Ryan had attempted to recruit Estel before. The half-elf always held himself with a sense of pride, insisting that he would accept nothing less than a knight's position.
Ryan could not easily grant the position of a ranger knight. The half-elf's abilities were not recognized by all, and he hadn't earned significant achievements. Granting him knighthood could easily lead to discontent among the other knights, especially since Estel was a ranged fighter. The knights of Britannia believed that true devotion to the Lady required close combat, charging with lances and slaying enemies with swords as the highest form of homage.
Therefore, when they couldn't come to an agreement, Ryan's attempt to recruit Estel naturally fell through.
Now, Estel and his half-elf companion had come forward, seeking refuge, which Ryan found quite amusing.
Why the change from pride to humility?
"Could we talk somewhere else, my baron?" Estel asked, somewhat embarrassed, clearly noticing the skepticism and amusement in Ryan's eyes.
"Sure, let's go to the parlor on the second floor. Olica? Prepare some refreshments. Don't let my friends be slighted," Ryan instructed the dark elf maid to prepare some drinks and food.
Five minutes later, in the parlor on the second floor, Estel and Dias, the two half-elves, were seated. Olica served them each a glass of wine and brought out white bread and roasted bacon: "Please enjoy."
"Thank you!" Estel, feeling quite comfortable with Ryan, began eating the bacon with a silver fork, accompanied by white bread. His friend Dias followed suit.
Outside the castle, it began to rain again, with the raindrops hitting the wooden windows and making a thudding sound. The cold air blew into the parlor, but the fireplace was burning brightly, giving the castle a homey feeling under Ryan's careful management. The baron himself sat in the main seat, waiting for the half-elves to speak.
"The thing is, Ryan," Estel began after a moment of silence, finally saying with a wry smile, "You must be aware of the war that occurred in the forest last winter. The shadow beast horde clashed violently with the wood elves?"
"Yes, I'm aware," Ryan acknowledged, spreading his hands to show he understood fully.
"I and Dias participated in that war, joining as lone rangers," Estel continued, a bit heated as he spoke. He angrily took off his recurve bow from behind and placed it on the ground to show Ryan he meant no harm.
Dias did the same with his composite bow, which was filled with starfire power. Under the influence of magic, it could shoot straight arrows or starfire explosive arrows that could pierce through tree trunks: "Greetings, Lord Ryan, I am Dias, a former ranger. I served the Council of the Forest, working for the lords of the wood elves. As you can see, Estel and I grew up together as close friends."
"Understood. So, why have you come to seek refuge in my domain if you serve the Council of the Forest?" Ryan asked, raising his hand to indicate for them to continue.
"As you know, both wood elves and high elves don't treat us half-elves well. They only remember us when they need us, and treat us as outsiders when they don't. When we can serve the lords of the forest, we are elves; when we cannot create value, we are humans," Estel sighed deeply. "In this war, Dias and I fought desperately, together killing a beastman screaming shaman. According to our agreement with the Council, with such a trophy, there should have been a place for us in the Council."
"The Council must have gone back on their word," Ryan concluded, understanding the mindset of those wood elves.
"Exactly," Dias sighed, his expression hidden by his hood and scarf. "Since serving the Council as a ranger, I've always done the hardest work, the dirtiest and most exhausting jobs. To assassinate a beastman leader, I could stay in a tree for three days. The treants that the elves couldn't bear to harm were left to me. But even after making so many contributions, they wouldn't even give me the treatment of a standard ranger."
"Thus, after the Council broke their promise, Dias and I had a big fight with the elders of the Council," Estel added. "Thanks to our killing of the beastman screaming shaman, the King and Queen of the Forest did not punish us, but it was clear we could no longer stay in the forest. That's when I thought of you."
"So, I was just a backup plan," Ryan remarked.
"Putting that aside, I am an elite peak ranger, and I'm very close to becoming a legend, just a bit more. Dias is already a legendary mid-tier ranger, capable of firing arrows up to three hundred meters, while I can shoot two hundred and forty meters through plate armor without issue. Just provide us with accommodation and a treatment slightly better than a sergeant, and that will be sufficient," Estel said for the first time with a somewhat humble tone in front of Ryan. "We... have nowhere else to go."
"Don't you have any savings?" Surprisingly, Ryan did not immediately agree, instead continuing to probe.
"This..." Estel did not expect the conversation to take this turn. He hesitated for a moment, his face turning red and then pale, before he finally lowered his head and admitted the truth: "In the forest, we rarely use money, mainly bartering. We don't have much in terms of savings. I have some goods that might sell for some money, but... Dias and I don't want to live a life of wandering and hardship anymore. We've had enough of that. So, please, Ryan, my friend, take us in. If necessary... we can share a house, and receiving a sergeant's salary is fine too."
"Yes, Lord Ryan, please, we beseech you. Many in the forest do not welcome us, but if you take us in, even the most stringent forest lords won't say anything," Dias also pleaded.
The two half-elves lowered their stance enough, and Ryan finally nodded: "Alright, from today on, you are my sergeants. I will arrange a new two-story house for you to live in. Estel, you will be responsible for training the Genoese crossbowmen, teaching them how to load, aim, and pull the trigger. Mr. Dias, you will have the harder task of scouting the movements of the Berzerlack bandit group in the Shalonne Forest."
"Understood!"
From that day on, the two half-elves settled in the Genoese barony. As Ryan had predicted, the wood elves said nothing upon learning of this, instead, forest lords Belorith and Dalinna even brought some food to comfort the two half-elves: "Lord Ryan, we appreciate your help. As you know, their status in the forest is awkward and difficult to handle."
