The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

Upon hearing the familiar voice, Ryan froze momentarily before standing up quickly.

"Emilia?"

At the doorway appeared a beautiful and elegant Imperial noblewoman. She wore a lace-embroidered classic princess dress, covered with a lady's wool coat adorned with black crystal buttons. Her long golden hair was styled into a high bun, and her legs, wrapped in black velvet stockings, extended down to black velvet high-heeled shoes with butterfly and skull decorations. 

Hanging below her shoulder was the black and gold lion crest of Nuln, depicting a lion holding golden scales, symbolizing Nuln's high status and just laws. Additionally, she wore a white lion crest carrying a golden sun flag, representing Wissenland's indomitable will against external foes.

Lady Emilia von Lebwitz-Bernadino, an esteemed Imperial noble, appeared before everyone. Her eyes, filled with a mix of longing and joy, locked onto Ryan. "The father of my child, you arrived quite early. I thought I'd have to wait longer."

"Emilia!" Ryan, excited to see her, realized that this boy was indeed his son! He lifted the boy clinging to his leg and placed him on a chair before turning back and opening his arms toward the woman before him. "It's been a long time."

"Hmph! I am now Emmanuelle; I hope you can refer to me as such from now on, Sir Ryan." The lady raised her head, stepping forward with a slight air of indignation. "If it weren't for the child crying to find his father, I wouldn't have come here so quickly."

"Alright, Emilia, no problem, Emilia!" Ryan smiled, still standing with open arms, waiting for his former maid.

"…You're impossible!" Lady Emmanuelle gave Ryan a playful glare before reluctantly stepping forward to hug him. "It's been a while, Ryan, but please call me Emmanuelle from now on."

As she hugged Ryan, smelling his familiar scent, Lady Emmanuelle's face flushed deeply. Trembling slightly, she quickly pushed away, took a few deep breaths, and calmed herself.

It's been two years since they last saw each other.

Emmanuelle suppressed her emotions, feigning a cough before turning to greet Sulia. "Lady Sulia! It's been a long time; congratulations!"

"Congratulations to you too, Emmanuelle." Sulia also rose from her seat. Today, the knightess wore a lace-embroidered long dress with an iris-patterned collar, paired with a red agate unicorn velvet coat. Her long legs, wrapped in black velvet stockings, ended in over-the-knee high-heeled boots. Her golden curls fell to her waist, and her beautiful oval face wore a gentle smile. She approached Emmanuelle and took her hand. "It really has been a long time!"

The two mothers exchanged pleasantries with polite smiles, though Ryan, observing them, felt a subtle tension in the air, as if sparks were flying between his former maid and the knightess, their eyes hinting at some unspoken feelings.

The passage of time had changed things; both women now had children. The reunion seemed to have introduced a certain formality to their relationship.

Ryan's attention shifted to the two children playing nearby. Devonshire, born to Sulia, and Frederick, born to Emmanuelle, were playing together. Seeing Ryan looking at him, Frederick eagerly pulled on Ryan's sleeve. "Daddy! Finally, I get to see daddy! Daddy, play with me, okay? You've never played with me before!"

"What do you want to play?" Ryan asked, picking up his son with a smile, feeling a twinge of guilt for not spending more time with them.

"Hot water hair washing!" Little Frederick shouted excitedly.

"Hot water hair washing? What's that?" Ryan asked, confused.

"Like this!" The boy reached for a beer bottle on the table. His eyes glowed with psychic energy, and the bottle shot toward Ryan's face at high speed!

"This is hot water hair washing!"

"!!!" Ryan quickly extended his hand, his eyes also glowing with psychic energy. The bottle froze in mid-air, then returned to its original position.

The entire process lasted only a moment, leaving everyone stunned.

"Wow! You really are my daddy!" The boy exclaimed, excitedly grabbing Ryan's face. "No wonder you're my dad; you have the same powers as me!"

"Smack!" Ryan, his face flushed with anger, pinched Frederick's cheek. What did he mean, 'Dad has the same powers as me'? It was the son who resembled the father, not the other way around!

"Emilia, how are you teaching our child?" Ryan grumbled at the Imperial lady. "Hot water hair washing?"

