PS: Secretly adding an extra Chapter, hopefully, no one will notice.

"So, you traitors! I only give you two choices!" The thought had barely circled in Duke Hagen’s mind. Duke himself was a noble Holy Grail Knight, and he was also extremely angry about such a major incident in his territory, but he didn’t know what to do.

As a paragon of the knightly path and someone who embodied the Eight Virtues of Chivalry, and having undergone the Holy Grail Expedition, Duke Hagen naturally understood the suffering of the common people. He was, of course, saddened by the peasants’ miserable plight. Rationality told him that this was not the peasants’ fault, but rather that cursed Kemler himself! He should face the harshest punishment from the Lady!

Alright, Kemler is dead. This account can be settled.

But as a ruler, Duke Hagen was clearly aware that if he forgave the rebelling peasants too easily, it would set a very bad precedent, which was unacceptable to the Duke.

Duke Hagen could not think of a solution to the problem. If he could, he would rather rise on horseback in the name of the Lady of the Lake and use his personal bravery to solve the problem. It was truly difficult for him to come up with a solution to such a dilemma.

At that moment, the newly appointed Sir Bertrand arrived with Laine’s suggestion for Duke Hagen, simply, one plays the good cop, and the other the bad cop.

Duke Hagen was aware of Bertrand’s deeds. Although he looked down on this mud-born knight from the bottom of his heart, Bertrand had, after all, severely injured Kemler. This made the Duke somewhat favorable towards him. After listening to Bertrand’s opinion, the Duke was very pleased. This plan would work, so let’s do it!

Thus, in front of the rebelling peasants, the soldiers stepped aside, clearing two paths.

The first path led to a nearby barn, where it was filled with dwarves holding weapons. The elite dwarf troops held great hammers and giant axes. The captain, Raymond, shouted from the platform: "Due to an agreement with King Belgar, we need manpower to farm the valley below the Black Stone Stronghold. All peasants willing to go to the valley to farm must go there and start from scratch. Your lives are no longer your own! You must do whatever the dwarves ask of you!"

"Farm for five to eight years, and if you perform well, you can atone for your rebellion. Then, you can restore your status as subjects!"

"Alternatively, if you are unwilling! There is also a second path you may choose!" Raymond gestured behind him: "Please begin your performance!"

The second path led to the execution ground, where five or six executioners stood below, and seven or eight nooses swayed in the air.

The peasants swallowed hard. At this time, anyone with a bit of intelligence knew what choice to make. The crowd of peasants wavered, whispered amongst themselves, and murmured.

"How do we know you’re not deceiving us?" An elderly peasant trembled as he stepped forward to ask: "It’s not that we don’t believe you, but..."

"The Duke would not deceive you because this is an agreement with King Belgar. It’s not that the Duke needs manpower, but King Belgar does! Dwarves never deceive anyone!" Raymond personally vouched: "As for credibility, ladies and gentlemen, I can assure you, it’s absolutely credible!"

"What makes you so sure it’s absolutely credible?" another peasant questioned.

"Because I am just like you!" Raymond took off his round cap, pointing to his own face: "I, too, was a refugee peasant! I was fortunate enough to escape to Count Glamorgan Laine Macado’s domain! After working hard to atone, I became a conscript, then a soldier of the Count, and finally was promoted to captain! Am I not already a sergeant? Have you seen it? I am already a free person!"

"Believe what I say, I swear to the Lady, all of this is true!"

"Boom!" It was as if a bomb exploded in the midst of the rebelling peasants, and their private discussions became more lively.

"Would the knightly masters be so kind?"

"Come on, it’s not like you haven’t heard, it’s not the Duke who wants to pardon us, it’s the dwarves who need manpower to farm!"

"That’s great! As long as they need us to farm for them, they certainly won’t casually take our lives!"

"The Duke is a noble Holy Grail Knight, he certainly wouldn’t lie!"

"Is that Raymond really a runaway slave? He doesn’t look like one to me?"

"He swore to the Lady! How could it be false?!"

After rounds of discussion, the peasants naturally made their decision.

"We are willing to go help the dwarves farm!"

......

"Laine~ do you think those rebellious peasants will agree to farm for the dwarves? Will Duke Hagen agree?" In Laine’s winery, the Count himself was working when a pair of arms like white jade wrapped around his neck from behind, whispering the question.

"They will. Holy Grail Knights, unlike many nobles in your Empire, deeply understand the hardships of the common people through their long expeditions." Laine was correcting some documents, smiling meaningfully: "Although Duke Hagen isn’t very good at internal affairs, he has the advantage of being willing to let go. He might not be able to come up with a solution, but he’ll agree to our conditions. He needs an out, and so do we."

