Chapter 968: Chapter 422: Mogiana’s Dinner (2)
But that didn’t mean Laine had no way to deal with Fiona’s arrogance.
"Fiona is clearly connected to Mathew Bade. That connection might be voluntary, it might be forced, but it doesn’t matter. We should turn passivity into initiative. Your Highness, please give the order and have the Lake God Prophet open an investigation into Fiona. We have more than enough reason to suspect she’s colluding with Vampires, and during the investigation, we temporarily strip her of the privileges she enjoys as a member of one of the first twelve Holy Grail Knight Families." Laine’s eyes were razor sharp as he went on, "All we need to do is drag the investigation out. Fiona will truly experience the consequences of losing her family status. It will make her feel worse than death. That will be our chance."
"We can do that." Mogiana immediately understood what Laine had in mind.
In essence, an investigation like this wouldn’t uncover anything, but that was fine. Laine had never expected it to. What he truly wanted was to tear away the cloak and halo of the Duke of Borelion’s Family from Fiona’s shoulders.
The fall from enjoying an exalted status to being investigated as a suspect was enormous. Laine knew Fiona; with her spoiled temper and upbringing steeped in superiority, she would never be able to endure it. Over time, she would instinctively start seeking help from someone else.
Who would she go to? Duke Theodoric?
That guy had already rounded up over two hundred Knights and was getting ready to head to the Lake Fairy Nunnery in Bastogne to be locked up.
Which left only Mathew Bade.
With just a little thought, Mogiana grasped how ruthless Laine’s method really was. It fit the laws of the Kingdom and the rules of the Lake Fairy, yet carried the harsh, seasoned air of a veteran court schemer. In his sixth year in Brittania, this Divine Chosen Champion in his early thirties was gradually maturing politically.
Laine had come to the Lake Fairy Tower mainly to discuss this matter with Mogiana. Once they had settled it, he relaxed. As the two of them walked down the corridor, he casually asked Mogiana, "Your Highness, are you feeling any better lately?"
"Moving around is no longer a problem, and most of my Magic Power has recovered. Right now my strength is roughly back to Legendary Peak. To completely restore my former Divine Power at my prime, I have to find the Potion Chalice." Seeing that Laine was worried about her, Mogiana’s expression softened a little, and she replied offhandedly, "It’s fine, you don’t have to worry about me. I’m doing quite well here. You just need to come in and keep me company on schedule."
"Find the Potion Chalice? I don’t even know where the Vampires put it. Maybe we need to send people to Musillon to scout." Laine cared a great deal about Mogiana’s recovery. The power of the Lake God Witch was enough to change the national fate of the entire Knight Kingdom, both on the battlefield and in daily affairs.
"Where the Vampires are keeping the Potion Chalice isn’t clear yet. I still need some time to recover, until I can sense where the Potion Chalice is. Once I have a lead, I’ll let you know."
"All right." Laine and Mogiana entered the dining room, where the ingredients had already been laid out in the kitchen.
This was not Laine’s first time tasting Mogiana’s cooking. Ever since moving into the Lake Fairy Tower to live, Mogiana had been rather idle. Aside from occasionally issuing the Lake Fairy’s Oracles and admonitions to Expedition Knights who came seeking enlightenment, most of her time was quite free. Her main tasks were tending the herb garden and the small Grape vineyard the Lake Fairy had left behind.
For certain purposes, she had started practicing her cooking. Mogiana slowly began experimenting with making food and some pastries, and on the day each week when Laine came by, she would make them for him to taste.
The dining room in the tower was decorated in a distinctly High Elf style, emphasizing how the architecture was nestled within nature, and in its design pursuing a sense of spiritual return to the natural world, giving off a rich, enveloping atmosphere. An open spatial layout, flowers and greenery everywhere, finely carved furniture—together they created an overall pastoral mood. Whether it was the vivid flowers on the bedside lamp or the gently rocking chair by the window, in every corner one could sense the master’s leisure and sunlit, bright state of mind.
The dining room’s arrangement was very clear. The dining table and chairs were all in off-white, with faint carved patterns. Combined with the graceful curves of the armrests and legs, they appeared elegant and noble. Under the white acanthus-pattern curtains, the crystal chandelier, the floor lamp, and the vase of lilies, a wave of romantic freshness washed over the room.
"Laine, have a taste." Mogiana opened the oven and took out the Brittania pies that had just been baked. The Lake God Witch’s exquisitely beautiful, cool face was now tinged with a faint joy. She set a plate of pies before Laine. "The first dish tonight is a traditional dish from northern Brittania, the famous Cornwall Pie."
Golden, looking like a large dumpling, the crust encased steaming hot filling inside. Laine took the pie from Mogiana, took a bite, and quickly narrowed his eyes in satisfaction. "Delicious. Mm... beef, cabbage, potatoes, onions, and pepper. Mogiana, you added a bit of pepper?"
"Pepper to cut the smell." Seeing that Laine liked it, the always cold and stern Lake God Witch practically had the word "happy" written across her face. She sat beside Laine, fingers interlaced and propped on the table. "Cornwall Pie comes from Connet, and the inventor is the Cornwall family, the family of Lorne-Rio Cornwall. The method for making this pie isn’t difficult, and it’s one of the traditional delicacies after the founding of the nation."
