Count Caspar felt a bit flustered, but upon glancing around slightly, he straightened his back and pretended to remain calm.
Taking a deep breath, Yilin continued to shout loudly, "If oaths are made just to be broken, then what is the point of making them? Tell me!"
Lord Bishop’s gaze slightly lowered.
Noticing this detail, the King had no choice but to shout, "In any case, you no longer have a choice! For yourself, and for those who follow you, you should surrender! Accept my arrangements! This is your last chance!"
"No—!" The wind gently blew past, lifting her hair. Yilin heavily thrust her sword into the ground before her and hysterically yelled, "I will never surrender! For the Beisher Family, I will hold out to the last moment!"
The sunlight broke through the clouds, shining upon her, her martial attire a testament to the last of her courage, her final resolve, and her unwavering determination.
Everyone watched, watching this seventeen-year-old girl’s final madness.
Everyone fell silent.
Turning her face slightly, she softly spoke to the soldiers around her, "But I won’t mind if you compromise. You are all the finest warriors..."
Exhausted to the extreme, the soldiers looked at her, struggling to stand.
With her head lowered, Yilin gasped heavily, speaking softly, "Thank you, thank you for fighting with me until now. But you still have parents, wives, and children, and you shouldn’t die here because of my stubbornness. I, Yilin Beibela Beixier, from this moment, release you from your oaths. Cough, cough... this war, from now on, is my own matter."
The soldiers around stared, dumbfounded.
The rights and duties of nobility are built upon oaths, pledges of loyalty, and the return of that loyalty. When a noble forswears all oaths, they abandon everything.
Gripping the sword hilt lightly, Yilin said, "This is the final order, leave here."
"Miss Yilin..." Mike still tried to argue.
"There’s no need, really." Yilin said blankly, "I’ll repeat it once more, leave here."
Silence, a long silence.
Finally, a soldier dropped his weapon and slowly walked up to Yilin, kneeling on one knee and solemnly saluting.
Then the second, the third, the fourth, the fourth...
Yilin slowly raised her head, staring vacantly at the dark crowd facing her.
The King’s lips curved into a slight smile. He laughed.
Supported by Shelley, Count Gruglu also approached Yilin and struggled to kneel.
"Grandfather, should we also..."
"It’s meaningless now."
"But, but Gray hasn’t come yet."
Shelley looked around in a daze, refusing to believe that the knight she loved most would back down at this moment.
Yet reality gave her a harsh slap, and she could only lower her head in helplessness.
More and more people dropped their weapons, including Pas and his mercenary group, until... everyone, Mike, Huoersi, Abi Robbes.
*Though some were unwilling, some reluctant, they all dropped their weapons, no exception, obeying Yilin’s order.*
Soldiers scattered, fewer people around Yilin, until at last, on the plains, she was alone, standing solitary, leaning against the white castle left by her ancestors, facing the King’s army of forty thousand.
"Very well, then I shall fulfill your honor as a lord." The King waved his hand slightly.
The Golden Armor Knights quickly formed ranks at the frontline.
Yilin gripped the hilt of her sword tightly, trembling. The excruciating pain, blood loss, and severe exhaustion clouded her mind. Yet she had to grit her teeth and stand, even though she had nothing left.
Oh, not entirely. She still had one oath left, with Gray. Because Gray was not here.
*"If he were here, what would happen? It seems... nothing much." She thought helplessly, exhaling a long breath.*
The King’s hand was raised high, signaling the charge.
The horns sounded, and the Golden Armor Knights’ cavalry arranged their formation. Three thousand elite blades pointed at a single woman.
The Bishop closed his eyes slowly.
Shelley covered her lips.
Count Gruglu turned away.
Abi Robbes sat on the ground, as if soulless.
Every resident of the white city watched.
Just as the King was about to lower his hand, a voice echoed in everyone’s ears.
The King’s hand paused.
Shelley slowly widened her eyes.
Huoersi looked around in disbelief.
Count Gruglu was stunned.
Abi Robbes hurriedly stood up from the ground.
The Bishop, eyes closed tight, slowly opened his eyes.
The entire Golden Armor Knights were thrown into chaos.
"Whose voice is this?"
"It seems to be Baron Gray! Baron Gray has arrived!"
The residents of the white city buzzed with conversation.
"In the face of powerful enemies! Fearless! Brave and loyal! Worthy of the Holy Spirit! Loyal and upright! Preferring death over surrender! Protecting the weak! Following the divine order!"
Each word was a soul-searing roar, ear-splitting!
Following the pointing finger, soon everyone spotted the figure on the eastern hill.
He stood alone, holding the Silver Moon Banner emblazoned with the explosive pattern! And behind him, the dazzling sunrise!
The Silver Moon emblem fluttered in the wind.
"I, Gray Gruglu, swear! Loyalty to Yilin Beibela Beixier! All those who oppose her will be my enemies! All those who harm her will be my mortal foes!"
Hearing Gray adopt the surname "Gruglu," Shelley couldn’t help but cover her mouth and laugh.
Everyone was stupefied, yes, everyone, including the King.
Yilin stared in a daze, scarcely believing her eyes.
"As long as it does not violate my oath! I will follow all her commands! Fight for her honor! Respect her! Protect her! Until death!"
The last vestige of strength seemed to break apart in an instant. Yilin’s tears burst forth uncontrollably. She covered her mouth and cried like an ordinary girl.
"Neigh—!" A bone horse appeared behind Gray, raising its hooves high, letting out the loudest neigh of its life.
Following closely were children. Yes, children, dressed in armor, riding bone horses like Gray’s! One after another, they appeared!
"What a fool." Yilin laughed through her tears, amazed at how unbelievable it all was.
But if everyone in this world were so foolish, how wonderful would it be?
Exactly fifteen children, not one less, lined up, drawing their longswords with a "clang"! Shouting in unison, "The Silver Moon Knight Order has come to fulfill our oaths!"
Their voices resonated in the air, the swords gleaming brilliantly in the sunlight, dazzling and radiant.
*Oaths are meant to be kept! What is courage? What they deem worthless, there is one person who decides to carry out unwaveringly.*
In this moment, the world was silent, everyone holding their breath.
"Humans all gave up, but the Lich still holds on. Isn’t it ironic?" The female angel lurking in the distance smiled speechlessly.