THUD. THUD. THUD.
The sound of warhorses and marching filled the darkness as hundreds upon hundreds of cavalry and foot soldiers marched to group up with Justinian’s army.
The banners of Thirell and Vesuvian joined together as Bjorn led the march, a battle to end this petty rebellion once and for all.
"Go!"
Bjorn yelled out, releasing a messenger pigeon to Bridgeton, to signal to Justinian his cooperation and the details of the army with him.
"This is incredible!"
Javier said in awe, riding in formation with the Vesuvian cavalry as he stared at the elite force.
It was nothing like Snowkeep’s guards and militia; it was powerful, obedient, and impenetrable.
But of course, still falling slightly behind compared to Justinian’s force that wiped out Bridgeton and Herdin.
"As expected of Vesuvian... Lord Justinian is lucky to have them as vassals."
His companion nodded in agreement, smiling as he imagined the prospect of the entire duchy finally changing and improving after the end of the long war.
"Reginald! Detach from the army and scout the area ahead!"
Bjorn shouted commands, ensuring that even in march, they were prepared.
"Malory! Head to Rhyne’s capital and scout ahead, check for any movement!"
And after what seemed like an eternity of marching under the moon’s embrace, the sun had finally risen, the orange light filtering through the distant mountains foreshadowing the conflict that was to come.
"We have arrived!"
Bjorn yelled out, as in the distance was Justinian’s camp, now woken up and preparing, already having seen Reginald’s cavalry and is currently talking with Lucan.
But something caught Bjorn’s eye even more than Justinian’s completely elite army.
"Daughter...?"
Bjorn muttered, seeing Cassia and Justinian talk freely with each other, both laughing and smiling.
"...And Lord Justinian!?"
Bjorn couldn’t believe it, tugging at the reins of his horse as he sped ahead of his army.
He needed to know how his perfect and beloved daughter had her walls crumble against the so-called ’Cruel’ Duke.
"Lord Justinian!"
He yelled out, catching Justinian’s ear as he looked in his general direction, seeing Bjorn ride out at terrifying speeds.
One that could easily be mistaken as charging at Justinian to kill him.
"S-sir Bjorn!?"
And Justinian completely knew why.
"Explain yourselves at once!"
He arrived in front of them, looking like a towering warrior atop his steed, eyes filled with steel and slight anger.
"F-father... I will explain everything."
Cassia stood up and took his father’s hand, urging him to talk alone for a while.
Justinian took this chance to depart, unlike the nobles and castellan he had dealt with, Bjorn was too big and powerful a man to risk trifling with.
’Cassia, I’ll leave everything up to you!’
He thought as he met up with Lucan and the rest of Bjorn’s generals, already talking about plans.
Lucan noticed Justinian approaching, also seeing the two departing figures behind him that were about to have a heart-to-heart.
"My duke! I see you have met your consort’s father."
He joked, clapping, even if he now saw Justinian in a new light, it didn’t mean he wasn’t allowed to still joke.
"Consort!?"
"Excuse you!?"
The generals look offended, like he just personally spat on Northros’ sacred ground with his comment.
"The daughter of Lord Vesuvian would never resort to dating such an incompetent duke!"
"As if the duke who let his capital be surrounded even had the chance with the pale flower."
The generals continued shouting insults, thinking Justinian was still like himself in the past, and not the new him who is now inhabited by another soul.
"Shut it."
Lucan suddenly barked, his eyes narrowed as he stared at Bjorn’s generals.
"Huh!? You’re defending him!?"
Before the encirclement even happened, Lucan and Bjorn’s generals knew each other very well, even sharing the same opinion about Justinian.
But now... not so much.
"Enough of this bickering. If you have time to talk, you have time to obey commands."
Justinian ordered sternly.
"If you have any problems, then I’ll gladly humble you all myself."
Right now, with Vesuvian’s reinforcements and Justinian’s cavalry, they far outnumbered the encirclement within Snowkeep.
But that didn’t matter; they were of no issue because the biggest problem would be Rhyne himself.
If they crush the entire encirclement, it would allow Rhyne to have the time to defend his capital.
But if they were to march directly and besiege him while most of his men are completely spread out?
He was easy prey.
"Have you laid out the plan, Marshal?"
"Of course, my Duke, they’re smart enough to execute it."
As the two talked, the generals looked even more confused, Justinian casually ordering and talking to Lucan, one of the greatest generals in the south.
It was rarer than seeing pigs being able to fly.
And what even confused them more was seeing Justinian’s army filled to the brim with elite men, ones that even rivaled the generals themselves.
"What the hell could have happened within the encirclement for this to happen..."
The generals muttered together, all trying to make sense of the current situation.
"I expect you all to do your best."
Justinian finally left, waving off as he finished with a briefing of Lucan about any updates, leaving Bjorn’s confused generals to Lucan.
’The generals are informed... Snowkeep is properly defended... the amount of reinforcements exceeding expectations.’
Justinian crossed his arms, pacing around the camp and greeting his men as he thought about other preparations.
But nothing else came up; everything was ready.
Other than one thing.
"Lord Justinian."
Bjorn approached him along with Cassia.
With Bjorn looking completely out of it.
"...Take good care of my daughter."
’What!?’
Justinian’s soul left his body, his entire body freezing at his words.
’What the hell did she say!?’