***
Around Downfall Village.
Northcrest.
Edmund stood tall, accompanied by the five people with him, staring at the Downfall castle that was controlled by House Rocco. The blue flag with three crossed arrows still flew over the walls and castle of Downfall.
"They haven't surrendered yet, Luke," asserted Edmund, standing up with his arms crossed.
"Downfall's castle walls are thick enough that the trebuchets couldn't destroy them in one or two strikes," replied Luke, Edmund's advisor in the Telmarath-Northcrest war.
"What about the infantry?" asked Edmund, turning his head to the left side to look at Telmarath's infantry captain, Elijah Redmond.
"My apologies, Your Majesty. We tried to use the ladder, but they have defences on the top of the strong wall," Elijah replied.
The infantry captain bowed his head as he knelt submissively, facing Edmund. Hearing the confession from his subordinate made Edmund furious.
The battle at Downfall had really exhausted him. He and his troops could have circled the city and passed through the forest path, but Edmund was aware of the threat behind their backs if they insisted on doing that.
"Then what should we do?" asked Edmund.
"We should keep doing what we're doing right now, hoping that a piece of the city wall manages to break, thanks to our trebuchets," Luke replied, advising Edmund.
"But it's going to take a long time. I'm afraid the longer we try to take Downfall, the more Archibald will have finished recruiting large numbers of troops!" insisted Edmund, becoming impatient for the outcome of the battle at Downfall.
"Can't we sneak in at night?" asked Edmund, turning to look at Elijah.
"Our troops are trying to surround Downfall, hoping for an opening for us to get inside," replied Elijah, still kneeling towards Edmund.
Edmund fell silent. Now, the Crown Prince's eyes were fixed on the front again, watching the two parties attacking each other.
For House Rocco, they had no other choice but to defend and hope for help from the nearest House to arrive. Their troops were only 5,000, compared to Telmarath's 30,000 soldiers, plus five stone-throwing trebuchets.
House Leader Rocco could only defend against the resistance of the city walls while trying to evacuate priority city people, such as women, the elderly, and children.
Just as Edmund and the other captains watched the battle, two soldiers arrived in white armour and coats with black deer emblems.
Edmund and the others immediately turned their heads to the side, noticing the arrival of the two soldiers. The other captains thought more troops would help Telmarath's army.
"Who are you?" asked Edmund, squinting.
The two soldiers began to kneel obediently while bowing their heads, paying a salute to Prince Edmund. One of the two soldiers began to hold out a scroll sealed with a deer stamp.
Edmund accepted the letter, broke the seal and read the contents slowly. Clark Hartwin had written the message, and it was signed by the leader of House Hartwin, the ruler of Tregaron.
From the letter, Edmund could conclude something that shocked him. Hartwin informed through the information he received from Howard that King Otto Reingard was sick and dying.
If Edmund did not return from Northcrest immediately, it was feared that turmoil over the throne between the princes would occur. To lead the Telmarath army, Howard had already sent Athalaris' Minister of War, Harold Ivo, to replace Edmund in this war.
Edmund rolled up the message and chose to burn the letter on a torch post near his tent. Edmund's gesture made Luke and the other captains curious.
"What does the letter say?" asked Luke, curious.
The crown prince of Athalaris was still speechless, his head thinking hard about what he should do. If Edmund walked away from this battle, the biggest potential was defeat due to the mentality of the soldiers falling behind their commander.
"We need to talk, Luke," Edmund insisted.
Together with Luke, Edmund stepped into the meeting tent. He also ordered the soldiers to guard the tent, preventing anyone from entering and hearing his conversation with Luke.
"What do you want to talk about, Your Majesty?" asked Luke, standing right by the map of Athalaris that was spread out on the tent floor.
"His Majesty is very ill. His condition is so alarming that I need to return to Castlebourne," Edmund replied.
Luke gasped in shock, his eyes widening as he realized Edmund had said that. Luke thought the same as Edmund; the morale of Telmarath's soldiers would fall knowing Edmund was away from the battlefield.
"This is not a good time," Luke complained.
"I know. If they see me leave, I would be afraid that the soldiers' morale would fall," Edmund explained.
"That's certainly going to happen, My Prince, especially since we're having trouble breaking through Downfall," Luke stated.
Luke still stood looking at Edmund intently, hoping the two of them would find a solution to the battle this time, "They will consider you a coward for running away in battle, Your Highness."
