The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

"Emanuelle, Duke of Nuln, Grand Duke of Wissenland, and the claimant and rightful heir to the title of Elector of Brescia..." Elector Umberto spoke with the weight of his age, having lived over two hundred years and fought alongside the Savior Ludwig in the Great Crusade.

Elector Vamir's eyes sparked with thought, reflecting on his legitimate son, Oleg von Rukov. However, the light faded as he remembered that imperial law forbade the merging of Elector families, maintaining that no single family could hold more than two Elector votes.

"Emanuelle von Liebwitz-Benadino, the legitimate daughter of the former Elector of Brescia and Grand Duke of Wissenland, Andrea Benadino, became lost after the Battle of the Dragon Forest. Later, the Griffon Knights were dispatched to drive back the beastmen tribes surrounding Wissenberg, but Emanuelle disappeared, and her Electorship was temporarily held by Gianni Benadino, Andrea's cousin, whose claim is weak... My liege, since you know of Emanuelle's whereabouts, why have you not sent for her?" Marshal Helborg was the first to break the silence with this question. "Why leave the title of Duke of Nuln suspended and allow others to usurp the Electorship and the Grand Duchy of Wissenland?"

"His Majesty has his reasons for such actions," finally spoke the Standard Bearer Ludwig.

"Gentlemen, you must understand one thing: when Emanuelle disappeared, she was but a teenager. What do you think awaits a girl who suddenly claims to be the Elector, Duke of Nuln, and Duchess of Wissenland?" Emperor Karl-Franz said, "Don't forget, most of Wissenland's elite troops and Brescia's supporters were annihilated in the Battle of the Dragon Forest!"

"At this time, Emanuelle has neither her own loyal troops nor nobles who support her. What do you think would happen if she rashly claimed to be the rightful heir to these titles?" Karl-Franz scoffed. "I've met Emanuelle many times when we were children. She is not foolish. At this stage, rather than being manipulated by those nobles, it's better for her to disappear!"

The assembly nodded in agreement, and then Elector Umberto added, "So... Emanuelle chose to disappear, thereby preserving her strong claim to those titles. Is she waiting for an opportunity to return, to see you and plead her case, Karl?"

"Perhaps, or perhaps not," the Emperor shook his head. "From what I see, she seems quite happy being a maid, showing no desire to return to the empire."

The room fell silent.

"The blood of the Benadino family cannot be exiled for long. Since you, Your Majesty, know where she is, you should acknowledge her and bring her back! Nuln's numerous knightly orders and the Nuln Ironclad Army still recognize Emanuelle as their true liege. Lady Elspeth von Draken of the Amethyst Order of death magic has also been tirelessly searching for her. She lacks neither supporters nor people seeking her," Helborg still did not understand why Karl-Franz would not acknowledge Emanuelle.

"Helborg, you must be mistaken. Those nobles searching for Emanuelle do not truly support her; their goal is to capture her, have their kin marry her, and quickly produce a legitimate heir. Then, Emanuelle becomes disposable," interjected the Grand Alchemist Gelt. "A poisoned cup, a runaway carriage, an 'accident'—and Emanuelle would be gone from this world, her child naturally inheriting the Electorship. Thus, these ambitious nobles would seize an Electorship and two duchies."

"Exactly, those nobles only want Emanuelle for her claims!" The Emperor's expression was stern as he gazed at the flickering candlelight on the silver candlestick. "She was only a teenager at that time. What could she do even if I acknowledged her and brought her back to Nuln? If I had rashly acknowledged Emanuelle then, it would have not only exposed her but also thrown her prematurely into the whirlpools of Nuln's court politics!"

Everyone present felt a deep respect for the Emperor's wisdom and foresight. Indeed, acknowledging her at that time would have only harmed Emanuelle.

"Over the years, the situation has changed. Nuln's nobles are fed up with the Schroeder family's regency. They have managed Nuln disastrously, and everyone now hopes to welcome back Emanuelle, returning the control to the Benadino family, as they need a change. Things can't get any worse... As for Wissenland, Gianni as the acting Elector is hardly

 fit to rule. He spends his days dreaming of chivalric adventures like the Grail Knights across the mountains, disliked by both the common folk and the nobles of Wissenland."

