After fleeing for over five days, Belegar led the remnants of three thousand soldiers across the Badlands until they reached the vicinity of Barak-Varr, where they finally stopped to camp and rest.
The state of the dwarf expeditionary force was extremely wretched, having run out of food two days prior. Only a race as resilient as the dwarves could endure such conditions. By the time Belegar reached the area near Barak-Varr, his troops were at their limit. Their beards were unkempt, many bore wounds, and some injuries had even begun to fester.
In the distance, the gates of Barak-Varr loomed before the battered expeditionary force.
Barak-Varr is a unique dwarven fortress in the Old World, unlike most dwarven strongholds as it lies along the coast, serving as a massive deep-water harbor and the station for the dwarf naval fleet. This fortress is built on cliffs along the northern shores of the Black Gulf. Merchants from all over unload their goods here, transporting them via Skull River, then overland to the Eternal Peak and the High King of the dwarves.
Although Barak-Varr is not as large as the Eternal Peak or Eight Peaks Mountain, it stands as the second largest trade center in the Old World after Marienburg. In addition to the local population of one hundred thousand dwarves, at least fifty thousand Imperial citizens reside here permanently, with a transient population of up to one hundred thousand. Here one can find Arabian spices, Bretonnian wines, Kislevite bear skins, Norscan ores, High Elf jewels, and even exotic medicinal herbs from Lustria.
The fortress of Barak-Varr is impressively fortified, impenetrable to any army under the unceasing bombardment of hundreds of cannons. The only approach is by sea through its deep-water harbor, but clearly, no attack has ever successfully reached the fortress towers, protected as they are by countless coastal batteries, the Imperial Navy, and the dwarven ironclad fleet.
It was from here that the Anglronde expeditionary force had set out, and to here they now returned in defeat. Belegar looked at his beard, speechless.
After a while, Harhaf Goldcatcher, the chief engineer of the Anglronde clan, spoke up, "My king, the expedition has failed. We need to regroup and plan anew."
"…That's all we can do now, but where can we go?" Belegar tasted the bitterness of failure once again, but in his three hundred years, he had learned to be strong. The self-proclaimed King of the Eight Peaks now controlled not an inch of its land, nor did he have a place to settle.
He now faced the reality that he had borrowed troops and money from every dwarven kingdom along the World's Edge Mountains, including Barak-Varr. The king of Barak-Varr, named Bairnov, was a resolute and tough individual. Belegar had borrowed two thousand soldiers from him, and only five hundred had returned.
The King of Anglronde felt he could no longer face the dwarven brothers who had helped him. He didn't want to enter Barak-Varr: "I don't want to go in. Let's keep heading west. Harhaf, you go inside and ask Komanic to come out with the children. We'll leave immediately."
"Yes…" Harhaf knew how much pain Belegar was in and quietly agreed.
Komanic, the Queen of the Anglronde clan and Belegar's wife, was staying in Barak-Varr with Belegar's only legitimate son, waiting for news of her husband.
Dwarven marriage customs are quite unique. In dwarven society, where females only make up about one-tenth of the population, it is common for several brothers to share one wife, and in poorer families, an entire clan may share one.
This custom has a long tradition. The three main dwarven gods—Grongni, the god of mining and smithing; Grimnir, the god of warriors; and Valaya, the goddess of healing and protection—were husband and brothers, with Valaya being their common wife.
Only dwarven kings of high birth like Belegar could marry individually without sharing a wife with other dwarves.
Belegar knew he couldn't stay near Barak-Varr for long. He was certain that once Skarsnik dealt with the ratmen, he would send forces to pursue them. While Harhaf went into Barak-Varr to find Komanic, Belegar disbanded all the dwarven mercenaries, keeping only three hundred sworn guards from the Ironbreakers and Ironhammer warriors and a troop of dwarf rangers. These were his most loyal followers, who had sworn to follow Belegar wherever he went.
After a few hours, the Queen of the Anglron
de clan appeared with several dozen sworn guards.
The dwarven woman was plainly dressed, about 1.4 meters tall, with two large brown braids. She was leading a young dwarf, only forty years old by dwarven standards, still a minor. He was Belegar's son, the last bloodline of King Runel of the Anglronde royal family.
