Translator: TransN Editor: TransN "Your Majesty . . . Your Majesty, please think twice!" Roland heard Barov shouting anxiously outside his office .
It was only after the City Hall Director had run to his desk while panting heavily that Roland finally put down his teacup and asked, "What should I think twice about? The coronation ceremony?"
"No . I meant your wedding announcement . You are going to marry a witch and make her your queen . " Barov glanced toward the place behind Roland while wiping the sweat from his forehead . "Ah, Your Majesty, I'm afraid this isn't a proper way to handle the case . "
Roland was not surprised by Barov's objection at all . He had anticipated as much when he first informed the City Hall of his decision . To remove the obstacles to his marriage to Anna, the City Hall would be the first group that he had to persuade .
After the Months of Demons, Neverwinter would send troops to the Fertile Plains once again to eliminate the demons' latest outpost in Taquila . Meanwhile, the City Hall would be busy carrying out the spring plowing plans, new construction projects, and trade programs . The coming year would be an exceptionally busy year for Graycastle, so it did not sound like a good idea to hold such a ceremony now . According to tradition, preparing a coronation alone would need at least two to three months, not to mention that there was a wedding after it . Preparing these activities would inevitably increase his administration's workload and thus would interfere with Neverwinter's production and military plans . However, Roland did not make this decision on a sudden impulse .
Different from the previous winters, this winter was peaceful . He wanted to seize this rare opportunity to hold both his coronation ceremony and his wedding, which would boost his subjects' morale without costing him too much effort .
More importantly, he really hoped to redeem his promise to Anna as soon as possible .
Of course, as a feudal king, he could do whatever he wished just like the rest of the self-indulgent rulers throughout history who had imposed their personal values on others and thus had forced their foolish decisions to get implemented . However, he did not intend to become such a ruler . He created this City Hall, and he was confident that he could properly handle this case without turning against his own administration .
In Roland's view, exercising his power while staying within the boundaries of the rules would be a much better choice than abusing his power .
"Why?" Roland knocked on the desk as he asked Barov .
"It's . . . it's because you need an heir," Barov said urgently . "Everyone knows that a witch can never give you a child . There's a war on the horizon . If some unexpected stroke of misfortune were to happen to you, the other nobles would covet your throne . An heir will make your people feel secure . " Barov paused for a moment before adding, "If you just want to be with lady Anna, you don't really need to marry her . "
"Oh? What do you mean?"
"You could marry a lesser noble's daughter," Barov suggested . "No one would oppose such a decision . You don't have to take her seriously . You just need her to stand beside you on official occasions, and you can still do whatever you want—"
"So you mean that Anna can't become the queen because she's a witch?" Nightingale suddenly interrupted .
"I don't think Lady Anna will mind such superficial things . " Barov coughed twice to cover his embarrassment . "It's for the benefit of the country, Your Majesty . If you find it hard to tell Lady Anna about this arrangement in person, I can pass on your words to her . "
"You aren't her . How can you know that she won't mind? I can bet that she would never want a third person between His Majesty and herself!" Nightingale insisted .
"It has nothing to do with personal feelings . It's about an heir . . . "
"Enough . " Roland raised his hands to stop them . "I get it . I just need to find a legitimate heir to the throne to reassure my people . "
"Find . . . a legitimate heir?" Barov was a little bit startled .
"Isn't this a good solution?" Roland replied with a casual air . "After I defeated the Pope, I absorbed her entire lifespan . I actually don't need anyone to inherit the throne . That's why I was able to decide to marry Anna . Unfortunately, there are only a few people like you who know about this matter . Most of the subjects know little about magic power and thus probably won't believe it . Under such circumstances, in order to give my people an inner sense of security, I must find an heir and let them pin their hopes on him . Am I right?"
Since the battle at Coldwind Ridge against the church, the senior officials of the City Hall were aware that Roland had gone through a spiritual battle called the Battle of Souls, in which the winner could inherit everything from the loser . They had found it hard to believe at first, but then the appearance of the Taquila witches and their Soul Transfer technique had reduced their doubts about it . During the first United Front meeting, Roland had confirmed this rumor and had used this advantage to win Pasha's trust . Ever since then, all the senior officials of the City Hall had bought the story that Roland now had a limitless lifespan .
"Yes, that's what I meant," Barov said, unaware that he was falling into a trap . "As long as you have an heir, no one will oppose your marriage . "
"I have a simpler way to solve this problem . " Roland shrugged . "A year ago, when we attacked Hermes, I happened to find Gerald Wimbledon's mistress . She's a maid working in a tavern, and she had a son with Gerald . "
"What did you . . . say?" Barov's eyes widened in surprise . "Are you sure that the child is . . . "
"Yes, he has grey hair and grey eyes . " Roland nodded .
"Why didn't you tell me at that time?"
"If I had told you, they would have been killed a long time ago . " Roland picked up his teacup and took a sip . "How is it? We have a legitimate heir now . Isn't it a better way to solve the problem?"
Gerald's child was indeed a good choice . He was not a threat to Roland and could be replaced at any time . Even though he might ultimately never become the king, he would still be widely discussed and could greatly raise the subjects' spirits . Barov's eyes shone with excitement . Seeing this, Roland knew that the Chief Director had already understood what he meant . Now, he did not need to do anything except tell the subjects about this boy and bring him to Neverwinter .
As for the actual situation surrounding the little boy and his mother, he believed that the people would exert their imagination and creativity to make up their own legendary stories .
"If his mother is just a maid in a tavern, he can only be counted as a bastard child . We must give his mother a higher status . Otherwise, making him an heir will attract many disapproving comments . Fortunately, she's not a noble lady . It's much easier to control a civilian woman . . . " Barov started to plan the whole thing in his heart .
Roland felt his lips curling into a smile . Now he could avoid fighting a verbal battle against Barov to sell his ideas, unlike three years ago . The City Hall Director could easily follow his hints and help him plan out the whole thing . No one would doubt his words anymore, no matter how implausible they sounded, not even his claim of having eternal life .
"You go make a plan for this child and my coronation ceremony . We'll discuss the details later . " Roland waved his hand to Barov, indicating that he was dismissed .
After Barov's departure, Roland heaved a long sigh of relief . "I never expected that you would speak up for Anna . "
"I'm sorry . I just can't help it . . . "
"No, you don't need to apologize . You're absolutely right . " He glanced at Nightingale deliberately and found that she looked much calmer than he had expected . "I just thought you would . . . "
"You thought I would look miserable and feel depressed hearing this news?" Nightingale gave him a cold stare . "I think this wedding is already too late . If it wasn't for Anna, I wouldn't have let you get away with it so easily . "
Roland still remembered the relieved look on her face when she had appeared in front of him after disappearing for two days . He guessed that her change must have had something to do with the secret agreement between her and Anna .
Curious as he was, he still did not ask her about the secret .
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