When the Saintess Arrives, No King Exist-Chapter 585 - 562: We Want More Than Freedom

"Little Mo Li."

"I hope you're not too angry with me, because I surrendered."

"When you read this letter, I might be dead, but I don't know if my plan succeeded. After all, no one can be certain of Prince Kongdai's final reaction."

"Perhaps I should explain to you... With Lakunio's strategy... On the brink of defeat... With this letter... Prince Kongdai and the nobles of Hotam County distrust each other... This is a gamble, may the Saint Master have mercy, I hope I can win."

"I've always been lucky, Vincent chose me from among many attendants and knighted me."

"See, I married a wife from the Thousand River Valley, and my five children were all born here. I have everything."

"I consider myself fulfilled, so I advise you to find a husband, find a companion, don't bear it all alone."

"I always thought this is the life you want, because the little Mo Li's favorite game was holding a wedding with two dolls."

"She would wear a red dress, be mischievous and eloquent, she could irritate people to the point of twitching, even to the point of annoyance."

"But I still miss her."

"I don't know what you went through before Vincent died, why that sweet little girl turned out this way."

"But it doesn't matter, I am my father's knight, and also your knight. Whatever you want to do, I will support you."

"And so we've come to today, even two years ago I still didn't understand, why Duke Hemashi's status in the Thousand River Valley is exalted, not like that of the Kush people."

"Clearly you are Dukes, enjoying enough benefits. As long as we keep good relations with the Church, the Fols Clan would have a grander future, even casting a glimpse at the throne of Falan."

"But when I saw those stone mills of the Blue Blood Monastery, my friends in the Thousand River Valley, those friends who never shed a tear on the battlefield, cried uncontrollably."

"I found myself incredibly fearful, thinking, would one day my children suffer the same fate?"

"If the Church never leaves the Thousand River Valley, not only my children, even if you get married, have children or adopt one, would they face such a destiny?"

"Should we remain silent?"

"Not to mention what I saw, those Kush Knights forcibly expelled from their homes, having to offer wives and daughters to a common village bishop to get relatively fair treatment."

"Even a Kush Knight said, an average farmer in Leia lives better than them."

"The Thousand River Valley is the Church's largest private territory. In Holy Seat City, for the Pope's election, priests still keep up appearances. But in the isolated Thousand River Valley, they reveal their true selves."

"Horn said it right; they are demons."

"I don't understand the Thousand River Valley People's feelings for this not so fertile land, but I am willing to do these things for you."

"I used to advise you, but now I won't. You will have such a day, without my advice, but this day will never come in an enslaved Thousand River Valley!"

"Do what you want to do!"

"If you must ask, let the Thousand River Valley People live under the sun and flowers, that is my will."

After reading the letter, under the gaze of others, the Female Grand Duke hesitated for a full minute before suddenly standing up.

She drew out the last page of the letter and silently walked to the door: "Bury with honor of a Duke, in the Hemashi family tomb, along with father and grandfather."

After speaking, she stepped out of the stone house, but did not go far, just standing under the eaves.

Not long after, a low sobbing sound hidden in the throats came from the stone house behind.

The three knights suppressed the sound in their throats, their sobs as ridiculous as buzzing mosquitoes.

The four Hemashi Knights had known each other for nearly thirty years, and Vine was the youngest among them.

Vine once said he would hold funerals for the other three knights, sending them off one by one.

But now, it's three knights together looking at the last pieces of his life.

Lakunio burned up Vine's body, clothes, even armor.

Only when Seching embraced the hot wind from the burning did he find this remaining piece of cloth among the dancing black ashes.

The Gray Horse Knight was a man who valued honor and appearance, never truly disheveled or disgraceful in his life, even on the fiercest battlefields.

He did not charge, did not ride, was shot through the head by a farmer on the path of surrender.

Died not honorably, not cleanly.

But what he exchanged for, was a path to victory paved with honor and life.

If asked to return to North Mangde County now, should they ignore this path?

Standing at the end of the long street leading to the church, there was no expression on Moliat's iron face or beneath it.

She just stood in the cold wind, staring emptily at the empty street before her.

This long street was walked by Prince Kongdai, Horn, and even Moliat herself with Vine before.

"Snow in March..."

The voice was neither sad nor happy; Moliat didn't know to whom she spoke.

She stood for a moment, then suddenly said to Lannes, who was beside her with a sorrowful face: "Send the letter to the camp, have the priest read it, at dusk, I'll personally preside over the mourning."

"As you command, Your Highness."

Lannes bowed deeply, then hurried to the camp.

Moliat gazed at the towering tower, the cold wind blowing through her platinum hair, the March snow falling heavy.

The swirling snow covered the tile eaves with a layer of fluffy white down.

From under the mask she exhaled a puff of white air, Moliat stepped onto the long street.

The attendants hurriedly picked up the cloaks, but the Female Grand Duke pushed them away: "Don't follow me, I'll go alone."

Letting the cloak drop to the ground, she slowly walked into the swirling snow.

Almost every spring, Moliat and Vine would come to High Castle City to purchase supplies. This long road from the Knight Training Ground to the church, she had walked it countless times.

But this time, she could only walk alone.

From behind the courtyard walls and towers came the ceaseless crying of the soldiers, the once silent High Castle City was noisy again.

Amidst the chorus of sobs and shouts, Moliat walked quietly alone in the wind and snow.

The Grand Duchess's tall silhouette appeared so slender, a dark red, vaguely discernible in the snow.

Unknown for how long she walked, Moliat saw the black marble steps of the church.

She raised her head, only to hear the entire city crying in the snowstorm.

For Vine, for their own years of injustice and grievance suffered, more for those family and friends persecuted by the Church.

Stepping on the cries, climbing the steps, Moliat walked step by step to the top.

Standing at the church's entrance, she looked back at the road she had walked, yet there was only a lone line of footprints on the ground.

She still did not cry.

With the last page of the letter tightly grasped in her hand, Moliat lowered her head, silently reading the last words left by Vine:

"Go, just like your father and I hoped."

"We want not just freedom, but blood for blood!"

......

On March 13, 1446 of the Imperial Calendar, Grand Duke Hemashi Moliat Hesineen Fuer raided the White Maple Mercenary Corps in a snowy night, miraculously slaying the Corps' leader.

After breaking up the original formation of the Mercenary Corps, the Female Grand Duke selected about half of them, forming a new White Maple Mercenary Corps, employing Mountain Knights as officers, with double pay.

On March 14, 1446 of the Imperial Calendar, Moliat led 2500 Mountain Knights, over 1200 White Maple Infantry, over 500 local Knights, heading towards the direction of Damp Dock.

They abandoned all baggage, carrying only three days of food provisions.

If the journey doesn't encounter setbacks, these 4300 will arrive at Damp Dock on March 18 or 19.

Then, she will go downstream toward Feiliu Castle to complete the unfinished tasks of her father Vincent, teacher Juanuo, and Guardian Knight Vine—

Flowers, sunlight, and freedom.