The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

The dark elf stood gracefully on the high stairs of the castle. On both sides of the second floor were rows of maids, all dressed uniformly in black and white maid outfits with white headbands. They ranged in age from fifteen to eighteen. If Ryan guessed correctly, most of these maids were new, as they were unfamiliar faces.

The maids in Ryan's castle were usually replaced every year or two, except for the dark elf who served as his personal maid and Sylvia as the head maid. This rule was set by Sulia, who told Ryan that if he wanted to keep any maid, he just needed to let her know.

However, Ryan already had plenty of women around him and had no interest in the maids, even though some had tried to become his concubines. Unfortunately for them, none succeeded.

Seeing the dark elf call out to her master, the maids all bowed their heads, lifted their skirts, and greeted Ryan: "Welcome back, Duke!"

The greeting was not very orderly, but Ryan still felt a sense of nostalgia.

The maids' uniforms were white aprons with ruffled edges over plain dresses, paired with simple cotton socks and round-toed shoes. (Stockings were a luxury and a symbol of nobility, so maids rarely had the chance to wear them.) As Ryan entered, the maids' eyes shone with excitement, clearly filled with various thoughts about the new duke and future king.

"Master, you're back?" The dark elf, Olica, was delighted at Ryan's return. She lifted her skirt and ran to him. Today, she wore a Bretonnian sweetheart maid dress with black and white accents, her long black hair simply tied back with a headband. Her amber eyes were filled with joy, and her long legs were clad in white garter stockings, finished with black strappy high heels. She ran to Ryan: "Mr. Karsonberg said you'd be back the day after tomorrow."

"Yes, but I managed to come back early." Ryan smiled, holding Olica's hand. "Where is Sulia?"

"Yes, where is Sulia?" asked Francois, who followed behind, eager to see his daughter.

"Lady Sulia is in the Lady of the Lake's tower," Olica replied, standing close to Ryan. "It's been over eight months, and she's not very mobile. Master, would you like to see her now?"

"Yes, I need to see her right away." Ryan nodded, eager to check on his wife and their unborn child.

"Follow me," Olica said, her eyes flashing with a mysterious light. "The castle has been renovated, and the layout has changed. I'll guide you."

After being renovated by dwarf craftsmen, Ryan's castle had been transformed. Luxurious decorations filled the space, blending the practical style of the dwarfs with the elegant Bretonnian architecture. The hallways were adorned with murals, sculptures, paintings, and tapestries, many depicting Ryan's own heroic deeds.

"Ryan, I remember when you first came to Bretonnia, this castle was a small, three-story building with about twenty rooms. You could see the end of it at a glance," Francois remarked as they walked. "Now, it's expanded more than five times."

The castle now had five stories, with an independent inner castle, a secondary castle, two towers, and walls lined with dwarven cannons. The Lady of the Lake's tower and Veronica's Dawn Mage Tower had also been incorporated into the new walls.

"The new additions include the Lion Tower, the Grey Knight Tower, three new courtyards, a new stable, a new griffon pen, and two new gardens: the Lady's Garden and Sulia's Garden," Olica explained. "There's also the Francois Gallery, the Oval Courtyard, and the Landoin Garden."

"Haha, they've even named something after me!" Francois laughed heartily. "That must be Sulia's idea."

"Yes, it was Lady Sulia's idea," Olica nodded, pointing to a corner of the castle. "That's my alchemy workshop. If you value your life, don't enter without my permission. The consequences will be severe."

"What's it called?" Ryan asked, still smiling.

"It's called the Pale Garden."

The thick fog around the Lady of the Lake's tower parted as Ryan approached, clearing the way for everyone to pass.

Filled with anticipation, Ryan quickly entered the tower and pushed open the cherry wood door to find his wife: "Sulia!"

"Ryan?! You're back?" Sulia, heavily pregnant, was sitting on a soft bed reading. Seeing Ryan, her noble face lit up with joy. "Father! You're all back? I thought you wouldn't arrive until the day after tomorrow!"

Despite being eight months pregnant, Sulia's beauty remained untouched, her face glowing with maternal radiance. Seeing her husband, her spirits lifted: "This is wonderful."

"I came back early!" Ryan was filled with an indescribable excitement. He hurried over, wanting to hug his wife but then hesitated, unsure what to do. Finally, he took Sulia's hand and sat by the bed: "Sulia, you're a duchess now!"

"Hahaha~" Sulia laughed, her face flushing. She was genuinely happy about reclaiming Mousillon and becoming a duchess. Although she cared more about Ryan's safety, knowing he was unharmed was her greatest relief. The Lake Lady had promised her not to worry about the future, but Sulia still didn't want their child to be born without a father.

For Sulia, Ryan's safety was paramount. She placed her book aside and gently caressed his face, saying, "Ryan, I'm just glad you're safe. Nothing else matters, not the title of duchess or future queen. I just want you to come back safely."

Ryan was deeply moved, thinking of the small life growing inside Sulia. He held her hand and vowed, "Don't worry, my lady. I will protect you and our child forever. No one will harm you."

"I know, I believe in you, my husband," Sulia said, leaning on Ryan's shoulder, closing her eyes.

"Hey, hey, did you forget I'm here?" Francois laughed. "I'm glad to see your affection, but remember, I'm still here!"

"Father!" Sulia called shyly, adjusting her position. "Thank you for your help in the war!"

"You're welcome," Francois replied, finding a chair to sit on. "How are you feeling? Is the baby okay? Do you need more help?"

Sulia, glowing with maternal love, shook her head. "I'm fine, just a bit less mobile. The baby is very active."

As if in response, the baby moved inside her. The child seemed to react to everything, especially Ryan's presence, which made him more active. Fortunately, Sulia's extraordinary physical condition, blessed by both the Lady and the Emperor, made her resilient.

"That's good to hear." Francois was relieved. "If you need anything, let me or Ryan know."

"I will, father," Sulia nodded, her golden curls cascading like a waterfall, her sea-blue eyes brimming with happiness. "I'm very happy."

"Good." Francois thought for a moment and asked, "Do you feel lonely here?"

"No, the Lady often visits to talk," Sulia replied cheerfully. "And Sylvia and Olica are here too. Especially Olica, who has taught me a lot. Sylvia reports on the territory, and the Lady nourishes my body with her divine power, playing music and singing for me and the baby. She calls it prenatal education. We even have tea together. With the Lady's company, I never feel lonely."

"Thank you, Lady, this is my duty," Olica nodded from the corner.

"Oh, well, that's good then," Francois said, though he felt something was odd. The Lady of the Lake seemed to pamper Sulia more than usual, almost like sisters rather than a deity and a devotee.

Typically, a Grail Knight might meet the Lady a few times in their life, with a dozen encounters being a rare honor. But Sulia seemed to see her almost daily, like close friends.

Francois wondered if it was because of Ryan, but he decided not to question it further. As a devout follower and a Grail Knight, he never doubted the Lady's power.

He dismissed his confusion, thinking it was good for Sulia to be so favored. After a few more words, Francois left, giving the couple some privacy.

However, before Ryan and Sulia could speak, the room filled with a golden divine light.

"Ryan, welcome back," said the Lady of the Lake, appearing gracefully in a shimmering pink chiffon dress, adorned with the platinum jewelry given to Sulia by the Emperor. Her delicate, beautiful face appeared before the couple and Olica. She floated in mid-air, her slender legs clad in ultra-thin stockings, holding a Holy Grail. "I have good news for you."

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