In the end, Snow accompanied Tommy to pick up the clothes together. To meet the princess of Logres, he must first be dressed in traditional garments.
Even though Snow accepted the arrangement made by Tommy’s parents, her cheeks puffed up in anger. She understands the situation requires special handling, but to accept another woman into their relationship is not an easy thing.
Deep down inside, Snow personally do not mind such an arrangement. Growing up in a large clan, to be able to chase after her own love interest is already fortunate enough for her. However, as the one who came first, she wants to be Tommy’s first lady. New additions to the family also need to pass her tests, otherwise she cannot keep harmony in the yard.
Unfortunately, the other party is a princess. Even if Logres is a broken kingdom, it is unlikely that the girl would humbly view others as her equal.
Putting aside if she could live peacefully with this princess, her status as first lady might not be acknowledged.
Tommy, on the other hand, did not think about all these nook and crannies. All he knows is that this is a stranger he had never heard before today, and now his father is going to arrange for them to be married.
After that his line of thought went blank.
Even after he was shoved into the weavers’ guild and left in a full garb of traditional Logres suit, his mind remained in the clouds.
When Snow handed Tommy back to Asdis and Sidd, he was already suavely dressed.
A long tailcoat on a prim and proper white buttoned shirt and neatly ironed fitting white pants with high boots.
Tommy’s figure looked tall and imposing in the suit, and had an air of sleekness, like a powerfully muscled panther.
The girls of the Snowdrifts stared at him openly. After trudging through the battlefield and trekking across snow and wild lands for a month, it was a pleasant sight.
“Hmph!”
Like a lioness that is protecting her hunt from hungry hyenas, Snow fumed angrily.
The other females acknowledged her territory and quietly backed away.
Unfortunately, those from Saint Empire have different ideas of how a man should look like. The female warriors that sworn allegiance to Tommy, took one look and returned to their tasks at hand.
Compared to the local men who hunted in the harsh winters of the north, Tommy is much slimmer and looked almost scholarly. There was none of that feral beauty found in their men.
But when Sidd and Asdis saw their son, they looked at him up and down appreciatively. Even if Tommy became as thin as a stick, they would still love him to bits.
Not fearing things becoming muddier, Sidd smiled and said, “My son sure is handsome. No wonder all the ladies are staring.”
Asdis noticed Snow’s expressions walked over and held her hand, “Oh my, are you my son’s girlfriend?”
Immediately, Snow’s barriers were broken. Her face flushed red, and she quickly looked down.
After a while, she finally squeezed out words that could hardly be heard, “N… no auntie… Not yet.”
“Not yet? So, when will you be?”
Tommy caught the jitters immediately. Even facing thousands, he never felt nervous like today.
He rushed forward, standing slightly in front of Snow and said, “M… Mom! What are you saying?”
“Oh? You’re so protective. Are you sure she’s not your girlfriend?”
“Well…,” he bit his tongue.
Snow lifted her head and looked woefully at him.
“She is, she is!”
Tommy wanted to cry. It is through his mother, that he first confirmed his relationship with Snow.
Snow stuck out her tongue a little, blushed, and then looked away.
Asdis then became stern while looking at Tommy and said, “Whether you can get the princess’ favour, her highness’ acceptance of Snow, or letting Snow be your first lady in the future, will depend on your ability, Son.”
This is a marriage proposal without any relationship foundation. In other words, it is all an exchange. The Snowdrifts need to display their value and cement the relationship with a marriage to get the resources they need. As for why a marriage is required, it is merely to publicise this partnership.
Every international encounter requires propriety, regardless to attack or to aid another country. At the very least, things must appear faultless on the surface because no monarch can withstand dissention from within and opposition from without. Therefore, even if Tommy do not know the princess, he must marry her. Even if they remain as strangers afterwards, it will not matter.
Once their status is officiated, the Snowdrifts and Logres will be bonded. If Avalon got attacked and the Snowdrifts do not intervene, the latter will become distrusted by all.
Similarly, if the Snowdrifts wants to buy army supplies from Avalon, the latter must help their new prince consort. In this way it will be mutually beneficial.
With this in mind, Tommy pumped himself up for the meeting.
He gently took Snow’s hand and promised, “I’ll reserve for you the spot of the first lady.”
Snow blushed terrifically, “I… I didn’t say yes yet!”
Tommy nodded seriously, “Still, I’ll keep it for you alone.”
She looked away, “Hmph, then you better win her highness over completely.”
