I'd like to ask a good question, recomndations for wives, because my friend and researcher of this work and I are in a dilemma. I am of the opinion that MC married for political power and probably has a mistress, while my friend says that MC is more likely to have married for love and has lovers because of his impulsiveness, although I always remind him of the prince of excess.
That's why I'm asking for your opinion on this, since we're at least stuck on which direction to take.
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Somrzeit-4,2489 IC
I was satisfied with the outco of the eting, especially because nothing suspicious had been discovered. Apparently, they only noticed the magic emanating from my clothes and rings, maybe confusing it with the idea that it ca from the enchantnts on the objects themselves, leaving them with doubts about what was truly happening. To , that was perfect.
Ten years without paying taxes... by Sigmar, that was quite convenient. Every year I had to give twenty-five percent of all my inco to the Elector Count of Reikland, which represented a massive amount of gold, especially now that I was involved in so many ventures on a large scale. I don't know if soone gave the Emperor a bad report, or if the gold I provided seed insignificant to him, but that sum is not small: it could fund thousands of soldiers every year. So ten years of tax exemption seed more like a decision based on incomplete information than a calculated gesture. Still, I wasn't going to complain.
As much as I wanted to leave Altdorf as soon as possible and never return, I had to attend the banquet that was being organized in my honor. It would be an insult for the Emperor to host a celebration in my na, and for not to show up. I was obliged to stay, even if that ant spending hours surrounded by nobles who, without a doubt, would line up to approach , each with their own agenda. So would co to beg for gold loans, others would seek political or military support, and so would try to drag into a land or lineage dispute less important than the dirt on my boots.
So, I simply waited in one of the houses I had bought when I ca for the trials, a building I had left forgotten, covered in dust and without decorations. I sat in a wooden chair bought at the local market, conversing with my n about their opinions of the campaign, letting them relax a bit while they drank wine and beer. I didn't drink, and neither did my bodyguards. Not only to maintain sobriety for health reasons but because I never owe a favor, and drink could be a way for them to gain favors from . The general's mistake was one I would not repeat, even though it had gone well, filling my coffers with the loot and tax reductions. But the risk of dying was extrely high. Facing Grial maidens, although dangerous if you are caught off guard, was nothing compared to facing a Grail Knight.
All that was left was to wait. When the ti finally ca, I put on all my armor. If there were mbers of Sigmar's Cult, I preferred them to keep believing that the magic emanated from my rings and not from . For that, I needed the armor: it hid my body, distorted the origin of the energy, and also intimidated. A noble who looked like a well-ard soldier is rarely approached for favors.
Once again, I arrived at the Imperial Palace. This ti, the Reiksguard did not stop . One of the guards simply opened the door and we were allowed directly into the banquet halls.
"By Sigmar... how many banquet halls do they have?" I murmured, seeing how the doors stretched down the entire length of the hallway.
"I think it's that one, my lord baron... sorry, Graf," said one of my bodyguards, pointing to an entrance flanked by guards, imdiately correcting himself with my new title.
"Ha... let's go. I don't want to be late to my own banquet in my honor. And be careful with what they drink; no one knows what they might put in your cup in these places."
When I entered the hall, I was bombarded with an unbearable mix of excessive perfus and spicy foods. The air was so dense that I could feel my eyes filling with tears. My guards weren't having it any better: one of them already had a wrinkled face, and another was discreetly covering his nose with a gloved hand. It was a direct attack on the senses, as if they were trying to poison us with slls instead of knives.
"The guest of honor has arrived: Albrecht von Reinsfeld, Graf of Reinsfeld, rxheim, and lord of the city of Reinsfeld," shouted one of the mbers of the Reiksguard standing at the entrance, so loudly that the music stopped for a few seconds to allow him to recite the full title without interruptions.
I felt how all the eyes in the grand banquet hall were fixed on . I walked with firm steps, scanning the room for a slightly more isolated place to hide from the attention, but that wasn't going to happen. My worst fears materialized in a matter of seconds.
A wave of perfu-soaked nobles surrounded almost imdiately. They began to bombard with complints, proposals, and questions while my bodyguards tensed around , reacting to any strange movent, so already on the verge of lunging at certain guests who, by the way they approached, seed too suspicious.
"Oh, young Graf, I didn't know you were as charming as you are brave..." tried one noblewoman before being rudely interrupted by another.
"My daughter would be eager to dance with you if..." said another woman, interrupted by an old noble.
"I don't think the Graf is interested in dancing. Surely, he wants to tell us his stories..." said another noble, though he was completely ignored.
The introductions multiplied. Nobles whose heraldry I didn't even recognize surrounded , and several ladies tried to put handkerchiefs in my hands as if that ant sothing, even though, since I wasn't wearing the typical clothes with a pocket on the chest, it was the only way they had to offer them.
I tried to apply the sa tactic I used at the margrave's banquets: smile, nod my head, maintain an unshakable composure. But this was not the sa. Compared to this pack, the gas at the margrave's court were re childish gatherings. This was the Imperial court, and here, they didn't co to greet—they ca to devour.
I began to suffocate. Not even being cramped in the formation of my soldiers during a march felt as uncomfortable as this constant pressure. None of those nobles would let go; they all knew I had been rewarded with gold and war spoils, and they were desperate for a crumb.