"How should I know? Your son's magic was taught by the Great Alchemist," Emmanuelle said, smiling despite Ryan's displeasure. "If you have questions, ask Gelt, not me."

"Why Gelt?" Ryan set Frederick down, who promptly ran off to play with his half-brother Devonshire.

"Lady Elspeth thought it best for Frederick's talents. He has a natural affinity for metal magic," Emmanuelle said proudly, knowing her son's intelligence rivaled that of a seven or eight-year-old despite being under three.

"Alright." Ryan agreed, recognizing the Great Alchemist as an Imperial Archmage of exceptional skill and virtue. If Emmanuelle thought it suitable, so be it.

After some small talk, the three adults sat on the couches. Olica stood behind Ryan, while Sylvia took it upon herself to play with the boys.

"I have already arranged for Frederick to be baptized as a godson of Emperor Karl Franz," Emmanuelle said. Over two years in Nuln had matured her, shedding the youthful innocence that once characterized her. Now, she appeared as a mature, beautiful, and dignified Imperial noblewoman, exuding wisdom and charm. "It's a compromise, Ryan; don't blame me."

"Did the Emperor request it?" Ryan asked, amused.

"I initiated it." Emmanuelle adjusted her dress slightly, feeling a bit awkward. "It's for Frederick's future, and it's a compromise. You know, I don't trust the Empire or its emperor. I trust Karl Franz as a person, and since he needs me in this position, I'll stay."

"Do you trust Ryan?" Sulia interjected, her sea-blue eyes watching the two boys.

"They were building blocks together."

"I only trust Ryan Mackado." Emmanuelle responded with deep meaning. "I know why Ryan came to Altdorf at this time."

"I'm just here to watch the competition and see who becomes the next Royal Chief Archmage." Ryan smiled.

After a pause, he added, "I thought you would support Nuln's Black Lady."

"In my position, yes, I should. But now I support Gelt, the Empire's Great Alchemist."

"Understood." Sulia nodded, hesitating briefly before saying, "So do we."

"You can support whoever you want, Lady Sulia," Emmanuelle said, stroking a gold ring on her left hand. "But I can't. If the Black Lady were to contest the position, I'd have to support her. However, Nuln has compromised, so I must also compromise."

"A small gift from Gelt?" Ryan asked, somewhat sardonically.

"A new gunpowder formula, an engineering marvel, and an alliance with the Amethyst College," Emmanuelle sighed. "These have impressed the officers and professors of the Nuln Gunnery School, not to mention the Black Lady, who has allied with Gelt."

"Hmm…" Ryan stood up, gazing out the window, frowning in thought.

Emmanuelle's three titles were substantive, just like Ryan's.

However, she differed fundamentally from Ryan.

Nuln needed a lady of her stature to maintain the existing order, while the new order in Bretonnia was Ryan's creation, having dismantled the kingdom's internal and external threats.

When the Nuln Ironclad Army and the Black Lady agreed on something, Emmanuelle had to comply.

But Ryan did not have to worry about such constraints; he no longer needed to heed anyone's whims.

"Odor has received support from Archbishop Vikmar of the Church of Sigmar, as well as from Supreme Patriarchs of the Celestial College and the Supreme Celestial Astrologer Skorn 'The Radiant'." Emmanuelle shared her intelligence with Ryan.

"The Great Alchemist Gelt has the backing of the Nuln Ironclad Army and Lady Elspeth, the Amethyst College's head, as well as some in the Reikland army."

"The current Supreme Patriarch of the Bright College, Teclis Gernam, enjoys significant support from lower-ranking soldiers, the Supreme Patriarch of the Amber College, and the Jade College. However, the Shadow College's stance remains unclear, though it's unlikely a Shadow Mage will become the Royal Chief Archmage; they prefer blending into the city's underbelly, so their opinion isn't crucial."

Historically, the position of Royal Chief Archmage often rotated among the Light, Bright, and Celestial Colleges. The title brought substantial resources, the Emperor's favor, and the authority to command Imperial troops, making it a coveted position among Empire mages.

Ryan couldn't help but chuckle at this, as Bretonnia's system wasn't like this.

"And who does Karl prefer?" Ryan asked.

