Chapter 185 A Surprise Arrives, Blade of Victory Returns to Emerald City!
Chapter 185 A Surprise Arrives, Blade of Victory Returns to Emerald City!
Cressida's lowered eyes were full of cold, calculating appraisal.
Her pupils reflected Clio's face, pale as paper.
"Cressida..." Clio was like a fish gasping for water, crawling toward her with everything she had, grabbing the hem of her skirt. "You've always been the one I loved most! The medicine... get me the medicine, quick."
A mocking smile tugged at the corner of Cressida's lips.
Loved her?
In the next moment, Cressida lightly lifted her foot and kicked Clio away.
"This kind of motherly love — it's come too late. Far too late."
With that, she walked out of the room.
In her past life, she had spent ten years at the military fortress, living on edge, always afraid.
Carrying the secret of her birth had kept her from ever truly opening up to anyone.
She had always told herself that if she could just go home, things would be different — at least there, she could be herself, go by her own name.
But when she finally came back, all she got was her parents' control, her brother's contempt, and her foster sister's constant scheming.
The family love she had longed for with all her heart was what killed her. This time around, she wanted none of it.
She was the one who recognized this family — they were only General Hamilton's family because she said so. Without her, they were nothing.
Cressida reached the doorway, where Nanny was cowering outside, trembling with fear.
The moment she saw Cressida, she shook even harder. "Ms. Cressida Hamilton... I'll do whatever you say."
Cressida knew better. Nanny was Clio's personal maid — her life was in Clio's hands. There was no way she would ever truly follow Cressida's orders.
Nanny was simply scared, doing whatever it took to stay alive.
But Cressida didn't need her loyalty.
"Take good care of her. Don't let her die, but don't let her cause any trouble either. If anything goes wrong, you'll be the first one I come after."
Nanny looked like she'd just been pardoned, let out a quick "yes," and hurried inside.
Cressida couldn't let Clio die just yet.
Jessica and Rita both had engagements coming up. The estate couldn't be holding a funeral right now.
Late September.
Word came from Miguel.
The guards had ridden hard, day and night, and delivered Rose to the Penitence Abbey.
The warden there had taken the guards' money and promised to "take good care" of Rose.
During this time, the Howard family had shown up twice to make trouble.
They were convinced that Rose had bribed two servants — who had since vanished — and then lured Everett to his death. But they had no proof.
Every time they came looking for Rose, they were told she had fled to escape justice.
The Howard family was furious, seething with rage, but there was nothing they could do.
Patrick insisted this was all his goddaughter's doing and that he had known nothing about it. The king also favored the Hamilton family.
In the end, the Howard family had no choice but to quietly let the matter drop, though they occasionally pushed the authorities to post wanted notices.
If Rose ever showed up, she was to be seized on the spot.
As autumn drew to a close, the "surprise" Miguel had mentioned finally arrived.
Foster, his most capable and fierce Deputy Commander, had achieved a stunning victory fighting bandits on horseback and remnants of the Eldorian forces near Sovereign City.
Not only had he captured a number of surviving Eldorian soldiers, but he had also taken the eldest son of a regional lord alive.
Miguel had specifically asked Verity to remind Cressida to go watch Deputy Commander Foster's triumphant return to Emerald City — there was a surprise waiting for her.
So at the crack of dawn, Emma and Verity came to wake Cressida.
Emma said with a smile, "The prince personally extended the invitation — Ms. Cressida Hamilton absolutely cannot be late."
Cressida sat up, her dark hair falling loose around her.
Her expression was cool. "The prince isn't even coming with us. What are you so excited about?"
"I'm just dying to know what surprise the prince was talking about, of course."
Emma and Verity chattered and guessed while helping her dress and fix her hair.
Verity said, "The reason this campaign succeeded without losing a single soldier is because the prince sent Deputy Commander Foster the improved gunpowder formula Ms. Cressida Hamilton developed. With a weapon like that, our soldiers were unstoppable. If you think about it, the whole victory is really thanks to Ms. Cressida Hamilton."
Emma looked at Cressida with admiration. "So do you think the prince's surprise might be requesting a title for Ms. Cressida Hamilton?"
Verity tapped her on the head. "Ms. Cressida Hamilton wasn't officially on the battlefield — how would they request a title? My guess is he's asking for a reward on her behalf."
In her past life, Deputy Commander Foster's victory hadn't come so easily.
