Her Majestic Battle Cry 587
Posted on January 28, 2025 · 1 mins read
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Chapter 587

Barrett was on duty, tasked with helping the Capital Guard maintain order. As eleven young soldiers rode past, he carefully studied each face. When he saw Thomas, the once-handsome, striking figure seemed less radiant. Nostalgia and complex emotions, along with a fleeting sense of inferiority, stirred within him.

Heroes.

Barrett had once been a hero. After the Victory Pass battle, the citizens had cheered him. But now? Now, he was a ninth-rank Capital Guard, stripped of his former glory. No longer the golden boy, no longer entrusted with important duties. Watching the young soldiers, he felt worlds apart, like a speck of dirt beneath their feet.

If he were to rise again, it would have to be through his brother-in-law's support. Or perhaps another war would offer a chance to earn military merits.

How foolish he had been, always imagining things so ideally. He'd once thought military accomplishments were easily won. At Victory Pass, Wyatt Sullivan had taken a blade for him, losing an arm. On the Southern Frontier, he'd witnessed the horrors of war—the brutal siege, mountains of corpses, and rivers of blood. Only then did he realize that earning glory wasn't as simple as Aurora had made it sound.

How many brave soldiers had died with their ambitions unfulfilled? How many, like these eleven heroes, had been captured and tortured? To escape and form an intelligence network—that was an extraordinary feat.

The thought of captivity and torture sent a chill down his spine, freezing him to the core. He didn't know what would become of the Victory Pass incident. The king hadn't acted, but had sent people to watch the Warren family.

One thing was certain: if Westhaven underwent a shift in power, so too would the Warren family. The new crown prince wouldn't care about preserving their reputation as much as the current king.

All the fanfare and glory belonged to someone else. Barrett could only scrape by. Despair settled deep in his bones. His mind wandered to something Aurora had said: "All I want is success." Yes, success. But it was far too difficult to obtain.

He looked up at the eleven young heroes. They seemed like a past version of himself and Aurora. But in the crowd, no one noticed him. Their attention was on the celebrated heroes and their rescuer, the Hell Monarch.

The Hell Monarch didn't notice Barrett either. He was focused on Richard's three sons embracing Joshua and Benson.

Richard didn't cry. He stood tall, his face filled with pride. He wouldn't let tears fall. He watched as his sons knelt, bowing their heads, their voices trembling: "Dad, we haven't been the sons you deserved, but we've returned."

Richard wanted to weep, but he smiled. He helped them up: "I have always been proud of you."

(125 Bonus)

Families greeted loved ones. Each tearful embrace tugged at the heartstrings. Logan sobbed openly, clinging to his adoptive brother, Felix. Usually playful, he wept like a child, forgetting his upcoming wedding.

From the carriage, Carissa watched. These people, separated by life and death, experienced the joy of reunion. Tears streamed down her cheeks as she realized this joy could never belong to her. She, her father, and brothers would never see each other again.

The cruelty of the world lay in how blood ties could be severed, with no promise of reunion.

Returning home, Carissa went to her room. After sharing in others' happiness, she was left with her sorrow. She locked herself away for nearly two hours, processing her feelings.

Rafael wanted to comfort her, but understood she needed time alone. He sat on the stone steps, ensuring no one disturbed her.

When Carissa emerged, composed and in fresh clothes, Rafael rose to greet her. He took her hand, noticing traces of tears. Gently, he wiped her eyes. His heart ached for her. "Let's go see Mom."

"Yes," she replied with a soft smile.

(25 Bonus)

But after her tears, that smile held a fragility that made Rafael's heart ache even more.


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