The son of the God-Emperor in Warhammer Fantasy

The warm welcome from the people of Nuln made Ryan and his group feel very honored. Even Karl Franz himself might not have received such a grand reception from the proud citizens of Nuln. This show of respect even made Alfred, the newly promoted, feel good about himself. Ryan, standing beside Emilia, couldn't help but feel a bit proud as well. Holding little Frederick, his son stood tall and proud.

Suria, holding little Devonshire, observed the situation and smiled, shaking her head. The knightess saw through everything.

In reality, Emilia had played a little trick.

She held her child and appeared together with Ryan. In such a situation, Nuln had to show the highest level of courtesy and welcome to their Duchess and her heir, bringing Ryan along.

But was Nuln truly welcoming Ryan?

Suria only sneered at this.

However, something unexpected happened. Emilia immediately handed little Frederick to Ryan, then warmly embraced Suria, her face beaming with a bright smile, inviting her to accept the cheers of her subjects together. The citizens of Nuln cheered louder and louder. "Sister Suria, do you like it?"

"Emilia... thank you." Suria could only manage a slightly awkward but polite smile, holding little Devonshire and standing with Emilia to accept the crowd's cheers.

Grand Marshal Erstein of Nuln strode forward, saluting the Imperial Duchess, followed by a group of high-ranking nobles, each wearing sharp swords and a standard-issue firearm. The mustachioed Marshal approached Emilia. "Beloved Duchess, welcome back to your faithful Nuln."

"Er, has anything happened in the city during my absence?" Emilia asked lightly.

"Nothing major, but the infamous murder in Altdorf—the Von Lac family massacre—has also affected the city," Grand Marshal Erstein replied promptly to the Duchess's inquiry. "Baron Werner and his heir perished in that disaster. Now, the distant relatives of the Lac family are fiercely competing for the headship and the family mansion. Everyone is awaiting your judgment."

"I will make a fair judgment," Emilia replied skillfully. "But currently, I am unaware of the details and must learn about the situation first."

"Of course!" Erstein nodded, his report concluded.

"My Lady, the anniversary of Ludwig the Savior's birth is in a few days," said a priest in a black robe, holding a staff adorned with a golden griffon and twin-tailed comet. The bald, elderly priest was Kazimir IX, one of the two high prelates of the Cult of Sigmar and its leader in Nuln, wielding significant power in the city. Even Emilia had to consider his opinions. "We hope you can officiate."

"Of course, I will," Emilia agreed.

"My Lady..." Various nobles and clergy approached Emilia with their requests. Ryan, holding Frederick, seemed overlooked, but he didn't mind, playing with his son instead.

"Daddy, look, Mommy never plays with me," Frederick complained, mimicking a shrug. "And those men in black don't play with me either. Altdorf was better. Godfather, Master Gelt, and Grandpa Ludwig would play with me."

"Play, play!" little Devonshire also extended his tiny hands, struggling in his mother's arms. "Play Amiru!"

"Amitr!"

"Amiru!"

The children's argument amused the gathered nobles. At this moment, the High Judge of Nuln, Theodore Bruckner, also approached. "Welcome to Nuln, Lord Ryan."

"Hello, Theodore," Ryan greeted, nodding while managing little Frederick, who was climbing all over him.

"Alright, let's go inside." Emilia signaled for everyone to enter the city after handling the initial matters. Though slightly impatient with these tasks, she knew her duty as Nuln's ruler.

The large group slowly moved into the city.

If Altdorf impressed Ryan with its hustle and bustle, a blend of human virtues and vices in a grand chaotic mix, then Nuln was like a meticulously cut, dazzling diamond.

The city's streets and buildings were laid out like a precise chessboard. Designed by master planners at Nuln University, this Imperial gem was perfectly organized, with clean, straight streets, lampposts, flowerbeds, uniformly high buildings, prosperous avenues, and bright tones reflecting its vitality and prosperity.

Yet, the city was also enveloped in black smoke. Nuln's forges operated at full capacity, producing vast quantities of war materials, shrouding the city in a pungent haze. Ash fell like rain from the sky.

Nuln epitomized order, showcasing both its beauty and its necessary evils.

Many dwarf craftsmen settled here, opening forges aided by the Reik River, which transported endless supplies of ore and coal. Additionally, Nuln was home to the main temple and headquarters of the Goddess of Justice, Verena.

"Better a bed in Nuln than a house in Wissenland," Ryan quoted a saying that had been popular in Nuln for centuries, smiling at his wife. "Suria, guess how much this house by the roadside is worth?"

"…500 gold crowns?" Suria guessed offhandedly, holding their son. She was a bit upset, having been tricked by Emilia, and Ryan could tell, so he tried to engage her in conversation.

Five hundred gold crowns would buy a decent two-story house in Bretonnia's capital.

"No, guess again," Ryan smiled. "Too low."

"A thousand?" Suria frowned.

