Nemobrosus

Chapter 93: Capitalism With Avarian Characteristics

All of the commanders of the army of Ravenveld chattered incessantly as the king sat at the table with his arms crossed. Arnoud stared into the distance like no one else was around him, like no one else was talking. Even the Grand Commander, Princess Clara, seemed at a loss of what to do. The prevailing topic of conversation was the sudden disappearance of Sarah and Willem both.

The pair had been their lynchpin in the strategy to fight against the cyclops, and now they were both gone. T...

Chapter 92: Honeymoon March

Willem was very glad to finally lie down in his stiff bedroll and go to sleep. He was proportionately displeased when he was woken up in the middle of that sleep by someone poking his cheek.

Sarah crouched over him, peering down with her black and red eyes.

“I feel too terrible for this to be a dream.” Willem sat up, rubbing his eyes groggily. “Why were you poking me? Did you have a bad dream?”

Sarah shook her head. “I’m saying goodbye.”

Willem narrowed h...

Chapter 91: Romeo and Juliet

Since time immemorial, the people of Ravenveld and Avaria had been sworn enemies.

Countless times their armies had clashed on the field of battle, one of them composed of slaves, the other of dedicated lineages of great warriors. The slave armies had all manner of unnatural creatures, using foul magics long forgotten and arts best left sealed underground. The armies of the Kingdom of Ravenveld, on the other hand, had always been composed of a tighter group of elites that were capable of...

Chapter 90: Dietrich ‘the Glorious’ von Schwarnhelmensteinfeldran

Count Dietrich von Schwarnhelmensteinfeldran was a tall man with a hard jaw, a long nose, and deep-set brown eyes. His dark hair was neatly combed back, and he carried himself with stiff military posture at all times. He stood alert in the commander’s tent, awaiting the day of his doom. Already, the new commander, ‘Willem,’ was late.

Count Dietrich von Schwarnhelmensteinfeldran had been born to command in the second Grand Crusade. To stand atop the battlements, his crimson cloak f...

Chapter 89:...Prepare for the War

"Your Majesty, the problem is freedom from the financial system. Too many people have it,” Willem said. “What I’m offering you is a network where no one spends, earns, or saves without your permission. Taxes pull themselves. Debts pay themselves. Dissidents find themselves very poor, very fast. Your nobles will call it modernization, your merchants will call it opportunity, and your peasants will call it whatever they’re told. You won’t have to argue or negotiate or even explain you...

Chapter 88: If You Want Peace...

Willem walked into the grand workshop that had often been of during his long talks with Karel. This was the van der Heiden workshop. From the sheer grandeur of the place, it was clear that this was the most advanced workshop in the land. The hum of magic could be faintly felt as mages and smiths worked in tandem to turn the most mystical of metals into workable gear.

It didn’t take long for someone to come out to greet Willem, as had been promised. A shrewish looking man with a tall a...

Chapter 87: War Changing

Unfortunately, there wasn’t much business for Willem to attend to. While he might have thrown himself to work looking over the various soap purchases that were occurring around the capital, or focusing on the newly-acquired stakes in Dubois, the majority of that was at hand and micromanagement was largely a detriment. Thus, he was left to attend the very unfortunate reality of his situation. And he’d come to a conclusion.

Suzanne handed Willem the unusual artifact that had once allo...

Chapter 86: Swear Upon Your Life

Willem had a rather difficult conundrum on his hands.

He’d come to enjoy being honest. It was a vaguely fun restriction, where he had to say the truth while doing decidedly underhanded things. A little treachery was expected in investing—one had to buy things for less than they were worth, which was someone dishonest or at the very least opportunistic. Finding enjoyment in it was how he’d reconciled the promise he’d made to his late great wife. He enjoyed keeping the vow that he...

Chapter 85: Down to Business

Willem and Arend travelled alone on a small, humble carriage. Viviene had chosen to remain behind in the Dubois territories, at least until the estate could be settled and the king’s men had decided the fate of the duchy. Willem worked on some papers as the carriage moved, while Arend watched the surroundings.

“So, are we just about done in the Dubois territories?” Arend asked.

Willem nodded. “Not just about. We’re done.” He looked over at Arend, a curious expression o...

Chapter 84: Rival's Revelry

Leonardo and Raphael again stood in the study of the capital estate of the Dukes of Villamar.

“Do you have any idea what you’ve done?” The Duke of Villamar looked at Raphael uncompromisingly. “Bending the knee to that Crown Princess?”

“I’ve done very little, except secure the grace of Her Highness,” Raphael said. “It was clear to me that Willem had the advantage of being the first mover. I thought I wouldn’t be able to find the Red Raven, and I couldn’t. Ever...

