Translator: Cinder Translations
...
Crystal Glare Castle is in the capital of the Aldor Kingdom, named after the huge crystal stones on Mount Labson near the city.
After several relocations of the capital during the Rodney dynasty, it was finally settled here by the fifth monarch and gradually became the political and economic center of the entire kingdom. After careful management by eleven successive kings, by the spring of the year 1990 in the Sacred Era, the capital had a population of over 100,000, making it one of the largest cities in the known world.
In this spring of the year 1990 in the Sacred Era, the eastern territories of the kingdom were attacked by the Highland Barbarians. Princess Catherine personally led the army to expel them. However, just as the princess's army arrived in the eastern highlands, the Duke Giles from the southern fiefdoms raised a rebellion and quickly marched northward.
To make matters worse, Sir Hals, the commander of the city guard who remained in the capital, betrayed the royal family and joined the rebellion led by Giles from the south.
It was now noon, and the fields along the King's Road to the capital were still busy with activity.
The farmers weren't willing to rest; it was just that the recent rebellion of the city guard had caused chaos near the capital. Everyone was afraid to go out, which delayed a lot of farming activities. Now that things had settled down a bit, many people were working from dawn till dusk to make up for lost time.
Many birds chirped loudly as they flew in from the north. People looked up and saw a military procession at the end of the road.
Some started to get nervous until they saw the flags fluttering in the wind and breathed a sigh of relief.
As one group of soldiers after another passed by, the road became filled with dust. Countless troops and numerous flags formed a colorful river that snaked its way towards the capital.
"Make way!" A group of knights rode past a marching column of soldiers, heading towards the front of the procession. Leading them was a female knight, her bright golden hair shining like flames in the wind.
As they neared the front of the procession, the knights noticed someone riding towards them on horseback. They pulled on the reins, slowing their pace.
The rider quickly reached the knights and, facing the leading female knight, placed his right hand over his chest and bowed slightly. "Princess Your Highness."
Catherine waved her hand to signal him to rise and asked, "What's the situation ahead?"
"The vanguard has already met up with the loyalist forces at Oren Town. The temporary headquarters is set up and awaits your arrival, Your Highness."
"Good, everyone, hurry up. Let's move quickly."
"Yes!" The others behind him responded promptly, urging their warhorses forward to follow Princess Catherine.
About half an hour later, Catherine and her entourage arrived at the governmental hall in Oren Town, which served as their temporary headquarters. As she dismounted, a female officer appeared at the doorway and knelt down on one knee.
"Princess Your Highness!"
The female officer had black hair and eyes, clad in black armor that sharply contrasted with the princess's white armor.
Catherine immediately extended her hands to help the officer up, then embraced her warmly, saying with relief, "Ophina, thank the Lord of Light for arranging you to accompany me in such perilous times."
"Princess Your Highness, I once swore to forever follow you."
A hint of tenderness appeared on the stern face of the female officer.
"Thank you, Ophina..."
"Serving my liege is my duty. Your Highness, the loyalist lords from various regions are still awaiting your summons."
"Very well. I've seen many troops and horses along the way. Sending you to gather the loyalist forces was indeed the right choice."
While praising, Catherine held Ophina's hand tightly, and the two walked into the governmental hall together.
Seeing the princess arrive, everyone inside the hall who had been engaged in intense discussions stood up to greet her.
Catherine walked to the main seat in the hall and sat down, gesturing for everyone to take their seats. Ophina sat on her right hand, and the others who had come with the princess found their seats as well.
The princess looked around the hall, nodding in satisfaction.
"After the incident in the capital, my father's health deteriorated. He commanded me to temporarily take charge of the kingdom. Here is the order signed personally by His Majesty."
The princess unfolded a scroll, which a servant immediately took and passed around to everyone in the hall to examine. Indeed, the decree bore the king's own signature.
No one disputed Princess Catherine's regency. Her abilities were well-known—she was hailed from a young age for her intellectual prowess at five and martial skills by ten. While her peers were still diligently studying, she assisted the ailing king with various affairs, earning praises from ministers.
At fifteen, she formed her own knightly order and repeatedly led troops to repel raids by various barbarian tribes in the highlands, which was why she was trusted with this current command.
Catherine spoke loudly, "It is in times of national crisis that true loyalty is discerned. Those of you who uphold the ancient oath to assist the royal family in times of emergency, my father will surely be immensely grateful."
Those present in the hall stood up one after another to respond to the princess.
"Princess Your Highness, House Harden will follow the royal family to the death..."
"As the witness of God, House Delry's loyalty to the crown remains steadfast..."
"My House Edeli is willing to advance for Your Highness and defeat this rebel Giles!"
"Giles' betrayal of His Majesty cannot go unpunished; the Lord of Light will judge him."
...
After the lords from various regions expressed their loyalty to the crown, the meeting moved into substantive discussions: how to retake Crystal Glare Castle.
"Your Highness, Duke Walk will command fifteen thousand troops to feign attack the north gate of Crystal Glare, while Princess Catherine will lead the main force of twenty-five thousand to assault the east gate."
The next day, the assault on the north gate began first.
The royalist forces deployed catapults and archers. Due to accuracy issues, the catapults mainly served to intimidate, while the archers rained a dense barrage of arrows onto the city walls.
The rebel side lacked archers and sporadically retaliated. Most could only rely on battlements and shields to withstand the arrow storm.
Under cover from the catapults and archers, large numbers of royalist soldiers pushed siege engines and rams toward the city walls.
There were occasional casualties among the defenders hit by arrows, but the true city guards remained composed, tightly shielding themselves with shields. The conscripted militia, however, couldn't maintain such calm, especially when those around them were hit by arrows.
Finally, one militiaman couldn't bear it anymore. With casualties mounting around him, he estimated the next arrow would be his, so he quietly moved away from his defensive position towards the stairway up the city wall.
"Quickly get out of this damn place."
That was his only thought.
As he approached the stairway, seeing no guards, the militiaman was about to rejoice when suddenly, a sharp pain pierced through his chest from front to back. Looking down, he saw a bloody spearhead protruding from his chest. Before he could understand what had happened, his consciousness began to fade, and he collapsed forward onto the city wall.
Behind him, a city guard officer, eyes red with anger, pulled out a long spear and shouted hysterically at the others, "Deserters who abandon their posts will meet this fate, no exceptions!!!"
Just then...
"Clang!" A loud collision echoed as the siege engine hit the city wall.
"Charge!"
The voices of countless royalist soldiers shook the heavens as they surged up the ladders on the siege engines.
"Prepare the fire oil! Forward, shield-bearers!"
The rebel side was also prepared.
"Wu—"
Both attacking and defending sides simultaneously sounded their horns, signaling the official start of the battle for the capital.
(End of Chapter)