"Thank you." Laine gently shook his head: "But Miss Surya doesn't need to be involved in this matter. This was my decision, and it is I who must face the consequences."

"But I..." The female knight began to say something more, but Laine simply waved his hand. The Genetic Primarch attempted to change the topic: "As for how to resolve this issue, I believe there will be an answer soon. I just hope it gets resolved quickly because this year's autumn harvest should already be underway. My castle is still under renovation, and if I don't go back to oversee some progress, who knows where I'll end up spending the winter."

"You can spend the winter at Helunhilde; there are plenty of empty rooms in the castle, and arranging a few for you is no trouble." Surya said instinctively: "I believe my father and brothers would welcome your arrival."

"Yes, especially Yuri, he will be very happy." Laine commented calmly: "He'll drag me up early in the morning to spar, have another match after lunch, and maybe even a session to digest after dinner..."

"Pfft~" The female knight couldn't help but chuckle, pressing her lips together in a light smile. As she thought about it, it seemed entirely possible. She knew her brother too well. Even when Laine wasn't around, her brother would mention him every day. Now that Laine was here, how could it be any different?

"Lord Laine, you're truly humorous. In that case, I will persuade my brother and tell him not to do that." The female knight smiled charmingly, then proposed her own terms.

"Really?"

"Of course it's true."

"Alright, I'd like to agree now, but the current situation doesn't allow it." Laine raised his head.

The third-floor meeting chamber had arrived. Outside the terrace, a fine autumn rain was nourishing the farmlands, and an invisible darkness enveloped the distant mountains and forests.

Inside the meeting hall, a small round table was set at the center, with some pastries and drinks placed upon it. A silver candlestick held a long row of burning candles.

Only three high-backed chairs surrounded the round table, with the remaining chairs being temporarily brought in, arranged in two rows some distance from the table. Duke Francois of Winford and Duke Bohemond of Bastogne were already seated on two of the high-backed chairs, leaving only one position open.

Julius, Marquis Connelly, Marquis Gabriel, and several other Kingdom Knights naturally stepped aside to sit, and seeing this, Surya chose a seat closer to the table.

This seat was left especially for Laine. Apart from him, no one in this castle was qualified to sit there.

Because he was a Holy Grail Knight.

This was indeed a round table meeting.

In the past, during discussions of national affairs by the First Knight King Arthur and the twelve Holy Grail Knights, a round table was used to fully consider the opinions of all knights and to symbolize that under the Lady's radiance, there was no distinction between high and low, noble and common. Only at the round table was there no difference in ranks, allowing everyone to speak freely.

But the round table meetings were strict, only noble Holy Grail Knights were permitted to sit and discuss issues, other knights could only listen without interjecting unless given permission. Moreover, a new rule was added during the Knight Kingdom's centuries of development: if any peasant eavesdropped or interjected, knights could immediately execute beheading or hanging.

Laine calmly walked to the round table and sat down, nodding to indicate his readiness.

"Shall we begin then."

The Red Dragon Duke and Duke of Winford both nodded. Although this was a conversation among Holy Grail Knights, everyone knew that it was certainly Francois who led this round table meeting. Bohemond was never one to voluntarily express his opinion.

"First, we must define the nature of your actions, Laine." As expected by everyone, Francois spoke first: "Both Bohemond and I believe that your decision to directly attack Ten Thousand Demon Rock was not wrong. Whether from the perspective of the battle situation or in the long run, your decision was the right one."

The candlelight illuminated the faces of the three Holy Grail Knights, whether it was the resolute and weathered Bohemond, the elegant and composed Francois, or the handsome and attractive Laine, they all represented the highest achievements of the kingdom's knights—to complete the Holy Grail Trial, earn the Lake Fairy's approval, and become the supreme Holy Grail Knight.

The sacred atmosphere between them left the surrounding knights enthralled.

"Thank you." Laine did not say much more; it could be seen that he held his composure very well, a rare quality for a young man.

"But we cannot ignore the sentiments of the King and the dukes. In this Knightly War, they lost their conscripted armies; they suffered a loss of additional troops from their territories, over thirty thousand men. Not too many, not too few." Francois continued: "Your decision not to send reinforcements is bound to be controversial, as sometimes dukes do not only concern themselves with the future of the entire kingdom and humanity, but they must also consider their rule and wealth."

Laine remained silent, and Bohemond also spoke, with the Red Dragon Duke being rather blunt: "First, our King Richard is certainly not pleased with your actions, because the commander he appointed perished, and the Knightly Army was exterminated. As the one who led this war decision, the King undoubtedly must bear responsibility."

"At the same time, Duke of Leonais, Dalheid, undoubtedly has many grievances with your decision. Adelaide was his family member, and his folly led to the complete destruction of the left-wing army. If he does not place the blame on you, he and his family will obviously have to take responsibility for this war."

"And given the marriage alliance between the Duke of Leonais and His Majesty the King, even if their views differ internally, they should stand on the same front, which is to advocate for your punishment… or at least a formal punishment."

Laine indicated he understood, nodding as the young Holy Grail Knight continued, "But I brought back victory, and as a Holy Grail Knight, without at least the signatures and seals of six Holy Grail Knights, the King himself does not have the authority to detain me. And to punish me, at least three Holy Grail Grand Knight Commanders or Her Highness Mogiana, or even His Highness the Green Knight and the Lady must personally decide."

"Precisely." Francois nodded: "But both Richard and Dalheid are well aware that you were the one who fought to the death and brought back victory. Neither the Holy Grail Knights nor Her Highness Mogiana care about their family interests or other motives; they will think you did the right thing. So, given the analysis above, it would be of no benefit for them to go as far as disturbing Her Highness Mogiana or even the Lady, especially since you are the Lady's Divine Chosen Champion."

Bohemond and Laine both nodded. Because of Laine's unique status as a Holy Grail Knight and Divine Chosen Champion, the path of issuing private punishments was already blocked. It would serve no benefit to involve the Lake Fairy to make a decision, as those with clear minds know how the Holy Grail Knights or Lake Fairy would resolve this.

"Since you cannot, and will not, be held responsible for the demise of the Knightly Army, according to my knowledge of Richard, as a King he cannot be held accountable either. So, who will take responsibility for this? The deceased Angxi or Adelaide? Or Adelaide's superior, Duke of Dalheid?" Francois's elegant face was full of wisdom as he lightly chuckled, shaking his head: "None, none will, no one wants to be responsible for the thirty thousand men and over two thousand dead knights."

"Thus, the attitudes of the ten dukes who participated in the war are crucial. How to define this war? Was it a victory or a defeat? What rewards or punishments should be bestowed upon you, Laine? This will become a benchmark for future penalties. The core question is whether achieving the war's objective is more important, or extending help to allied forces in distress more crucial?"

With this question posed, the three Holy Grail Knights fell into silence. It was a dilemma and touched on the core issue of Laine's incident.

"Therefore, in this event, we must find ways to garner more support from the dukes for you."

"First, the target most easily won over is the 'upright' Duke of Connet, Louis. He is a Holy Grail Knight and, like us, a descendant of His Majesty Arthur. His vision is the most far-reaching, and I believe he agrees with your decision." Francois first mentioned the candidate easiest to sway.

"Moreover, there's recently good news."

"His heir, Lorne-Rio Cornwall, has completed the Holy Grail Trial, and soon this former renowned knight of the Kingdom shall return."

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