"Is this how Esley treats its heroes?" Ryan asked bluntly.
"Lord Ryan, Esley is not as you imagine," Dalinna tried to explain. "Esley is divided into twelve territories, and not all territories welcome elves to live together, nor are all willing to trade with humans. In fact, even though elves have settled in Aisolorn for thousands of years, many native treants still do not welcome us. The attitude of the forest lords towards half-elves also varies. Some see half-elves as kin, while others view them as vile creatures and curses to be eradicated."
Ryan had to admit that Dalinna had a point. Just as within Brittany there were nobles like Duke Montfort who hated all non-human beings, there were also those like himself willing to employ dwarves. The internal diversity of opinions among wood elves regarding the acceptance of half-elves was their prerogative, just as it was for humans.
"I understand."
...
As December arrived, it was clear that the king had plans in motion.
In the master room, Ryan, Sulia, Carsonberg, Veronica, and Teresa were seated, discussing the latest intelligence they had received, with Olica standing behind Ryan.
Ryan took the main seat, with the female knight naturally sitting to his right. Today, Sulia wore a white, pearl-split, high-neck ribbed dress, showcasing her noble, elegant charm. Her radiant golden curls cascaded down her shoulders, and though her long legs were hidden beneath the dress, her white strap high heels and the pink of her feet wrapped in grey stockings were visible.
Sulia sat by Ryan, then said in a discussing tone, "The king's order is already on its way to the Genoese domain, expected to arrive this afternoon."
Whether it was Veronica or Carsonberg, all looked at Sulia with respect and admiration. Rumors had long been circulating that Sulia's becoming Ryan's wife was a settled matter.
Carsonberg, as the steward, was definitely supportive of Marchioness Sulia. Coming from the Winfort Academy, he was very much in favor of seeing his lady and Ryan united.
For Veronica as well, knowing her background and Ryan's status made her realize that becoming Ryan's wife was impossible. Hence, she also respected Sulia, who had shown generosity, gentleness, and non-jealousy, ensuring Veronica could continue to stay by Ryan's side.
Thus, Ryan found himself in a peculiar situation where everyone from his knights to his steward and tax officer, even Veronica, seemed to have accepted and approved of his relationship with Sulia, except Teresa, who still seemed clueless, having previously tried to sit next to Ryan only to find the spot taken by Sulia, watching her with irritation and discontent.
In the Genoese barony, perhaps she was the only one not yet aware of the situation.
"Ryan, even my father would consider refusing the king's order, but you absolutely cannot go to the desert. The last expedition to the desert vanished without a trace, and no one has seen them since. Also, the trade with the wood elves and your establishment of the dwarf forge are all built on your personal charisma and authority. The king has no right to demand you hand them over. This time, my father, Duke Behemond, and Duke Bodrick will stand by your side," Sulia brought this message, her tone uneasy. "Nevertheless, defying the king's order will have severe consequences. You should be prepared."
"Don't worry, I have a plan," Ryan said calmly, seemingly unfazed.
"Ryan, what will you do?" Sulia asked, clearly concerned for Ryan. "Yes, you are the Lady's Chosen Champion, but the king's command is also faultless..."
"This issue is not difficult to deal with, Sulia. Wait until the king's envoy arrives this afternoon. You'll see what I'll do," Ryan assured her confidently, closing the topic.
In the afternoon, the kingdom's envoy arrived, and Ryan, with all his subordinates, received the king's order in the castle's great hall.
The envoy, whom Ryan recognized, was the father of the late Marquis Anshe, Count Bonowa-Desmond, from the Knight's War.
The king's envoy, with a lofty demeanor, impatiently declared: "Genoese Baron Ryan Macado? Come forward to receive the king's command!"
Ryan, without a word, approached Bonowa, knelt on one knee, and listened.
"The command is for Baron Ryan Macado to immediately cease all trade with the wood elves, immediately stop the operation of the dwarf forge, expel these dwarf refugees, immediately stop the operation of the hospital for takeover by the king's envoy, cease exercising baronial powers, and depart for the capital to await further orders."
"Additionally, the king plans to form an expedition to the Nikohara Desert, scheduled to depart next month on the fifth day. Ryan Macado is appointed as the general of the expedition army. Please prepare to depart immediately!"
After delivering two urgent orders from the king, demanding Ryan's immediate action, Count Bonowa looked at Ryan with disdain, still blaming him for his son's death. He elongated his speech, then shouted, "Ryan! Will you not accept the king's command?"
"I do not accept the king's command, my count," Ryan flatly refused, not picking up the scrolls and letting them fall to the ground.
The atmosphere in the great hall tensed as everyone, including Ryan's subordinates and the observing Sulia, watched in disbelief.
"What are you doing?!" Bonowa pointed at Ryan, incredulous, and roared: "Do you realize what you're doing? This act is tantamount to rebellion! Even as the Lady's Champion, you cannot do this. Are you seeking to revolt?"
"Now, immediately, pick up the king's command and beg me. Then, I might pretend this never happened," Bonowa sneered. "Hurry, my baron, your time is running out."
Ryan smiled, standing up: "I won't do that, because someone disagrees."
"Someone disagrees? Who? Who disagrees?" Bonowa scoffed, the king's envoy and the Genoese baron at odds: "This is Brittany. Who can oppose the king?"
Then, from behind in the great hall, a cold female voice emerged, and a figure of endless divine majesty slowly walked out.
"I disagree!"
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