Chapter 114 Why Not Stop Her
These people didn't even know how to fight back. They looked exactly like those nobles she'd seen before who came to the battlefield just to gain experience and polish their resumes. They usually talked big, but the moment they saw the enemy, they'd be scared shitless.
Candy found it disgusting.
But people like this made excellent bargaining chips, just like that kid she'd captured on the southern battlefield before. That one hostage had made Frol agree to withdraw his troops directly, and she'd gotten her knight captain position in exchange.
If this time Candy could capture these noble kids again and use them to threaten Zotfort's people, couldn't she demand that Frol pretend to lose to her again?
Even though Friedel said the eastern battlefield wouldn't count toward Candy's military achievements, defeating an enemy commander was such a major accomplishment that it had to be fully reported to the royal city. Whether Candy could keep her knight captain position then wouldn't be up to Friedel to decide.
Thinking this, Candy bit her lip and hinted. "Don't you want to earn military merit like you did a year ago?"
The soldiers following her had been with Candy since a year ago and immediately understood what she meant. They'd tasted the benefits and knew that while this method was shameful, it could easily get them military achievements and rewards.
Since Candy was saying this now, there must be someone on the enemy side who could be exchanged for military merit. They wouldn't let this chance slip!
Candy led her people chasing the fleeing soldiers out through the southwestern gate of the camp. With this move, she officially stepped onto Viller Empire's territory.
Holden, who was in charge of the surrounding formation, had also entered the camp. His unease kept growing, especially when he'd charged in and killed many enemy soldiers but still hadn't seen Candy. This feeling of unease reached its peak.
Soon, Holden's team ran into Anne's group, and despite not wanting to talk on the battlefield, he asked out of concern for Candy. "Have any of you seen Candy?"
Anne shook her head. "No."
The others shook their heads too, except for one knight who hesitated before speaking up. "I haven't seen her, but I think I heard her voice."
Holden immediately stepped forward and grabbed the knight's hand, asking urgently, "What did you hear her say? Tell me, quickly!"
The knight pulled his hand back in annoyance. Holden kept grabbing at him—this was a battlefield, and if he couldn't respond to enemies in time, he could get injured or even killed!
"She seemed to be ordering people to chase someone down. That direction is one of the gates of the allied camp. She probably chased the fleeing soldiers into Viller Empire's territory."
Holden was furious. "Why didn't you stop her when you heard that? Do you know what happens if you step onto another country's soil during wartime?"
The knight slashed at enemy soldiers while sneering, "How was I supposed to stop her? According to Lord Friedel's arrangements, she shouldn't even be in the camp right now. Candy disobeyed military orders by showing up here. She won't even listen to Lord Friedel—would she listen to me?"
"You can't even control your own knight captain, and now you're threatening me? What kind of skill is that? I'm not one of your Dawn Knight Order people!"
Holden was enraged and raised his sword to strike the knight. At the critical moment, Anne pulled back to block his attack, looking coldly at Holden. "Are you going to attack one of our own soldiers on the battlefield?"
"He knew Candy was in danger but didn't try to stop her. How can I let a soldier like that stay in the camp!"
Holden glared at Anne, surprised that she still hated Candy so much that she'd even protect a knight who deliberately let Candy go to her death.
"Fine, just fine—you'd even protect someone like this!" Holden said through gritted teeth. "You did this on purpose too, didn't you? You knew Candy was going to her death, and you're happy about it. You think that once she's dead, I'll come back and get back together with you!"
"Anne, you're such a vicious woman. I'll never forgive you!"
Facing Holden's accusations, Anne didn't even bother to look at him. "I don't know if a soldier has the right to advise or not, but as the leader of the Dawn Knight Order, you failed to make your knight captain follow military orders. That's your fault."
"And do you really think Candy would have listened to his advice and turned back? If she were willing to listen, Metodi could have sent her back to wait in the rear when he was in charge of the right side. How would she have ended up in the camp?"
Morris beside them also curled his lip disdainfully. "Exactly. Besides, this isn't Candy's first time on the battlefield. She spent three years on the southern battlefield—how could she not know what crossing the border means? She wanted to chase those fleeing soldiers herself. Even if she really entered Viller Empire's territory, she ran over there on her own. What does it have to do with anyone else!"
"If you're really capable, go save her yourself. Why are you losing your temper at people who have nothing to do with it!"
Holden was left speechless, and just as he was about to speak, Friedel arrived with his team, eyebrows raised and tone serious as he surveyed everyone."There's no room for distraction on the battlefield. What are you all making a fuss about here?"
As he spoke, he backhanded an enemy soldier charging at him, sending him down. Blood splattered.
Everyone's eyes fell on Holden, making him uncomfortable all over. Holden bit his lip and still spoke up. "Lord Friedel, it's Candy..."
But Friedel turned and walked away. "Are you going to abandon the battlefield for someone who violated military orders?"
"I..." Holden froze. Enemy soldiers around him raised their swords and lunged at him. Holden fought back awkwardly, and his final worries about Candy were pushed to the back of his mind by the enemies surrounding him.
Survival—only by staying alive would he have a chance to think about other things.
As for Candy, Holden's heart went cold. As her husband, he would find a way to save her no matter what.
Everyone stopped talking and threw themselves fully into the battle. After fighting for who knows how long—maybe an hour, maybe two—the sound of a retreat horn suddenly came from the distance.
When the horn sounded, the Viller Empire soldiers around them were still confused, but Zotfort's soldiers all trembled and quickly withdrew from the battlefield, retreating through the northwestern gate of the camp.
Holden wanted to chase them, but Anne beside him stopped him sharply. "The convention states that you cannot pursue enemy troops who sound the retreat horn!"
"But...!"
"No buts." Anne looked at him coldly. "Since Zotfort blew the horn, it means they're withdrawing from combat. If you still attack, you'll be declaring war on Zotfort in your personal capacity."