"Komanic..." Belegar, seeing his wife's plain appearance, was on the verge of tears again. His wife, born into nobility with a substantial dowry, had married him, but Belegar had always prioritized reclaiming the Eight Peaks Mountain. Decades had passed, and Komanic's dowry was long spent. Now the Queen of the Anglronde clan looked like any ordinary female dwarf, devoid of much gold or jewelry.
For a dwarven royal, this was a disgrace, but Komanic had always silently supported her husband.
Seeing Belegar defeated and disheveled, Komanic sighed, "We can't stay in Barak-Varr any longer, Belegar. We're almost out of money, and the rent here is too expensive. We can't afford to stay much longer."
"We can't stay here long either. The Moonclan is temporarily entangled with the ratmen, but I know Skarsnik. As soon as he defeats them, he will send pursuers." Belegar knew his queen was sparing his feelings, not mentioning his defeat.
As for his shortened beard, since Belegar often wore a helmet, it was hard for anyone to notice at a glance.
"We can't go back to Horn Keep. Last time, King Alrik Lufson of Horn Keep helped us because of our ancestor's face. It's not right to ask for help again, to have him shelter us. Let's head further west."
To the west lay the Grey Mountains, where Karak Azgal and Karak Hirn, two dwarven fortresses, were located.
Belegar thought for a moment. Whether in the World's Edge Mountains or the Black Mountains of the southern Empire, he had sought help from all the dwarven powers. A King of the Eight Peaks who ruled not an inch of its territory, was he still a king?
"Let's go to Karak Hirn. I know King Lurek Granitehand there; he should be willing to help me." Belegar decided after much thought: "Let's not enter Barak-Varr. Let's head straight to Karak Hirn."
"Yes." Komanic knew her husband's pride was at stake again. Belegar truly didn't want to enter Barak-Varr, unwilling to be mocked by the dwarves. He'd rather flee by night than rest first.
"Let's go."
...
By mid-May, in Brittany, in the County of Glamorgan, at the Tower of the Lake Ladies, in the afternoon, a dense fog enveloped the entire tower. Underneath lavish decorations, the four-poster bed in the room gently swayed, emitting strange sounds.
After a while, the swaying finally stopped.
Morgiana, the Lake Witch, flushed with a radiant spring glow on her face, leaned against Ryan's chest, tracing circles on the count's chest with her index finger: "According to our agreement, you still owe me two days."
"…" Ryan nodded somewhat speechlessly: "My lady, you're quite strict."
Ryan had first campaigned to defeat Eigel, then spent much time dealing with internal affairs. Now, his most important task was preparing for his wedding with Sulia, so he had not visited the Tower of the Lake Ladies for a long time.
Morgiana, having waited several weeks without seeing him, directly claimed there was something to discuss and asked Ryan to visit her.
After spending a few more days on internal affairs and after Sulia had returned to Helenhild, they would not meet again before the official wedding, as per tradition.
Once Sulia had left, Ryan finally found time to visit the Tower of the Lake Ladies to see Morgiana. The Lake Witch, with a resentful expression, started counting the days Ryan had been campaigning and how long it had been since his last visit, then announced that Ryan owed her a few days.
She needed treatment.
Ryan could only shamefully comply, and they had been together from morning until now, until Morgiana was too exhausted to move a finger, and only then did she let Ryan go.
Why does it feel like paying a public grain tax??? Ryan thought to himself as he picked Morgiana up: "My lady, let me carry you."
"Mmm~" Morgiana was extremely languid, allowing Ryan to carry her as they went downstairs to the bathroom together for a bath. Ryan helped the Lake Witch change into a bleached white, low-cut lace dress and put on a golden crown before sitting her on his lap.
Several hours later, they finally began to discuss serious matters.
"More than a hundred thousand people died in the Chaos invasion, Dalheide has resigned as the Duke of Leonathal, with his eldest son Aldred taking over the Duchy of Leonathal... Aldred is an impulsive young man, and it's uncertain what his youthfulness will bring to the severely damaged Duchy of Leonathal," Morgiana intertwined her fingers and placed them on her abdomen, contemplating the recent series of political changes in the kingdom. Ryan knew that despite her injuries, the Lake Witch was still closely monitoring the kingdom's politics.
