Ancient Empire Calendar, Year 1836
Ricardo had rewarded all his comrades who had participated in the Second Great Lands War—some with lands and titles.
Those who already had lands and titles were rewarded with gold equivalent to decades' worth of income from their regions.
Following Ricardo's suggestion, Barmung Payrist VII, Dynasty Lord of Payrist, had married his son and Heir, Kervin, to Astrid, the daughter of Bayındır Han, the last Lord of the Turvig Dynasty.
However, since Kervin and Astrid were still children, the marriage remained more of an engagement, and the wedding would be completed when the children turned 18—just like the marriage of Richard and Aishe.
During this period, Barmung came into possession of secret history books from the library of Ottukent. Learning about the unknown history of his Dynasty, he went to the Throne Hall to share it with Ricardo.
Barmung stood before the doors of the Throne Hall, the secret history books in his hands. The Blood Falcons standing on either side of the door announced Barmung's arrival to Ricardo.
"Barmung Payrist VII, Dynasty Lord of Payrist and Overlord of the Northern Lands, requests permission to enter, Dynasty Lord."
"He may enter."
The Blood Falcons opened the doors, and Barmung entered with slow steps. He knelt before the throne and bowed his head.
"What is that book in your hand, Overlord Barmung?"
Barmung rose and handed the book to Ricardo.
"I have discovered the unknown history of the Payrist Dynasty, Dynasty Lord. I thought this history might concern you as well, since you are also of Payrist lineage."
Ricardo opened the book and began to read. He was quite surprised by what he learned.
The mother of Arlek Payrist I, the founder of the Payrist Dynasty, was Sigrid, the daughter of Canute, Dynasty Lord of Turvig.
During a war, the Turvig Dynasty's rival, Göktuğ II, Lord of the Yalvaç Dynasty—one of the Northern Lands' dynasties with the most warriors—had lost all his heirs.
Canute, the Turvig Dynasty Lord, sought to turn this situation to his advantage by marrying his daughter Sigrid to Göktuğ II, making him his son-in-law. But Sigrid did not want to marry a man twenty years her senior, so she fled the palace.
Sigrid came to the village where the descendants of Harloumen VIII and Aherlenna lived. There, she married James, a man from that lineage, and from this marriage, Arlek was born.
Around that time, Göktuğ claimed he had been insulted and rebelled against the Turvig Dynasty, sparking a bloody civil war.
Twenty years later, Canute's son, Yaroslav, the Turvig Dynasty Lord, discovered the location of this village. He sent the Wrath Barons, an elite infantry unit, to kill his aunt, who had fled the palace and dragged their Dynasty into civil war, and to take revenge.
The Barons massacred all the villagers and Arlek's family, burned their homes, and raped the women. Amidst all this chaos, Arlek barely survived and fled to the Western Lands.
Arlek joined the Kislavein army as a mage. The Turvig blood flowing through his veins—unknown to him—allowed him to perform extremely powerful ice spells with minimal mana expenditure, drawing power from Ice Stones.
Arlek quickly drew attention with his appearance and power. He achieved great successes in the war against the Turvig Dynasty, the greatest of which was killing Yaroslav and avenging his family.
Especially after this last achievement, the Kislavein Dynasty Lord of the time granted Arlek the title of Lord.
Thus, Arlek established the Payrist Dynasty. The lineage he began continued to the Kislavein Dynasty Lord Ricardo, extending even to the Northern Lands that had massacred his family.
When Ricardo finished reading, he closed the book and processed what he had learned for a while.
"Wow... this is incredible."
Ricardo returned the book to Barmung.
"You may go, Barmung. Thank you for the information you brought."
Barmung offered his respects and withdrew from the Throne Hall, walking backward without turning around.
Shortly after, the Blood Falcons announced another arrival.
"Dynasty Lord, Steward Fierro requests permission to enter."
"He may come."
When the Blood Falcons opened the door, Steward Fierro entered the Throne Hall, knelt, and bowed his head. His voice carried excitement and joy; it was clear he had good news.
"Dynasty Lord, your wife, Lady Parisa Cyrus, has given birth to a daughter."
Ricardo had received this news many times before, but each time, he rejoiced as if becoming a father for the first time.
"This is wonderful news. Let's go at once."
Ricardo walked through the long corridors of the palace to reach the birthing chamber. Minutes later, he entered and saw his sixth wife, Lady Parisa, lying in bed, nursing her daughter in her arms.
He walked over to them and looked at both with a smiling face.
"What name will you give her, Dynasty Lord?"
Ricardo took his daughter into his arms, kissed and smelled her. Then he whispered her name into her ear.
"Your name is Erise, my beautiful daughter."
A few days later, one of Lady Ashina Turvig's maidservants came to Ricardo's study.
She knocked on the door a few times.
"Enter," said Ricardo.
She entered the study, knelt, bowed her head, and offered her respects.
"I greet the Dynasty Lord. I have very important news to inform you of, Dynasty Lord."
"I'm listening," said Ricardo with a cold voice and expression.
The maidservant continued.
"Your wife, Lady Ashina, is using potions to avoid getting pregnant."
Though surprised when he first heard this, Ricardo dismissed it.
"I see. You may leave."
The maidservant had expected Ricardo to become angry, but this indifferent attitude shocked her.
Despite his command, the maidservant stood frozen like a statue. Ricardo frowned at her.
"Did you not hear my command?"
The maidservant flinched at Ricardo's voice.
"Forgive me, Dynasty Lord. I'm leaving at once."
When the maidservant left the room, Ricardo returned to his work.
"So you don't want to bear my child. Not that it matters; I already have many children to continue my lineage. Besides, I can still bind my lineage to the Turvig bloodline regardless."
As Ricardo attended to his affairs, preparations for two weddings were completed before the Kislavein Palace moved to the Central Lands.