"Marching off…"
With Knight Blis leading the cavalry out of the River Bay, the entire camp instantly fell into a state of panic.
News of the approaching Troll Wolf cavalry had already spread. People were frightened to begin with, but now they believed that Blis and the others had abandoned their post. This only served to stir the hornet's nest even further.
Many had already quietly huddled together, packing their things, getting ready to flee.
At this moment, Vera and Colin appeared before everyone, temporarily calming them down.
Seeing that the two people with the highest status in the whole camp had not left, everyone felt that there was still hope. They felt that they hadn't been abandoned.
However, Knight Blis's departure, and the news of the approaching Troll pursuers, had left everyone's faces etched with anxiety and restlessness. Everyone's nerves were at breaking point. They couldn't bear any more agitation.
They stared intently at Vera and Colin, hoping to receive some good news from them.
In this era, the common people were a bunch of lost lambs. They were ignorant, uninformed, and timid. They had no control over their own destinies, and they didn't even dare to take control.
For that reason, they put their fate into the hands of the nobility, hoping the nobles would guide them to wealth and glory.
What they didn't realise was, the guidance of the nobility often comes at the price of their enslavement.
At that moment, Vera saw this confusion, this yearning in the eyes of the people. Of course, she would not let them down.
She didn't say a word.
Just one movement was enough to calm everyone at the camp.
She lifted her veil.
The faint light of the dawn spread in streaks, outlining her stunning face underneath the veil.
Time seemed to stand still.
The restlessness dissolved, as everyone held their breath in that moment.
It was as if they were afraid to disturb the beautiful, determined, and slightly shy young girl.
But before anyone had time to fully appreciate this beautiful sight, Vera spoke.
Even the sound of the rushing Ben Liu River couldn't muffle her soft but firm voice:
"My name is Vera St. Hilde. I'm the adopted daughter of the Northern Duke, Duke St. Hilde."
Adopted Daughter!
So, she was the adopted daughter of the Northern Duke!
Colin's eyes widened as a surge of shock washed over him.
It should be known that in this world, adopted children do have rights of inheritance!
Unlike the illegitimate children who are despised by nobles, adopted children are considered legal heirs recognized by the Imperial Senate.
Their rights of inheritance rank just below that of the direct descendants.
Therefore, to be an adopted child of a noble, one's bloodline must first be pure and noble.
If either of their parents was a commoner, he or she would never be legally adopted by a noble.
Secondly, to adopt an heir, a hefty adoption tax must be paid to the Imperial Senate in exchange for recognition of the adopted child.
To prevent nobles from abusing adoption rights and disrupting the normal order of inheritance, this adoption tax is exceptionally high.
Even if a small noble family was to go bankrupt, they wouldn't be able to afford this tax. Even for a high noble family like the St. Hilde family, this payment of the adoption tax would sting for a long time.
Therefore, nobles are extremely cautious about adoption.
Generally, only those nobles who are wealthy, but have no direct descendants, would choose a favoured member from their extended family to adopt, so as to prevent their title from falling into the hands of someone they dislike.
Although Colin couldn't understand why Duke St. Hilde, who had three sons, would adopt Vera, and furthermore, send her to Yevir to be trained as a mage.
But that didn't affect Vera's standing as the fourth in line to inherit the title of the Northern Duke!
That's why she received Knight Blis's undying loyalty.
That's why she had the right to say things like "my citizens".
So, when she revealed her true identity at the bank of the Ben Liu River, the previously panicking soldiers were so shocked, so excited.
Most of them even tightened their grip on their sword hilts, ready to die for her at any moment!
They were all just waiting for her to say that line.
"I know, you're all very scared, very panicked," Vera's eyes slowly swept over everyone, making eye contact with each person:
"I feel the same way. Scared, panicked.
But I'm not in despair, even though there's nowhere left to run!
Because I know, you won't abandon me.
Just like how I didn't abandon you all in the beginning.
No matter how critical the situation gets, I always remember my mission, I always remember my duty to all of you.
As the adopted daughter of Duke St. Hilde, I've sworn an oath to protect the citizens of the North Territory forever!"
As citizens of the Northern Territory, I also hope that you all have the courage to wield your weapons, to stand with me, to protect the North and fight off the invading enemy!
I promise, I will fight with you until the very last moment!"
"For Lady Vera!" Colin took the opportunity and called out.
Originally, he had prepared a lengthy speech, intending to use his identity as a baron's son to rally support, but it seems unnecessary now.
He didn't even need to emphasize his own identity. The status of Vera had already sufficiently roused the fighting spirit of these soldiers.
The rule of the St. Hilde family in the Northern Territory of the Empire had lasted for a thousand years, their prestige without equal.
Vera's noble status, her stunning beauty, and the kindness she has shown throughout this journey made her a goddess in the soldiers' hearts.
They would never allow those dirty, ugly trolls to defile their goddess!
Even if it meant paying the price with their lives.
"For Lady Vera!"
"For Lady Vera!"
"Fight to the death!"
"Fight to the death!"
...
"Boom!"
A lightning bolt tore across the sky, followed by the deafening thunder.
The rising sun had yet to awaken the slumbering earth when it was covered by the dark, heavy clouds.
At the bend of the Ben Liu River, the human soldiers were standing ready.
They held their breath, looked straight ahead, letting the raindrops fall on them without moving, like statues.
The rain began to intensify.
The wind also gradually grew stronger.
A line of gray appeared on the horizon and rapidly spread, like a raging tide, sweeping towards the human position at the river bend!
"Howl—"
The troll wolf cavalry had arrived!
"Kill!!!!!!"
"For Lady Vera!"
"For Lady Vera!"
...
Faced with the horrifying troll wolf cavalry, these miscellaneous human soldiers exploded with courage in this moment equal to that of a regular elite army.
Because they knew they had no way to retreat.
Since there was no way back, they would fight to the death!
Plus, Vera's presence endowed these bewildered soldiers with endless fighting spirit and unwavering faith.
They believed that even if they died in battle here, their stories would be told throughout the Northern Territory.
Everyone would know that they had sworn to protect Vera St. Hilde to the death!
Even if the worst happened, they would have the honor of returning to the embrace of the Lord of Glory with the goddess in their hearts.
"Kill!!!!!!"
Colin led the charge, at the very front of the line.
At this moment, he could not back down.
Approaching him were hundreds of sharp spears, like a suffocating forest of death.
"Bang!"
Colin collided head-on with the leader of the wolf cavalry without any pretense.
Then, he felt as if he had hit a tank.
"Hiss!"
Colin's vision went black, and the immense pain nearly made him lose his mind.
He could even clearly hear the crunching sound of his bones shattering all over his body and the sound of the spear tearing through his chest.
Dizzy and disoriented, he didn't know how far he had been flung. Upon landing, he coughed up a mouthful of blood, while feeling highly frustrated:
The plan was to play the hero, but who would've expected…
Right off the bat, he encountered a high-level troll samurai!
Damn! This is dying too quickly, isn't it?!