Translator: CinderTL
The gates of Windbreath Fortress slowly creaked open in the morning light, the drawbridge splashing into the stagnant waters of the moat as it lowered.
Earl Hal Duke rode his warhorse at the head of the Watchers Legion, their ranks arrayed behind him in perfect formation. The officers' battle-scarred breastplates, etched with scratches, bore testament to their valor.
Harrison Abbott, impeccably dressed in his crisp navy-blue military uniform, stood at attention directly in front of the gate. Prince Yuriko lingered slightly behind, his magnificent armor gleaming in the sunlight, the gold-embroidered hem of his cloak fluttering gently in the morning breeze.
"Earl Duke!" Harrison stepped forward and offered a solemn military salute. "Welcome home, victorious! Thank you for your tireless service!"
Hal dismounted, his movements slightly hampered by old injuries, yet still steady and powerful. "General Harrison, your swift recapture of Windbreath Fortress far exceeded our expectations."
Prince Yuriko eagerly strode forward and warmly clasped Earl Duke's hand. "Hero of the kingdom! Your glorious retaking of Watchers Fortress will forever be etched in the annals of history!" His booming voice drew the attention of nearby soldiers.
Hal Duke lowered his head slightly. "Your Highness exaggerates. Without Marquis Grayman's support and leadership, our victory would not have been so swift."
That evening, the great hall of Windbreath Fortress blazed with candlelight. The long table groaned under the weight of roasted venison, honeyed mead, and freshly baked bread, while musicians in the corner played lilting melodies.
Yuriko raised his golden goblet, the amber wine gleaming in the firelight. "To our iron wall—Earl Hal Duke!"
The assembled generals roared their approval, their goblets clinking in unison.
"I hear Marquis Grayman plans to move against the mountain tribes next," Harrison whispered, leaning closer.
Earl Duke nodded curtly. "Nothing's confirmed yet, but the army is shifting north. As the vanguard, we'll at least need to intimidate those lawless mountain folk."
His voice dripped with hatred. Having sworn vengeance against the Orcs, he considered any who aided them his enemies. "The Stonemason Clan will pay for their betrayal of Aldor." He glanced out the window, where the Rocky Mountains loomed like a slumbering giant under the moonlight.
Standing nearby, Yuriko felt a pang of disappointment. He had eagerly praised the Earl's accomplishments, hoping for reciprocal compliments, as he needed a kingdom hero like Duke to enhance his own prestige. However, the Earl remained aloof.
Emerson Wilde leaned close to Yuriko and whispered, "Your Highness, bring in the Orcs. Let Earl Duke see you're more than just a prince sheltered by his elder brother."
Yuriko's eyes lit up. He snapped his fingers at a servant. "Bring in Yulga and his warriors!"
Moments later, the great hall doors swung open. Yulga led several Orc Warriors into the room at a measured pace. They wore Aldor-style clothing, now meticulously clean, their shaggy fur neatly groomed.
As Yulga entered, his shrewd yellow eyes swiftly scanned the assembled guests before settling on Earl Duke.
"Your Highness!" the Orc Chieftain declared dramatically, dropping to one knee and pressing his rough hand to his chest. "Your loyal servant awaits your command!"
Yuriko raised his chin proudly, the candlelight glinting off his wine goblet. "Earl Duke, behold—the Chieftain of the Black Bone Tribe, whom I have subdued!"
But events unfolded far beyond the prince's expectations.
Hal Duke abruptly rose to his feet, his chair scraping against the floor with a piercing screech. The Earl's sword flashed from its scabbard, tracing a cold arc in the candlelight.
"Orcs?!"
His thunderous roar shattered the silence, plunging the banquet hall into a deathly stillness. Almost simultaneously, the Watcher generals accompanying him surged to their feet, drawing longswords and battleaxes. The metallic clash of blades coalesced into a chilling, resonant tremor.
Yulga's pupils constricted sharply, but he immediately raised an arm, halting the Orc Warriors behind him who instinctively reached for their weapons. Slowly shaking his head, he growled in Orcish, "Don't move."
The air in the hall seemed to solidify. Nobles stood frozen, some spilling their wine glasses. A musician's lute crashed to the floor with a dull thud, its strings vibrating with dying echoes.
Silently, Yulga led the Orcs back a few steps, positioning them behind Yuriko. Their massive forms cast distorted shadows in the flickering candlelight.
Yuriko's smile froze on his face, his hand suspended mid-gesture. He opened his mouth as if to speak, but Earl Duke's icy gaze pinned him in place.
The Old Earl's sword tip dipped slightly as he realized the Orcs who had stormed the banquet weren't here to fight him—at least not in this situation.
His gaze swept over Yulga before returning to Yuriko. "Your Highness, what is the meaning of this?"
The temperature in the hall plummeted as his accusatory words hung in the air.
Yuriko's drunken haze vanished instantly, cold sweat beading at his temples. He set down his wineglass, his Adam's apple bobbing nervously. "Earl Duke, please remain calm." His voice, though steadier than before, still trembled faintly. "These Orcs have sworn allegiance to the kingdom. They are now our..." He paused, carefully choosing his words. "...Redemption Warriors."
Earl Duke's sword remained unsheathed, but its tip lowered further. His gaze, sharp as a honed blade, scraped across Yulga, who kept his head bowed in silence.
"Redemption?" Hal's voice was low, cold, and harsh. "Beneath the walls of Watchers Fortress, the bones of the fallen still lie unrotted! In the villages of Neron Corridor, how many families still drown in grief?"
Yuriko hastily raised his hand in a gesture of agreement. "Exactly! Let them repay their debts with blood and sweat—" His voice suddenly rose, then quickly lowered. "I mean... wouldn't it be more valuable for the kingdom to have them serve rather than execute them outright?"
The atmosphere in the hall remained tense. The nobles held their breath, their gazes darting between Earl Duke's sword and Yulga's tusks.
Yuriko's fingers quietly tightened around the edge of the table, his knuckles whitening with strain. "They have sworn fealty to the kingdom!" the prince added, his voice gradually regaining some of its former confidence. "If they dare betray us, you have full authority to execute them without mercy."
Earl Duke didn't respond immediately. His gaze lingered on Yulga, who maintained a submissive posture, even bending slightly at the knee to show his deference.
Finally, the old earl let out a cold snort and slowly sheathed his sword, the grating sound of metal on metal echoing harshly in the silent hall.
"Let us hope Your Highness..." Hal's voice carried an undisguised warning, "...understands what you're doing. You must remember that the moral compass of the Grassland people differs greatly from ours."
Yuriko forced a strained smile, but his face had taken on a faint greenish tinge.
(End of the Chapter)
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