"What about Duke Hubert?" Fidmund furrowed his brows. The political landscape in the Knight Kingdom was more complex than he had anticipated. The Holy Grail Knight instinctively sought to avoid these thoughts, but his veins carried the blood of the Sea God Champion and the Boldro Duke’s family!

"Hubert is the least likely duke to become King." Bodric shook his head vigorously. "Kakasong is too far from Kulona, and moreover, Hubert is extremely cold and ruthless. No duke would want him as King. If unchecked, he could become another John II."

Kulona is located in the northern part of the Kingdom, and Kakasong is at the southernmost part, too far apart. The northern Kingdom mainly fends off incursions from the Northern Barbarians, raids from Dark Elf pirates, and border skirmishes with the Empire, while Kakasong deals primarily with Green Skin Tribe invasions and Skaven Ratmen infiltration. The distance between north and south is too vast to manage.

"Understood." There was a slight shift in the determined lines on Fidmund’s face. He pondered for a while, then said, "But still, a Holy Sanctuary Grand Knight in his early thirties is truly remarkable."

"Originally, I also favored Francois’ daughter, Surya, but firstly, I didn’t know when you’d return, and secondly, it was the Lady’s oracle." Duke Bodric let out a cold laugh. "Fidmund, even if you had returned, you wouldn’t have been able to compete with Laine. This Nord country bumpkin foster son indeed has something in him, never underestimate him."

"I never intended to marry so early." Fidmund said somewhat annoyedly to Bodric. "Why rush to betroth me to Countess Eva?"

"You’re nearly fifty, my son. You should marry now. There aren’t many unmarried noblewomen left in the Kingdom who are both suitable and of equal status. Your and Countess Eva’s engagement must be settled early, so I can set off on the Holy Grail Expedition with peace of mind." Duke Bodric frowned, his gaze intense as he locked eyes with his son. "Why do you have such thoughts?"

"It’s so rushed that I don’t even know what Eva looks like."

"You will meet her. What I mean is that this matter should be finalized soon. The Boldro family has historically had a good relationship with Bastogne; your marriage with Eva will contribute to internal stability and garner noble support." Duke Bodric could understand his son’s thoughts. "I understand your feelings; after all, it’s you getting married, not me. A father can’t guarantee the happiness of your marriage, so at this banquet, I will arrange for you to meet Countess Eva."

"..." As much as Bodric understood Fidmund, Fidmund understood his father. He knew that Bodric was determined and wouldn’t easily change his mind, so the Holy Grail Knight shook his head, refraining from continuing to argue with his father on this matter.

Yet Bodric continued a bit further, for parents are always eager when it comes to their children’s marriages. "Now, all the noble ladies in the Kingdom have raised their standards because of Surya’s case. Which unmarried young lady from a duchy doesn’t want to marry as well as Surya did? Her husband is a Holy Grail Knight, incredibly powerful, a young lady’s Divine Chosen Champion and a Grand Knight, and Laine is an orphan, letting the entire court be under Surya’s say? Haha, I’d say, what’s Julius got to compete with you for Eva? Just a Kingdom Knight title? Isn’t my son a hundred times better than Francois’ son?"

"Father, please don’t speak that way. We all fight for the Lady, to combat evil and protect our nation, no matter our status." Fidmund said softly. "Justice, humility, these are the teachings of the Lady to us."

Duke Bodric paused, indeed. He could admonish his son from a father’s angle or instruct Fidmund as a duke to his heir, but regarding the Eight Virtues of Chivalry, Bodric had no stand to reprimand Fidmund.

"..." Bodric looked at his son, a hint of melancholy in his always stern gaze. He remained silent for a long while before saying in a hoarse voice, "Fidmund, your mother wanted to see you one last time before she passed. She loved you dearly."

The Sea God Duke took out a shell pendant from himself and handed it to Fidmund. The duke’s fatherly affection was as solid as a mountain.

Fidmund took the pendant, opened the shell; inside was an oil painting of the Boldro Duke family. The Duchess wore a gentle smile, which brought tears to the Holy Grail Knight’s eyes. "I loved my mother too. It was her love that motivated me to overcome countless dangers at several life-and-death moments... I’m so sad."

Bodric nodded, signaling Fidmund to accept the pendant. "Take it. Your mother will light up your path forward. A knight’s duty is protection. For a thousand years, honor and sacrifice have been the backbone supporting the Kingdom’s steadfast presence in the world."

The father and son still wished to speak more when a Knight’s Attendant approached. "My Duke, my Marquis, Divine Chosen Champion Count Laine and Marchioness Surya are about to arrive in Boldro. The Sea God Knights are leading them towards the castle."

"Has Marquis Julius arrived?" The affection in Bodric’s eyes vanished instantly, as the duke returned to his original calm and stern demeanor.

"No, only Count Laine, Marchioness Surya, several servants, and a Temple Knight have come."

"In that case, Fidmund, you go and welcome them." Bodric patted Fidmund’s shoulder. "Young people should communicate more, it’s helpful for the future."

"Me?" Fidmund, nearly fifty, pointed at himself, with a somewhat conflicted expression on his face.

"I’m a young person?"

......

On the bustling streets of Bodlukes, the Boldro capital, a black carriage moved slowly down the streets. The carriage was airtight, wrapped entirely in black cloth, giving off an unsettling vibe. Yet, this carriage moved freely down Bodlukes’ main street, seemingly due to some concealing force, as passersby and patrolling soldiers ignored it.

Occasionally, when knights came to investigate, the merchant inside and a young, handsome knight would courteously claim they were merchants and knights from Connet Duchy, invited to Boldro for a banquet.

The guards quickly let them pass.

The black carriage’s curtain dropped down. Inside, Duke of Musillon, Mathew Bade, let out a mocking laugh. Being skilled in heraldry and the court etiquette of Brittania, infiltrating a Brittania castle was extremely easy for Mathew Bade.

Although Mathew Bade had drawn the Kingdom’s full attention as a traitor, due to his runner-up position in the Knight Tournament and lack of concrete evidence of treason, the Brittania Kingdom Court could privately dispatch only a few knights to hunt and capture this young Ranger Knight, with no official declaration.

However, there lay an issue. Mathew Bade always wore a helmet during the Knight Tournament, boasting striking looks and the most typical blond-blue-eyed Brittania lineage, making it so that while all Kingdom knights knew he was a traitor, few actually recognized him!

Inside the carriage, a withered, skeletal Undead Mage sat across from Mathew Bade, and with a heavy voice, the Duke of Musillon said, "This Boldro banquet is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to capture the entire Kingdom’s upper echelon in one swoop. Fatah, you’re one of the most powerful Undead Mages under the Godfather’s command. I hope you have some advice for me."

"At the banquet scene, I’ll create massive chaos, plunging the entire castle into extreme tension. Then, the guards will be diverted. My Duke, the Black Chalice Knights will storm into the banquet, slaughtering those nobles entirely."

"By that time, with most of the Kingdom’s great nobles dead at the banquet, the remaining nobles will lose mutual trust amidst suspicion and hatred. With a little intervention and revealing the truth of Lake Jade Pool, the throne of the Knight Kingdom will be yours for the taking!"

"Then let’s proceed with the plan!"