"I see~ Mr. Laine is really impressive~" Little Maid Amelia said with sparkling eyes, her expression full of admiration: "To come up with such a solution."

"Such a clumsy compliment, Amelia." Laine reproachfully pinched Amelia’s soft cheek: "How did you become like this? I don’t like your insincere flattery."

"But we spend so little time together." Amelia’s cheeks puffed up: "You’re always with Surya Sister. We only spend a little time together each week. It’s just not enough!"

"Surya is my wife, Amelia." Talking about this awkward topic, Laine felt a bit embarrassed. The little maid before him was soon to be Prince-Elector and Duchess of Nuer, making him a bit uneasy now. He could only smile in agreement: "By the way, didn’t Surya take you to a court banquet before? What did you see?"

"What else could I see? It’s all just women’s topics, fashionable clothes, shoes, various trivial matters and gossip within the noble circle. There, I saw a group of Baronesses, Countesses, and Marchionesses, and even met the Duchess of Borelion and the Duchess of Kakasong. But undoubtedly the brightest star at the banquet was your Lady Surya. She really stole the show. You know, Laine, everyone knows whose lady she is and how favored she is by the Lady." The little maid said sourly.

After the end of the Winter Festival, Surya took Amelia to Helunhilde for a grand banquet. The banquet mainly invited noble ladies of the southern duchies. Laine didn’t go as he’s not interested in all sorts of gossip among women. He was busy with various accumulated affairs in his domain, handling them for half a day: "In the future, you won’t lose to her, Amelia. I heard Grand Marshal Nuer Erstein will be leading an army to welcome you?"

"Lady Black, Grand Judge Nuer, Grand Marshal Nuer, along with the Nuer Iron Armor Army and over a dozen knight corps, will send people to welcome me. Roughly six weeks left, Laine, I only have six weeks left by your side." Amelia puffed up her cheeks.

"Sounds like we won’t be able to meet each other afterward." Laine casually teased: "It’s not like we can’t meet later. Haven’t I noticed Veronica setting up a magic teleportation array connecting the Wizard Guild of Nuer?"

"That’s different." Amelia snorted a few times, falling silent.

"I need to watch a duel of honor. Amelia, are you interested in joining me?" Laine put aside the signed documents, smiling: "It’s a very exciting duel of honor."

"A duel of honor?" Amelia blinked her bright eyes, asking softly: "Between whom?"

Laine explained the situation to Amelia.

It turns out that Surya’s brother, Laine’s brother-in-law Julius, was ready to start his Holy Grail expedition. This Kingdom Knight now felt his strength far weaker than Laine’s, even somewhat overtaken by his sister Surya, which Julius, prideful as he was, couldn’t accept. After the battle at La-Mesnil Abbey, Julius resolved to begin his Holy Grail expedition.

Before setting out, Julius wanted to test his swordsmanship and lance skills, so he came to Laine’s domain wanting to spar with Laine’s brother. Angerong and Julius, strictly speaking, are considered family. Laine even added the title of Count’s Knight Commander for Angerong.

However, recently Angerong left the Forest Cottage for business. He said he wanted to see the south, but Laine knew it was because the Emperor and Clarkson rarely visited. Angerong planned to go to Tiriel to shop for some coffee and sparkling fruit wine.

After all, he rode the Horned Eagle Beast across, avoiding taxes.

As a result, Julius found Lorgar, who was everywhere exploring cultures and beliefs. The Primarch of the Word Bearers saw someone challenging him, getting very excited, and agreed decisively.

"Let’s go see the duel between Lorgar and Julius, our two older brothers." Seeing Amelia’s interest, but the little maid being shy, Laine took the initiative to hold her hand: "After watching the duel, we can go to the ’Holy Grail Praise’ bar in the city for a meal, and then check what Alfred has been up to recently."

"Ah, alright!" Amelia’s face turned red, immediately agreeing: "Just the two of us?"

"Or would you prefer to invite others?" Laine said with a playful smile.

"Mr. Laine is truly something, knowing my feelings but still testing me, such a black heart!" Amelia’s little face puffed with dark air: "How about finding a chance to capture and kidnap you back to Nuer? I’ll lock you in the Black Tower, using iron chains to bind, giving you good food and drink, and exclusively serve me at night, while also helping me with the children."

"Hahahaha~" Laine laughed nonstop, pulling Amelia along: "Let’s go, just the two of us."

"Hmm!"

It turned out that the conversation with the little maid took quite a bit of time, causing Laine and Amelia to arrive at the duel field when the honor duel was already well underway.

"For the Emperor! His will be done!"

"In the name of the Lady, I shall achieve victory!"