From what she'd heard, though he returned to Emerald City in glory, he had been struck by a poison-tipped arrow during the campaign and suffered a severe wound to his left arm, leaving him with only the use of his right arm for the rest of his life.
But in that past life, when he returned to Emerald City and the king showered him with honors, Cressida had had all ten of her fingers broken. Going outside was a luxury she couldn't afford, let alone witnessing the spectacle of Deputy Commander Foster's homecoming parade.
All she'd had was Michael coming to taunt her with that cold, unsettling smile. "Deputy Commander Foster came back to Emerald City and the whole city turned out for him — people lined the streets cheering, calling him a hero. And you? You're nothing."
The previous dynasty had valued scholars over soldiers, and that had led to chaos both within and without.
The current king had learned from those mistakes and begun to honor military commanders. This was an age of heroes.
Cressida felt no envy toward General Foster and the recognition he received. But whenever she thought of Deputy Commander Foster, she couldn't help but think of someone else — someone from her past, someone who had a score to settle with her.
She took the carriage with Emma and Verity to Prosperity Street to watch the troops return to Emerald City.
On the way, Verity said, "I heard from James that Deputy Commander Foster brought his daughter along this time — she fought in the battle too."
Cressida turned to look at her. "His daughter?"
Verity nodded. "Deputy Commander Foster's daughter, Cassie Foster, eighteen years old. I've met her once. She's been trained in combat since she was young and grew up around the barracks. After her brother died, she went to serve under Deputy Commander Foster herself."
Cressida said nothing and turned to look out the carriage window. The streets were already packed with people, and the carriage was barely moving.
Seeing this, Cressida had the carriage stop outside the main street, and the group made their way on foot through the crowd toward the boulevard.
The war drums on the city walls had already begun to beat. With the morning sun rising behind them, the first soldiers, rifles in hand, were marching in.
The crowds on both sides of the street erupted in cheers. Every face was lit up with joy.
The crowd was thick. Cressida pushed forward and accidentally bumped into a young man's shoulder.
Before she could apologize, he turned around, saw her, and broke into a delighted smile.
"Miss Cressida Hamilton?"
Cressida looked up at him, but his face was unfamiliar to her.
She hesitated — did they know each other?
Fortunately, the young man introduced himself with a grin. "I'm Hank Diaz, from Squad A of the Royal Guard. We've met before! Everyone who has the day off today came out to watch Deputy Commander Foster's return."
He then turned and clapped the people on either side of him. "Cressida's here!"
All around him, a group of tall, sharp-looking young men turned around — every one of them the picture of a capable soldier.
When they saw Cressida, they all broke into smiles, calling out "Miss Cressida Hamilton" one after another, nearly making Emma and Verity swoon.
Cressida recognized their faces. They were the ones who, after she had competed at the Royal Guard's training ground that day, had pestered Ethan to put in a good word so they could train under her.
"Miss Cressida Hamilton, come on, get up front! We got here early and grabbed a great spot — you'll have a perfect view."
They pushed her straight to the front of the crowd.
The young Royal Guards formed a circle around her, warm and eager as a bunch of younger brothers.
Cressida gave a small nod. "Thank you."
Hank stood beside her, clapping as he spoke. "Miss Cressida Hamilton, did you know — this whole victory came down to the Blade of Victory stepping in!"
Cressida looked over at him.
"The Blade of Victory was there?"
She had left the military fortress, and Chris and Casey hadn't written in days — she hadn't heard anything about this.
Hank nodded. "Yeah! Apparently the bandits on horseback were too clever — mixed in with the Eldorian cavalry remnants, using their knowledge of the terrain to keep throwing Deputy Commander Foster off. He took a few bad losses early on. Then the prince stepped in and deployed a hundred-man unit from the Blade of Victory. It was like they came out of nowhere — completely unstoppable. Turned the whole thing around in one sweep."
Cressida wasn't surprised.
Sovereign City sat right next to the military fortress. The area was harsh — heavy sandstorms, brutal conditions. One wrong turn and you'd end up lost in the desert, with almost no chance of making it back.
To make sure her soldiers knew that terrain cold, Cressida had drilled them in it every three days.
Know the land, know the enemy — that was how you won every time.
The Blade of Victory were the last soldiers who would ever be rattled by a desert fight. They knew that terrain better than the bandits on horseback themselves.
Just then, Hank pointed ahead with barely contained excitement. "Miss Cressida Hamilton, look — the Blade of Victory is coming!"