Midsummer Festival, one of the traditional festivals of the Old World's human kingdoms, is held around June each year. On this day, people light bonfires to celebrate the arrival of summer.
Since Ryan arrived in Baron Jean's domain, there have been earth-shattering changes: more wooden buildings erected, roads laid out in all directions covering the wilderness, connecting five villages and the town.
New canals drawn from the River Shennon irrigate the farmlands.
The serfs happily found that even during the slack farming season, there were still things to do. The knight lord issued various conscription orders, offering many paid jobs for those willing to work, greatly improving their lives.
More projects are underway. Along the River Shennon, many workshops are taking shape, and numerous freemen have moved to Baron Jean's domain, seeking opportunities for advancement.
Tomorrow is the Midsummer Festival. All the serfs will go to the lord's castle collectively, where each person will receive a cup of ale and a piece of rye bread according to the names on the register, a gesture of pity from the knight lords.
Above Baron's castle, Ryan is also hosting a banquet with his retainers, including his tax officer Gasparton, his steward Carstenberg, his brother Angron, the holy warrior Alfred, and two ranger knights Lops and Olivier.
Unbeknownst to many, the baron's own circle has gradually solidified. Lops and Olivier have recruited several knight followers. As for Angron, the massive figure, Ryan explained that he was his brother, sent here because of his troubles, and he took him in.
This didn't seem to be a problem.
Nordic people from the north are generally taller, and although Angron was exceptionally tall, it didn't raise too much concern.
With fine wine and food, candles burning on the large wooden table and walls, since Ryan treated the serfs differently, they indeed worked harder and with more enthusiasm, speeding up the construction projects. Despite many areas of the upper floors and towers still being decorated and the walls still being fortified, the craftsmen quickly set up the banquet hall for the baron's use.
Ryan raised his ivory cup and toasted to everyone present, "Gentlemen, let's drink this cup together. I wish everyone good health!"
"Good health!" Everyone raised their cups, and beer foam splashed everywhere. Angron was the quickest, gulping down a large cup of ale, then belched loudly, continuing to eat and drink voraciously.
Everyone looked at him with a bit of fear.
At first, people thought the baron's brother was here to seek refuge, to freeload food and drink.
But since the baron took the initiative to have him train, people saw this giant's strength.
He caught Ryan, the chosen champion of the Lake Fairy, and gave him a thorough beating. The legendary mid-level Grail Knight had no chance against this giant, getting beaten black and blue, utterly embarrassed.
Ryan didn't mind, as his injuries would fully heal overnight, and he would seek his brother again the next day, only to get beaten up again.
Over time, everyone knew that Angron, the Baron's brother, had unfathomable strength and held great awe for him.
The banquet continued, and a food cart was pushed into the hall by the dark elf Olica.
"Oh! My goodness, is that?"
"Praise the Lady!"
"My lord, you are too generous!"
Smelling the sweet aroma, some had already guessed what was being pushed in.
"Thank the Lady, for she has bestowed upon us such delicious food. Today, I share it with you all, hoping everyone will work hard," Ryan said as he stood up and approached the cart.
Lifting the cover, small white breads appeared in front of everyone.
These breads were small, not bigger than Ryan's fist, golden brown on the surface, emitting a sweet smell, with delicate cream spread on top.
"It's the Queen's Bread! It really is the Queen's Bread!" Gasparton stood up, his face full of excitement, almost in tears: "My lord, what have we done to deserve such generosity?"
"This is a reward for everyone's hard work and an encouragement for the upcoming conscription," Ryan smiled.
Thus, the small round white bread was distributed to everyone, one piece each, palm-sized. Except for Ryan's brother Angron, everyone treated it like a treasure, carefully cutting it with knives and forks, savoring each bite.
Only Angron, smiling at his brother, devoured it in one bite, then nodded in satisfaction, giving his brother a thumbs up.
Ryan smiled.
This bread, made from finely ground wheat flour sent by the Lake Witch Morgiana, mixed with eggs, milk, honey, and vanilla, and using beer yeast instead of ordinary leaven, carefully fermented and baked into the "Queen's Bread."
In Ryan's previous life from the Celestial Empire, this bread might not be rare, but in this world, such cream bread is a real luxury, even kings can't afford to eat it every meal.
At least, as a White Wolf Knight attending the Holy Day ceremony of the War God, the most he got was some roast meat and wine.
The thirty pounds of finely ground wheat flour from the Lake Witch is a real luxury, something many ducal families might not have in stock. This not only proves the Lake Fairy's wealth but also her favor towards Ryan. Ryan knew he could only be grateful.
Of course, Ryan deeply understood that such things couldn't be given too often or become a habit. Everyone just needed a taste. This delicacy was too precious to let them think the baron was stingy or get used to luxurious meals.
"Rice envy, fight rice hatred."
Ryan's decision to stop supplying food to the serfs and base it on work efficiency was for this reason. No one would be grateful for good food. Once the serfs got used to the lord's excellent meals, the project might not be completed even in the following year. Without such meals in future conscriptions, the serfs might even riot, forgetting that conscription didn't include meals.
After tasting the Queen's Bread, Ryan coughed and asked, "Speaking of which, how has the news of conscription been received?"
"Very enthusiastically, my lord!" Lops smacked his lips, seemingly still savoring the Queen's Bread's taste: "Serfs are eagerly wanting to join the infantry, or send their sons to the infantry. Everyone is asking what kind of young men the lord wishes for."