Chapter 83: Vulture Capitalism

The largest benefit to being involved in politics, in Willem’s view, was the beautiful prospect of insider trading. Usually, people were left to figure these trifling geopolitical crises out on their own. They had to assess the situation, analyze the risk, decide how much to invest, and puzzle out if more information would come out later that changed things. When one was on the inside, actually making things happen, they could move long before anyone else could to scoop up all of the valuab...

Chapter 82: Taught Too Well

“You need but give the word, Your Majesty, and I’ll see this beast removed from this world,” Galahad said enthusiastically, staring at Sarah as if she was an abomination.

“Speak when spoken to,” King Arnoud commanded. Then, he walked toward Willem and Sarah without fear, tapping that pitch black sword of his on the ground like it was a cane instead of a weapon. “Now… explain yourself. What have you been doing, Willem?”

Before Willem could speak, Sarah spoke up. “...

Chapter 81: Cupid Heart, Stupid Heart

Baptiste stirred when he heard the scrape of boots against the stone. He lifted his broken and beaten head, feeling absolutely miserable. This was worse than any hangover that he had ever endured, and he still wasn’t quite sure what was happening. For some reason, the royal knights had intercepted him, not Tielman, upon the conclusion of the fighting. He’d been in this dismal cell for hours, maybe even a day. It was quite difficult to tell the passage of time with only darkness to keep hi...

Chapter 80: Cooler Heads Prevailed

“I know what you are,” Princess Clara said, staring at Eleanor evenly.

Eleanor sipped at the tea that had been provided for her. This was one of the last places that she expected to end up today. Once Willem told her Clara was interested in diplomacy, Eleanor had put out a few feelers, trying to catch the princess’ attention. She hadn’t expected a bite so quickly. They were certainly taking ample precautions; there were enough guards here to end her without a moment’s delay. 2025-04-15 06:58:27 +0000 UTC View Post

Chapter 79: A Cut Above the Rest

Willem walked to the arena in Ravenveld early in the morning, feeling well rested. He’d never really felt that he needed an excessive amount of sleep, usually only six or so hours. He always had energy enough for the day, even with that amount of sleep. Today, he got a solid eight. That meant that he would be performing above optimal performance.

When he arrived, he found Raphael already waiting in the place that he and Arend often occupied for their sparring sessions.

“You ma...

Chapter 78: Contortionist Extortionist

It was quite early in the morning. It had to be, because as Willem’s fame grew, more and more people were paying attention to the sparring grounds in the arena.

Willem Junior finished another fight with his bodyguard by disarming his foe and kicking his legs out from under him. He paused to look down at Arend, not quite short of breath. “You’re stepping up your game. But it seems like there’s a lot more stairs to climb yet.”

Leaving that behind, Junior passed control bac...

Chapter 77: Happy Wife, Happy Life

Hans sat in a boat in the middle of the lake holding a paddle. This was not quite the way that he expected his day to go, but here he was. Sitting just opposite him was Princess Clara Isabella Eugenia Maria Antonia van Ravenveld. This was not who we expected to be sitting alone with, but here he was. Life worked in mysterious ways.

Yes, alone. There was no one else, not even an attendant. There were guards, true, but they all watched from the shore of the lake.

“I’ve been tell...

Chapter 76: Queen's Gambit

Despite Willem’s concerns, it hadn’t been especially difficult to arrange a meeting with the princess. As it turned out, his name had a lot more weight now that he had become one of the Six Drakes. It wasn’t even so much as half an hour before he was sitting in front of her.

“Do you remember, Your Highness, when you mentioned the possibility of engaging in diplomacy with Avaria?” Willem asked, his hands arrayed before him.

“We believe that her Highness remembers,” on...

Chapter 75: Cat, Mouse, and Louse

“The only advantage that we have over the Red Raven is that she doesn’t know we’re looking for her,” Levente told Pascal, Duke of Sturmbann, whose daughter he had met at the event hosted by Sybrand. “There’s no possible way that she would have been able to learn about our pursuit that quickly. No one’s that good.”

“Are you certain of that?” Pascal asked.

The Duke of Sturmbann was a tall, red headed man, with cold red eyes that seemed dispassionate and calculati...

Chapter 74: Afflicted With the Affections

Willem bore witness to the boring scene of Baron Tielman being raised to the title of Count. There was a lot of talking, ceremony, and symbolism, and none of that suited him well at all. His eyes wandered around the throne room, and eventually settled on Hans. The man was staring up at the seat beside the king’s with a dumb grin on his face. That seat was reserved for his heir. Princess Clara occasionally returned that glance. He couldn’t tell if she was bashful or unnerved by Hans starin...