"Uncertain." Emmanuelle shook her head. "At least until the election of the Royal Chief Archmage, Karl Franz will not openly express his preference. I only know that he respects Odor, esteems Gernam, and relies on Gelt."

"…" Ryan pondered that Gelt's ascension would benefit him, but he wasn't sure if Gelt's power

 could dominate the competition.

Electing the Royal Chief Archmage isn't solely about magical prowess. Before Gelt's rise, the Alchemy College was among the weakest of the eight colleges. The Light College, with Teclis' vast legacy, had produced the first Royal Chief Archmage, Volan, personally appointed by Teclis.

(Incidentally, Volan was a greatsword wielder before revealing his identity as a mage.)

The Bright College, on the other hand, currently boasted the most powerful and influential mages, with the largest numbers due to the straightforward and devastating nature of fire magic (both for enemies and the caster's allies).

"Ryan, we should heed Emmanuelle's advice and wait to see how things unfold," Sulia said calmly. "We're guests, not part of the Imperial court. Acting hastily could backfire."

"Let's set this issue aside for now. Emmanuelle, how have you been these past two years?" Ryan acknowledged Sulia's point and changed the subject, asking how Emmanuelle had fared.

"The Nuln palace is grand but cold," Emmanuelle began, initially wanting to assert her independence from Ryan. However, catching Sulia's amused glance, she decided to be honest. "Besides banquets and Frederick, there's not much else."

"Why don't you and Frederick stay here for a while?" Ryan suggested, moved by her response. "We can explore and enjoy the city together."

"You better treat us equally!" Emmanuelle glanced at Sulia, her voice playful. "I'm here too, and so is Frederick."

"Hehe, Emmanuelle, is this how you handle the Nuln City Council?" Ryan laughed heartily, understanding why his former maid had secured such a high position.

"Electioneering is like that." Emmanuelle smiled wryly. "A majority of fools wielding ballots to pressure a minority of elites."

"But it's one of the few ways to prevent a few elites from monopolizing the court." Sulia interjected, her face still serene. "The court does not always hear every voice."

"So are we choosing a creditor or a leader?" Emmanuelle grumbled.

"We're choosing a good leader, not just a leader." Sulia replied.

"Leaders like Ryan are rare." Emmanuelle's tone turned slightly sour. "You've gotten all the benefits, Lady Sulia."

With that, they all laughed, knowing no more needed to be said.

At the same time, in the Imperial Palace, Emperor Karl Franz sat behind a large desk, seemingly reviewing documents but actually conversing with Archbishop Vikmar, who sat opposite him.

"Odor has proven himself capable of resisting chaos corruption. He and Conal discovered Egrim's fall and saved the Pyramid of Light," Archbishop Vikmar argued. "So I believe Odor is the best candidate for the next Royal Chief Archmage."

"But even the appointment of the Royal Chief Archmage must follow the basic laws left by Lord Teclis, including elections and contests to determine the outcome…" The Emperor tried to emphasize. "I think we should respect the competition results."

"The competition only measures the contestants' abilities." Vikmar disagreed. "Power can be good or bad. You mentioned Egrim's example; don't you think Gelt's rapid growth is somewhat suspicious?"

"Gelt had an extraordinary encounter," the Emperor insisted.

"An encounter? Or a sign of corruption?" Vikmar pressed. "Many mages have gained power through corruption. While Emperor Charlemagne showed us a bright path, the dark gods continue to corrupt the Old World unnoticed…"

"Your Majesty! A report!" Just then, a Reiksguard entered, fully armored, striding in briskly.

"Rudolph? What's the matter?" Karl Franz immediately paused the conversation. Seeing the interruption, Archbishop Vikmar frowned but stopped, clutching his staff.

"…It's about the Royal Chief Archmage competition. Lord Gernam has arrived in Marienburg by sea." The Reiksguard, taken aback by the Archbishop's presence, stammered but quickly composed himself.

Rudolph took a deep breath and clumsily touched the ink bottle on the desk, feather quill in hand.

The Emperor noticed the gesture.

"Oh? Gernam has arrived?" The Emperor smiled warmly, showing interest. He leaned forward.

The ink bottle moved closer to the Reiksguard's hand, along with a piece of parchment.

"Tell me more. How is his exploration on Obian Island going?"

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