I found Johannes and Astrid in a room off on the side of King Eduard the Defenestrator's castle. Come to think of it, this building had far more rooms than most castles in my old world. In fact, it had more rooms than Buckingham Palace, and most of them weren't being used for anything.

On the one hand, I didn't like the inefficiency of it. On the other, I was very happy that Greenrivers' palace surpassed England's.

"Good news," I spoke to Astrid. "You should be in less danger from assassins than before."

Relief flowed through Johannes. However, Astrid seemed tense.

"That's good, but what happened?" she asked.

"King Eduard found the Greenrivers noble who sent the assassins and threw her out a window," I answered.

A hint of depression flashed through Astrid.

"I see. Then, my cousin..."

Quickly, I held up my hands.

"Your cousin is fine," I said. "She isn't the one who sent the assassins. Another Motteburh noble did to frame her."

At that moment, relief flowed through Astrid. It made me a bit mad. Duchess Ardone didn't care at all that Astrid was in danger, but my retainer was worried about her. Even though she might have tried to have her killed.

"I'm glad your cousin didn't try to kill you, Astrid," Johannes said.

That was an awkward way of saying things, but how else would you put it?

"So am I," Astrid stated.

And she didn't seem to care about the wording. So, I didn't know what I was worried about.

"So, Gustav," my swordswoman retainer spoke. "How are things with Motteburh in general?"

"Now that we've captured a good chunk of their nobles, they should be on their last legs. I give them a week or two before they give in to our demand for reforms," I said.

Johannes rubbed the back of his head and let out a slight breath.

"This is good news. But it's a bit overwhelming," he stated.

"I feel the same way," Astrid noted.

Looking between my retainers, I nodded.

"That's understandable," I said. "Neither of you probably thought you'd be involved in Motteburh's reformation."

"I didn't think it would ever reform, even slightly," Astrid replied.

"I thought I'd still be using rocks as pillows," Johannes noted.

Giving my retainers a moment to catch their metaphorical breaths, I walked over to the wall and observed a picture on it. This tapestry was of some battle before magic came into the world.

"This is just the first step," I said. "Someday, I intend to even make serfdom a thing of the past."

Johannes opened his mouth before closing it. After a moment of silence, he spoke.

"If there's anyone who can do that, it's you," he stated. "But is anything worrying you, Gustav?"

"My wedding. Prince Wisimir is planning it," I told him.

Astrid cringed.

"Having your brother-in-law plan your wedding...that is a truly dark fate," she spoke with a slight chuckle.

"And you're marrying the same year you became a man," Johannes noted.

"A year after it," I said. "Today's my birthday."

My retainers' eyes lit up.

"Congratulations on living to 16, Gustav!" Astrid stated.

"It can't have been easy," Johannes replied.

Dʰéǵʰom's voice came into my head.

"It's a shame that your parents couldn't put on a birthday celebration for you this year."

"Hey, it was my idea to delay it," I replied in thought. "With the cold war against Motteburh, a birthday party would be a great opportunity for them to come after me."

"Still a shame. But I'm sure they'll make next year's celebration even better because of this."

I internally sighed.

"And next year, I'll be the King of Vandalland. I really don't look forward to having various nobles try to kiss my ass on my birthday."

"Knowing you, they'll probably be too terrified to even try," Dʰéǵʰom snarked.

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Then, Astrid's voice came to my ears.

"Gustav, you mentioned Motteburh nobles being captured. One of your plans, right?" she asked.

"Technically, three of my plans," I answered. "A party, a different type of party, and a box-and-stick trap."

Johannes gave me a proud smile. Astrid had some skepticism in her eyes.

"I used box-and-stick traps all the time to hunt monsters. Using it to catch people was a brilliant move," the former said.

"Thank you," I replied. "At least someone recognized it as a great idea."

Dʰéǵʰom groaned.

"It was not a good idea," the deity stated.

"But it worked," I thought.

"I...you have a point, Gustav. It isn't a good point, but it is a point."

After a moment of hesitation, Astrid spoke.

"Was one of the nobles you captured my cousin? Duchess Ardone, specifically," she asked.

"Yes," I answered. "She is currently in Greenrivers' custody."

I folded my arms and gave my retainers a proud smile.

"And let it be known that she would have escaped were it not for my sick-and-box trap idea."

Astrid facepalmed.

"My cousin fell for that?" she groaned.

"Duchess Ardone! The lioness of Motteburh! Falls for Loony Tunes traps!" Dʰéǵʰom laughed.

I shrugged.

"That just shows that I understand the Motteburh mindset," I thought before speaking. "I could arrange a meeting if you'd like, Astrid. But I think you'd be better off not seeing her."

A flicker of fear passed through Astrid's eyes.

"Was she tortured horribly?" my retainer asked.

Dammit! She was really worrying about her jackass cousin.

"Duchess Ardone is fine," I explained and chose my next words with care. "But...she doesn't have a good personality."

Astrid nodded.

"I know that. She's a massive bitch."

Johannes struggled to hold in laughter. I was the same. Never in my life did I think that Astrid would use language like that.

"But she's still my cousin," Astrid continued. "If I can, now that we're both nobles, I'd like to reconcile with her. I know that she probably doesn't care at all about me, but I'd at least like to try."