Tommy gave her a thumbs up, “Leave it to me.”
He followed his father Sidd towards the entrance of Avalon, a well-hidden ravine between mountains that spread out into a large valley that could house cities.
Once they entered, Sidd turned sharply to the right and brought Tommy straight towards a protruding rock.
He knocked on the boulder several times in a complicated pattern then waited quietly.
Tommy merely looked on without asking any questions. Secretly, he unleashed a strand of Soul Perception towards the rock.
After a good long wait, where normal people would have left, a small part of the boulder shimmered.
If Tommy had not been looking with his Soul Perception, he would have missed the spot. Should there be anyone tailing Sidd and Tommy, they would not be able to see it.
Sidd who was waiting for the cue, nodded at his son and walked right into the rock. Tommy blinked several times when he saw his father disappeared into the boulder and he quickly followed behind.
Right when he entered, the boulder became solid once again. Inside was a manmade cavern with polished floor and walls with the interior much alike a bar. When Tommy turned his head to look back, his pupils shrunk turned into pin heads with shock. He expected the tunnel to be sealed by a stone, and it was as he thought, but he never thought that the two sides of the walls to be lined with explosives.
No, not just the walls. His sharp detection had already feedback to him the countless bombs rigged within the mountain side.
If one day Avalon was attacked, this valley will become the Gaia’s biggest death-trap.
They say a starved camel is still bigger than a horse. This proverb is perfect to describe the defeated Logres Kingdom. Even if they have to retreat to Avalon, they are undoubtedly still a force to be reckoned with.
He turned back towards the dungeon and walked in following his father. On his face there is no longer any trace of shock from before.
They reached a longue room with a polite gentleman that greeted them.
This person was the one who allowed people in. Just a glance at him, Tommy could tell that this is at least a S ranker.
Not only is this location well-hidden, but it is also highly secure.
Anyone that wants to enter needs to know the code and be recognised by this gentleman. Furthermore, to prevent unwanted tailing, the wait time for the door to open is randomised and automatically closed within seconds. If there are enemies nearby, even if they have the best movement techniques at most one or two might be able to react in time to breach the place.
This content has been misappropriated from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.
If one or two enemies rush in, they will only become lambs to the slaughter.
As for why this place has this level of security… Tommy looked past the gentleman and immediately understood.
This place is a teleportation ward, meant to help travellers cross the long ravine that precedes the open valley where Avalon is situated. Otherwise, trekking through the long passage to the city will take a week.
The scale is large enough that an army can come through with a few batches. No wonder the site has to be highly secured.
The gentleman welcomed them to step into the teleportation circle and the father and son disappeared in a flash.
The next thing they saw was a buzzling city, not unlike the fallen capital of Logres.
In fact, everything had been moved to this place, except for the commoners.
The people here are either royalty, retainers, or servants.
When they saw Sidd, they greeted him with utmost respect. This is the general that rushed back to their flaming capital when it was besieged and single-handedly bought enough time for them to retreat. Moreover, everyone had heard that to save them, the general had to leave his missing son behind that even after all these years of searching there is no avail.
Naturally, everyone felt like they owed their lives to the Styrkur family, even the royal Pendragon family’s lives are saved by him.
Sidd greeted them back one by one humbly. When Tommy noticed that his father addressed them by name he was secretly impressed.
The father and son quickly entered the palace without being stopped. Sidd’s request for an audience with the king was approved without delay and the two head towards the throne room.
On the side of two large, well-decorated door, a soldier came forth to meet them and he bowed deeply, “Sir Styrkur, how may I announce this lad who follows you?”
A proud smile broke out on the general’s face, “Just announce that my missing son has returned, I want to share this good news with his majesty.”
The soldier looked confounded for a second, then burst into pure joy.
“Sir… sir! Your son has returned?! That’s fantastic news! Oh wow, the young master looks like you when you were younger, sir. Such a handsome lad!”
This flattery made Sidd beam tremendously, and he patted the soldier on his arm happily.
The soldier looked at Tommy with kindness in his eyes then took two prompt steps forward and saluted both Sidd and Tommy, “Your title please, young master.”
Tommy thought for a moment then answered, “Assistant Guild Master of the Snowdrifts.”
Looking over, Sidd added, “Also, he is the Great General of two hundred thousand elites, stolen right under the eyelid of the treacherous Frosthral bastards.”
The soldier knocked his shoes together.
“Just like your father,” he whispered.
