Chapter 99: 56.1

Chapter 56-1: Diverging Paths (1)

Following the conclusion of the battle, Duke Nandoon and Duke Shreesan were astonished to see Onean flying down from the airship. Never did they think that the royal princess would've snuck to the front lines while in the company of such a small mercenary legion.

"We pay our respects to Her Highness." The two dukes immediately extended respectful bows toward Onean in unison.

"No need for formalities." Onean hurriedly rushed over to them before helping them back into an upright position again. "It's all thanks to your hard work, traveling day and night without rest, that the city of Xeto has finally been rescued. Otherwise, I truly didn't know how much longer these Skycourt Kingdom mercenaries were going to be around for."

"You're far too kind with your praise, Your Highness. We came here on the orders of His Majesty, so we naturally didn't dare to delay," Nandoon replied with a smile.

It was clear that the two dukes and Onean were eager to speak with one another, so Erwin and his friends distanced themselves from the trio.

"Your Highness, have you recovered from your injuries?" Shreesan asked as he looked at Onean with a concerned expression. They had heard about the injuries that Onean had sustained. At the time, even Master Piro wasn't able to heal her, so the only way for her to recover was with time and rest. With that in mind, they were stunned to see her on the battlefield, seemingly having recovered to full health.

"I have," Onean replied with a smile. "Sorry to make you worry."

"There's no need to apologize, Your Highness. Also, we're not the only ones who were worried about your injuries, all of us old geezers in the royal court have been very concerned about your health. Everyone knows that you are the most precious thing to His Majesty," Duke Nandoon said with a benevolent expression.

"Indeed, so please do look after yourself, Your Highness. Leave the dirty work like providing reinforcements to surrounded cities to old geezers like us. Your life is far too precious to be placed at any risk, Your Highness," Duke Shreesan said in a concerned voice.

"You're both correct. If Father hears that I snuck out of the royal palace onto the front lines, he's most likely going to scold me," Onean said with a wry smile.

Not long ago, the two dukes had been complaining about their own children to one another, but it seemed that Onean was quite a rebellious and troublesome child as well. In their eyes, it was as if all of these young people had been put into this world to cause trouble for their parents!

"Are you traveling to the front lines, Your Highness?" Nandoon asked.

"I am. I was just about to ask: how are things going on the front lines at the moment?"

"Right before we set off, His Majesty received a challenge from General Gilgen of the Skycourt Kingdom, arranging a final showdown with his Majesty on the Marrod Plain on the 15th of February," Nandoon replied.

There are still three days left until the 15th. Duke Nandoon and Duke Shreesan took a day and a night to get here from the front lines, so it looks like we should be able to return there in time, Onean thought to herself.

"Your Highness, if your destination was the front lines in Burmen, then why didn't you go directly north from Windmetal Fort along the provincial road of Newen? Wouldn't that have saved you a lot of time?" Nandoon suddenly asked. He was quite perplexed about why Onean had decided to come to the south coast instead. Furthermore, why was she traveling with this mercenary legion? Could it be that the rumors were true, and Onean really had fallen for Count Friar's son?

Onean was unsure of how to answer this question. After all, she couldn't just tell them that Erwin had tied her up and essentially abducted her to this place.

"Not long after we first set off, my wounds were reopened from the rigors of travel, and I needed a magic potion brewed from the internal organs of a certain type of magic beast in the Terarody Mountain Ranges to treat my injuries. It's all thanks to my friends in the Four Winds mercenary legion, who risked their lives to secure that key ingredient for me. Otherwise, I most likely wouldn't even have made it out of the king's province. After that, we planned to go north along the provincial road once I recovered from my injuries." A resigned smile appeared on Onean's face as she continued, "Unfortunately, the commanders of the Four Winds mercenary had a mind of their own, and they blatantly ignored the orders of the department of military affairs to go their own way. I couldn't stop them, and I was worried that if I were to leave, they would be wiped out by the Skycourt Kingdom's mercenary legions as they traveled along the coastline. Hence, I had no choice but to stay with them, and now, here we are in Xeto."

"Looks like my son is in severe need of discipline. Refusing to follow the orders of the department of military affairs is already a grave transgression, and placing Her Highness's safety at risk is an even more unforgivable crime! I'll make sure to teach that little rascal a lesson that he won't forget anytime soon," Nandoon said with a stern expression. "Thank you for protecting my useless son and his mercenary legion all the way here. Otherwise, they most likely wouldn't even have survived to this point."