Morgiana's abdomen was covered in silver runes that had fully matured.
"Anyway, it can't get any worse," Ryan said offhandedly, also pondering, "Leonathal needs this kind of vitality right now."
"What about Hubald?" Morgiana continued, "I know he also participated in the Battle of Leonathal."
"Sir Hubald continues on his Grail quest. He told me he plans to go to Estalia, where there have been numerous beastmen sightings recently... He told me he'll definitely bring the head of a beastman warlord to my wedding," Ryan added: "I've sent invitations to all the dukes and high nobles of the kingdom."
Ryan and Sulia's wedding was set for a few months later, on the birthday of the Lady of the Lake—Lilith's Day—at the Grand Cathedral of the Lady of the Lake in the Duchy of Carcassonne. At that time, Morgiana would lead all the Grail Knights and Lake Prophets of the Lady's Holy Lands to attend personally and bless the marriage as the envoy of the Lady of the Lake.
His marriage was now known throughout Brittany and the surrounding regions.
Emperor Karl Franz of the Empire announced he would send the Grand Alchemist, Balthazar Gelt, from the Imperial College of Magic to convey his congratulations.
The Elector Count of the White Wolves and Duke of Middenland, Boris Todbringer, said he would come in person.
The Grand Master of the White Wolves, Axel Gries, stated he would bring a gift from the God of the White Wolves in person.
The Wood Elf King Orion and Queen Ariel promised to send an envoy to his wedding.
King Lurek of Karak Hirn agreed to send representatives.
Ryan's foster parents, the Normans, said they would come in person.
The Duke of Gryphon and Grand Master of the Gryphon Knights, Ivan Ferdinand, would come personally with Anton Ferdinand.
Duke Laun of Connacht Leon Cornwall, Duke Aldred of Leonathal, Duke Hagen of Gisoreux, Duke Berthond of Bastonne, Duke Bodric of Bordeleaux, Duke Hubald of Carcassonne, Duke Folcard of Montfort, and the recently ransomed from Imperial prison, Duke Caspian of Parravon, all stated they would attend in person.
Duke Vander Guber-Schultz of Marienburg also stated he would come in person.
Ryan's renown was evident, as his wedding would nearly shake the entire Old World. It was said that the High Elves, having heard of his deed of slaying the Chosen Tyrant, also planned to send someone to congratulate him.
"I can imagine how grand the wedding ceremony will be," Morgiana said with a smile after hearing this: "It will be the largest celebration in the Old World, comparable to Emperor Karl Franz's wedding a few years ago."
"I didn't intend to make such a big show, but... I hope Sulia will be satisfied," Ryan said with a wry smile: "Sulia's feelings are most important. Francois feels the same way; since she's his daughter, she deserves the best, so I agreed."
Morgiana playfully kicked Ryan with her stockinged foot under her dress.
Every woman hopes to have a grand wedding, and how could Sulia be an exception?
Speaking of which, there was something that made Ryan quite embarrassed. A few days ago, Francois came to pick up his daughter and also requested Ryan to provide at least five thousand gold crowns as a dowry.
Francois wasn't greedy; he stated he wouldn't take the money himself but would give it all to Sulia. He needed this money to ensure that if something happened to Ryan after the wedding, Sulia could still live a noble life befitting a Duchess, unaffected by any misfortune. Duke Wentford would also provide a generous dowry for his daughter.
This was a father's love for his daughter.
Before Ryan could respond, his brother Anglron immediately promised to take care of it, declaring five thousand gold crowns was too little—he would give ten thousand. This money, he said, was on him.
This was a brother's love for his sibling.
And so it was settled.
"Speaking of which, only your brother is involved on your side?" Morgiana asked curiously: "Isn't there anyone else
? That might make the wedding scene a bit awkward."
"Not at all, there will be many people," Ryan replied with a smile: "Let me keep some surprises, my lady."
Morgiana wanted to ask more, but Ryan just shook his head.
The emperor had long prepared his son's wedding gift and had also decided on the guests.
Ryan's list of noble guests was even more impressive.
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