Hearing the word coward thrown out by Luke made Edmund turn his head quickly back, glaring at his advisor, who dared to call him a coward.
"I'm not a coward!" said Edmund firmly.
"My apologies, Your Highness. I was trying to express my unease," Luke said.
"Harold Ivo will come here and take my place as commander of the troops. What do you think?" asked Edmund.
"That man is quite good at strategizing warfare. He's won many wars against rebels," Luke replied.
"I'm sure he can lead the Telmarath army. However, it cannot be denied his influence is not as great as yours, Your Highness," said Luke.
"Keep this a secret from the others. I only want you to know this news," Edmund replied.
Edmund stepped closer to Luke, who seemed to nod in understanding what Edmund had told him. Now, Edmund was fully in front of Luke, looking at his advisor seriously with sharp eyes.
"I want Telmarath to seize Downfall before I leave for Castlebourne. If necessary, give them no rest at night!" Edmund commanded.
Luke winced, seeing the great ambition on Edmund's face. However, in the end, Luke agreed with what Edmund had said. He would try to tell the captains about Prince Edmund's wishes.
After everything was clear, Edmund exited the tent and returned to the front row. Luke was the same, walking behind Edmund with his head in his hands, thinking about the best plan that should be made against Downfall.
Arriving at the line of captains, those who were curious about Edmund and Luke's conversation began to ask Luke.
However, Luke chose to remain silent, not averting his eyes nor making any gestures. Now, the captains' attention was drawn to Prince Edmund.
"Did something happen?" asked Elijah.
"Luke will explain later. For now, focus on the battle!"
***
Sideriver Village.
Lanercoast.
Archibald's entourage had already returned to their land right after the marriage agreement between Helferich and Archibald was made.
Quentin was still at the inn, standing with his arms crossed as he leaned against Marcella's bedroom wall. In that room, there was only him and Marcella; Arabelle was off buying food, while Mary was instructed by Quentin to go and help Arabelle.
"I never thought that I would marry Geoffrey," Marcella said.
"Geoffrey is the heir to House Archibald. When Norman dies, he will become Lord of Archibald, and you will become Lady of Archibald," Quentin explained flatly.
"I know what his political advantage is, but I fear him. I haven't met him before," Marcella revealed.
"Do you hate him?" asked Quentin.
Marcella shook her head, then turned her face to the side, looking out the window of her lodging room. It was not a view of nature that she got, but a view of the people's farms.
"Like what happened to my father, he married my mother for political reasons. But they loved each other because they understood each other," Marcella explained.
"Geoffrey is a handsome man, tall and athletic. However, you have to be patient with his behaviour," revealed Quentin, looking at Marcella.
"He's a bit childish. I think Lord Norman spoils him too much," Marcella explained.
"I think so."
"Do you still regret this decision?" asked Quentin, trying to ensure.
Marcella was silent, showing no sign of either acceptance or rejection. She then turned her eyes back to the front, looking at Quentin.
"If Geoffrey had behaved like you, I might have been as happy as Arabelle," Marcella replied.
"Arabelle is happy? She doesn't show me anything," Quentin stated.
"You're smart but dumb to understand your wife's feelings," Marcella snapped.
Quentin smiled and closed his eyes, remaining in the same pose, "I don't love her. How can I understand her feelings?"
Now, it was Marcella who fell silent at Quentin's words. Arabelle talked to him often during the journey from Calden Castle to Sideriver. The woman revealed that she was happy to be Quentin's wife.
"You really are. If Arabelle had rejected your proposal back then, would you have proposed to me, Quentin?" asked Marcella, her face visibly flushed red.
"Why do you ask that?"
"Just to answer my curiosity, I'm still Edgar Helferich's daughter after all," stated Marcella.
Quentin continued to watch Marcella closely, then could be heard sighing softly. The man before Marcella nodded slowly; he already had a backup plan about that.
"What you said is right. If Arabelle rejects me, I will propose to you," Quentin revealed.
"I have to marry at least one of you except Mary. I can't possibly marry my own sister," Quentin replied.
Marcella looked away shyly again. The tomboy-like demeanour that had always been embedded in Marcella changed drastically when she met Quentin, the alpha male at Calden Castle.
"There's no law against men having more than one wife," says Marcella.
"What do you mean?" asked Quentin, glaring.
"Would you mind if I became your second wife?"