Ryan had just left the shop when he was called out by a young knight, "Hello! Sir Ryan, we meet again!"
"Hello, Mr. Matthew Bard." Ryan looked up and saw no black carriage. Instead, he was stopped by the young knight he had met before: "Sir Ryan, are you also here for shopping?"
"Ah, yes, I'm here shopping with Sulia and the others." In the crowd, Ryan could no longer find the black carriage. The Holy Grail Knight felt he might be overthinking and chatted more with Matthew Bard: "Mr. Matthew Bard, why are you holding a large bouquet of roses?"
"Oh, that. Well, Sir Ryan, I am an unmarried knight after all, and of course, I hope to find my true love." Matthew Bard looked a bit regretful but his expression was cheerful: "My target is none other than Marquess Sulia!"
"Hehe~" Ryan neither agreed nor disagreed, just continued to smile.
"Of course, I understand. Since Marquess Sulia has become your companion, I naturally understand." Matthew Bard quickly added: "So we will compete fairly. I'm also looking at other options."
"…Well, I wish you find someone you like. I have some things to do, so I'll be going." Ryan didn't want to talk more, even though Matthew Bard was quite friendly. Soon, Ryan spotted another acquaintance, the witcher Abel.
As Ryan walked away, Matthew Bard's eyes flickered for a moment.
The young knight wasn't lying; he did come with the intention of getting close to Marquess Sulia. But after meeting Ryan, he knew the difficulty of his original goal had increased.
Under normal circumstances, Matthew Bard would have been an excellent choice, but he couldn't compare to Ryan, except for being more handsome.
Alright, time to look for the next target.
Matthew Bard quickly found a good prospect – a girl surrounded by knights from many families, standing with her hands on her hips, a beautiful blonde, wearing a red and blue noblewoman's dress with a knee-length skirt even in this cold weather. She stood hands on hips, her face full of defiance and pride, directing her family knights to trouble a merchant.
He remembered her name was Fiona, granddaughter of Duke Theodorick of Berlayne.
The Duchy of Berlayne, huh? Interesting.
...
"Mr. Abel, did you find the witch named Jelena?" Walking on the streets paved with heavy stone slabs, Ryan spoke to the white-haired witcher Abel.
Bordeaux was a city with a mixed population and free trade, so whether it was northern merchants or southern mercenaries, elves, or dwarves, all could trade in this city. This made the city's resistance to outsiders less strong, and witchers didn't face obvious discrimination here.
"Actually, I arrived in Bordeaux by boat first, but at that time I didn't have the energy to carefully look for Jelena." Abel's voice carried a hint of helplessness. Knowing that the Holy Grail Knight was approachable, his tone became a bit more relaxed: "But if a witch doesn't want to be found, it's very difficult to find her. Most witches are very good at disguising themselves and even adept at many spells to keep unwelcome visitors away from their homes."
Ryan wondered if that was the case.
It seemed different from his experience; Ryan remembered visiting Veronica at the Sky Fort and always easily entering her room.
Then, well, she would kiss him, and they would embrace... Ryan thought about various scenes and coughed before asking: "So, is there any way to find her?"
"Hmm~ Witches generally like to make potions, jewelry, and various trinkets, which many people like. This is a clue to investigate. Also, they usually collaborate with alchemists and pharmacies in the city. But getting these people to reveal a witch's location is very difficult. Besides, there's another method: leaving a mark. Some sorcerers will contact me upon seeing the mark. But here in Bordeaux, there are many sorcerers. I met three and none were who I was looking for. Then I received Lord Bodric's mission to deliver a letter," Abel continued.
"Hmm, tomorrow is Lord Bodric's banquet. Mr. Abel, you're not going to attend in that outfit, are you?" Ryan thought it pointless to dwell on this topic and switched to another.
The witcher wore a combat outfit, armored with scale mail and carrying two long swords.
"Uh, I do have clothes for the banquet. Don't worry, Sir Ryan, it's just that I haven't worn them in a while." Abel's face showed reluctance: "I don't like wearing tight clothes."
"But if you're attending the banquet, you must wear proper and fitting clothes," Ryan said emotionlessly: "Otherwise, you'll be dragged out by Lord Bodric's attendants, and I won't be able to help you."
"I understand, my Baron." Abel replied: "It may not be great, but it will meet the banquet's requirements."
"Good... Sulia and the others are coming out, I must excuse myself. Abel, remember, the banquet starts at four in the afternoon in the Duke's courtyard. Just mention my name."
"I know."
That evening, Duke Bodric treated Ryan and Sulia (maids didn't qualify to sit at the table) to a lavish dinner. He even "generously" asked Ryan if he needed to "arrange" some "entertainment" for the evening, but Ryan firmly declined: "No, my Duke. I need to pray tonight."
As a chosen champion of the Lady of the Lake, Ryan could use her as an unbeatable excuse in this country. Bodric had to quickly say: "That's alright, Ryan. After praying, feel free to explore the castle. I've instructed the servants that you can visit most areas freely."
"Thank you!" Ryan politely finished eating and stood up. Sulia immediately took his arm, and the couple left together. Watching them leave, Bodric smiled bitterly to his steward and Ismael: "François really doesn't give me any chances."
