Chapter 107 Candy's Doubts
Duncan couldn't help but speak up, "You may not be picking up trash, but that doesn't stop the trash from thinking you're interested in him. Look at that woman Candy, constantly going on about you seducing him."
Cynthia sneered, "She's the only one who treats Holden like some kind of treasure, as if anyone would care. That kind of thing, even if someone put him right in front of me, I'd have them send him right back."
Although Anne was smiling, she couldn't help but wonder - with Holden's arrogant personality, he might actually think that way. What's more, before he and Candy were preparing to get married, he had run to Virlet Manor to find her, acting all willing to offer himself up for her enjoyment.
Holden's smug expression made Anne sick. And Candy always claimed she was loyal to Holden. Now that Candy had lost so badly, she'd be furious with both Anne and Samira.
With her personality, she might very well pull something behind the scenes.
What's more, with the battle about to start, and Friedel publicly stating that Candy wouldn't get any military merit no matter what, even if Candy didn't dare disobey military orders, she must be unwilling in her heart.
Earlier when Anne asked about the arrangements for Candy, Friedel said he already had a plan, and mentioned receiving quite a bit of intelligence about Zotfort. Between the lines, he was reminding Anne to stay away from Candy on the battlefield. Could it be...
Anne's eyes sharpened.
Even if Friedel wouldn't deliberately put Candy on the front lines to die, as a key target for Zotfort's capture, whether through passive resistance or backstabbing allies, Zotfort would find a way to capture her. When that happened, even if she didn't die, things wouldn't go well for her.
Anne could hardly imagine Candy's fate, but she understood that if Candy died at Frol's hands, at least Zotfort wouldn't redirect their hatred toward the entire Soth Empire after losing their target for revenge. With the hatred focused on Candy, it would be much easier to scheme against Zotfort and the Viller Empire in the future and sabotage their cooperation.
It was a death trap either way. This was also why Friedel, when setting the stakes between Anne and Candy, didn't require Candy to personally meet the king.
Rather than let that woman run before His Majesty and say things that were half-true and half-false, it was better to just take her life directly.
Candy, who was about to leave the knight order with no military merit to her name, versus Anne, the rising new star of the battlefield - even without Duke Skoda's favor, His Majesty would know whom to choose.
And Anne's hands wouldn't be stained with Candy's blood.
This chain of events was too perfect. From the very beginning, when Anne suspected Candy would spread rumors to ruin her reputation, Friedel suggested she accept everyone's challenges in full view of the public.
Candy thought she had set the trap, but Anne and Friedel had been waiting for her all along. They let Candy think Anne was weak and easy to bully, which made her dare to stake everything on the duel.
After all, only those with nothing left would be abandoned.
Friedel truly deserved to be the fierce general capable of taking over the Lion Knight Order and continuing to guard the eastern battlefield - both brave and intelligent indeed.
Several days after the duel ended, every time Candy left her tent for training, people around her would point and whisper.
Originally Holden advised her not to go, since no matter how hard she trained, the upcoming battles wouldn't record her achievements, nor would they give her any important tasks.
Her training was now nothing more than a joke.
Of course Candy wouldn't accept Holden's kindness. She even felt that Holden didn't want her to go train with him because having her stand beside him made Holden feel embarrassed.
At first, Holden had the patience to explain to Candy, but when the same question was brought up repeatedly, Holden couldn't be bothered to say more.
For some reason, Holden only felt his passion for Candy rapidly fading. Even what he thought was deep, unforgettable love - he wasn't sure how much of it remained.
As Candy followed beside Holden, a passing knight glanced at her and let out a light, mocking laugh, "How does she still have the face to show up?"
"Who knows? After all, someone who could steal another woman's husband before probably has thick enough skin."
The mocking laughter reached their ears. Candy felt Holden's steps pause. In the past, he would have rushed over to fight them, but now he stayed silent and kept walking as if he hadn't heard anything.
Candy couldn't help but tear up. Holden had been like this for the past few days, always at a loss for words when facing her. Even when she tried to smile and find topics to cheer Holden up, he remained listless.
When they reached the training ground assigned to the Dawn Knight Order, Holden stepped in first. The other three knight commanders were standing together seemingly discussing something. Seeing Candy and them arrive, they snorted coldly, "Disgraceful thing."
Candy's whole body trembled. The knights from the Dawn Knight Order passing by all looked at her with disdain.
After a long while, Hanks finally walked over and patted Candy's shoulder lightly, his expression complicated. "Don't be discouraged. Come on, let's train. You haven't left the Dawn Knight Order yet. Even if your military merit isn't recorded, you can still help Holden earn merit. Then he can use that merit to petition His Majesty."
Candy was stunned, then her expression brightened.
That's right - she and Holden were husband and wife now. Holden's military merit was half hers. Whether rewards of gold and silver were sent to Titan Manor, or Holden was willing to use his military merit to petition His Majesty to let her return to the Dawn Knight Order, she would benefit either way.
Now wasn't the time to be discouraged!
Candy was about to turn around and call for Holden, but when she looked back, she found he had long since disappeared. Her eyes dimmed, and unease spread through her heart like a flood.
For some reason, although Holden had been promising not to look down on her or abandon her under her persistent questioning lately, Candy still felt Holden's heart gradually drifting away from her.
Anne - it was that Anne again.
When Anne left the Titan family, she had spoken so righteously, proudly saying she looked down on her and Holden and wouldn't stoop to compete with Candy for Holden. But what was the result?
Candy gritted her teeth. Her wedding with Holden had been secretly ruined by Anne into a complete mess, and then Anne had forced the old lady to send Holden to Virlet Manor to appease her - that was her husband!