"Moreover, those families and armies that once supported the Benadinos have taken over a decade to regain their strength, especially the Nuln Ironclads, the Wissenland Black Rose Legion, and the knightly orders. They have mostly restored their former order and seek to regain their lost glory. Their first step is to welcome Emanuelle back, or they will never wash away the shame of failing to protect their Elector."

Elector Vamir and Elector Umberto nodded repeatedly. The situation had changed, and the staunch supporters of the Benadino family had regained their strength, especially needing Emanuelle, the true heir.

"What's more, Emanuelle is now in her twenties. Having spent years with Ryan, she must have matured a lot, and she also has the strong support of Ryan. It's impossible for there to be no affection between them. Suppose Emanuelle indeed inherits the Electorship and faces a military threat, would Ryan stand by idly?" The Emperor smiled. "And once Ryan is involved in a war against evil, the Grail Knights and the Lady of the Lake will also be drawn in. Ryan's presence not only bolsters Emanuelle's support outside of Nuln's court but also serves as a strategic asset we can leverage."

"Moreover, with Ryan's presence, those in Nuln's court who dare harm Emanuelle will be significantly fewer. When the time comes, we only need to send an army to protect her to Nuln," suggested Elector Vamir.

"The issue is not so simple. The fall of Lord Andrea himself is shrouded in mystery... We do not know what role the Schroeder family and Gianni played in that affair," the Emperor nodded. "However, without a doubt, if the Elector's sacred sword, the Rune Fang 'Western Fire,' is still in Emanuelle's hands, she can prove herself."

"Acknowledging Emanuelle and welcoming her back to the empire requires an opportunity, which I have already begun preparing for. When the time comes, I will need your help."

"We will be there, Your Majesty."

...

Meanwhile, in a luxurious noble suite of the Imperial Royal Guesthouse, within the study, Ryan sat behind a large desk, clad only in a shirt and trousers, cradling a cool, delicate body. The woman's long black hair covered her tender back, her shapely body accented by the curves beneath. Her petite nose was adorned with black butterfly-patterned eyeglasses, and her face and silver pupils seemed a bit vacant.

The female sorceress wore a silk shadow dream pendant dress, revealing her pale, jade-like shoulders. Her long, sleek legs clad in black silk stockings dangled from the desk, encircled by Ryan's arms. A silver butterfly strap high heel hung from one of her feet, gently swaying with her movements, the high slit of her dress revealing her long legs in full.

Teresa was limp as a noodle, her hands hanging lifelessly, devoid of strength.

Ryan tenderly embraced Teresa, both of them closing their eyes, savoring the moment.

The cause of this situation was Ryan's recent vigor, which the female knight could barely withstand. Sulia had arranged a day off for herself, lending Ryan to Veronica and Teresa.

Veronica lay motionless on the bed in the next room, thoroughly spent after several intense encounters. The witch Jaelan was sound asleep, worn out and content. Ryan had given her a goodnight kiss and tucked her in.

After a while, the female sorceress spoke.

"Six years, Ryan... thinking back on everything we've been through feels like a dream," Teresa murmured.

"Is it a beautiful dream?" Ryan opened his eyes.

"Not exactly a beautiful dream... If you had married me, that would have been a beautiful dream." The female sorceress gave Ryan a coquettish look, leaning against him as his hands roamed over her silky legs. "As for how things turned out... I can only say it's not too bad, but it's nothing special."

"My dear Teresa, from any standpoint, I could not marry a witch. My father would not agree, my foster father would not agree, the Lady would not agree, and the nobles of the kingdom would find it hard to accept." Ryan knew he owed a lot to Teresa and Veronica, who had given up much to follow him, but circumstances dictated otherwise.

Regarding his own marriage, he had discussed it with the Emperor, who had given him two choices: either Sulia or Emilia. Both girls had pure human bloodlines; he could not consider anyone else, as the Emperor would not agree.

"You've always been a realist. The entity known as Ryan is composed

 of five parts realism and four parts idealism," Teresa said, somewhat distressed.

"And the remaining part?" Ryan asked curiously.

"The remaining part?" Teresa glanced down at the hand exploring her legs and said irritably, "It's your hobby... When will you need me? I'm already thirty-three this year!"