"Marquess Sulia has limited choices. Duke François is very fond of his daughter. Ryan-Marcado is incredibly strong, with countless victories, and completed the Holy Grail trial at a young age. He's a very suitable match," Ismael said without continuing, and Bodric didn't pick up the conversation.
Duke Bodric envied becoming a mission knight, following the Holy Grail path, being recognized by the Lady in endless expeditions, and becoming the supreme Holy Grail Knight. It was his lifelong dream.
As a chosen champion of the sea god Manannan, Bodric was already stronger than ordinary Holy Grail Knights. Completing the Holy Grail trial wasn't difficult, but with numerous responsibilities in his territory and the constant threats to the Duchy of Bodric, he couldn't leave. The Holy Grail path took years, and he couldn't risk it.
Pressured by his family and Manannan, the Duke sacrificed a lot.
Sulia, arm in arm with Ryan, looked up at him, a teasing smile on her face: "You lied, Ryan. You never pray at night."
"That's because I can pray to the Lady anytime. I didn't lie; I just decided to pray tonight and told the truth," Ryan said, his expression complex: "Now I've changed my mind."
Sulia glanced at him accusingly for blatantly using his status, but seeing his firm refusal to Bodric, she felt happy. She whispered with a smile: "Lord Bodric wants to arrange a marriage with you."
Ryan glanced at Sulia without replying, his footsteps and Sulia's high heels echoing under the cold moonlight. Their shadows stretched long on the ground.
The castle had few servants, not as many as in Duke Winfort's castle. They walked over a hundred meters without seeing another servant.
Near his room, Ryan finally spoke, his voice hesitant: "If I'm not mistaken, yes, but I've already invited you."
Hearing this, Sulia got the answer she wanted and smiled, releasing Ryan's arm: "Then, I'll go rest. Goodnight, Ryan."
"Goodnight, Sulia."
...
The next day, a grand banquet unfolded in Duke Bodric's castle.
Over two hundred people attended the grand banquet hosted by Duke Bodric – high nobles of the Knight Kingdom, renowned merchants, famous figures in society, and well-known artists, minstrels, and playwrights.
The banquet was held in the castle's huge open-air courtyard, with a pool, pavilions, and buildings. Everyone wore noble attire, minstrels loudly sang ballads, playwrights told their stories, bright magical lights lit up the night sky, knights feasted and critiqued the performers, artists sold their prized works, hoping nobles would pay generously for art.
Most artists were from the Duchy of Berlayne, related to the famous Duke Theodorick of Berlayne. Known for swinging a huge battle axe and brutally chopping down incapacitated enemies in battle, tossing their bodies to the ground, Theodorick often charged head-on but rarely returned with injuries. His knights claimed the power of war seemed to descend upon him, enjoying the slaughter.
When not fighting, the Duke was a guardian of poetry and a music connoisseur, the largest patron and supporter of all Bretannian singers. He listened intently to love stories, and his poetry was at a minstrel's level.
(In fact, all artists and minstrels were willing to sacrifice some integrity for higher status and wealth.)
Today, the Duke's daughter wore a bright white lily dress, a sapphire ring, a diamond necklace around her swan-like neck, agate crescent earrings adding brightness, golden curls reaching her waist, secured by a blue headband. Her fair skin was like jade, eyes like bright stars, a straight nose, stunning beauty.
Ryan, in a deep red baronial banquet suit, was stunned by Sulia's beauty. Only when she extended her hand did he hurriedly gesture an invitation: "Oh! Sulia, words cannot describe your beauty."
"Your eyes have told me the answer, Ryan." The Marquess smiled and took his arm: "Tonight, you are my knight."
"Alright, my princess. Let's begin!"
The Holy Grail Knight and the Duke's daughter entered the banquet together.
"Oh! Welcome, Lord Ryan-Marcado and Lady Sulia-Kumani-Antre-Winfort. Your presence adds more glamour to this banquet!" They had just entered when someone came to greet them: "I'm Bonoua, the Duke's courtier."
"Hello, Mr. Bonoua. Can you tell us about tonight's program?"
"Certainly, my Baron." Bonoua raised a hand, introducing the evening's events: "First, the Duke will lead us in prayers to Manannan and the Lady for a successful year."
"Then, famous singer Lady Odette from southern Bretannia will perform two epic ballads, one of which is about you, Lord Ryan!"
"I'm very interested. I wonder how Ryan has been portrayed in poetry?" Sulia glanced at Ryan, excited: "That must be fascinating."
"Of course, my Marquess. You can even correct Lord Ryan if anything is wrong, haha!" Bonoua continued: "But there's more than just songs. The royal chefs have prepared the best meats and fish – boar heads, venison, peacocks, swans, piglets, cranes, larks, and rare seafood like sturgeon, whales, and dolphins. Enjoy the feast!"
"Also, Bordeaux's court sorcerer will perform a magic show, and the acrobatic troupe will display their skills. There are interactive games around the banquet for everyone. Allow me to keep some secrets for Lord Ryan and Lady Sulia to discover." Bonoua concluded and stepped aside: "Please!"
"This sounds fun. It's my first time attending such a banquet alone." Sulia whispered to Ryan, her face flushed with excitement: "Without father or brother around, it's a first for me."
"Then my task is to make sure you have fun, my Marquess."
Today, a typhoon hit, halting all activities, even the internet. I uploaded this chapter using my phone's hotspot. Tough day.
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