It didn't take long for chaos to erupt among them. So started throwing indirect insults disguised as courtesy, airing dirty laundry in public, speaking about economic problems, rumors of scandals, or loss of prestige. All to discredit each other in front of my eyes, as if any of that really mattered to . But to their misfortune, I didn't care about any of them.
"If you'll excuse ... I'm going to try so of the food," I said as I tried to push my way through the group of nobles surrounding , barely able to move a step. My guards had to push firmly, cutting paths and blocking several who tried to follow like hungry dogs. As for , I moved quickly, dodging couples dancing in the middle of the hall to the rhythm of the music, making sure I didn't trip over anyone who might embarrass .
When I reached one of the long banquet tables, guarded by a group of imperial servants—all with refined manners, surely children of minor nobles in decorative positions—I started to serve myself so food, hoping it would be enough to distract the most persistent and give so respite.
But it didn't take long for them to return to harass . I had barely taken a couple of bites when the sa nobles, like vultures, began to surround again. Until, fortunately, a saving voice echoed through the hall, as if sent by Sigmar himself.
"His Imperial Majesty, Emperor Luitpold, Elector Count of Reikland and Prince of Altdorf, accompanied by his son, Prince Karl-Franz!" shouted one of the Reiksguard mbers with a loud voice.
The entire hall seed to hold its breath for a second. mbers of the Imperial family entered the banquet, escorted by a detachnt of the Reiksguard. As expected, many of the nobles who had been harassing a mont ago rushed like rats to the new target, eager to impress the biggest fish in the hall. Only a few minor nobles remained by my side, the ones still holding onto their hopes in .
The pressure slowly eased. Although they still asked questions about the campaign or changed the subject every few seconds to offer their daughters, invite to dance, or ask to visit their mansions, the intensity was no longer the sa. I simply declined politely, smiled as if I didn't understand their insinuations, and pretended that choosing food took all my attention.
Now that there weren't so many perfus mixing in the air, I could breathe more easily, and while I searched for sothing with fewer spices—that wouldn't look suspicious or cause indigestion—I felt sothing change in the atmosphere. A wave of footsteps was approaching.
I turned around and confird the inevitable: the Emperor was heading directly towards , accompanied by his son, Karl-Franz.
I made sure to have the right posture, stood up straight, and prepared myself for whatever was coming.
It didn't take long for the Emperor to be standing right in front of , surrounded by mbers of the Reiksguard who ford a protective circle around us.
"I've heard sothing, young Graf…" said the Emperor.
"What happened? Is there sothing I should know?" I asked with interest, looking directly at him.
"No… sothing you didn't report in detail, ha, ha," replied the Emperor with a light laugh.
"Sothing I didn't report? I'm sure I detailed everything that corresponded as part of the war loot, Your Majesty," I responded seriously.
"I an that you didn't ntion anything about crushing three more Bretonnian ducal armies during your campaign. While I was talking to the Archlector about your city rights, he inford that you defeated three more dukes. I was quite surprised... considering I don't know anyone who forgets to ntion sothing so important," said the Emperor with a curious smile.
I slapped my hand to my face and hit my forehead with my gauntlet. "I knew I'd forgotten sothing... I apologize, Your Majesty. That could have changed many of the decisions regarding the army that replaced ."
"There's nothing to apologize for… in fact, this makes the campaign much easier than I expected. Four Bretonnian ducal armies crushed... that news will cheer many regarding the results. I just find it curious that you forgot sothing so important... I'll think of sothing to reward you. But for now, I'm more interested in you eting my son, Karl-Franz, with Sigmar's blessing, future Emperor and heir to my lands," said the Emperor while pointing to a tall young man.
Although I was nearly a head taller than him, he had determined eyes. There was sothing in his gaze... admiration? Hard to tell. His shoulders were broad, his posture firm. It was the legendary Franz.
"Graf Albrecht, His Imperial Majesty," I said, extending my hand, realizing too late that I had forgotten the formalities. It was too late now: I had already extended my arm.
I looked at those present, expecting so judgnt for my oversight, but only heard the prince's laughter.
"Ha, ha… Karl-Franz, Graf. It's a pleasure to et you. I've heard stories about you... although at first, we thought they were about your father since you both share the sa na," said the prince, shaking my hand with a smile.
"I hope they were the good ones, Your Majesty. You have no idea what the Bretonnians must be saying about , ha, ha," I responded with a light laugh, resting my hands on my waist and making the tal of my armor clink.
The Emperor began to withdraw, taking many of the nobles with him, leaving part of the Reiksguard with us.
"Only the good ones… about how Sigmar seed to smile upon you in every battle, or how you inspired your n to face the Bretonnians, pushing them to give it all for the Empire," said the young prince in a firm voice.
"Bah... that was collective work. The Empire remains strong as long as each person knows their place on the battlefield," I replied, pointing to the nearby food table.
There, we had a pleasant conversation about my campaigns. No noble interrupted us while we spoke, and for a mont, the noise of the hall seed to fade away. We talked for what felt like hours until the banquet began to near its end.
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If there are spelling mistakes, please let know.
Leave a comnt; support is always appreciated.
I remind you to leave your ideas or what you would like to see.
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