"Two thousand five hundred gold crowns," Ryan laughed, pointing to a two-story house with a small yard. "A house like that, two floors with 4-5 rooms and a small yard, costs 2,500 gold crowns in Nuln. An artisan earning fifty crowns a year would need to save for fifty years without spending a penny to buy a house in Nuln."

"...Is property here really that expensive?" Suria was surprised. She realized that Angron's dowry of ten thousand crowns would only buy four houses in Nuln.

"Yes, this is Nuln," Ryan nodded, laughing more. "And unlike Altdorf, Nuln doesn't welcome everyone. Living here requires either buying a house—an almost impossible task for many—or renting one with a temporary residence permit. Even a small room costs 10-15 crowns a year, but it's the price to stay in Nuln."

"Despite the high property prices and exorbitant rents, countless young people flock here every year seeking opportunities." Alfred added with a wry smile. The newly appointed Patriarch of Freya's Ancient Cathedral and Grand Master of the Knights of the Temple Order realized that even with his salary, it would take years to afford a house in Nuln, feeling a bit embarrassed. "If you had a house in Nuln, it wouldn't have been so troublesome at the Margarethe Grand Hotel," Ryan teased, remembering an old incident. "To marry a Nuln noblewoman, you need a house, Grand Master Alfred."

"A house is necessary? Why?" Ingrid, the female Norscan, didn't understand. "Such an expensive thing, why buy it? It doesn't make you stronger. Isn't it enough to have a place to sleep?"

"Hahahaha!" Ryan laughed heartily.

"What's so funny!" Ingrid was annoyed, knowing she couldn't compete with Ryan, and could only glare at him.

"That's just how it is in Nuln," Emilia said, having finished her tasks. She chuckled. "For Norscans, any place to sleep is fine. But for Nulnites, and most Old World humans, without owning a home, they can't sleep soundly. They would rather spend decades, even generations, to buy a house than use the money for enjoyment. Erstein, tell them how much your house is worth."

"My house is in Nuln's inner city, covering about an acre, with fifteen rooms, a stable, and a garden. It's valued at about 23,000 gold marks," Grand Marshal Erstein respectfully answered. "But I must correct the Duchess. My house wasn't bought but earned through military merit. We believe building a house is more comfortable than buying one."

"Twenty-three thousand gold marks…" Apart from Ryan, everyone in the group felt the pressure.

But that's Nuln, where land is worth its weight in gold.

Crossing the Reik Bridge spanning Nuln's district, they passed the shantytown into the Temple University District. This area housed many of the Empire's ancient and prestigious schools, the academic heart of the Empire, as well as Nuln's foundries and gunnery school. Temples of the Old World gods were also established here. Like Altdorf, Nuln had a large zoo and a significant wizard's guild, comparable to the Imperial College of Magic. The city was well-equipped to be the capital. If Karl Franz wished, he could move his court to Nuln tomorrow, provided the city's mistress agreed.

Beyond the Temple University District lay the northeast wealthy district, home to Nuln's high nobles, generals, wizard leaders, and city council. Behind the city council stood Emilia's Elector's palace, boasting over a hundred rooms, independent walls, a clock tower, and turrets.

Naturally, Ryan's party stayed at the Elector's palace.

Luxurious rooms, splendid wooden floors, large floor-to-ceiling windows, various decorative sculptures, and expensive paintings. Ryan relaxed in a soft armchair. "Truly luxurious, my ducal castle can't compare. Emilia lives in a fantastic place."

Devonshire and Frederick had run off to play as soon as they entered the palace. Frederick wanted to show Devonshire his treasures,

 leaving the space to the adults.

"If you wish, I'm sure Emilia would be happy for you to stay here permanently," Suria sat across from Ryan, smiling knowingly. "Then I'd be left with Devonshire, reminiscing about his heartless father."

"Suria!" Ryan laughed, shaking his head. "Do I look like someone who would do that?"

"Who knows?" The knightess shrugged with a deep meaning. She was about to say more when Ryan mischievously pulled her onto his lap, wrapping his arms around her. "You're jealous, my lady."

"I am not," Suria blushed, looking away.

"But you are," Ryan teased, running his hand through her golden curls, inhaling the scent of her hair.

"She has an entire city, an entire province, tens of thousands of troops, and wealth beyond measure," Suria sighed, leaning against her husband's chest. "How much do you think her palace is worth?"

"A palace has a price, my lady, but you are priceless," Ryan said sincerely, his eyes full of love. "A palace, no matter how grand, can't compare to you and Devonshire. A home is where you are, that's just a house."

"Ryan~" Suria blushed, playfully pinching his waist. "Where did you learn to sweet-talk like that? You sound like a court jester."

"It's not sweet talk, it's a heartfelt confession," Ryan kissed her lightly, suddenly enthusiastic. "My lady, while Emilia is busy and the children are playing, shall we take a walk?"

"Where to?" Suria was interested.

"Let's stroll around, and maybe… check out the Von Lac family mansion for clues about the Cult of Pleasure?"

"Alright then!"

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