"Seems like my elder brother is in a tight spot now," Leo remarked indifferently.
"I've heard that the army of the Blueyard Kingdom has cut off their supply lines at the rear. They probably won't last long," Lilith added.
This news was no longer a secret.
Along their journey, they encountered refugees and even soldiers, gathering much information from their conversations.
"Let's go. It's time to see my brother," Leo said.
They soon arrived at the city's rear gate and disclosed their identities to the guards.
About the time it takes to burn an incense stick later, the city gate opened, and Leo and Lilith entered.
The scene inside the city was far from pleasant.
Jacques had been besieged for half a month.
The residents had begun to economize on food, and the morale of the soldiers was gradually waning.
Leo could even see wounded soldiers lying in street corners, moaning in pain.
He shook his head and sighed.
Pity flashed in Lilith's eyes, but she was powerless to do anything.
Following Horn's personal guards, they entered the building where Horn was managing military affairs.
Waiting for the guards to open the door, Leo saw his elder brother.
Horn, who once radiated brilliance in the capital, now bore a face etched with hardship and despair, even a few strands of white hair betraying his stress.
Upon seeing Leo, Horn's gaze trembled slightly, his eyes a complex mix of emotions.
He certainly did not regard Leo as his savior, nor did he believe Leo would be so kind as to attempt his rescue.
But at this point, Leo was the only one who dared to come to the frontline at such a time.
"I don't know what you're planning, but let me give you a piece of advice — if you don't want to die, get out of here as soon as you can!"
Horn's voice was hoarse as he spoke.
Leo walked up to Horn with a smile, pulled out a chair, and sat down without ceremony.
"Orders from the capital must have reached here by now. I am the commander here," Leo stated.
"Don't forget, I still have the power to dismiss you at any moment!" Horn's eyebrows furrowed slightly, a hint of anger on his face.
"My dear brother, if you dismiss me now, as the commander, you can't leave the front lines," Leo said with a shrug and a smile.
Horn's mouth twitched slightly.
Leo was right.
As long as he remained the commander, according to the rules of Lionara, he couldn't leave the front lines.
This was why he was willing to let Leo take his place.
On one hand, it would keep Leo on the front lines; on the other, he could retreat to a safer location.
"Whatever you plan to do, don't expect me to cooperate! Don't think I don't know, you must have ulterior motives for coming here. You can't possibly want to save this country!"
Horn slowly stood up, his hands pressing on the table, his voice fierce.
"My dear brother, may I meet the princess from the Blueyard Kingdom?" Leo asked with a smile.
Horn's eyebrows furrowed, his eyes flickering.
"Why do you want to see her?" Horn asked.
"I have my plans," Leo replied.
Horn remained silent.
After a few breaths, Horn finally spoke: "Do as you please! She's the biggest trouble here now. You can even execute her if you want!"
With that, he threw a set of keys to Leo.
Leo took the keys, slowly stood up, and prepared to visit the princess of the Blueyard Kingdom.
"You don't think returning her to the Blueyard Kingdom will end the war, do you?" Horn asked, watching Leo's retreating figure.
"Of course, I'm not that naïve. Only a fool would think so," Leo shrugged his shoulders.
At this, Horn's expression soured.
He had once harbored such thoughts and intentions, so he felt mocked.
But he couldn't retort, only expressing his displeasure with a cold snort.
"Hmph!"
Leo paid no further attention to Horn.
He stepped out of the room and signaled the personal guards to lead him to the princess.
...
The guards escorted Leo and Lilith through long corridors, eventually reaching the basement level of the building.
They stopped in front of a room, where one of the guards nodded.
Leo took out the keys, unlocked the door, and he and Lilith entered. Inside, he saw the legendary princess.
He had to admit, she was the most beautiful woman he had ever seen in his life.
Her hair was a light green, reminiscent of seaweed.
With pink pupils, a slightly upturned nose, and skin as smooth as milk, even faintly glowing, she exuded elegance despite her captivity.
"Princess Elena?" Leo asked softly.
"Have you come to execute me?" Princess Elena asked in a gentle voice.
There was no fear in her eyes, even a hint of a smile.
"Of course not," Leo shook his head and then placed his hand on his chest.
"Let me introduce myself. My name is Leo, and I am the current commander here."
"Hello," Elena nodded.
Curiosity flickered in her eyes, wondering why Leo had come to her at such a time.
"It seems you know everything," Leo said, narrowing his eyes with a smile.
"I am well aware of my father's and my brother's temperaments, so their decisions don't surprise me," Elena responded calmly.
Though born into royalty, she was not favored.
Due to her beauty, her father and brother had always intended to use her as a pawn in political marriages.
Yet, mysteriously, every man destined to marry her died suddenly the day before the wedding, earning her a reputation as an omen of bad luck.
Horn, unaware of her story, had simply coveted her beauty and forcibly taken her.
Upon learning this, the Blueyard Kingdom had launched a war, not to rescue her, but as a pretext to invade Lionara.
Horn had offered to return Elena, but the Blueyard Kingdom refused, stating they would only take her back after defeating Lionara honorably.
"Release her chains," Leo said calmly.
Lilith stepped forward, drew her sword, and cut through the chains binding Elena's wrists.
With a sharp clink, the chains fell to the ground.
Elena looked up, her face etched with confusion.
"You may choose to stay here or leave," Leo said indifferently.
Elena seemed dazed, unsure of what to say.
As Leo and Lilith approached the door, Elena couldn't help but ask, "Why are you doing this?"
"If a woman is used as an excuse to start a war, then the whole affair is already laughable. You shouldn't be dragged into this war; it's a failure of our entire civilization,"
Leo responded, shrugging his shoulders, his voice low.
With those words, he left the room.
Lilith, watching Leo, felt for the first time that there was more to this man than she had thought.
Beyond teasing her and his odd sense of humor, perhaps there was something deeper in him?
Elena watched Leo leave, biting her lip, her eyes clouded with complex emotions.
"Don't stop her, no matter where she chooses to go. That's an order," Leo commanded the soldiers at the door.
The two soldiers exchanged glances, hesitating.
The order to guard Elena had come directly from Prince Horn, and even with Leo as the new commander, they were unsure if they should obey his command.
"What? My orders don't count?" Leo's lips curved into a slight sneer, a cold aura emanating from his gaze.
In that moment, the imposing, icy majesty of a superior being sent shivers down the soldiers' spines.
Without further hesitation, they nodded quickly.
"Yes!"
"Yes!"
Leo smirked, "Huh!" He patted the soldiers on the shoulder and then turned to leave.
...
After leaving the room, Leo walked straight out of the building.
Traversing the desolate streets, feeling the cold, chilling air around him, he was accompanied by several advanced generals towards the city walls.
Standing atop the towering walls, Leo looked down at the enemy troops arrayed below.
A massive army of fifty thousand had surrounded the city, just recovering from a recent assault.