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If Larwood could hear their conversation, he would be protesting vehemently. He was a victim in all of this as well! How was he supposed to know that Erwin would be so brazen as to hide the princess in their mercenary legion without telling anyone?

"Your Highness, we are very fortunate that everything has turned out well on this occasion, but you can't be so reckless in the future. If something were to happen to you, I shudder to imagine how distraught His Majesty would be. It's imperative that you keep yourself safe, particularly in times of war like this," Shreesan said in an earnest voice.

"You're right, Uncle Shreesan. I've been far too selfish and wilful," Onean replied with a guilty expression. "Having said that, just like you said, the outcome was positive in the end, and that is a great blessing for all of us. Also, the Four Winds mercenary legion has made significant contributions in the defense of Xeto, and they ventured into the mountain ranges at the risk of their own lives to save me, so I would say that their contributions have made up for their wrongdoings, wouldn't you agree?"

"As you wish, Your Highness." Duke Nandoon's expression finally eased slightly upon hearing this.

"Her Highness is right, Brother Nandoon. You shouldn't be too strict with that son of yours. I had a look at him during the battle, and he did extremely well. I'd say he's no less capable a warrior than you were in your youth," Shreesan said as he gave Nandoon a pat on the shoulder. "Also, the fact that these kids were willing to venture into the Terarody Mountain ranges to fight those fearsome magic beasts for the sake of Her Highness's wellbeing is a splendid display of their courage. I don't think the average person would've had the guts to do that."

"That's true. Normally, I didn't think those lazy rascals would have the courage to venture into the mountain ranges," Nandoon said in an indifferent voice.

While the battlefield was being cleaned up, the mayor of Xeto approached Onean and the two dukes before welcoming them into the city. Erwin and the others were naturally following along obediently behind the two dukes.

The resounding victory that had just been secured was very much worthy of celebration, and everyone had only just made their way into the city when they discovered that the entirety of Xeto had already been transformed into a sea of celebration, with all types of musical instruments being played. It seemed that the mayor had been forced to hold back the celebrations by Onean, and now that the ultimate victory had finally been secured, the suppressed celebrations were immediately arranged in full swing. The citizens of the city had poured out onto the streets with joyful expressions to welcome their heroes, and they were waving and cheering vigorously at Onean. If it weren't for the Burmen soldiers holding them back, they would've most likely approached her to offer up their fruits and wine again.

Regardless of whether it was the soldiers of Xeto who had defended the city with unrivaled determination, or the royal cavaliers who had traveled day and night to get here, or the Four Winds mercenary legion who were like a godsent miracle, all of them were heroes and were worthy of the utmost praise and adulation from the city's citizens.

...

Francis led everyone to his manor, where a banquet had already been arranged in the main hall.

Once everyone had taken a seat, Francis picked up his silver spoon and clinked it against his cup twice to capture everyone's attention. As a result, the boisterous commotion ringing out in the hall gradually died down.

"I think it would be appropriate for Her Highness to give an address first," Francis said with a smile as he cast his gaze toward Onean, who was sitting on the main seat.

"Of course." Everyone else in the hall eagerly nodded in agreement with this proposal.

Onean stood up with an elegant smile before nodding at everyone in acknowledgment, then put on a serious expression as she said, "It was all thanks to everyone's combined efforts that we were able to secure this victory. The soldiers of Xeto, the royal cavaliers, and the Four Winds mercenary legion are all heroes who have contributed immensely to this victory and done the entire Effer Kingdom a great service. If the Skycourt Kingdom's mercenaries had managed to break through our defenses, think about the suffering that would've befallen all of the citizens of the city who had just welcomed us outside. On behalf of the Effer Kingdom, I would like to thank everyone for rescuing these people, even though it meant placing your own lives at risk. I propose a toast, a toast to the Effer Kingdom! We're going to ensure that the Skycourt Kingdom suffers such a heavy defeat in this war that the thought of invading our kingdom will never cross their minds ever again!"

"For the Effer Kingdom!"

Everyone raised their cups and drank with zeal and vigor.

Erwin was surreptitiously watching Onean from behind his cup. He was suddenly struck by the feeling that a regal aura and kingly charisma were things that were simply innately present in some people. Why was it that a woman like her was able to deliver such a rousing address, much like a fierce general? Was it just because she was the princess?

Truth be told, Erwin was not very comfortable in especially boisterous and bustling environments like this one. The maximal limit of what he was used to was drinking with Larwood and the others, with hostesses accompanying them on the side. Thus, this rowdy banquet to celebrate victory in a war was something that he was very much unaccustomed to, and he felt quite out of place.

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