Chapter 133 Meeting Candy
Holden paused. It was precisely because he couldn't accept such a possibility that he had lost control of his emotions earlier.
This kind of mistake couldn't just be glossed over with a few words. What's more, Candy had to face not only his anger, but the fury of the entire Soth Empire, from the king down to the common people.
"I believe in Candy." In the end, he could only force out this one sentence. As for anything else, Holden really couldn't bring himself to say it.
Since the Zotfort people spoke so righteously, the punishment for Candy probably wouldn't be too severe. As for returning to the Soth Empire, worst case scenario, he'd go beg His Majesty the King again and trade his military achievements from the eastern battlefield for Candy's safety.
Holden was confident that as long as Candy admitted things weren't as serious as Frol and the others claimed, there would definitely still be room to salvage the situation.
Seeing the dismissive expression on Holden's face, Friedel exchanged a glance with Anne.
They knew very well that the calmer and more indifferent Holden seemed now, the more devastated he would be when he saw Candy later.
Manlis had said she tortured Candy as a mother, and Holden clearly didn't understand that a mother pushed to the extreme of rage could become a demon for the sake of her own child.
The demon was willing to let Candy leave alive not because she was soft-hearted, but because letting Candy live would be even more painful than death.
Friedel wasn't particularly kind-hearted and felt no pity for Candy, who was getting her comeuppance after countless evil deeds, so he didn't refuse when Holden asked for troops to enter Drogo Mountains together.
Since it was daytime and the wild beasts in the area had been cleared out by the Zotfort soldiers previously stationed there, Friedel's group quickly reached the mountain peak Frol had mentioned.
The higher they climbed, the paler Holden's face became. When they reached a cave near the summit, they all smelled the scent of blood in the air, mixed with some strange odors.
Holden's heart trembled. He couldn't help but shout loudly, "Candy, where are you!?"
"Candy—"
Soon, they heard a faint response, the voice seeming to come from a small cave nearby.
Holden's heart leaped with joy. He heard Candy's voice and, without even waiting for Friedel and Anne, immediately rushed into the cave.
But the further in he went, the stranger the smell became, even somewhat familiar.
As he got closer, the smile on Holden's face suddenly froze, even turning deathly pale.
Candy was half-lying on the ground, her cotton robe torn to shreds. At a glance, he could see the bruises covering her body. One foot was tied with cloth strips and hung from the stone wall, her legs spread wide. Her swollen, abused vulva was forced open, the opening still unable to close. Traces of semen were everywhere on her body and the ground.
"Don't come in yet!" Holden couldn't help but shout.
But it was too late. Some soldiers had already run in and caught a glimpse of the scene. Frightened, they immediately backed away, and upon hearing Holden's roar, quickly turned and ran out.
On the other side, Hanks and two others lay limply on the ground, their limbs twisted, some places even exposing white bone. When they saw Holden, their eyes lit up for a moment, then as if remembering something, they turned their heads toward a corner.
Following their gaze, Holden saw a naked person lying there. He recognized that face—it was a knight named Fort. From his appearance, it seemed he had frozen to death.
Candy stared at Holden the whole time, and seeing him completely ignore her, she couldn't help but speak in a weak voice. "Holden, save me..."
Only then did Holden seem to wake from a dream. He removed the cloak from his shoulders and walked over to crouch beside Candy.
Candy looked longingly at Holden's features. "I knew you would come. I knew you would definitely come to save me."
Holden gave a bitter smile. Looking at the wounds on Candy's body, he naturally knew what she had endured. Though he didn't blame her, the thought of holding a woman who had been violated by countless men still made him feel sick.
He untied the cloth strips binding Candy's leg, and it immediately slumped limply to the ground. Only then did Holden realize one of her legs had been dislocated. A wave of pity surged in his heart, and he quickly wrapped her in his cloak, covering her body.
Quite a few knights had rushed in earlier and seen everything. Even if Holden wanted to hide it, this matter couldn't be concealed. Soon everyone would know what had happened to Candy.
He looked resentfully toward the cave entrance, where Anne and Friedel stood. They clearly knew something had happened to Candy but were unwilling to save her. Now they brought so many people here just to see her ruined and disgraced.
Holden had forgotten that he was the one who had actively asked Friedel to bring the troops up the mountain. In his view, Candy was the victim. Only Anne had such a vicious mind, along with that Friedel who unconditionally supported Anne.
He cursed both their names over and over in his mind, then walked out of the cave with a dark expression.
Anne was momentarily stunned when she saw Candy in Holden's arms, but quickly looked away. She had no interest in making an issue of someone else's humiliation, and simply asked flatly, "Are there others inside?"
Holden glared viciously at Anne, looking ready to pounce and bite her at any moment. "Three alive, one dead. All from the Dawn Knight Order."
Friedel nodded and waved for the knights behind him to enter the cave and carry out Hanks and the others.
The group hurried back down the mountain and rushed back to the military camp at Warlinekza.
After the military doctor examined Candy, he left the medicine with a complicated expression and hurried away. If he didn't leave soon, he felt Holden was about to kick him out.
Holden stared at Candy. Several scars had been carved into her face. Whoever did it was determined to make Candy suffer—the torn flesh even faintly revealed bone. Judging from the military doctor's expression just now, they probably couldn't be removed.
Candy glared viciously in the direction the military doctor had left, especially when he had been examining her wounds. She could feel his surprise and involuntary disgust, as if she were something filthy.
"Holden, can you help me sit up?"
She spoke in a hoarse voice. For a long while, no one responded. Candy couldn't help but turn to look at the dazed Holden beside her, raising her voice slightly, "Holden, look at me!"
Only then did Holden come back to his senses. He walked up to Candy with a cold expression, grabbed her shoulders and demanded, "Tell me, when you threatened Frol to withdraw his troops earlier, did you encounter that prisoner by accident, or did you specifically go to capture him?"