Chapter 55: I Only Care About You
**Border, Kate Family Territory, A Spacious Room Housing a War Map**
“A three-pronged attack? What kind of military strategy is that? Has Kailun gone mad?”
Grand Duke Kuhl scrutinized the troop deployments on the war map, his face a mask of disbelief.
This wasn’t warfare, it was gambling with their lives.
He pointed at the three separate routes. “Sending the Silver Moon Knights to reinforce the Royal City makes sense, prioritizing our son’s safety is paramount. But deploying another Knight Order to attack Duke Stamp? That’s pushing it. Sure, the old codger’s defenses are weak, but one Knight Order can’t conquer his territory.”
He shifted his finger to another route, addressing his wife, the Duchess. “Attacking Stamp was already insane enough, but you know what? He wants me to attack the Rose Queen’s Eternal Fortress!”
He thumped the table, his head throbbing.
“That’s the Eternal Fortress! An impenetrable bastion that has never been conquered! It’s strategically positioned, naturally fortified, and bristling with magic cannons. He claims I can take it with just one war legion and one mage legion? I must have been possessed to even consider it! A fortress of that caliber is impossible to capture unless they miraculously withdraw most of their troops and remove half their cannons!”
The Grand Duke understood the significance of the Eternal Fortress. Located on the border between their territories, it gave the Rose Queen a strategic advantage, forcing the Kate family into a defensive position.
Capturing it would secure their rear and greatly benefit their territory.
Fortunately, the Grand Duke was a capable defender. Even the aggressive Rose Queen hadn’t found a way to breach their defenses.
“But what if he’s right?” the Duchess suggested cautiously. “His previous intel was accurate. If not for his cleverness, we might have been wiped out by the Royal Family.”
“Impossible! Absolutely impossible!”
The Grand Duke waved his hand dismissively. “There’s no way both Stamp and the Eternal Fortress are vulnerable at the same time. Even if the fortress’s defenses are weakened, the Rose Queen wouldn’t remove her cannons!”
He believed in magic, but this was too far-fetched. Such a coincidence was simply unbelievable.
“What if our son is right?” the Duchess countered.
“If he’s right…” Grand Duke Kuhl paused, a thought striking him. “Then I’ll consent to his marriage with Afra. He always wanted to marry her when they were children. I used to worry he wasn’t good enough for her. But if he truly possesses such capabilities, then why not?”
Afra, the captain of the Silver Moon Knights, was an orphan adopted by the Kate family. Having grown up alongside Kailun, she was like an elder sister to him.
The Grand Duke and Duchess treated her as their own daughter.
Afra genuinely cared for Kailun as a younger brother, but she never knew how to refuse his requests.
“I don’t think you need to give your consent,” the Duchess murmured.
“Report!”
A disheveled man in black barged into the room, interrupting their conversation.
He knelt on one knee, his voice urgent. “My lords, our spies have discovered that the Rose Queen is secretly mobilizing troops to the north and east, preparing to attack neighboring kingdoms. The Eternal Fortress has partially dismantled and transported its magic cannons, leaving it vulnerable. We’ve confirmed Duke Stamp’s troop movements. His defenses are less than thirty percent of their usual strength.”
“Is this information reliable?”
The Grand Duke’s hand trembled. He almost slapped himself. This felt like a dream. Could such an improbable scenario be true?
The man pounded his fist against his chest. “The information has been verified multiple times. If it’s false, I and my entire family are willing to forfeit our lives as proof of our loyalty!”
“The Shadow Walker unit has served us well. Rest well. You will be rewarded with a thousand gold upon the capture of the Eternal Fortress. If the opportunity arises, I will grant you a noble title.”
The Grand Duke, his spirits soaring, helped the man to his feet.
He promised a reward he could deliver. As for the title, that depended on whether Kailun could successfully seize control of the Royal City.
Once the man limped out of the room, the Grand Duke turned to his wife. “Since the information is accurate, we’ll launch a simultaneous attack on the Eternal Fortress and Stamp’s territory tomorrow morning, as he planned. But there’s something I can’t shake off.”
“What is it?”
“Is that boy really our son?”
The Duchess: “？？?”
…
**Royal City, Kailun’s Manor, The Courtyard**
Leading Ella into the courtyard, Kailun spotted Afra practicing her swordsmanship. Anna was teaching Carol the basics of magic. The elegant courtyard, graced by the presence of several beautiful girls, seemed even more enchanting.
As they entered, all eyes turned towards them.
Afra frowned in confusion. Anna gasped in astonishment. Carol tilted her head, bewildered.
Ella, clad in her revealing attire, kept her legs tightly together, her head lowered. The humiliation of being exposed in public, especially in front of her niece, amplified her shame.
She had lost all hope.
“Kailun, have you been learning bad habits from those nobles?” Afra approached, her sword still in hand.
For some reason, she felt a pang of displeasure at the sight of Kailun with an unfamiliar, alluring woman.
“Sister Afra, she’s my enemy,” Kailun explained.
“An enemy? Why not just kill her?” Afra glanced at her sword, then at Ella. Her icy stare sent chills down Ella’s spine.
Knowing Afra’s nature, Kailun knew how to handle her. He placed his hand under Ella’s chin. “Ella is actually quite obedient, aren’t you?”
Ella sensed a malice even greater than Afra’s emanating from Kailun’s wicked smile.
But for the sake of her life, she obediently rested her chin on his hand and whimpered, “Woof woof~”
[Ella feels utterly humiliated. She vows to take revenge if she ever gets the chance… but then she remembers her hopeless situation. Favorability -3. Current favorability: -85.]
Seeing Ella’s pitiful state, Afra, in a moment of uncharacteristic softness, reached out and patted her head. “You’re well-behaved. We can keep her.”
Listening to their conversation, Ella felt like she had stumbled into a family of devils.
What had she done to deserve this? Why did she have to cross paths with Kailun?
Having addressed Ella’s presence, Kailun handed the leash to Afra. He gestured towards a stunned Anna. “I’m sure you have a lot to talk about with your niece. I’ll leave you to it.”
“Slap!”
He gave Ella’s backside a playful pat, sending ripples across her curves.
“Mmm!” Ella gasped, her body tingling as she instinctively arched her back.
She shuffled towards Anna, her steps heavy under her niece’s peculiar gaze.
That bastard Kailun! Not only did he humiliate her, but he also orchestrated this public shaming in front of her niece! How cruel!
Afra didn’t comment on his behavior. She approached him and straightened his slightly disheveled collar, her voice soft. “Tell me about your plan. You know I only care about you.”
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