After a lavish dinner, everyone returned to their rooms to bathe and change clothes, as the knights were more or less covered in dust after a long period of campaigning.
Staying in a castle naturally called for a bath and a change into clean clothes.
Ryan's room was already prepared with a large wooden tub. The gene seed submerged his robust male body into the hot water, comfortably exhaling: "Ah, that feels great."
The hot water in the tub rippled as Ryan leaned against the edge, allowing his body to stretch out as much as possible.
Since departing for the Athel Loren forest in early August, it was now late September, unnoticed.
The Grail Knight reminisced about the journey thus far.
"Heh, I knew my decision would be controversial, but it was the right one," Ryan murmured to himself. "Sure, it'll bring trouble, but I believe, compared to the countless villages around Athel Loren and next year's massive beast tide, what I did was correct."
The room allotted to Ryan in the Castle of Artua was tidy, though not particularly large, with simple bedding, a table, chairs, and its spacious interior comprising the entirety of the room.
The once glorious family had turned into a shadow, and since then, the Castle of Artua had become a specific military garrison, losing most of its residential functions. Successive kings primarily treated it as a military fortress rather than a noble's dwelling castle.
Ryan pondered the consequences of his disobedience.
The king summoned the army by royal decree, and the dukes were obliged to send troops, but certainly, no duke intended to send their forces to die for the king.
My vassal's vassal is not my vassal; Ryan was not the king's vassal. He needed only to answer to Duke Francois of Quenelles, and he successfully completed the task and brought the troops back. In this matter, both Duke Francois and Duke Berthelot would undoubtedly support him, without question.
Ryan's issue was failing to assist.
His actions would indeed provoke controversy throughout the kingdom. Even though he achieved victory, neither the dukes nor the king would appreciate his method of failing to assist. If roles were reversed, would Ryan appreciate such a non-assisting ally? Who would want to entrust their back to such a person?
Everyone besieged would hope for reinforcements.
Thus, Duke Francois's comment that Ryan "caused trouble" was indeed accurate.
Ryan, while being the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion and a Grail Knight, knew this did not excuse arrogance or doing as he pleased. Rules are rules, and Ryan understood the importance of order more than anyone. Order is the only weapon against Chaos, and he is both a protector and beneficiary of order.
"Let's hear what Duke Francois and Duke Berthelot have to say first," he thought. As Grail Knights, their virtues are beyond question, and they are pivotal figures in the kingdom.
After bathing and changing into clean noble attire, Ryan's handsome face shed its travel-worn look. His blue eyes were encircled with psychic energy, and he wore a deep red velvet coat and trousers edged with white fur, showcasing his status as Baron of Gisoreux. The golden badge of a Grail Knight hung on his chest, shimmering with the glory countless knights yearned for.
The emperor's last son carried an authoritative aura. After years of campaigning, a mature and confident demeanor began to emerge, along with the purity unique to the Grey Knight gene seed, refreshing to those around him.
Sure enough, shortly after changing, there was a knock on his door: "Lord Ryan? My father and the others say they're waiting for you in the conference room on the third floor."
It was the voice of the lady knight! Ryan opened the door.
Astonishment flashed across the gene seed's face.
The duchess's daughter had changed into a standard lady marquess attire, a red velvet coat with three rows of mink fur on the hat, a silver ring on the coronet adorned with four gold leaves and four silver balls.
Her golden waist-length curly hair still carried traces of moisture, and the knight's radiant face glowed against her fair skin. Her sea-blue eyes sparkled like gems, and her cherry-red lips were inviting.
Golden hair, a towering figure, and long legs—Ryan's gaze lingered on the lady knight for a while. Without a doubt, the duchess's daughter before him was very attractive from any perspective.
Sulia did not hurry him; instead, the lady knight's bright eyes also watched Ryan's face.
Outside the castle, the autumn rain continued, beating against the walls and windows. Inside, the duchess's daughter and the Baron of Gisoreux exchanged glances.
Their eyes quickly diverted. Ryan felt it impolite to keep staring at an unmarried lady marquess, so he took the initiative to speak.
"I'm ready now. Let's go."
"Ah? Oh, yes." The lady knight's face flushed, seemingly lost in thought.
Thus, Ryan and Sulia walked together towards the upper levels of the castle. Perhaps due to the earlier moment, there was some silence between them.
"My father will support you in this matter... I will also support you in this matter. If not for you, we might have been annihilated," Sulia eventually broke the silence.
"Thank you," Ryan said softly, shaking his head. "But Miss Sulia need not involve herself in this. I made this decision, and I should face the consequences."
"But I…" the lady knight began, but Ryan waved her off, changing the subject: "Regarding how to resolve this, I believe an answer will come soon. I just hope it can be resolved quickly, as the autumn harvest should already be underway. My castle is still under repair, and God knows where I'll spend the winter if I don't go back to oversee the progress."
"You could spend the winter in Helenhilde. The castle has plenty of empty rooms, and arranging a few for you wouldn't be a problem," Sulia suggested instinctively. "I'm sure my father and brother would welcome your visit."
"Yes, especially Yuli. He'd be thrilled," Ryan commented dryly. "He'll probably drag me up early in the morning for a bout, then another after lunch... and maybe one more after dinner for digestion..."
Sulia couldn't help but chuckle, covering her mouth to laugh. She knew her brother well enough to see this as a possibility. Ryan had always been a topic of conversation for her brother, and now that Ryan was here, what more could he ask for?
"Lord Ryan, you're quite humorous. I'll persuade my brother not to do that," the lady knight smiled charmingly, then laid out her condition.
"Really?"
"Of course."
"Alright, I'd like to agree now, but the current situation doesn't allow it," Ryan looked up.
