Our Family Has Fallen

"I watched Tiffany write this letter. The Lord did not force us into anything, it’s simply that the children have grown up."

The woman sighed, and these words extinguished Walter’s spirit, causing him to slump into a chair.

Grown up...

He opened his daughter’s letter again and read it carefully.

There weren’t many useless words, just a simple explanation that Hamlet is currently safe, with no reason to leave.

It also explained that leaving would cause significant damage to her career. In Hamlet, where the collective spirit values unity and mutual assistance, power and responsibility are interconnected.

If she leaves, she will lose everyone’s trust, and no one will listen to her as a "traitor." This is a cost she cannot bear.

Similarly, her brother is unwilling to leave because he cannot abandon his students. If he leaves, all the students will ridicule him as a coward, making it impossible for him to stay at the school.

Like a guy fleeing the battlefield before fighting, he has no chance to become a General.

What was even more piercing was the example Tiffany gave; Walter felt it was targeting him?

Damn it, if I hadn’t run back then, there wouldn’t have been the two of you! A General, huh, I was just a rank-and-file soldier at the time.

"Sometimes you really should go back to Hamlet and see how much it has developed under the Lord’s leadership."

"It seems you’ve been persuaded by the two of them."

The woman offered advice, prompting Walter’s dissatisfaction; it’s difficult for him to yield to his daughter, do I not have any pride?

Yet he couldn’t come up with any counterarguments, so he sarcastically muttered as though blaming his wife for not siding with him.

"You know their personalities; only Lord Lance will tolerate your daughter, and only Hamlet can be a Sanctuary for your son."

Indeed, it’s rather abstract; even the woman couldn’t comprehend why Tiffany dared to confront the Lord directly, yet he had to comply with her.

Had it been any other noble, Tiffany would have long been "out of her mind" for speaking in such a way.

Likewise, her son’s timid personality renders him unable to survive in this desperate and cruel world; the crisis caused by Walter’s last disappearance still haunts the woman.

City residents can hear chaotic news from outside; up till now, the empire hasn’t subdued the rebels and remains in a stalemate. If they ever attack one day, only Hamlet can provide her peace of mind.

Thus, the woman has no objections to Lord Lance, or rather anyone spending time in Hamlet will feel calm.

Of course, the woman was unaware that Lance deliberately let Susan spread the news of Tiffany causing a commotion to remain.

Because of the woman’s series of actions as part of the Surrender Faction, even requesting the Lord to spare them in public not only put Lance on the spot but also her children.

Lance released this information to protect Tiffany.

This both alleviated some negative rumors and erected the banner of [resolute resistance] to suppress the Surrender Faction among other bureaucrats.

Once the banner is raised, those resolute will naturally rally around her, enhancing her status; these are reputation and political resources.

This pertains externally, but internally—Lance easily transformed the conflict between Walter and the Lord into an internal family conflict.

Lance doesn’t understand politics, but he’s both sly and cunning, having Tiffany charge ahead, and she owes him thanks.

Walter gradually calmed down, realizing that his children indeed have grown up; even his son, who was always timid, changed, perhaps he should indeed go see.

"Reply to your daughter’s letter, after all, we’re family."

"Hmph! A reply? What your daughter wants is a reply letter? She’s asking me for money!"

Walter could easily discern the meaning, but at this point, he didn’t bother being stubborn verbally, gesturing dismissively since it’s all the Lord’s possession anyway.

"Alright, alright, I’ll immediately send people to transport those war horses and supplies back."

Initially, why did Vick come here? It was because Ovando had recently acquired a batch of supplies, and those given to Count Bastia were picked over scraps.

The truly valuable items, such as intact armor, crossbows, war horses, and various military supplies, were all provided to Hamlet.

Utilizing river shipping, he collected resources from other places; it’s said Ovando’s caravans frequently traversed the old route to and from Hamlet.

Until Extreme Darkness arrived, he sent people back to investigate; although he received news that Hamlet and his family were fine, he suspended all caravans heading to Hamlet due to not retrieving people and also started preparing troops.

His intent seemed clear, believing Lance was detaining his family and preparing for their rescue.

The laughable part is that Vick and those from Hamlet certainly wouldn’t join him, and those under him, the city defense force, struggled to maintain order within the city, let alone deploying them?

What! Am I attacking Hamlet?

It’s merely self-consolation, as his reason for assembling soldiers was to guard against chaos caused by anomalies, though he knew deep down it was impossible to truly attack, just a gesture.

Frankly speaking, those people might not even measure up to the previous Cavalry unit; when he surveyed the soldiers in the manor, their casual expressions revealed an indifference toward life.