Chapter 73: Daddy's Girl

King Arnoud arrived to the ball that had been ongoing in the royal carriage. Although he wouldn’t express as much publicly, he harbored a great deal of concern for his daughter. Clara looked very much like his late wife, and even though her demeanor was vastly different, he cherished her more than almost anything in the world. In a way, she was the last keepsake that he truly had of his wife.

The doors to the carriage opened, and one of his many royal knights popped their head in. “...

Chapter 72: Scoping the Competition

Almost immediately upon arriving at the event, Willem’s vicinity became a storm of activity. First, he was approached by one of the Six Drakes: the man by the name of Levente. He was paler than most, and had the dark hair and dark eyes common in the people of Avaria.

“Willem,” the man greeted evenly. “I believe we’ve not been properly introduced. I’m Levente.” He offered his hand, and Willem shook it without reservation. “And you’re the key to victory in this part of t...

Chapter 71: Partners In Crime

Eleanor looked at Willem intently. This would be the second time that her strange and singular fixation on Willem had landed her in hot water. Only… this time, there was something else in the back of her mind. Her people had sent her here with the intention that she come back a hero or not come back at all. But then, they’ve never really been her people. They were her masters. And she had long ago grown tired of heeding orders.

“Do you genuinely think that there’s a peaceful way...

Chapter 70: The Divine Comedy

Willem stared at the lineup that had come through the final gate in the royal talk. There was Raphael and the king, obviously, but four others joined beside them. They seemed like quite eccentric personalities, and each had notable appearances. As Willem wondered curiously, Raphael sidled close to his ear.

“I know each of the four that made it. Some of them I predicted, some of them I didn’t.” Raphael cast a glance over at Willem. “Do you want me to tell you about these candidat...

Chapter 69: Fitting People into Progressively Tighter Spaces

After the devastation, the two Willems turned their gaze to the fractured territories beyond their borders. Dorgul Khan’s invasion had left lands lawless, each prey to brigands and famine that naturally arose without centralized authority. Rather than raze them further, Willem Junior deployed their armies as instruments of order. His commanders were issued writs of integration with their instructions written by Willem Senior himself—they were to establish provisional councils, restore gra...

Chapter 68: The Steppe Brothers

The moment that Willen van Brugh attacked the Lord of the Blue Sky, he could tell that this would be a fight to remember. An elegant savagery—that was the fighting style of the nomadic horsemen of the steppes from which this horde had come from. That, coupled with the various other aura users all around, would make this a desperate struggle.

Dorgul parried Willem’s thrust, and then proceeded to break into a deadly charge. He swung that saber, and his aura followed in a strange patte...

Chapter 67: How the Mighty Have Fallen

The Lord of the Blue Sky surged forth on his horse at full speed, leaving a great cloud of dust behind. the wind whipped his face, stung his eyes, but he hardly noticed—his world had shrunk to the thunder of hooves, the tightening grip on his saber, the electric crackle of fear and exhilaration in his chest. For a fleeting second, he felt weightless. He was like a storm breaking loose, like fate itself hurtling forward to avenge the slight levied upon him by Lazzaro van Ravenveld.

Ahe...

Chapter 66: Ego Death

The Lord of the Blue Sky stared at the land before him, steadying his horse as it tried to buck from the sight of the grand fires blazing. The fire illuminated his features quite well. He wore lamellar armor. The overlapping plates, dulled by dust and battle, creaked faintly as he shifted his weight in the saddle. His gloved hand rested on the hilt of his saber, fingers idly tapping against the worn leather grip. He watched the sight of the blazing fire with a quiet patience, his gaze unreada...

Chapter 65: Second Chance Romance

Willem woke up with tired eyes, blinking them open. When he looked down at himself, he saw silken pajamas… and more than that, body heat behind. He turned back, wondering if he was having just another dream or an accident with someone. When he turned, he was staring at himself, who watched with drowsy blue eyes all the same.

“AH!” Junior shouted, pushing off the bed and falling down to the marble tiles loudly. He nearly got tangled up in the blanket, but managed to reorient himsel...

Chapter 64: Terrible, Rotten, No-Good Person

Eleanor sat opposite Willem after the conversation with Galahad. The King’s Hound had already left. Despite the total blindside, she genuinely didn’t think that he had any idea who she was. If he had, he wouldn’t have come so close to her. He’d given her more than one opportunity to end him. There wasn’t a chance he wouldn’t be so incautious if he knew what she was.

She couldn’t say the same for Willem, though.

Willem enjoyed a ridiculously large meal. Whenever he wa...