In the autumn of 2511 IC, Ryan Malcador, Crown Prince of Brittany, Duke of Mousilon, and the Lady of the Lake's chosen champion, hosted a grand welcoming ceremony at the plaza outside the Grail Cathedral in the capital city of Curona. The occasion marked the official state visit of the Emperor of the Empire, Karl Franz Friedrich, Grand Prince of Reikland, and Duke of Altdorf to Brittany.
Ryan, accompanied by his wife, Sulia Kumani Anteri de Winford, the Prophetess of the Lake, Morgiana, the kingdom's regent and Duke of Connet, Lawen, Duke Talbot of Le-Angoulême, Duke Adahad of Lyonasse, Duke Hagen of Gisoreux, Duke Faud of Montfort, Duke Bodrick of Bordeleaux, Duke Berchimond of Bastogne, Duke François of Winford, Duke Cassvain of Paravon, Duke Hubald of Carcassonne, Sir Eugene, leader of the Grail Knights' Curona division, Count Karad of Galamont, the commander of the Old Guard, Sir Bertrand, Marshal Roland of the Border Patrol, courtier Veronica, courtier Theresa, and Alfred, the patriarch of the West Brittany diocese, attended the welcoming ceremony.
Accompanying Emperor Karl Franz were his empress, Helena Corleone, Elector Boris Todbringer, Elector Emmanuelle von Leibwitz-Bernadotte, Elector Wamil von Zhukov, Elector Marius Leitdorf, Elector Helmut Feuerbach, Elector Wolfram Hertwig, Elector Theodorick Gaissler, Reikmarshal Kurt Helborg, Standard-Bearer Ludwig Schwarzhammer, and Huntsmarshal Marcus Wolfhart.
As the solemn sound of military trumpets filled the air, the grand doors of the Grail Cathedral swung open. Ryan, dressed in his ducal attire, emerged from the cathedral, hand in hand with his wife, Sulia. The Grail Knights, the Lady's prophetesses, knights from various duchies, and the Old Guard had already formed ranks in the plaza, ready to welcome the Emperor.
Karl Franz, dressed in the full regalia of the Emperor, wore a bright smile as he approached Ryan with long strides.
Ryan, standing tall at over six feet, looked every bit the handsome and imposing figure of a human hero. His presence radiated with an aura of boundless hope and strength, surrounded by an imposing majesty and the steadfast determination of a mountain range. Upon seeing Karl Franz, Ryan smiled and extended his hand to the Emperor. "Welcome."
"It is my great honor," Karl Franz nodded.
After a brief ceremony, Ryan introduced Karl Franz to the attending Brittany nobles and his court. The Emperor maintained his warm smile as he shook hands with each duke and member of Ryan's retinue.
Once this was completed, it was Karl Franz's turn to introduce Ryan to the Imperial delegation. Ryan, already familiar with many of the electors, greeted them one by one. Emilia, one of the electors, even gave Ryan a playful wink as she shook his hand, though Ryan pretended not to notice.
Following the introductions, both nations' bands began playing their national anthems.
The Imperial military band played the Empire's anthem, "God Save Emperor Franz."
"God save the Empire of Charlemagne, our great Emperor Franz.
We pray for the long fortune of our nation, we wish him well.
May the skull always remain immortal, and the victor's crown belong to him.
God save the Empire of Charlemagne, our great Emperor Franz!"
The Brittany royal band then played Brittany's anthem, "The Lady Bless Brittany."
"The Lady bless Brittany, may the kingdom forever shine.
The Lady bless our king, granting him victory, happiness, and glory.
Govern our country, may our fate be long-lasting.
Evil flees before her, the Grail grants us strength.
The Lady bless Brittany."
After a ceremonial cannon salute, Emperor Karl Franz, accompanied by Crown Prince Ryan, reviewed the Grail Knights and the Old Guard. The military bands performed once more, and the two leaders retreated to the Grail Cathedral for a private meeting.
Ryan reflected on the millennium-long relationship between Brittany and the Empire, noting how the two countries had developed a unique and exemplary model of mutual benefit and cooperation. Thanks to their joint efforts, the strategic trust between the nations had never been higher, and they offered each other steadfast political support, fostering unprecedented cooperation in various fields. The partnership between the Empire and Brittany had become the most trusted, collaborative, and strategically valuable alliance in the Old World, contributing significantly to the development and stability of both nations and the world at large.
