets an excellent example. I think it’s a good idea."
After the Battle of La-Mesnil Abbey, the Brittania people naturally wouldn’t say that the Undead Grand Mage Kemler was ultimately killed by Guer with an axe. After discussion, it was officially announced that Kemler was shot by Bertrand’s black arrow and then hacked to pieces amidst the chaos.
"Speaking of which, Lorne should probably withdraw as well. We don’t have the resources to attack Musillon again for now." Laine shifted the topic to Musillon.
After clearing up with Laine, Lorne-Rio Cornwall led an alliance army of over ten thousand from two duchies to attack Musillon for the second time, once more reaching beneath Musillon City. As always, Lorne’s forces found themselves helpless in front of the city’s towering walls of several dozen meters. He could only scour the lands ruled by vampires around Musillon, destroying numerous vampire buildings.
This was one reason Mathew Bade decided to retreat; he couldn’t sit by as Lorne wreaked havoc across Musillon.
When Mathew Bade returned to counter, Lorne opted not to engage in an open battle with Mathew Bade outside Musillon. Instead, he relied on Musillon’s quarantine area to hold fast. Mathew Bade also had no intention of a showdown with Lorne. After a standoff lasting roughly ten days, the Duke of Musillon was the first to retreat. Upon seeing Mathew Bade withdraw and confirming Kemler’s death, Lorne also chose to retreat.
Lorne’s second attack on Musillon yielded certain results, establishing his own prestige and indirectly supporting the war efforts of Laine and Francois. Overall, it was a successful military campaign. Knight King Richard immediately ordered widespread dissemination, promoting Lorne’s campaign against Musillon as having played a decisive and principal role, suggesting the Battle of La-Mesnil Abbey by Laine and Francois was more like a supporting action to Lorne’s operations.
Laine remained indifferent to this; his battle was not fought for the King, but for the entire Kingdom and the Old World.
"Musillon is ultimately a cancer to the Kingdom, you need to find a way to remove it, but don’t rush too hastily; there’s a centuries-old vampire accumulation there." The Lake Fairy wrapped her arms around Laine’s, her soft and ample bosom exerting a strong pressure on him. She wore a uniquely patterned neckline woven skirt of High Elf design, and unusually enough, the Goddess had white Unicorn wool tights on her legs, revealing skin beneath as milk-smooth and breathtaking.
Surya, meanwhile, wore a creamy silk nightdress, her long straight beautiful legs adorned with white lace garter stockings. She understood her husband’s ambition to claim the throne, necessitating the conquest of Musillon, and acquiring the title of Duke of Musillon.
The female knight cast a pleading look toward the Lake Fairy.
"Since it’s come to this, I might as well use a just, fair, and open method to decide who will be the next Knight King." The Lake Fairy used the back of her hand to gently stroke Surya’s soft, smooth cheek, signaling her not to worry.
"Just, fair, and open?"
"I’ll issue an Oracle: Among all eligible Holy Grail Knights in the Kingdom, whoever can reclaim Musillon, restoring this land of Landuin to its former glory, shall be the new Duke of Musillon and Brittania’s King!" The Lake Fairy lifted her chin and gently kissed Laine’s lips before continuing, "You, Lorne, and the other competitors will rely on your own skills. I’ll show no favoritism. Go, my champion, go prove to all knights in the Kingdom that you are the undisputed King!"
"Excellent..." Laine revealed a smile, relying on one’s abilities and strategies, competing openly and fairly. He liked it this way. freёweɓnovel.com
"Also, Laine, you need to have an heir with Surya as soon as possible." The Lake Fairy further advised the couple, "Your future titles will definitely need to be inherited by the child of you and Surya; that’s the base line."
"Um... Lady, why mention this so suddenly..." Surya was extremely shy, burying herself into Laine’s arms repeatedly, "We’ve only been married a little over a year..."
"Over a year? That’s not long. See, Laine spends three or four days a week with you and often... um!" The Lake Fairy initially criticized them subconsciously, but realizing her indiscretion, the Goddess reddened and emphasized, "Anyway, you need to spend more time together!"
After saying this, the Goddess flashed brightly once, disappearing into the air, leaving Surya with flushed cheeks and Laine with a sidelong look.
"It’s getting late, my wife, shall we begin then~" The Count embraced his wife with a mischievous smile on his face, "This is the Lady’s Oracle~"
"Mm~" The female knight lowered her head, blushing, unable to meet Laine’s gaze, afraid he might discern something.
The divine power surging within her like stars and another voice in her sea of consciousness told the female knight clearly.
The Goddess hasn’t gone far.