Ryan nodded. It wasn't surprising that the serfs reacted this way given his status as a Grail Knight.
In Britannia, there are two ways to join the infantry: the first is when the infantry suffers severe losses, the lord will select from the serfs, which is seen as a last resort because the knight lord would significantly reduce their salary, making it almost the same as that of ordinary serfs.
The second way is during the Midsummer Night's conscription festival. Serfs bring all their boys to the lord's castle, hoping they will be chosen as members of the infantry. For the serfs, having their child become an infantryman is a great honor. They not only get to enjoy shelter but also food rations and a salary much higher than that of the serfs.
Militiamen also have the chance to be promoted to sergeants or even cavalrymen. Reaching that level is the highest honor. They would gain the status of freemen, move into the castle or town to live, and completely change their lives.
(Sergeants and cavalrymen generally mean the highest achievement for a serf unless extreme circumstances arise, making it impossible for a serf to become a knight.)
Of course, knight lords wouldn't make it easy for a serf to become a sergeant or cavalryman. Some serfs fight their entire lives and are still refused promotion by the knight lords. Only a Grail Knight would fairly evaluate a serf's contribution.
To become a glorious sergeant and win the status of a freeman, war is the only way!
Serfs, even more than their knight lords, yearn for war! The hope of war spoils, rewards from the knight lords, and opportunities for advancement is their reason to live!
After discussing recent domestic affairs, a sound of flapping wings and horse neighing came from outside.
Ryan immediately said, "Please continue to enjoy yourselves. I have some matters to attend to."
"Of course, my lord!" "No problem, brother."
So, Ryan left the banquet hall on the first floor.
Outside the castle, under the moonlight, a proud pegasus stood majestically in the beautiful moonlight, its white wings fully extended, its silver mane shimmering, and its strong limbs full of beauty.
On the pegasus, a beautiful blonde-haired, blue-eyed female knight was taking off her helmet, followed by Emilia, wearing a Winfort Academy summer uniform, excitedly waving at Ryan standing below: "Mr. Ryan! I'm back!"
"Welcome back, Emilia, and welcome, Miss Surya." Ryan stood tall, the baron smiling warmly: "How come Miss Surya personally brought you back?"
"Uh..." The standard academy uniform consisted of a vest, white shirt, and plaid knee-length skirt, giving Emilia a budding appearance. Seeing his question, she hurriedly said, "It was Surya's kindness to bring me back. There were some matters at the academy, and by the time I wanted to return, it was already quite late. Surya was worried about my safety, so she flew me back on her pegasus."
"It's okay if you're busy and come back a bit late," Ryan said with a wry smile, knowing that for the female knight, sending the little maid back was a simple task. From Brenhild, flying at full speed on a pegasus could directly cross the mountains to Jean's domain, taking only fifteen minutes, just a breeze for the female knight.
Yet, Ryan had to acknowledge this favor: "Thank you for your kindness, Miss Surya."
"It's nothing, Lord Ryan. Emilia hasn't been back to Jean's domain for a long time. Seeing her a bit anxious, I brought her back," the female knight shook her head, indicating it was no trouble.
Emilia hasn't returned to Baron Jean's domain for several weeks since attending Winfort Academy. Being newly enrolled, she was busy, with only one day off a week, often unable to return.
Feeling guilty about this, Emilia thought she must return for the three-day Midsummer Festival break.
Ryan said nothing, nodding to Emilia and Surya to follow him.
On the way back, Emilia cautiously asked Surya, "Is he angry?"
The female knight shook her head with a smile: "Don't worry, Lord Ryan is not the kind of person to hold grudges. Otherwise, he couldn't have become a Grail Knight."
Arriving back at Baron Jean's small winery, Ryan took out a royal decree from King Richard for the female knight: "This is from His Majesty King Richard, this year's Knightly War General is Marquis Anshi. Do you know him?"
Emilia, feeling uneasy, saw Ryan reassuringly pat her shoulder, indicating he had no issue with her but was eager to deal with some matters.
The baron clapped his hands, and Olica brought in juice and Queen's Bread for the female knight and little maid to enjoy. Surya was surprised to see Queen's Bread at Ryan's and didn't hesitate to partake after thanking him.
Emilia, seeing Ryan had no objections, also started eating, seemingly familiar with the food.
"Marquis Anshi? His Majesty's choice is somewhat surprising," said the female knight, dressed like Emilia in a white shirt and blue plaid skirt, her long, beautiful legs in black stockings, wearing fiery red high heels. Hearing Ryan's words, Surya said, "Marquis Anshi is around the same age as Lord Ryan, has participated in many wars, but this is his first time commanding as a general."
"Did the Duke receive the royal decree?" Ryan found it odd. Hadn't the Duke of Winfort received the royal decree?
The dazzling blonde hair swayed as the female knight shook her head: "No, His Majesty usually doesn't issue royal decrees directly to my father. Usually, an envoy comes to discuss the number of people and the amount of war tax involved in the Knightly War."
Ryan began to sense something was amiss.
Being a baron under the Duke of Winfort, why did the royal decree come directly to him?
Could it be that the King didn't understand the principle that "a vassal's vassal is not my vassal"?
No, the King must understand this; otherwise, he couldn't have sat on the throne for twenty-four years.
The only explanation then is.
Ryan's recent actions have caused concern among the Knightly Kingdom's great nobles.
Updated, a new week for votes! The next chapter starts a new round of war stories.
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