Amber Sword

"Are you using the Princess as a bargaining chip?" The red-haired girl widened her eyes in disbelief, glaring with hatred at the Marquis. If not for them, would the Kingdom be in this state?

"Beth, watch your tongue." Nemesia couldn’t stand it and reprimanded.

"Senior Nemesia, but the Princess is still in front."

"Address me as Knight Commander, Soldier. That’s the Princess’s choice, but her true intention was not for the Kingdom to perish alongside her, that was her command as well," Nemesia answered coldly, as if devoid of emotions. "The final hour has passed, I must meticulously carry out the Princess’s orders."

Beth shivered and lowered her head.

Nemesia looked up, observing the silhouette of the Female Knight on the wall. In her impression, this Valkyrie of Erune’s future had a gentle personality, even somewhat timid, indistinguishable from a girl from the countryside, but until today, she suddenly found herself unable to clearly see through the other.

"Frey?"

"We still have one last chance, Commander, if we counterattack Medao Village and cut off the Demons’ retreat, then perhaps we can delay time, isn’t it?" Frey’s gaze swept across the entire battlefield, with historic renowned battle examples floating in her mind.

Only in this moment, she was no longer that immature girl, but Erune’s Valkyrie. Her thoughts were unprecedentedly clear, as if recalling the days in the Royal Knight Academy.

𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

While everyone else was resting, only she was rigorously practicing swordsmanship, but just to catch up with others’ progress. While everyone was asleep, only she was reading those renowned tactical battle cases in history, merely because of Brand’s promise to her of an ideal.

The girl was not clever, far from being a genius, but she had the most steadfast belief in her heart. Just for Buqi, for this land she deeply loved, she was willing to give up everything.

This ideal was so pure, yet unbearable to desecrate.

She turned back to look at Nemesia, as if seeking expectations from her Senior Sister’s eyes. The protruding Bunoan Guard City resembled a sharp blade; the terrain was steep, swaying in wind and rain, as if everything here could be destroyed at any moment. But haven’t the long besieged Demons also faced the same? Protruding portions are often merely relative, forming battlefield extensions like blades right next to Bunoan Guard City.

This is where their only chance lies.

When everyone believed all was lost, the girl stubbornly found this point theoretically plausible, but practically, the chances of success were minimal. It’s a clumsy method, and everyone understood that.

But Nemesia knew.

No matter if this plan would succeed, it could at least persuade Wood and the Northern nobles to delay the retreat time. It’s like the difference between being already lost and having a slight chance, in itself actually meaningless, but to a drowning person, it has another kind of significance.

She and the Marquis exchanged a glance, each reading the other’s intention from their eyes. Such a bold plan, especially targeting the enemy, rather than their own people.

Both stayed silent, seriously watching Frey.

"Do you know what you’re talking about, Frey?" Nemesia calmly asked.

Frey nodded.

Nemesia looked at her oddly, as if trying to find what gave her such confidence, making her mature so rapidly. War is often just a gamble; the more stubborn one holds steadfastly to victory, and now the girl already harbors this potential.

"Do you understand the consequences, if the Alliance is defeated here, what awaits this Kingdom? Do you truly understand the outcome of doing this?"

Marquis Balta also stared at Frey.

The girl from Buqi was slightly startled, as if she drifted into a trance. But ultimately, she firmly nodded her head.

Nemesia sighed, glancing at Beth next to her. The red-haired girl listened inexplicably to their conversation, but finally, a smile appeared on the black-haired Female Knight’s face: "I understand, I approve of the plan, regardless of whether it succeeds or fails, I fully take responsibility."

Frey uttered a light ’ah’, she stared at the cold Nemesia—her aura of a newly gained wisdom just collapsed instantly, reverting back to that dazed girl from Buqi countryside.

"Didn’t you hear? Hurry and prepare?" Nemesia furrowed her brows and asked impatiently.

"B-but..." Frey felt she must have misheard, she asked in disbelief.

"Do you wish to take responsibility for it?" Nemesia couldn’t help chuckling, "Soldier, you don’t have that authority. Who do you think you are? Would the Chief Priest Wood follow your words?"

"But... Lord Marquis?" She couldn’t help looking at Marquis Balta beside her.

The current Commander of the White Lion Legion didn’t reply, just wiped the blood from his forehead with his hand and shook his head. "You think you’re the only one unwilling, little girl?"

"Thank you for giving me this opportunity."

He stared at the sky, with reflections of red flames in his eyes, murmuring in response. In that moment, Marquis Balta seemed to see that banner, he smiled slightly.

Perhaps Erune doesn’t merely need to exist.

There are also other important things.

Equally worth defending.

Regarding future choices, the White Lion ultimately erred—

...

(P.S: Today LOL updates to S3, initially I was exhausted from the burst yesterday and planned to take a day off, but upon reconsideration decided to persevere in writing. Continuous efforts should remain continuous, merely 3000 words, hoping for everyone’s understanding.=3=, mwah.) (To be continued. If you like this work, welcome to visit Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets, monthly tickets, your support is my greatest motivation.)