In the castle's side hall, the Southern Four Sovereigns sat in a row, quietly waiting. Each of them bore a different expression, lost in contemplation.Elijah casually sipped his coffee, Lincon rested with closed eyes, Tyrus observed the hall's arrangement, and Wyatt paced impatiently. After some time passed, Eloise entered the hall with Austin and Jaxon, carrying an exquisite purple rosewood box."Gentlemen, the Marshal's military insignia has arrived," she announced and delicately placed the rosewood box on the table. Upon unveiling its contents, it revealed a striking golden tiger token.The meticulously crafted tiger token emanated a regal and imposing presence. Adorning its surface in resplendent gold were the words: "Symbol of Armor, with the Prince on the left and Lucozia on the right.""Indeed, it's the Marshal's military insignia!" Wyatt exclaimed, his eyes lighting up. He added, "With this insignia, we can command the Black Dragon Army. Julius's scheme will crumble wi
Lincon was the first to react. "Quick! Go after the military insignia!" he shouted. Eloise immediately commanded, "Go after it!"Jaxon drew his sword abruptly. He led a squad of Draken Guardians in the direction where Elijah disappeared, racing after him."How could this happen?" Austin was bewildered, standing frozen, unsure of what to do. He hadn't expected Elijah to snatch the military insignia, so he was completely unprepared. By the time he realized it, Elijah had already made a swift escape."Your Highness, Elijah is likely working for Julius," Lincon explained with a grave tone. He added, "His unwavering support for you and helping the castle maintain order was just a ploy to make you drop your guard. When the time was right, he'd seize the military insignia and push us into a corner.""Damn it! I never thought Elijah would be a traitor. How despicable!" Wyatt fumed."No wonder he kept suggesting using the military insignia to control the Black Dragon Army against Jul
"What? Abandon West Lucozia? That's like handing the throne to Julius!" Austin's expression turned grim."As long as we're alive, there's still a chance. We need to stay resilient. There are opportunities, and we must not lose hope," Lincon said with heartfelt sincerity."The throne is stolen, the military insignia is taken, and 50 thousand Black Dragon Army soldiers are all following Julius' orders. In this situation, where do we have a chance?" Tyrus shook his head.If he had known it would come to this, he wouldn't have been so greedy by forming an alliance through marriage with the Rhys family. Now, he didn't gain any advantage and only managed to entangle himself in a difficult situation."I think Sir Blaze is right. We must prepare for the worst in case of unforeseen events." Eloise nodded.Though reluctant to admit it, the current situation was highly unfavorable for them. If the military insignia truly fell into Julius's hands, they would lose any chance of turning the t
It appeared to be a desperate move, a gambit that Austin and the others unwittingly fell into. Julius not only tracked their every movement but also discerned their intentions from the beginning. Unwittingly, they stumbled into Julius's trap, with all their actions unfolding exactly as he had anticipated. Julius's foresight allowed him to set up this intricate trap, enticing them unsuspectingly and maneuvering them into a precarious position. The ultimate goal was to seize the military insignia.Moreover, Austin and the others' actions led the wolf to the door, falling victim to Julius's scheme and resulting in the loss of the military insignia. Admittedly, achieving the esteemed rank of Grand General Rhys in West Lucozia was truly an exceptional accomplishment. However, in the intricate game of strategy, they proved to be inexperienced.Time passed quickly, and dawn arrived. After a night of cleaning, the bodies in front of the castle gates were cleared. However, the bloodst
"What? The Black Dragon Army sealed the city? How did this happen so quickly?" Tyrus's face changed. He nearly jumped out of his seat. They thought they could delay for a few days. But overnight, Julius had already brought his army to their doorstep. The efficiency was terrifyingly fast."Quick! Assemble the troops immediately, prepare to escort Her Highness and His Highness out of the city!" Wyatt shouted."It's too late. The Black Dragon Army has already sealed the city. We can't escape." Eloise shook her head, her expression grim. Despite being mentally prepared, facing this was still hard to accept."We have to try. We can't just sit and wait for our demise." Wyatt urged anxiously."It's futile." She shook her head again. She added, "With the military insignia in Julius's hands, our fate is sealed. Instead of scurrying around like mice, it's better to face it head-on, at least with some dignity.""Your Highness—"Wyatt was about to say more but was interrupted by Eloise.
"Your Highness—"Wyatt, standing behind, was about to speak, but Eloise raised her hand to stop him."Oh? Is that so?" Julius smirked slightly, showing some interest. "Your Highness, are you here to negotiate with me?""That's right." She was straightforward. "As long as you agree to three things, we will all support you as the prince. We will ensure you ascend without a worry in sight.""Your Highness, even without your support, I can still become a prince. So, what qualifications do you have to negotiate terms with me?" He grinned slyly."Grand General Rhys, I believe you are someone who values your reputation. Smoothly ascending to the throne without any opposition, isn't that preferable?" she stated."Fine, I'll give Your Highness some respect and hear what conditions you propose." Julius chuckled. He was in a winning position now. It wouldn't hurt to agree if he could avoid some trouble by agreeing to a few conditions, provided these conditions weren't excessively demandin
"Grand General Rhys, I have only one son. I cannot leave him behind and return to Oakvale alone. I implore you to show mercy!" Eloise bowed deeply.At that crucial moment, she had cast aside all concerns for her pride. The sole focus was on extracting Austin from the raging inferno, a sacrifice she deemed worthwhile even if it meant surrendering her own life."If Your Highness does not wish to return to Oakvale, you can stay here," Julius said indifferently. He went on, "I can find a beautiful place in West Lucozia for both of you to spend the rest of your lives carefree. How about that?""If you become the Prince of West Lucozia, it might not be appropriate for us to stay here. It would be better if you allowed us to return to Oakvale. That way, everyone would be happy," she suggested."There's nothing inappropriate about it. Austin is my nephew," he said with a faint smile.He added, "So, having him assist me in West Lucozia is normal. If he performs well, he might even be r
In West Lucozia, only a few could match Elijah's strength. If Elijah hadn't seized the military insignia last night, Julius wouldn't have been able to advance his forces. Ultimately, the outcome depended on Elijah's choices."Your Highness, the wiser man adapts to circumstances. Grand General Rhys is more suited to be the Prince of West Lucozia than you. Is there a problem with me serving him?" Elijah asked with a faint smile."I thought you were a loyal subject, but you turn out to be a vile person!" Austin accused."The victor becomes the king, and the loser is the enemy. Whether I'm loyal or vile depends on the one who prevails." Elijah shrugged."Even if we lose, I won't let you off easy!" Austin declared. He reached out and effortlessly retrieved the fallen long sword with a swift motion through the air, bringing it back into his hand."You want to continue fighting?" Elijah shook his head, chuckling. "Even if you go all out, it's just a joke to me.""Whether it's a joke o