Returning to his initial position, the soldier took out a trumpet that had tiny flag with their national insignia, then blasted the customary visiting honours.
Unlike the usual, there was one note made slightly higher, as though the announcer was joyous to greet this visitor.
The trumpet fizzled out on a majestic tune, then the soldier shouted, “Presenting, Sir Sidd Styrkur, high command of the round table, Knight of the Lake. And, his missing son returned, Sir Tommy Styrkur, Assistant Guild Master of the Snowdrifts, Great General of two hundred thousand elites won from the treacherous Frosthral dogs.”
Sidd gave the man an appreciative nod, then walked onto the red carpet as the doors were pulled open. Behind him, Tommy followed closely with confident steps.
In the throne room, the king is already waiting. A man looking like he is in his forties.
Sensing an imposing aura much like what he felt before, he judged that this person is probably a Triple S ranker, but whether he is entry or mid-level is uncertain.
Usually, a cultivator of a lower rank will not be able to sense someone stronger, but the Soul Perception can provide enough information for a rough gauge.
The king of Logres, Lufter Pendragon, sat on a jade-like stone throne looking at them.
When Tommy saw what the king was sitting on, he was astonished. The entire throne is carved out from a single piece of a spirit stone.
Not just any regular spirit stone but a Top-Grade spirit stone.
Spirit stones are standardised to be about the size of a quail egg. A single Top-Grade spirit stone of that size contains the same amount of energy as a single strike from a one Paramount Unit cultivator or allow an F ranker to train all the way up to B rank.
To have a throne carved out of a single Top-Grade Spirit Stone, the extravagance is unbelievable and a testament of the glorious history of Logres.
The King looked pleased at the reaction on Tommy’s face.
“Looks like this throne worked its wonder again.”
The King who had used it to his political advantage time and again to floor any hagglers in his court, silently gave thanks to his wise ancestors who cleverly saw the best use to a giant piece of stone.
As his royal majesty is still celebrating his tiny victory over this young Great General from that newly minted filthy rich Snowdrifts guild, he noticed the lad whispering to his father, the Knight of the Lake, Sidd, “Dad, how many quail eggs you think that throne could fit?”
Lufter didn’t noticed when his jaws dropped in shock.
That’s the thing the lad was concerned about? How big is the throne in terms of quail eggs?
Why quail eggs? The lad had not eaten before coming?
On his side, Sidd’s eyes are so wide they are about to pop off. Maybe he should have fed his son a little more before coming here.
They did not know that Tommy’s way of thought had long been led astray by the group of talented and quirky friends around him.
The father and son soon stopped at a marked place before the king.
Sidd immediately got onto one knee with his fist on his heart as he bowed to his king. Tommy, as representative for the Snowdrifts and the true Saint Empire, only lowered his head in respect.
“Raise,” the king commanded.
The two stood straight and Sidd couldn’t wait to speak, “Sire, I present to you my missing son who returned today!”
The king, never leaving his seat, looked up and down at Tommy. The thick black beard on his chin shook as he judged the young man and after a while asked if the lad has come back as a citizen of Logres or here to help Saint Empire with its succession.
Any other country will be vested in whether Saint Empire falls into the Devilheart family’s hands or is returned to the crown princess, but it truly did not matter to Logres that had retreated to its last bastion.
Tommy explained that his parents give birth to him, but Saint Empire fed him. If not for the empire’s support, he would have died. Growing up in an orphanage, he had received more from the empire than other children, naturally he could not leave the empire to its lurches.
In a way, such an answer did not deny his birthplace is in Logres, nor did he dismiss that he is here to make right Saint Empire’s situation.
If he had chosen one side instead, the negotiation later will become tough. He will either be an ungrateful person who forgotten his roots or a citizen who is trying to meddle in foreign affairs.
The king did not dwell further on the matter. If he pressed the issue, he will be seen as persuading Tommy and himself become morally questionable.
The topic moved on to the purpose of this audience and Tommy quickly filled him in on the present situation of the Snowdrifts and hoped that Avalon could provide the resources. When the king asked on what premise they should help arm a foreign nation, Sidd quickly brought up the marriage proposal.
The king did not question about the Snowdrifts infringing on their territory, even if they are parked right outside Avalon, since the guild’s presence is temporary. Everyone knows that the Snowdrifts intent to return to Saint Empire.
Lufter considered Sidd’s words careful, then called the princess Luftie over.
