Chapter 144 The Flying Flag
Friedel nodded, "That's right. We currently have a short-term contract, so we can't be sure the Viller Empire will definitely develop a friendly cooperative relationship with us. If they remain hostile, it's very necessary to do good defensive work. But if they become allies, then the troops can also be used to maintain order and monitor incoming and outgoing information."
Anne understood this reasoning. She also thought Friedel's idea made sense, and if they regularly rotated the stationed soldiers, everyone would get a chance to go home.
This way it would be fair to everyone.
She thought for a moment, then added some details about the rotation. The two of them settled the matter, and returning to the royal capital became an urgent priority.
Seeing that things were mostly handled, Friedel asked Anne about the situation with her four companions. From his observation, although those four were very brave on the battlefield, they didn't seem to plan on staying with the knights permanently.
Anne briefly explained their situation to Friedel, then heard him ask her seriously, "So Anne, will you stay with the Ivy Knights or go back to being a duke's daughter?"
"When I go back this time, I'll probably officially become Duke Virlet, but that's a strange question."
Anne looked at Friedel with feigned confusion. "I fought so hard for my position as knight captain - how could I just give it up? Of course I'll stay with the knights!"
Friedel knew Anne definitely wouldn't leave, but hearing her answer still gave him a different feeling.
"Not getting married?"
Anne snorted, "Before, it was Mother's requirement. Now I don't want to. I just want to live according to my own wishes."
"Then the gift I prepared for you was the right choice."
Anne was a bit confused when she heard Friedel had prepared a gift for her.
But when Friedel carefully took down a box from the shelf, Anne looked at what was inside and her eyes instantly reddened.
It was a banner.
Crimson background, with a lion representing bravery, laurel leaves, and ivy painted on it.
Wherever this banner flew before, it meant Duke Skoda had arrived there.
Anne's family had one too. Later, when Duke Skoda passed away, Anne covered her beloved father's body with that banner and buried it with him. Anne never saw a second one after that.
Now seeing this banner in Friedel's hands, she could barely control her tears.
"I think Lord Skoda would definitely want this banner to fly as it returns to the royal capital, so now I'm giving it to you."
"Anne, let's bring Lord Skoda and your brother, along with all the brothers sleeping on this land, home together."
Anne's eyes instantly reddened. Her hands trembled slightly, but she still straightened her back and took the banner representing her father.
"Thank you, Lord Friedel..."
"For me, this gift is better than any reward. Thank you."
On the other side, Holden sat in his tent. Ever since Candy was brought back by force, he had maintained this position, as if he had turned into a statue.
Candy cursed angrily at first, but later got tired of cursing and her voice went hoarse, so she just lay on the bed staring blankly at Holden. After a long while, she spoke, "Holden, do you find me disgusting now when you look at me?"
Holden didn't speak, just turned to look at Candy with a complicated expression.
Candy's tears immediately fell. "You also think I'm not good enough for you, that I've embarrassed you, right?"
"But that's not what I wanted either. I kept hoping you would come save me. I kept calling your name in my heart, praying that some god would hear and make you come to me quickly."
"You never came. I could only wait for you. I couldn't die, because if I died, I couldn't wait for you anymore, Holden."
Blinking, Holden took a deep breath, his voice hoarse. "That's not a reason for you to get them killed."
Actually, Holden had tried to stop the rumors about Candy in the military camp. As the leader of the Dawn Knight Order, he had no authority to give orders to people from the other two knight orders, and normally people from the Ivy Knights and Lion Knights wouldn't call them cowards and whores to their faces.
But the Ivy Knights were different.
The other three knight captains seemed determined to pull Holden down from his position, and their subordinates sensed this too, mocking Holden and Candy openly and secretly. Holden wanted to criticize their rudeness, but those people weren't afraid at all. Instead, they accused the two of disgracing the Dawn Knight Order and said they didn't deserve to stay in the knights.
Holden didn't dare imagine - if even the army was like this, when they returned to the Titan family, how would the family members view him, and how would they treat Candy after hearing about her ordeal?
What was worse, if what Candy did a year ago reached His Majesty's ears, how would he handle Candy, and how would he deal with the Titan family? Just thinking about it gave Holden a headache.
Candy naturally also knew they would soon return to the Titan family. She understood that most people couldn't accept a woman who wasn't chaste, whether it was voluntary or not, especially the old lady. That old woman would probably order Holden to divorce her the moment she found out, then go marry a woman who could bring a generous dowry.
Before, Candy never worried about losing Holden. She had him completely under control—obedient and easy to deceive. But now, with Anne and other complications, he was slipping away. Candy knew if she didn't act soon, she'd lose him forever.
She had to find a way to keep Holden stable.
Candy got up from the bed. She walked in front of Holden, pretending to be affectionate as she tried to lean on his shoulder.
Holden looked at the scars on Candy's face and her cold, calculating eyes, and really wanted to push her away, but his body, tamed over three years, unconsciously caught Candy, letting her lean against him with satisfaction.
"Holden, you'll forgive my unfaithfulness, right?" Candy said softly. "Just as I forgive your disloyalty."
"Your heart wanders outside, leaning toward Anne's direction. My body has been possessed by other men, but my heart is always with you. Can we call it even?"
"We've been through so much together. You swore to me that you would never give up on me no matter what. Our vows were so beautiful, and it's only been a few months since our wedding. Answer me - you won't abandon me, right?"
Holden's lips trembled. He felt Candy's words were strange. Those two examples weren't equivalent, but from Candy's mouth, it seemed like physical unfaithfulness and spiritual disloyalty were no different.
Well, they were both betrayals - how much better was he anyway?