Dammit! How the hell could I object when Astrid put it that way?

Sometime later, I managed to arrange a meeting between Astrid and Duchess Ardone. It wasn't that hard. King Eduard the Defenestrator was pretty accommodating. I just needed to wait for him to bring her to a separate cell from all the other Motteburh nobles.

Then, my retainers and I went into the dungeons. Guards were present, elite knights who would keep Duchess Ardone from escaping and evaluate everything said. That way, King Eduard would determine whether Duchess Ardone could be put back with the other Motteburh prisoners or not.

Of course, we weren't under any delusions. This was not a private meeting, and it could not be one.

Astrid was shaking. Johannes turned to her.

"Are you nervous?" he asked.

"I am," Astrid answered. "I didn't think I'd be this scared. I guess I haven't grown that much after all."

"You've grown plenty. After all, you're here at all, aren't you?" Johannes gave her a smile.

That seemed to reassure Astrid.

"Thank you," she said. "Let's get going."

We stepped forward until we were in front of the cell. Duchess Ardone stood as dignified as she could despite currently being a prisoner. Her eyes locked with Astrid's. Silence overtook the room.

"Oh, joy," Duchess Ardone's voice dripped with sarcasm. "I see that His Majesty King Eduard the Defenestrator wishes to parade you in front of me."

Astrid gave her a curtsy.

"This was my idea, Your Grace, not His Majesty's," she said.

I noticed that Astrid's tone and words were different than usual. They were more polite and refined.

Duchess Ardone scoffed.

"And what is the point of this? You are a half-commoner bastard. You hated Motteburh enough that you joined Greenrivers," the duchess stated.

"I do not hate Motteburh, even if I dislike what its nobles are like," Astrid replied. "I joined Greenrivers because of my loyalty to Saint Gustav, my Lord. He gave me opportunities no one else would. And for that, I am eternally grateful."

She gestured to Johannes.

"You can ask my lover. I am certain he will say the same."

Duchess Ardone shook her head.

"I do not care what your lover thinks, or what you think. Just tell me what you want so I don't have to deal with your filthy common blood," her voice was harsh.

Astrid flinched back. However, she did not retreat.

"Your Grace, I want to reconcile with you. Even if we have our differences, we are still cousins," Astrid explained.

"Yes. We are related. And that is why you are a disgrace and an embarrassment to our family. I should be disgusted with your existence, but I cannot bring myself to feel anything more than apathy," Duchess Ardone said.

She waved a hand in a dismissive gesture.

"Leave now. Avoid Motteburh. I will speak to you no longer."

Astrid took a deep breath. Johannes looked ready to punch Duchess Ardone in the face. But I put a hand on his shoulder. He seemed to calm down with that. I could tell Astrid had one last plan.

"Your Grace, I am a noble under Greenrivers law, and not just because of my heritage," Astrid explained. "I was knighted. My title is now Dame Astrid."

Duchess Ardone sighed. She shook her head.

"I pity you, cousin, I really do," the noblewoman placed a hand on her forehead and pulled it down. "Commoners cannot become nobles in Motteburh. Knighthood is for us alone. I understand that things are different in the rest of the continent. But I care not. Motteburh law is all that matters to me. It is the only justice in the world."

Another moment of silence passed.

"And...you're not mad that I'm helping to change it?" Astrid asked.

"You are a minion at best. There is no point in directing my anger towards you when I can direct it at your betters," Duchess Ardone answered.

She then shrugged.

"Cousin, you must get it in your head that you are not important enough for me to care about you, whether that be love or hatred."

Now, with my hand still on Johannes' shoulder, I felt anger rise through me. Joanna put a hand on my shoulder. That calmed me down. I let out a slight sigh.

"Astrid, we should leave. I don't think we'll make any progress with your cousin," I said.

"He is right," Duchess Ardone replied. "I am very stubborn."

After some hesitation, Astrid nodded.

"Very well, my Lord," she stated.

Astrid did one last curtsy for Duchess Ardone before we turned to leave. When we were out of the Motteburh noble's earshot, I turned to Astrid, expecting to see her in dismay. Instead, there was a faint relief on her face.

"You're more chipper than I expected," Johannes commented.

It seemed he noticed it too.

"Yes. I didn't get what I wanted out of this talk," Astrid said. "But I feel like I needed to have it."

Astrid stood with more pride than before. Determination seemed to well up in her.

"Some day, I will become the world's greatest sword fighter. I don't know if that'll be centuries in the future or millennia. But I will reach it someday. And, more relevant to the present..."

She took a deep breath before speaking again.

"...I can put my past in Motteburh behind me now. If Her Grace...Duchess Ardone did not accept me as family, none of my other relatives will. There is nothing left for me there. My future is in Greenrivers and Vandalland, and I am a Knight of Greenrivers."

Astrid then turned to me.

"Gustav, I have a favor to ask you. It is the most important thing I've ever asked you to do," she said.

"What is it?" I asked. "I will do it if it is within reason."

"Convince your parents to adopt me."

What?

"Then, I can be your sister and Johannes can be your brother-in-law after we're married," Astrid stated.

What the fuck?

"I approve of this plan," Johannes said.

And thus, that portion of the day ended with the laughter of a god in my mind.

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