Luftie is the crown princess of Logres, but most of her life she had been in Avalon. The lost glory of her kingdom was never in her memories.
However, she had heard plenty from the servants of Logres’ splendorous past. Sadly, the glorious past had left Logres from years of carousing and revelry. What the servants told her were things they had never seen for themselves and this only served to fill the princess’ imaginations unrealistically.
Naturally, she believed herself to be a part of a grand kingdom that spanned across Gaia and promised herself that one day she shall reclaim all the lands taken by the Frosthral Feudal State. To retake her birth right is a belief rooted deeply in her as it accompanied her childhood. Now age fourteen, she is preparing herself every day to become the next leader of Logres and lead her men to take back what is rightfully theirs.
She came quickly to the king’s summon. The trumpets announced her arrival and they saw a young woman with leather pants, heavy boots, and a fur coat striding in.
On her waist is a sword belt but her weapon had been removed before entering.
The throne is set on an elevated platform so that the monarch could look at his visitors without tilting his head up and diminish his authority.
On its right side is a smaller bejewelled throne meant for the queen, and on a slightly lower platform on the left of the king’s throne is the throne for the heir apparent.
She walked straight to the steps and curtsied to her royal father. When he nodded, she walked up and took her seat on her own throne then quietly waited for the reason she was summoned.
Despite not saying a single word, Tommy could feel the confidence and pride of a royalty oozing off her. Since she entered the audience hall until she sat down, the princess did not bother to look at Sidd or Tommy.
Such a girl is totally different from her ideal type.
Sidd stepped forward and explained the situation respectfully.
Tommy’s eyebrow twitched a little.
As the Knight of the Lake, Sidd had no obligation to act this humbly, but his father is a model knight that kept his codes to his heart.
When the princess heard about the marriage proposal, she did not look at Tommy and Sidd, only turned to her father to ask what his thoughts are on the matter.
The king only mentioned that the Snowdrifts is the biggest enterprise on Gaia and became quiet, letting her make her own decision.
The princess considered it beneficial for Logres to retake the north with the Snowdrifts’ help and for the first time he looked at Tommy.
On the first look, her brow scrunched up with disappointment.
What is this scrawny looking boy?
A man should be rough, unbridled, and most importantly wild. There should be a feral beast kept restrained in chains within a man’s bosom for her to tame.
That is like ideal man of the north. Not this… scholarly, well-groomed, flower.
If Tommy knew she called him a flower in her heart, he would have burst out in laughter.
After all, his nickname is the Terrifying Tiger Cub.
…
Maybe he needs to question his brothers about their naming sense one day. Couldn’t they pick something cooler for him?
Like the White Tiger of Saint Empire or the Tiger Warrior?
As for why ‘tiger’ is in his nickname, Tommy did not feel it is strange when his contract beast is a white kitten, and his Secret Art has a symbol of a tiger.
Maybe the Cool White Tiger Warrior is a better title?
Tommy silently praised himself. He felt his own naming sense is better than all his brothers added together. No, even multiplied together he is still confident to win.
Honestly speaking, his title is considered exceptional when compared to the nicknames his brothers have. The MOM (Monster of Monsters), the POOP (Proud Owner Of a Phoenix), the Turtle Helm, or My Dragon Long… Just what kind of nicknames did they give each other?
The Terrifying Tiger Cub met the eyes of the princess without fear.
Luftie’s first impression of the guy was the worst.
She has a ton of admirers and each of them are vastly talented and looks dashing.
Just like the prime minister’s son the other day, he single-handedly brought back Wendigo cub’s corpse for her. It is a fierce creature that despite not fully grown, it is already A ranked. Or the minister of trade’s son who sent a B ranker flying with one punch.
One must know that those two boys are only fourteen.
Their wild rugged good looks are swooning for any girl.
The boys each look better than the last, causing her to have a hard time to pick between them. If she pushes any of them away, dozens of girls will greedily snatch him away.
Of course, they cannot compare to the finance minister’s son, Rupert, in both looks and strength. Only seventeen, he can already defeat most S rankers and fight evenly with some Entry SS rankers even though he is only Peak S himself.
He is already the top youth fighter of Logres. No, even counting those below the age of thirty in Avalon, no one is his match.
It is no wonder there are rumours that Rupert will become the next Knight of the Lake, inheriting it from the old man Sidd Styrkur.
Those boys are all excellent specimens of real men.
Not like this… runt.
Funny how this scrawny little professor is the son of the current best warrior of Logres.