Aachen, the capital of the Lorraine Duchy, is also the territory of the Giant Dragon family.

The most iconic scene must be the Aachen Palace, a palace built by Charlemagne, known for its towering spire style, and the famed Iron Throne is located within.

The Iron Throne is entirely forged from a large number of weapon and armor fragments, said to be from the enemies defeated by Charlemagne during his expedition to Jerusalem—the weapons and armors of those shattered by a strike of the Holy Sword. These could not be reused after the war.

So Charlemagne had them forged into the Iron Throne, meant to remind his descendants where the Empire's power truly came from—it emerges from countless wars, killings, and conquests.

After Charlemagne, due to his overly high level, ran away to three planes and never returned, his descendants indeed understood their father's intent. They immediately picked up weapons and started fighting amongst themselves, resulting in the vast Frank Empire being divided into three parts.

In short, like the Azure Longsword Mercenary Corps, when those above leave, chaos quickly ensues below.

The news of the supreme Sword Bearer Princess returning to Aachen quickly spread throughout the palace, and thus nobles from all quarters came rushing to greet her: the Saxon Family, court officials, and local Aachen nobles.

And then, they collectively stared in astonishment.

The upright, though always kindly to subordinates and civilians, never showed kindness to the young noblemen who fawned over her, making people even suspect she and the Holy Daughter were the empire's top sword lesbian duo...

... was now intimately holding a man's arm, nodding warmly to the nobles who came to greet her.

Being publicly so close with Eleanor in front of so many strangers, Aske forced a calm exterior, though inside he felt deeply embarrassed, and let Eleanor lead him without meeting anyone's gaze.

"This is my newly returned fiancé," Eleanor enthusiastically introduced Aske to the nobles.

"Greetings, Prince," the nobles hurriedly saluted Aske. The husband of the Empress would certainly hold a Prince's title; anything less would be disrespectful.

"Hello, everyone," Aske could only reciprocate with a return greeting.

Eleanor's face radiated even more brightly, and she clung tighter to Aske's arm, as if declaring her sovereignty—it was her own personal sovereignty, such that other nobles would no longer bother her concerning the marriage.

Of course, the news won't just be confined to Aachen but will quickly spread abroad.

Due to some apparent reasons, this news would undoubtedly entail significant risks, thus Eleanor must swiftly advance the marriage proceedings to establish her and Aske's title before external pressures arrive and escalate to a critical point.

Although she couldn't pull off something like Medea's forced marriage, Medea's preemptive strike had unquestionably taught her the importance of "being the first to act."

Shortly thereafter, the nominal master of Aachen Palace, the young Emperor Otto, arrived escorted by attendants.

This young boy's face immediately darkened upon seeing his sister holding a stranger's arm.

"Sister, who is this..." Otto asked with a displeased smile.

"Your brother-in-law," Eleanor beamed.

"Oh, I've never heard of this brother-in-law?" Otto elongated his voice.

"That's because you hadn't grown up then," Eleanor responded sweetly, "early on, when you didn't yet know me, my beloved was already accompanying me across the entire continent, pledging everlasting vows to me."

Upon hearing this, Otto's face turned sour, insisting:

"But sister, given your status as Imperial Regent, Great Captain of the Empire Knight Order, and First Sword Bearer under the Iron Throne, don't you think you should be more cautious in your marital choices?"

"Absolutely not," Eleanor appeared contemplative for a moment, then smiled, "Your Majesty, you must understand, that before all those so-called noble titles, I am firstly a Demigod."

"A Demigod actively choosing another affectionate Demigod as her fiancé or even future husband is entirely within her authority. For a Demigod's strength enables her to transcend the original feudal class bindings."

Otto: !!!

So furious! Why am I not a Demigod? Being Emperor is utterly meaningless!

"Now that you've met your brother-in-law, why not, as the host here, arrange a room for us?" Eleanor reminded him.

"Fine..." Otto gritted his teeth, reluctantly instructing an attendant, "Give my sister a room in the Golden Wax Branch Room. As for my brother-in-law, let him stay in the guest room at the Octagonal Palace."

"Not acceptable, Your Majesty." Lowering herself to Otto's level, Eleanor patiently explained as if to a child, "The Golden Wax Branch Room and Octagonal Palace are too far apart; sister would like to stay with brother-in-law tonight."

Otto held back tears.

"Then… reside wherever you wish!" With his sister's ruthless betrayal, the dispirited, beaten-back young Emperor quickly left to complain to his mother, Empress Dowager Diophano.

The Empire's nobles present witnessed it all, realizing that the young Emperor indeed wasn't a match for the Princess, and firmly determined which side they should support.

Once all the surrounding nobles have left, Eleanor dismissed the court attendants and led Aske to a nearby Octagonal Palace with familiar ease.

The Octagonal Palace, also called "Chapeau Palace," features a dome built in an octagonal shape.

"Do you know? The architectural style of such octagonal palaces was essentially brought over by Ancient Solomon people from the Fourth Epoch," she explained to Aske while leading him, "because Solomon people were passionate about public bathhouses and bathing, and given Aachen's reputation for hot springs, they specifically constructed palace rooms at hot spring sites in octagonal form, distinguishing them from water-heating public bath areas."

"Fifth Epoch Charlemagne chose Aachen as his residence, spending his final days in this world because he adored the hot springs here."

"Well, I'm a bit tempted to try," Aske replied smoothly.

"Yes, you soak here for now, I'll fetch the guest bathrobes for you," said Eleanor as she led him to the hot spring room, then she shut the door and left.

Aske looked around the hot spring room, indeed distinguishable from Solomon-style public bathhouses:

Ancient Solomon liked neatly tiled public bathhouses, piping hot water through copper faucets; in Eastern Luo, tiles were usually selected in small, colorful mosaic patterns, and they had handheld, mobile showers.

Frank's hot spring rooms seemed more akin to a large stone slab with a hollow groove carved for people to lie and bathe in, already filled with steaming hot water. The outlet was designed as a dragon head, unlike Solomon's public bathhouses, less industriously precise, yet more wild and naturally appealing.

He took off his clothes on a stone bench nearby, dipped a foot into the water to test the temperature.

Oh, not bad.

So he slowly immersed his body into the hot spring, settling along a gentler slope of the stone wall, lazily enjoying this alluring warmth.

After about five or six minutes, the door of the hot spring room opened again.

Glimpsing through the misty fog, Aske saw the unique, even beneath a loose bathrobe hem entirely unobscured, creamy smooth skin of long silky legs belonging to Eleanor entering from outside.

Wait, outside the hot spring room… seems to lack "gender" signages!

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