Chapter 70: So I Returned
Time ticked by as Kailun continued to torment Winnie.
He glanced at the sun’s position in the sky. It was time.
He helped Winnie to her feet and handed her over to Vivian. His gaze swept across the assembled crowd. “Sound the drums! Welcome the bride!”
“Boom!”
A hundred drums thundered in unison, their sound reverberating through the valley.
The earth-shaking rhythm signaled the arrival of something momentous.
Harry helped Paul to his feet. Lodis watched, eager to witness Kailun’s trump card.
Hilna, however, was gambling on her own superiority. She had learned that Kailun had hidden an army near the Royal City, numbering at least five thousand.
It wasn’t a significant number to her. Her own forces far outnumbered his.
If this was all he had, victory was assured.
She signaled to Shirley, instructing her to summon their troops.
There were only four entrances to the valley. Two were blocked by Kailun and Lodis’s men. She could only bring her army in through the entrance she controlled.
The final entrance was reserved for Stamp. He should be arriving any minute now.
The valley’s unique topography ensured that the forces approaching from different directions wouldn’t clash prematurely.
“Rumble!”
Accompanied by the thunderous drums, a wave of hoofbeats echoed through the valley. Dust billowed as a white torrent surged towards the center.
At the forefront, riding a white steed, was a silver-haired figure clad in a wedding dress.
She was both knight and bride today, her white gown her armor. She pierced Kailun’s heart like a ray of light, taking root and blossoming.
On this final battlefield, she arrived with her Silver Moon Knights, an unstoppable force.
Everyone stared in astonishment. How had Afra, stationed at the border, reached the Royal City? Had she departed three days ago?
Impossible. The city had been eerily calm just three days ago.
Afra, known as the Silver Moon Knight, possessed unparalleled talent. Many believed she had the potential to reach the pinnacle of knighthood.
If she was here, did that mean her elite Silver Moon Knights were also present?
Their question was answered as they witnessed the disciplined ranks of knights following behind her.
The Silver Moon Knights were considered the second strongest knight order in the entire Xiya Kingdom, both in terms of numbers and quality.
The only reason they weren’t ranked first was because their core, Afra, hadn’t reached her full potential.
The top spot belonged to the veteran knight order personally trained by Grand Duke Kuhl in his younger days. Their superior equipment and experience gave them a slight edge.
And that very knight order was currently assaulting Stamp’s stronghold.
“No wonder he dared to challenge Hilna! With a knight order like that, I’d declare war on her too!” Lodis, understanding dawning upon him, gestured to his aide. “Summon the rest of our guards! I’m turning this place into a bloodbath!”
“But Your Highness, we only have five thousand guards left…”
“Just do it! Sometimes, a temporary victory isn’t a true victory!”
“…Yes, Your Highness.”
Lodis turned to Paul. “Harry gave us teleportation scrolls. Don’t hesitate to use yours if things get messy. Staying here will only lead to your death.”
Paul clutched the scroll in his pocket, his gaze fixed on Kailun. He suppressed his rage and nodded.
“If this is your trump card, Kailun, you’re going to lose.” Hilna watched, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
Her anxiety vanished, replaced by renewed confidence. The throne was hers.
Shirley, mirroring her smile, said, “It seems victory is ours, Your Highness.”
“Indeed. Kailun might have made a clever move, but he failed to account for everything. His limited vision betrayed him. If I were him, I would have launched a surprise attack with two knight orders. Even if he couldn’t defeat me, he could have weakened my forces significantly.” Hilna, her mood lifted, analyzed the situation.
She couldn’t imagine how twenty thousand knights could possibly defeat her.
If she lost this battle, she might as well surrender herself to Kailun.
“Your brilliance is unmatched, Your Highness!” Shirley offered a well-practiced compliment.
…
The narrow valley entrance restricted the number of knights who could enter. The rest remained outside, ready to provide support.
“Let me help you down.” Kailun extended his hand as Afra reached the edge of the wedding venue.
“I’m not that fragile.” Despite her words, she placed her gloved hand in his.
As he helped her dismount, she surveyed her surroundings. “Is the plan going smoothly?”
“The main plan is on track. But some minor details… didn’t quite pan out.” He was referring to Paul.
He hadn’t anticipated the interference of a meddling old man who had captured Paul’s “heart.”
“But enough about that. You look absolutely stunning today, Sister Afra. I can barely contain myself.”
He led her to the center of the stage and knelt before her, kissing her hand. “Sister Afra, I love you. I want you. Will you marry me?”
Afra was stunned. This wasn’t part of the plan!
Her heart pounded in her chest, a delicate blush gracing her cheeks.
“Is this… also part of the plan?” she asked, her gaze fixed on him.
As she studied him, she realized that the boy who had once needed her protection was gone.
He was strong, confident, capable of offering a shoulder to lean on.
This was a different kind of love, more intense than familial affection.
“Yes, it’s part of the plan.” He looked up at her, his eyes filled with sincerity. “A plan I made in my past life. I promised that once we won this war, I would come home and marry you. So… I’m back.”
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