In the fields of the Winford Duchy, ice and snow gradually lted away, and a hint of spring appeared on the land.
Lake God Witch Mogiana sat sideways on the Unicorn Hilphain, followed by a group of Holy Grail Knights, advancing along the muddy road.
Due to the thawing ice and snow, the roads were sowhat muddy, and the knights' marching speed was relatively slow. This gave Mogiana more ti to think. The Lake God Witch wore a brown woolen coat, with a gray embroidered silk gown inside, and white soft boots peeking out from under the hem.
Just now, she received a magic communication.
This was a very strange magic communication because the sender wasn't a human, or an elf, nor a vampire, but a tree spirit within the forest.
An elder tree-man nad Desiree sent a ssage to Mogiana, inviting the Lake God Witch to Charon Forest for a eting, hoping to discuss the matter of an alliance.
"Your Highness, are you heading directly to Bodlukes?" asked a Holy Grail Knight. The disturbances caused by the vampires of Musillon were no longer news in the Kingdom; many peasants and even nobles were troubled, as the terror brought by the Blood Red Duke was a half-open secret in this country.
Mogiana had been waiting for the King's action. Normally, gathering armies and leading the dukes in battle wasn't her responsibility. The Lake God Witch's duties were more about guiding the faith of the Lake Fairy, managing the Lake God Prophet of the Saintess Order, assigning tasks to the Holy Grail Knights, and finding magically talented prodigies.
Most of the ti, the Lake God Witch and the King did not conflict, each performing their duties in harmony.
However, while the Blood Red Duke was continuously amassing a vampire army, there was no word from the King at all. Richard showed no action, and the restless Mogiana finally couldn't bear it. She left her tower and headed to the front lines with the Holy Grail Knights.
"No, I'm not heading to Bodlukes. You go to the Boldro Duchy to help Bodric coordinate defenses and deal with those Black Chalice Knights. I'm going to the Baron Gene's Domain; I have sothing to do." Mogiana said in a deep voice.
"Yes." The Holy Grail Knights acknowledged and departed, while Mogiana galloped towards the Baron Gene's Domain: "Go, Hilphain, faster."
After two days, Mogiana arrived at Laine's domain.
"Your Highness Mogiana?" Laine was very surprised by the Lake God Witch's arrival.
Simultaneously, equally surprised were the Duke of Winford, Francois, and his pair of children, who were guests in Laine's castle.
Since the Lake Fairy personally promised the marriage, Francois agreed imdiately. He ca to discuss the engagent with Laine. The engagent ceremony was simpler than the wedding, and both Francois and Laine planned to keep it low-key, saving the grand celebration for the wedding.
Thus, in the drawing room on the second floor of the castle, Mogiana joined the discussion.
"Your Highness, if you were coming here, you could have given us a heads-up. I wasn't prepared," Laine said, placing a sumptuous array of tea and wine before Mogiana.
Surya wore the standard Brittania Marchioness dress and sat beside Laine. Today's events made her very shy, keeping her head down in everything she did.
But a female knight is still a knight. What she learned from her father was never about being bashful or avoiding issues. Just as when the Lake Fairy asked if she was willing, Surya gave a firm answer without hesitation. Likewise, she held Laine's hand tightly now, declaring her determination to her father, her brother, and the visiting Mogiana.
Seeing the tight grip between Laine and Surya's hands, Mogiana discreetly furrowed her brow. She adjusted her gown and softly asked, "Is this the Lady's will?"
"Yes, Your Highness, this is the Lady's will." Francois, with a faint smile on his elegant face, said to the Lake God Witch: "I also think Laine is an excellent young man. We plan to hold the engagent ceremony on this year's Lily Day, which is also the Lady's birthday."
The Duke's legitimate son, Julius, who had just returned from an expedition, also nodded. This Kingdom Knight looked at Laine with a gaze that was both dangerous and sowhat comforting.
Mogiana just felt an inexplicable irritation. As the First Divine Chosen of the Lake Fairy and her representative in the mortal world, the Lake God Witch would not defy the Lake Fairy's orders, so she simply nodded lightly: "Since it's the Lady's will, I have no objections."
After sitting for a while, Laine asked about the reason for Mogiana's visit: "Your Highness? Why have you suddenly co here? I thought you would head directly to Bodlukes."
"I ca here because a tree spirit invited to et within the Charon Forest to discuss a temporary alliance." Mogiana held the Potion Chalice in her hand. Besides Laine, the Duke of Winford's family was the only company present. Mogiana wasn't as aloof as usual, raising her golden eyebrows: "So I ca here first, and then enter the Charon Forest from your side."
"An alliance request?" Laine asked in confusion. "I rember most tree spirits are vicious and isolationist. Why would a tree spirit want to ally with the Kingdom?"
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