"So, your brother insists on starting the expedition?"

On the sofa in the winery, Laine picked up his tea and said somewhat wistfully, "Before I knew it, my brother has also embarked on this path."

Surya sat beside him, the lady knight also holding red tea. She remarked casually, "This is my brother’s lifelong dream, and father supports him."

"Hmm..." Laine nodded calmly.

Outside, the drizzle continued, marking the arrival of early spring. Year by year, Laine noticed how quickly time passed. Now he had his own domain, his own army, and his own home.

Laine and his wife were discussing Julius. After a bout with Lorgar earlier in the year, Julius formally announced the relinquishment of all his titles to begin the Holy Grail Expedition.

His first stop was the Arden Forest, followed by the Gray Mountain Range. The Expedition Knights would first traverse the entire Brittania as much as possible before considering leaving the Knight Kingdom to explore other places.

Typically, for all Expedition Knights, the first stop would be Bastogne, the birthplace of Brittania’s dragons. Hence, Julius chose Arden Forest to start his journey.

"How about Amelia?" Laine suddenly mentioned his little maid, laughing, "Veronica and I indeed had suspicions about her identity at first, but who would have thought she was the first heir apparent to the Prince-Elector and Duchess? That’s truly unexpected."

The succession laws of Brittania are slightly different from those of the Empire.

The Empire’s laws follow an order of eldest legitimate son, legitimate son, legitimate daughter, eldest legitimate grandson, illegitimate son, and then collateral relations, etc.

Brittania’s laws follow eldest legitimate son, eldest legitimate grandson, legitimate son, legitimate daughter, then collateral relations, and finally, illegitimate son.

That’s why Holy Grail Knight Antelme claimed he is the third heir after Julius and Surya, as he is Francois’ cousin.

The Empire allows for the appearance of a Duchess and permits women to inherit titles, whereas Brittania does not. In principle, the Knight Kingdom does not allow a woman to hold such a high title as Duke. This noblewoman would publicly conduct a courtship under the King’s command, and the successful knight would marry into her family as her partner and inherit the Duke title.

However, Francois seems able to remain in the Duke’s position for quite a long time, in every sense.

"A thousand-man strong army has already been dispatched from Nuer to welcome Amelia, and it will arrive soon. This army will be led by Nuer’s Grand Marshal Erstein, Grand Judge Theodore Brookner, and Nuer’s Lady Black Elspeth, composed of the elite Nuer Iron Armor Army and several Knights Corps from Nuer." Surya, dressed in a fairy-like ivory satin gown outlined with ink, showcased her stunningly beautiful long legs, the lady knight said with a smile that hid a hint of envy, "I’ve heard Amelia lost her temper with you."

"Indeed." Laine couldn’t help but smile wryly at this mention.

As their return to Nuer grew nearer, and due to various reasons, Amelia gradually became irritable and unapproachable.

Especially towards Laine; the little maid sometimes irritably ordered Laine to get lost, not wanting to see him. When he cooperated and distanced himself from Amelia, she’d become furious, wondering if he disliked her and was avoiding her, demanding he return to hold her as she slept.

This left Laine at a loss, though the Count himself understood why Amelia was behaving this way, and so he tried to accommodate her bad temper as much as possible.

Surya also understood this very well; evidently, Amelia harbored intentions of marrying Laine, only to end up with Surya as the victorious one. Despite this, Amelia maintained a very good relationship with Surya, sweetly calling her "sister" at every opportunity.

"You should spend these days accompanying Amelia," Surya said generously.

"...Let’s change the topic." Laine awkwardly diverted the conversation, "Speaking of, a major event recently occurred in the Empire."

"A major event?" Surya asked while taking a bite of her cake.

"A new Holy Sanctuary powerhouse has emerged." Laine placed a document on the table, "Have a look, Surya."

The lady knight received the document.

Just last year, when Kemler ravaged the entire eastern Brittania, Duke Montfort Fulcard naturally sought aid from the Empire, especially from the Prince Rick’s Domain.

Yet the Empire had little response.

Laine was puzzled and later asked Oliver to investigate.

As expected, the Empire was also facing difficulties.

In the same period last year, a Doomsday Fire Dragon named Malatrax wreaked havoc across Rick Territory, leveling several villages and towns, and annihilating the Ebony Hand Knight Order sent to combat the fire dragon.

Emperor Carl Franz pondered deeply on how to solve this issue, issuing a high bounty on one hand, and planning to organize a massive Brunswick Army to eliminate the fire dragon on the other.

Yet, a rising star addressed this problem for the Emperor.

His name was Marcus Wolfhart, a Holy Sanctuary powerhouse.

This hunter led his Monster Hunter Corps in an ambush for the resting and nesting dragon on the Rick River. When the dragon intended to fly over the Rick River, he pierced its heart with three arrows, killing it.

This event shook the entire Imperial Court. Emperor Carl Franz was exceedingly surprised and truly delighted, as Marcus Wolfhart was a man from Midland, Emperor Carl Franz not only immediately dispatched the Rick Guard for commendation but personally summoned this dragon-slaying hunter to Brunswick, to the Imperial Palace, before the imperial throne, intending to confer him with the title of Baron and grant a fertile land to celebrate his dragon-slaying feat.