Chapter 139
The next day, news that Barrett would take Aurora's punishment spread throughout the entire camp. Sere word of rumors about the two had already circulated widely. At first, Aurora tried to ignore the gossip, going about her day as if to silence the criticism with indifference. But as the murmurs grew louder and the stares more pointed, she could no longer cope and used her lingering injuries as an excuse to withdraw.
On the other hand, Barrett silently bore the brunt of it. He heard the whispers but could offer no explanation. He knew the issue involved more than just personal scandal—it was connected to the Victory Pass battle, the Westhaven civilians slaughtered by Aurora, and… These were matters that could not be explained away, and any attempt to do so would only worsen the situation.
The soldiers, however, were unaware of these complexities. They simply believed that Aurora had disobeyed orders and left the main force, leading to her capture. Moreover, during the siege, she had charged in and disrupted the Mystic Army’s formation, nearly causing Carissa to fail in breaching the city. As a result, the soldiers held Aurora in contempt, viewing her actions as a grab for credit that backfired. With that assumption, who would feel any sympathy for her?
In contrast, Barrett’s act of taking the punishment for his wife earned him the respect of his men. Despite this, neither the Hell Monarch Army nor the Southern Frontier veterans held him in high regard. On the battlefield, men fought fiercely and spoke of protecting their country and territory, but everyone prioritized their own families first. However, after achieving military merit, Barrett had used his achievements to request a marriage edict, abandoning a wife who had dutifully served his parents for a year. Any soldier with a sense of honor would despise him for it. Moreover, many Southern Frontier soldiers had once served under Hector, making them naturally inclined to support Carissa.
It was not until the beginning of May that Rafael formulated a defensive plan for the border. Afterward, he left several generals to guard Simonton City and began leading the Mystic Army and the Hell Monarch Army back to the capital. The troops originally stationed at Victory Pass, who had come to help at the Southern Frontier, were to return to their original posts. The memorial plaques had been carved, and Rafael arranged for them to be escorted back to the capital. Upon arrival, he and Carissa would carry the plaques together.
The journey back was long, as the capital city was far from the Southern Frontier. As the army traveled, citizens along the way welcomed them warmly. Reclaiming the Southern Frontier was a long-cherished wish of the Starhaven people, and at last, Rafael had succeeded. He was a hero, as were all the soldiers who fought at the Southern Frontier, except for Aurora. The once-renowned female general had caused the deaths of hundreds of soldiers through her pursuit of personal glory, leading to her and eighteen others being captured and tortured. This knowledge was not confined to the military; many Southern Frontier civilians knew of it as well. This information had been spread by spies dispatched by Liam. Once Rafael discovered these spies, he sent them back to Westhaven.
After the Southern Frontier was reclaimed, numerous merchants traveled there and learned of the news. Thus, by the time the army began its return to the capital, the information had already spread throughout Starhaven. It was only a matter of time before it reached the capital.
By mid-June, the grand army finally arrived in the capital. Salvador led the court officials and awaited them at the city gates, which were packed with citizens. Dozens of musicians played various instruments. Rafael got off his horse, holding Hector’s memorial plaque, while Carissa held the plaque for her eldest brother. Timothy and the other generals held the plaques for Carissa’s other brothers, and they all stood solemnly. At that moment, everyone from the court officials to the welcoming crowd was in tears.
Before the army entered the city, Salvador ordered fireworks to be ignited. The crackling of fireworks filled the air, and the colorful sparks indicated that Starhaven would be free of war from now on. Salvador stepped down from his carriage and raised his hand, prompting the drums to begin beating. At the same time, over a dozen musicians began to play their trumpets. As the trumpets played, the drummers, wielding drumsticks adorned with white silk, struck their drums in rhythm with the majestic beat. The violins played a melodious introduction, followed by the trumpets and drums coming together in harmony. The sounds surged like a mighty army charging into battle, with the roar of thousands of troops and the clash of weapons. The stirring notes echoed from the city gates all the way to Royal Street.