After an arduous journey, the carriage finally arrived at its destination.
A small town south of the Brilliant City.
Upon entering the town, the jubilant welcome they had anticipated was non-existent; instead, rows of silver-armoured knights lined the streets, reminiscent of a state leader's parade in a past life.
Hilda was the first to disembark from the carriage, followed by Sir Adam, who jumped off his horse and turned to bow respectfully at the carriage door.
Three nuns hurriedly stepped out of the carriage, rolling out a plush red carpet at the alighting point.
As the carriage curtain was drawn back by delicate hands, the knights all kneeled in unison, their eyes bursting with passionate anticipation.
Lauri, emerging from the carriage, was instantly met by this fervent gaze.
Without dismounting the carriage and without her shoes on, Lauri couldn’t step onto the yellow earth. Instead, she stood in front of the carriage, watching the rows of silver-armoured knights.
"Hilda, what’s the time?"
Hilda glanced at her pocket watch.
"It's past eight-thirty, Your Highness."
"How long till we reach the West city gate?"
"It will be under half an hour at full cavalry speed."
Knowing this was a strategy from Saintess Highness, Hilda responded professionally.
Lauri nodded, turning her gaze over the knights standing on the street.
They were all experienced, elite warriors, their fiery eyes showing immense spirit.
Their aura even instilled a sense of confidence within Lauri’s core.
"My knights, are you willing...to march to death with me?"
Lauri refined her words, looking down the street at the knights.
The knights were taken back. Nobody expected such a question from Saintess Highness. Their blank faces turned to one another.
Suddenly, a gallant female knight stood out from the crowd, and she cried out in a loud voice!
"For Your Highness, death is an honour!"
The other knights instantly joined, practically chanting in chorus!
"For Your Highness—death is honour!"
However, Lauri shook her head.
The rhetoric about the Saint Church, it is too grandiose, lacking cohesion.
She stood silent, merely eying the knights. Their chanting ceased as her gaze swept across them.
Lauri believed that some within the Saint Church were zealots; death for the Saint Church would seem honorable for them.
But that was a minority.
The majority, while devout, wouldn't equate faith with life.
"No, you're afraid of death. I’m afraid too. Nobody in this world willingly walks into death."
As she said this, Hilda was stunned. The always inconspicuous Knight Adam was also rendered speechless.
Not just them, the other knights too, were speechless.
The trio were dumbfounded at what their Saintess Highness said.
What happened to Saintess Highness?
How could she say such things?
Will Saintess Highness betray the Saint Church?
Is she rebelling against herself?
Saintess equates the Saint Church. This statement of hers... is it denying herself?
What is she planning on doing?
Everyone present couldn't help but speculate on the meaning of this sudden proclamation. Each was more perplexed than the last.
For a moment, the place fell into a silent tension.
Knights exchanged glances.
Hilda looked troubled.Knight Adam had a furrowed brow.
Even more astonished, Sera covered her small mouth, unsure of what to do against this Saintess Highness who wanted to turn against her.
Seeing that the atmosphere was about right, Lauri took a deep breath, raising her soft voice:
"I hope that all of you can come back alive! Alive...to win this war, alive...to bask in the glory with me!"
Her cute words spewed from her pink lips, stirring a tidal wave of emotions in others!
The faces of the crowd showed a mix of excitement and curiosity, and chuckles of questions were heard among them.
"Saintess Highness, what's going to take place tonight?"
"Tonight...I anticipate a likely attack on the Dazzling City by the demon clan. If we can't hold the city, by tomorrow, we'll all become food and slaves in the demon's mouth."
Upon hearing this, the knights were stunned.
Everyone knew what the demon clan represented.
Everyone knew clearly the fate of the inhabitants should Dazzling City fall.
Knights with families in the Dazzling City could hardly keep their worries to themselves.
"Saintess Highness, knowing the demon clan will attack the Dazzling City tonight, why are we leaving the city in such haste? Won't this just weaken our strength? With us here, what will become of Dazzling City?"
"Indeed! Our families are still in the city!"
"Saintess Highness, are you planning to take us away?"
"Please no! Saintess Highness, my sister, my mother, they are all in the Dazzling City, if they fall into the hands of the demon clan, they will be better off dead! Your Highness!"
Even the disciplined knights worry about their families first in such times.
But among them were those who wanted to flee with Lauri. They were die-hard fans of the Saint Church, yet too few to make an impact.
Their remonstrations drowned like a drop in the ocean, failing to create any ripple amidst the knights' uproar.
"Be quiet!"
Seeing the knights on the verge of a mutiny, without any sign of urgency from the Saintess, Hilda couldn't sit still anymore.
Seeing her knights behaving so nervelessly truly embarrassed Hilda - the knight known as the protector of the lunar light.
When Hilda spoke, the knights all fell silent, but the emotions in their eyes hinted to Hilda that... the situation was getting out of control.
If the Saintess fanned the flame, not even Hilda could suppress the knights' desperation to return home.
Then the Saintess Highness's plan will go down the drain!
Looking at the knights, their reactions met Lauri's expectation.
She couldn't help but remark...how naive these knights were!
Lauri nodded privately.
In the future, she will need to work on improving the knights' psychological resilience.
Putting this thought aside, she needed to calm the situation at hand.
Otherwise, if a mutiny were to break out, things will be troublesome.
"Brave knights, I understand your concerns. But I assure you, as long as I'm here, Dazzling City will remain its invincible self!"
"Your Highness...you've said so much, you must have a plan. Please enlighten us!"
From somewhere in the crowd, someone chimed in.
Good question!
Lauri secretly gave a thumbs up in her heart.
"Please enlighten us, Your Highness!"
All the knights knelt on the ground simultaneously.
Looking down on the kneeling knights, Lauri nodded.
"Gallant knights, it's time for you to speak. For the one hundred thousand citizens of Dazzling City, tonight, we will coordinate with the city's troops in a full-scale attack to repel the demon clan. This time, it's likely none of you will come back. I ask you...are you afraid to die?"With those words barely finished, a furious roar erupted from everyone!
"For the Saint Church, for glory, even death would be an honor!!"