They had reached the third-floor conference room. The terrace outside and the continuous autumn rain nourished the fields, with the dense, invisible darkness enveloping the distant mountains and forests.
Inside the conference room, a small round table was placed in the center, with pastries and drinks on it. A silver candelabra held a row of burning candles.
Only three armchairs surrounded the round table, with the rest being temporarily brought in and arranged in two rows at some distance. Duke Francois of Quenelles and Duke Berthelot of Bastonne were already seated, leaving one spot open.
Julius, Marquis Connolly, Marquis Gabriel, and several Kingdom Knights consciously stepped aside to sit further away, and Sulia chose a spot closer to the round table.
This seat was reserved for Ryan, as no one else in the castle had the right to sit there.
Because he was a Grail Knight.
This was the Round Table Conference.
When the first Knight King Arthur and the twelve Grail Knights discussed state affairs, to fully consider all knights' opinions and to show that under the Lady's light, all were equal, Arthur used a round table. At the round table, there were no distinctions of status or master-servant relationships, and everyone was allowed to speak freely.
Yet, the Round Table Conference was strict; only the noble Grail Knights were allowed to sit and discuss issues, while other knights could only listen and were forbidden to interrupt unless permitted. Over the centuries of the Knight Kingdom's development, a new rule was added: if a serf eavesdropped or interrupted, knights could immediately behead or hang them.
Ryan calmly took his seat at the round table, nodding to indicate he was ready.
"Let's begin."
Duke Berthelot and Duke Francois nodded. This was a discussion among Grail Knights, but everyone knew it was Duke Francois who initiated this Round Table Conference, as Duke Berthelot was not one to actively express his opinions.
"First, we need to define the nature of this incident involving you, Ryan," as everyone expected, Francois spoke first. "Both Berthelot and I believe your decision to strike directly at Chaos Rock was correct, both in terms of the battle situation and the long-term perspective."
The candlelight illuminated the faces of the three Grail Knights, whether it was the resolute and weathered Berthelot, the elegant and composed Francois, or the handsome and dashing Ryan. They all represented the highest achievement of the country's knights—completing the Grail Quest, winning the Lady's approval, and becoming supreme Grail Knights.
Their sacred atmosphere enchanted the surrounding knights.
"Thank you," Ryan said simply, visibly keeping his composure, a valuable trait for someone so young.
"However, we cannot ignore the feelings of the king and the dukes. In this Knightly War, they lost their levied troops, their surplus military force from their domains. Thirty thousand men, not a small number," Francois continued. "Your decision not to assist is destined to be controversial. Sometimes, dukes won't only care about the future of the nation and humanity; they must consider their own rule and wealth."
Ryan remained silent, and Berthelot also spoke up, the Red Dragon Duke was straightforward: "Firstly, our King Richard is undoubtedly unhappy with your actions, as the commander he appointed died and the Knightly Army was annihilated. As the decision-maker who led this war, the king undoubtedly bears responsibility."
"Likewise, Duke Dalheid of Lyonesse will definitely have complaints about your decision. Adelard was a member of his family, and his folly led to the left flank's annihilation. If they don't shift the blame onto you, he and his family would clearly have to answer for this war."
"And Duke Dalheid has a marital alliance with the king. Even though they may have different internal views, they are likely to stand on the same side, advocating for your punishment... or at least a form of punishment."
Ryan indicated his understanding. The young Grail Knight nodded, adding: "But I brought back victory, and I am a Grail Knight. Without the signature of at least six Grail Knights, even the king himself has no right to detain me. And to punish me would require at least three Grail Knight Commanders or Lady Morgiana, even the Green Knight and the Lady herself to decide."
"Exactly," Francois nodded. "But whether it's Richard or Dalheid, they know in their hearts that the one who fought desperately and brought back victory is you. The Grail Knights or Lady Morgiana won't care about their familial interests or anything else; they too would think what you did was right. So, to sum up, disturbing Lady Morgiana or even the Lady for their sake would be of no benefit to them, especially since you are the Lady's chosen champion."
Berthelot and Ryan both nodded. Due to Ryan's special status as a Grail Knight and chosen champion, the route of private punishment was blocked. Anyone with a clear mind knew how the Grail Knights or the Lady of the Lake would judge this matter.
"So, since you cannot and will not be held responsible for the annihilation of the Knightly Army, then according to my understanding of Richard, as king, he cannot be responsible for this matter. Then who will bear the responsibility? The already deceased Anshi or Adelard? Or Duke Dalheid, Adelard's superior?" Francois's wise face was filled with a knowing smile as he shook his head. "No, none of them. No one wants to be responsible for the loss of over thirty thousand men and the deaths of more than two thousand knights."
"Thus, the attitude of the ten dukes who participated in the war is crucial. How to define this war? Is it a win or a loss? What rewards and punishments for you, Ryan? This will become a benchmark for future punishments. The core issue is, is completing the war's objectives more important, or is extending a helping hand to allies in distress more significant?"
This question left the three Grail Knights in silence, facing a dilemma that touched on the core of Ryan's incident.
"So, in this incident, we need to find a way to gain more support from the dukes."
"First, the easiest target to gain support from is the 'Righteous' Duke of Connacht, Louis. He is both a Grail Knight and a descendant of King Arthur, like us. His vision is the most far-reaching, and I believe he also approves of your decision," Francois first mentioned the most easily persuadable candidate.
"And there's more good news."
"His eldest son, Louen Leoncoeur, has completed the Grail Quest and will soon return as a great knight once renowned throughout the kingdom."
___________________
(Support with power stones, comments or reviews)
If you guys enjoy this story, In support me on Patreon and get access to +200 advance Chapters
Read Ahead
Patreon.com/INNIT