Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio
A group of men were fleeing east on the highroad, with Edward the Eighth among them . Even though he had fled Diamond City successfully and was now safe, he appeared to have lost all hope . He did not know where he should go . He did not have anything to live for, and did not know why he had left the city . Now, he would have rather perished with his nation .
The men around him were all heavily armored knights . One of the knights in the group had white hair and beard, and his hands were full of wrinkles . However, his lance did not quiver as he rode . The other knight was young and followed the older knight closely . Since Edward the Eighth did not care where they were going, the two knights became the leaders of the group .
However, even they were lost . They had fled the city, but where should they go? Suddenly, the griffins circling the air above them suddenly dove down, screeching . The knights halted, quickly forming a circle, with Edward the Eighth in the middle . Normally, only half of the knights would stay, while the other half would keep going with Edward the Eighth .
However, there were too few of them, and it was safer to stay together . If Edward the Eighth was alone, anyone could take him to the Maho army . These knights were loyal, but they were not sure about anyone else .
As soon as the knights set up their formation, two figures appeared down the road . Both were old and wearing mage robes . The mage in white did not look at the knights . Instead, he glanced down at the road, as if ashamed . The other mage appeared very calm . His gaze swept through the knights, finally stopping on the old knight .
The old knight sighed . "Douminge," he said with a nod . "This must be Saul . Your reputation proceeds you . "
AdvertisementThe knights around him shuffled and murmured in shock . Douminge alone was able to take out all of them . They did not stand a chance against both Douminge and Saul .
"You must be Shureberger, the Golden Knight," Saul said . "Pleasure . "
"So you didn't bring Anfey with you," Shureberger said quietly .
Saul smiled . "He's young," he said . "He has a reason to slack off a bit . " Saul knew why Shureberger had asked about Anfey . The Maho Empire was powerful, but the Shansa Empire and the Ellisen Empire had always worked together . Lately, in every single battle that ended with the Maho Empire as the victor, Anfey was there .
Of course, it was wrong to give Anfey all the credit, but it wouldn't be an overstatement to say he was instrumental . He and Alice were able to build up the League of Mercenaries and quicken Yolanthe's plan of uniting all the nations . He was also young, which meant he dared to do things more experienced people, like Baery and Saul, did not want to do . This was why Yolanthe trusted Anfey, even though they had only met a few times .
"Wait!" a shrill voice suddenly broke the silence . Edward the Eighth jumped up and was trying to push through the knights . However, he was not strong enough and could not get through them .
"Wait!" he called, tumbling off of his horse . "I surrender!"
"Your Majesty!" Shureberger called, his eyes wide . He jumped off his horse, trying to help him up .
"Move!" Edward the Eighth said angrily . He raised his hand to swat Shureberger's hand away and caught him in the face . Shureberger did not back away from Edward the Eighth . Instead, he grabbed his shirt and tried to help him up .
"Let me go," Edward the Eighth said, struggling . "I surrender, you hear me?"
Seeing the king he had served his entire life like this, tears swelled in Shureberger's eyes . He turned to Douminge and spat angrily, "You see what you did?"
Shureberger's voice was loud and clear . Hearing his voice, Edward the Eighth stopped his struggling and sat on the ground, staring ahead emptily . Douminge pursed his lips and glanced at Saul .
Saul sighed . Yolanthe had ordered that he must kill Edward the Eighth . Keeping him would be a hazard for both Yolanthe and Alice . If Edward the Eighth acted well after the surrender, he would only bring more trouble . Alice's enemies may want to work with him, and the nobles would prefer to have him as a ruler instead of Alice . If Edward the Eighth remained alive, there would be loyalists that opposed Alice's rule .
"'Your Majesty' is no longer fitting, sir," Saul said . "All of this is his own doing . Had he not sent Alice to the Country of Mercenaries, he would not have ended up here . "
Shureberger took a deep breath, but did not say anything . He was loyal to Edward the Eighth, but he also knew that he was not the best ruler .
"You are a Golden Knight, Shureberger . Who was it that imprisoned you in your own home for twenty years?"
"The past is in the past," Shureberger said sternly . "That does not mean anything . He will surrender . What do you say?"
Saul was silent for a few seconds, then whispered, "I'm sorry . "
"Of course," Shureberger said with a long sigh . He turned and glanced at Edward the Eighth, then he jumped onto his horse and raised his lance . "I challenge you, Saul . "
"You're challenging me?" Saul asked . He knew his own strength, and also knew Shureberger was no threat to him . "You're a true knight, sir . Are you willing to serve such a weak king? Don't you want more in life?"
Shureberger shook his head . "I didn't know mages talked so much," he said . He turned to the young knight behind him .
"It is my honor fighting with you, father," the young knight said with a nod .
"Good boy," Shureberger said with a chuckle .
"Wait!" Douminge said, taking a step forward . "Think about it . Are you willing to let your child die for a king like that? You're willing to see your family perish?"
"My country is gone," Shureberger said . "There's no point . I do not want my king to be alone when he goes . Do you understand? Move, Douminge . " Shureberger raised his lance, which exploded in light . He gripped his reins and dashed toward Saul .
Douminge stepped aside, his eyes downcast . Saul sighed as Shureberger approached . Even a king like Edward the Eighth had such loyal followers . Edward the Eighth should be satisfied .
Shureberger turned to the knights behind him and said, "Let us show them that not all of us are cowards!"
"Shansa Empire Forever!" the knights bellowed . Even though there were only two dozen of them, it was as if there were thousands of them charging at the same time .
Chapter end
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