Wine and Hunting
But he still looked grateful and solemnly thanked His Majesty: "On behalf of my brother Karl and all the soldiers and civilians of Carnford, I thank Your Majesty for your divine grace!"
In any case, the King's attitude and public bestowal of gifts have earned Karl and Carnford enormous prestige and political capital.
The following morning, at the central square of Prye City.
The square was packed with people, a sea of heads.
Almost the entire city's population was drawn to the scene, eager to witness firsthand the legendary mountain of Sauron Barbarians and share in the joy of this hard-won victory.
A magnificent ceremonial platform was temporarily erected on the high platform in the center of the square.
King Heinrich XI, dressed in a formal suit, sat regally in the center with a beaming smile.
Beside him stood Kaspar von Schmidt, the Chief Recorder and court writer, Karl's second half-brother.
Kaspar was dressed in a magnificent civil official's robe, exuding a refined and scholarly air, his face radiating excitement and pride.
He held in his hands a scroll of parchment, beautifully decorated with gold thread, on which was his "Ode to the Ode to the Great Carnford Victory," written over an entire night, using all the knowledge he had acquired in his life.
When Friedrich directed his soldiers to display the still-grotesque, treated heads of Sauron in a designated area below the platform, deafening cheers erupted in the square!
People waved their arms, their emotions running high, as if all their repression and fear had been released in that moment!
Then, at the master of ceremonies' loud announcement, Kaspar von Schmidt stepped forward, unfolded the eulogy in his hand, and began to recite it aloud in a clear and expressive voice:
In the dead of winter, the Sauron Tribe amassed 100,000 iron cavalry and besieged Carnford, the Northern Territory of my kingdom. The enemy's forces were overwhelming, and their advance threatened to destroy the city and flatten the border.
However, Baron Lord Karl von Schmidt, Lord of Carnford, demonstrated extraordinary courage and unwavering loyalty, upholding the authority and trust bestowed upon him by His Majesty.
Faced with overwhelming numerical superiority, he led his troops to defend the strategic location, using the isolated city to resist tyranny.
Beneath the city walls, arrows were exhausted and provisions were scarce, yet the soldiers fought bravely and their morale remained high.
Every brick in the wall is soaked in the blood of warriors, and every crenellation echoes with an indomitable vow.
Thanks to Your Majesty's foresight and the timely support of various forces in the kingdom, our army was finally able to implement the strategy of attacking from both inside and outside.
Sauron army was routed, with corpses strewn across the fields and heavy casualties. His arrogance was finally shattered.
This battle yielded extremely rich rewards, with over ten thousand enemy soldiers lying dead. Their chaotic retreat was enough to terrify their tribes.
This glorious victory not only demonstrates the bravery and fearlessness of Lord Karl and his soldiers, but also proves His Majesty's wisdom in strategizing and appointing the right people.
This is a blessing for the kingdom, as the people of the Northern Territory can once again enjoy peace.
This eulogy is ornate and elaborate, employing the most skillful methods of description and embellishment.
It cleverly attributes Carnford's victory to "the King's wisdom and might" and "His Majesty's boundless blessings," while the bravery of Karl and the garrison is seen as a manifestation of their loyalty under the King's glorious light.
Kaspar skillfully balanced praise and recognition, greatly satisfying the King's vanity while highlighting his brother's achievements.
King Heinrich was overjoyed, especially when the eulogy repeatedly emphasized his "divine power" and "great fortune," which made him beam with delight.
When Kaspar finished reading, the King rose personally, took the eulogy, and, facing the thousands of people in the square, loudly proclaimed the core passages once more.
"Long live the King!"
Long live the Broomflower!
"Long live the heroes of Carnford!"
A deafening roar of cheers erupted in the square!
The King's prestige reached a new peak during this meticulously planned ceremony of presenting captives and celebrating victory.
The name "Karl von Schmidt" spread throughout the Royal Capital city along with this eulogy and the ceremony, making him a household name and a hero.
Standing below the stage, Friedrich watched the scene unfold before him, his heart filled with mixed emotions.
He was pleased that his brother's achievements had been recognized, but also felt a mix of emotions about the celebration, which was rife with political posturing.
However, in any case, Carnford's blood was not shed in vain, and the glory of the Schmidt Family was gilded with a new golden light at this moment.
Karl, far away in the Northern Territory, may not know that he has already become a legend in the Royal Capital.
Royal hunting grounds outside Prye City.
The campfire crackled, and the golden venison on the grill dripped with oil, filling the air with its aroma.
King Heinrich XI, beaming, held a silver cup filled with deep red wine in one hand and waved the other, spitting as he recounted to the nobles and attendants surrounding him the grand celebrations in the square a few days earlier, and how "wise and powerful" and "blessed" he was to have blessed Carnford with such a great victory.
Queen Katerina von Eisenberg sat quietly beside him, a polite but slightly aloof smile on her face, occasionally refilling the king's empty glass.
Unlike usual, she also had a glass of wine in front of her today, and she would take a small sip whenever Heinrich raised his glass in high spirits.
This subtle change surprised Heinrich. His eyes, still blurry with drunkenness, looked at the Queen and slurred, "Oh? My Katerina, what brings you to drink today? You usually... you never touch a drop..."
Queen Katerina smiled slightly, her smile somewhat blurred in the flickering firelight. She raised her wine glass, her voice soft yet clear. "Your Majesty has displayed our nation's might today, achieving this unprecedented victory. I am also overjoyed. Such a grand occasion deserves wine to celebrate. This glass is a toast to Your Majesty's wise leadership, and may our Goldflower Kingdom enjoy eternal peace."
As she spoke, she clinked glasses with the King and then gracefully took a small sip.
These words delighted Heinrich. He laughed heartily, put his arm around the Queen's shoulder with such force that Queen frowned slightly, and said smugly, "Well said! Well said! My Queen understands me best! Come, fill it up! Fill it up!"
Under the seemingly unintentional encouragement of the Queen, the already high-spirited King drank cup after cup, becoming increasingly drunk, his eyes began to glaze over, and his speech became more and more slurred.
Just then, the young Prince Sigmund also came over, holding a wine glass.
The teenager had a deliberately feigned composure beyond his years, along with a hint of barely perceptible tension.
He approached the King, bowed respectfully, and proclaimed loudly, "Father! Your son respects you! Your brilliance in the square today has stirred my heart! Your strategic brilliance and decisive victories are a model for me to learn from throughout my life! May Your Majesty live ten thousand years, and may the Broomflower flourish forever!"