Ryan burst into laughter. "Women are pleased by those who please them."

"How about the Midwinter Festival? We'll spend this year's festival in the imperial capital," Ryan suggested, kissing the sorceress on her cold lips. Teresa blushed, nodding. "Alright, I'll tell my mother I'm willing to be your court lady."

"Good."

"And... I also want a child."

"No problem, I will give you a child."

After some tender moments, the female sorceress produced a map, showing it to Ryan. "This is a layout of the Cathedral of the Church of Justice, drawn by Veronica and me after some time."

"Hmm." Ryan held the sorceress, listening as she explained.

"We've seen the Cathedral of the Church of Justice from the outside many times. It is considered one of the great wonders of the Old World, the religious center of the Church of Justice and the Charlemagne faith, and the seat of the Archbishop. Therefore, it's also seen as one of the power centers of the Old World. Many scholars believe that sometimes the Archbishop has more power than the Emperor himself," Teresa outlined the background of the cathedral.

Today, the two witches had visited the cathedral with Tigris. Ryan, to avoid suspicion, had not accompanied them, giving them a chance to scout the location twice.

The magnificent stone reliefs and façades overlook the surrounding city district, showcasing to hidden Chaos followers and commoners the righteous judgment following battles against evil. The cathedral's main hall is truly a marvel of human architecture in the Old World, with its golden vaulted ceilings connecting countless balconies and arches, unforgettable to any visitor. Sacred light and flames burn eternally inside, with hundreds of battle priests and penitents patrolling day and night, and numerous witch hunters frequenting the place. These witch hunters, now under the church's employ, regularly pray here and receive the sacraments of holy water and communion to help them fight the corruption they face from constant battles against Chaos.

"Besides the battle priests and penitents, many paladins patrol the church... I can feel they don't really like us, but they keep quiet out of respect for the Emperor," Teresa's cheeks reddened, clearly influenced by Ryan's roving hands.

"What about the relics?" Ryan continued, his expression unchanged except for a mischievous smile.

"The church's relics and many powerful and forbidden books and artifacts are stored beneath the Reliquary. It's rumored that portraits of Charlemagne painted by others during his lifetime and documents he signed are hidden there. If these items truly exist, they are among the most precious artifacts of the Old World," Teresa frowned. "Archbishop Wickmar denied our request to visit the Reliquary, stating that humanity's heroes needed rest. However, he himself often works and prays in the Reliquary."

"I see. This will be difficult," Ryan thought about how he and Tigris would gain access to the Reliquary to retrieve the first fragment of Lilith's Crown.

Normally, if Ryan needed to infiltrate a place, he wouldn't do it like typical rogues and assassins; his method would involve eliminating every enemy he encountered, ensuring no one could reveal his presence since the dead don't speak.

However, this approach obviously couldn't be applied to his fellow humans, and with so many priests, paladins, zealots, penitents, pilgrims, and numerous nobles coming and going in the Cathedral of the Church of Justice, Ryan couldn't possibly kill all these fellow humans.

Even if he did decide to fight, Ryan and Tigris alone wouldn't be enough to take on so many, and with the Cathedral situated in the heart of Brunswick, Rick's Imperial Guard could arrive within five minutes.

Ryan thought he needed to plan more carefully.

"Let's leave it at that for today. We should rest," Ryan shook his head, signaling for them to rest.

"Rest? Are you going to Veronica's room or staying in mine?" Teresa suddenly asked mischievously.

"I should go to Veronica's side. After all, between us, there hasn't been..." Ryan glanced around, knowing what the sorceress was implying and deliberately avoiding the topic.

Teresa raised an eyebrow, her hints couldn't be more obvious, and yet this man was pretending to be clueless?!

No matter, this man's weakness was all too clear.

The sorceress's cheeks flushed as she whispered in Ryan's ear, "If you spend the night with me, I won't take off my stockings... How about that?"

"That sounds great! Alright, my dear Teresa, it's time for us to

 rest!" Ryan's eyes lit up as he scooped up the sorceress and headed to the room.

...

With the arrival of the last Elector, Utterbad Elector and Duke of Stirland, Albert Haupt-Anderson, all the Electors were now present.

The Imperial Congress was officially convened.

___________________

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