Ryan highlighted how his visit to the Empire last year had ushered in a new era of relations between the two countries. The two most powerful human nations in the Old World had never been so closely united, and their joint efforts had breathed new life into their relationship, opening up vast new opportunities.
Ryan emphasized that Brittany and the Empire shared a common origin and an unbreakable bond. As Brittany's crown prince and future king, Ryan highly valued and was committed to maintaining the development of relations with the Empire, focusing on a new dimension of bilateral relations that included non-aggression, mutual support, trade connectivity, military complementarity, and even joint operations. Together, they would lead the Order Alliance in combating evil and work towards a shared human destiny, preparing for any potential crises and ensuring the enduring friendship between the Empire and Brittany.
Karl Franz expressed his sincere congratulations to Ryan on his upcoming coronation, noting that the Empire had been the first to respond to and seek diplomatic relations with the Knight Kingdom when Brittany declared its independence a thousand years ago. Although there had been occasional friction and territorial disputes, the Emperor firmly stated that the relationship between the Empire and Brittany had always withstood the test of time, especially when faced with external threats and invasions. In recent years, driven by Ryan, the two nations had engaged in close cooperation across various fields, yielding fruitful results. The people of the Empire were eager to work with the people of Brittany to strengthen diplomatic relations and cooperation, bringing greater benefits to both nations and contributing to the security and stability of the Old World and the world at large. Karl Franz was confident that under Ryan's leadership, the cooperation between the Empire and Brittany would bear even more fruitful results.
In an interview with the gathered crowds in Curona, Karl Franz candidly stated, "My relationship with Lord Ryan is very close; we are intimate friends. I believe Lord Ryan possesses world-class political vision and a clear mind, always able to see the bigger picture and anticipate potential threats. Our mutual trust has reached an all-time high, and the Empire and Brittany have never been more closely united. I am confident that we have an incredibly bright future together."
Ryan affirmed these sentiments, noting that under the new global environment, the strategic partnership between the Empire and Brittany was also reflected in the economic sphere. Last year, their bilateral trade volume exceeded half a million gold crowns, and they hoped to deepen cooperation across multiple fields to contribute to global prosperity, peace, stability, and flourishing.
That evening, Ryan hosted a grand state banquet in the Royal Palace of Curona to entertain their imperial friends who had traveled from afar.
The banquet was held in the Hall of Llanduin in the Royal Palace of Curona. The banquet table, stretching 60 meters long, was arranged in two rows, capable of accommodating over 200 distinguished guests. The hall was resplendent with gold and jade, with massive oil paintings adorning the walls on both sides. The long dining table formed a horseshoe shape, illuminated by six giant crystal chandeliers. Facing the entrance was the head table where the hosts and honored guests sat. The floor was covered with carpets made from exotic animals from Araby, and silverware, candles, and luxurious table decorations were neatly arranged on the tables.
Ryan and Sulia sat at the head of the table, with High Loremaster Teclis and the Lady's prophetess Morgiana on Ryan's left, while Emperor Karl Franz and Empress Helena sat on his right.
The long table to the left was filled with Brittany's nobles, including several Grail Grandmasters and dukes with sanctuary-level strength. They regarded the Empire's guests with a mixture of mild hostility and politeness. On the other hand, the electors seated at the right-hand table from the Empire held their heads high, especially Electress Emmanuelle, who loudly discussed with her son, young Frederick, whether the banquet was as fine as those in Nuln. Elector Boris complained that Brittany's cuisine didn't suit Middenland tastes, though he, like Huntsmarshal Marcus Wolfhart, had already asked the servers for seconds.
The banquet in Brittany followed a set format:
The first course was turbot fillet with lobster mousse.
The second course was roasted Artois venison loin with Winford red wine and truffle sauce.
The main vegetables included stewed red cabbage, roasted potatoes, and roasted walnuts, pumpkin, and celeriac.
The dessert was Araby chocolate, mango, and fruit salad.
The beverages served included water, juice, champagne, red wine, sparkling wine, and spirits.
Representatives from the Angrund clan of dwarfs, except for Belegar, were seated in a side hall. The high elf guests were placed in another hall, with Ryan deliberately separating the elves and dwarfs to avoid conflicts. Despite this, Belegar still stubbornly believed Ryan had not treated him well, thinking he should have been seated next to Teclis. However, since the table was too high and there were no high chairs available in the palace, he let it go for now.
