PS. This book will be published on the 1st of next month, I hope you generous patrons will support it, I'll be very grateful.
Waldemar looked surprised, instinctively reaching for the longsword at his waist, but then remembered it had been handed to the guards before he entered the room. The Kingdom Knights immediately lunged at Albert, hoping to take him hostage.
To his dismay, Albert, whose swordsmanship was considered ordinary and who rarely went to battle, dodged swiftly and then struck Waldemar's thigh with a sword, causing the Kingdom Knight to fall with a wounded leg, whereupon he was pinned to the ground by two guards.
"How did you... discover this?" Waldemar knew the tide had turned; he lay pinned on the floor by two guards with more rushing in, binding him and placing a long halberd against his neck.
"Evidently, my knight betrayed me." Albert's face flushed crimson, his bulging veins made the forty-something count appear fierce: "He has offered the people of this city to the northern Barbarians as blood sacrifices. Am I right?"
The guards looked at the Kingdom Knight incredulously, as Guard Captain Emil approached Albert and whispered, "Count?"
"This traitor colluded with the Barbarians inside and out! He's already pledged allegiance to the Barbarian army outside the city walls, surrendering my city and people to Bireg. He will be the only noble resisting the end within the city's bounds as the Kingdom Knights of Mijordenhaven, persevering until the empire's reinforcements arrive, hence the King must reward him." Albert moved beside Waldemar and whispered in his ear: "The best outcome is that the great Bamboo Knight Waldemar, a hero of Mijordenhaven, inherits the title of the late Count Albert Baker and becomes the new lord of this city. Am I right? If I'm not mistaken, you've stationed your men on that passenger ship, haven't you?"
Waldemar's face flushed between blue and white; the Kingdom Knight chose not to respond.
"Not talking, are you? Emil?" Albert gave his Guard Captain a look. The scar-faced captain lunged forward, delivering a heavy punch to Waldemar's pretty face, causing cuts and bruises.
"You never truly understood me, my knight!" Albert Baker sheathed the longsword, speaking with resentment: "Did you think I couldn't see through your scheme? In the entire city, fewer than ten people knew the gunpowder storage at the east gate, and you were responsible for its defense. Only you! could find a patrol's loophole and send someone to detonate the gunpowder!"
"Moreover, you arrived too quickly; it's abnormal. I know you; at this time, you'd definitely not be on duty. You should be in a Half-Elf's tavern, sleeping with harlots!" Albert kicked Waldemar's face as two streams of blood flowed from his nose.
"So what?" A mad voice replied to the Count: "Albert, do you think you can defend this city? With that dilapidated city gate? With those hastily recruited rabble?"
"Wake up! You stupid donkey! Everyone will die! The entire city will turn to ashes under the Barbarians' axes and torches!" Waldemar shouted madly: "The more you resist, the worse your end shall be; the apocalypse is coming, and all will perish. Only knowing when to kneel and obey is the path to survival! I'm considering the people of this city! Bireg promised me if I surrender, he'll only kill half the town's people! Only half! How many can I save? It's the right choice, and you just don't understand!"
"...You are truly mad." Albert could not bother arguing with him; he signaled his Guard Captain to drag Waldemar away: "From today onwards, Kingdom Knight Waldemar will be erased from this world, your family history will vanish, your relatives will become slaves, and you... will be left to rot in the wild, never to rest!"
"No! You can't do this to me! No! I have rendered meritorious service for Nord! I have shed blood for the Old Earl! I demand to see His Majesty the King! I demand to see His Majesty the King!!!" Waldemar was dragged away by the guards when Guard Captain Emil stepped forward and asked, "Count, how should we deal with this traitor?"
"Behead him immediately!"
"Yes!" The Guard Captain hurried away.
Albert turned and took a deep breath, then gazed at the full plate armor displayed in his room, feeling waves of remorse: "So, war has finally come." Thɪs chapter is updated by Nov3lFɪre.ɴet
"Waldemar never understood how I inherited my title as Hereditary Duke." Looking at the armor passed down from his ancestors, Albert lowered his head, speaking as if to himself or perhaps to the portrait in his bedroom.
The portrait bears the name of his ancestor: Count of Mijordenhaven "Old Stubborn" Beck I.
"One hundred and fifty years ago, during the Great Holy War, evil armies encroached, Nord Prince-Elector, King of the North Sted VIII chose to bow and submit to the second Chaos Eternal God Chosen 'Anointed' Aisakuval. At that time, Nord nearly fell entirely, with only three counts refusing to surrender. They fought to the last moment. Ultimately, under the wise leadership of His Majesty Ludwig, Chaos was driven back."