"Welcome, human brothers from across the mountains. Welcome to Brittany, welcome to Curona." Ryan raised his wine glass and addressed the Emperor. "Your presence honors me greatly, and the entire palace shines because
of you."
"I was invited by the Green Knight himself. To have Brittany's legendary guardian god appear and extend the invitation, I was greatly honored, so I came immediately." Karl Franz, who wasn't as tall as Ryan, appeared shorter in his seat. He detected Ryan's subtle hint and carefully controlled his coarse humor. "Ryan… how should I address you now? Crown Prince of Brittany? Duke of Mousilon? Or the Lady's chosen champion?"
"Just call me Ryan, Ryan MacArthur will do. But I think we can keep it simple—you call me Ryan, and I'll call you Karl. How does that sound?" Ryan responded, recognizing the Emperor's implication.
"Hahaha, such respectable virtues! I see the spirit of the original Grail Knights lives on in you." Karl Franz remarked playfully. "But, my dear Ryan, you must remember to address me as Your Majesty!"
"Hahahahaha!" Laughter erupted from the Empire's table as the electors burst out in amusement. Elector Wamil even tapped the table with a silver spoon, while Boris rudely slapped his thigh. Emmanuelle covered her mouth, trying to stifle her giggles, and young Frederick, not understanding, tugged at his mother's arm, loudly asking, "Mama, Mama, why is Papa calling Godfather 'Your Majesty'?"
In contrast, the Brittany nobles, including Morgiana, glared at the Emperor with visible anger. Duke Berchimond, the Red Dragon, was particularly enraged, his grip tightening around a fine silver knife until it bent into a bracelet shape. François also looked displeased.
Ryan raised an eyebrow, silently cursing how the Emperor was just like that old man Richard, insisting on gaining a small advantage before Ryan ascended the throne.
Nevertheless, the Duke of Mousilon maintained a polite smile. "Of course, Your Majesty Karl, I have no problem with that. And since I'm calling you Your Majesty, perhaps you can call me… Champion?"
"Hahahaha!" This time, it was the Brittany side that burst into laughter. The dukes and great nobles mocked the Empire's delegation, loudly commenting on their strength. Berchimond and François even debated how many hits it would take to knock out the electors.
The Empire's guests collectively darkened their expressions, knowing Ryan was subtly mocking Karl's strength. As he had implied, the Empire couldn't compare to Brittany in terms of high-level combat power. Even with the Emperor in full armor, it would be hard for him to match Ryan in a fight. Most electors were of legendary strength, while the Brittany nobles seated opposite them included several with sanctuary-level power, making the disparity in both quantity and quality obvious.
Belegar, seated on a specially provided small stool with a little table, laughed so hard that beer spilled into his beard. Meanwhile, Teclis, seated next to Ryan, remained expressionless. Having witnessed far too many of these aristocratic verbal skirmishes in the Phoenix Court, nothing in this human exchange surprised him.
"Of course, Champion Ryan, the Lady's chosen champion, let us drink to that!" Karl raised his glass, seeming to brush off the earlier exchange as mere banter.
"To humanity, to the Old World." Ryan raised his glass, and the two clinked their glasses, letting any earlier tensions dissipate with the toast.
After the grand banquet, a reception followed in the gardens and ballroom of the Royal Palace of Curona, where guests were free to mingle. Emilia quickly brought young Frederick to meet Sulia, Helena, and little Devonshire, along with the Emperor's son, Luitpold II. The three mothers and their children went off to entertain themselves, leaving the space for Ryan and Karl Franz.
"Sorry, Ryan, you know in this environment, a competent Emperor must know how to perform," Karl Franz said apologetically, holding his wine glass and appearing more friendly. "Gaining the support of the electors is no easy task."
"I understand," Ryan replied with a smile. "Of course, we could always have a duel—if you win, you'll be the champion."
"Hahaha!" The two men laughed together, a mutual understanding forming between the leaders of the two most powerful human nations in the Old World. There was a sense of camaraderie between them.
Sometimes, friendships between men can be that simple and unadorned.
"By the way, while we have the chance, Ryan, you might not be aware of the recent personnel changes in the Imperial Council. Let me introduce you to the two newly elected Electors."
"Marius Leitdorf and Theodorick Gaissler."
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