Chapter 145 Triumph
But when Holden turned to look at Candy again, his heart felt nothing—not even a ripple. It was as if the woman before him wasn't his newly wedded wife, but just a familiar stranger.
Holden closed his eyes wearily. He was truly exhausted.
"Fine."
Half a month later, the knight order that had been stationed in Warlinekza for so long finally set off, marching in grand procession toward the royal capital.
Anne rode on horseback, holding a flagpole with the banner flying above. When people along the road looked up and saw it, both knights and civilians who came out to see them off had tears in their eyes.
The Viller Empire, which had repeatedly crossed the border, had finally been pushed back by the Soth Empire. They had also dealt with Zotfort's army, bringing an end to the fighting on the southern front. Word was that Zotfort had taken the initiative to invite them to sign a ceasefire and peace treaty together. Some said they'd been scared off by the beating they took on the eastern front; others said they simply didn't want more people dying for war.
But whatever the reason, it was good news for the people of the Soth Empire.
So the army returning from the eastern front was practically escorted all the way to the royal capital by crowds of civilians.
Anne had worried they might discover Candy and cause trouble, but Friedel told her that Frol promised to arrange peace treaty negotiations with the Soth Empire once he returned to Zotfort. He would leave everything else to the Soth king—no more infiltration or interference from Zotfort.
Hearing this good news, Anne finally felt the weight lift from her heart.
When they reached the royal capital, King Rolf stood at the very front of the crowd. To show his respect and celebration for the victorious soldiers, he personally walked up to Friedel and Anne.
Friedel, Anne, and the others had already dismounted. The entire army bowed before Rolf in perfect unison—clearly a well-ordered force.
Rolf nodded. Truly worthy of being one of the Soth Empire's top three knight orders.
Then his gaze shifted from Friedel back to Anne, and his eyes showed a hint of heartache.
Darker, and thinner too.
Anne hadn't turned into charcoal or anything, but after months of sun and wind exposure, with limited supplies at the border and without the careful care she'd received at the manor, her skin had grown rougher. Though it didn't diminish her beauty—if anything, it added a touch of capable toughness to her bearing.
Rolf didn't care about capable or tough. He only knew that Skoda's daughter was the finest young woman in the world, able to accomplish things many men couldn't. Even if you brought Duke Skoda himself back for comparison, he probably couldn't match Anne.
Anne had used her own strength to announce to everyone the return of the Virlet family.
As the heir of the Virlet family, the next Duke Virlet, Duke Skoda's daughter—Anne wouldn't lose to anyone!
The military parade wasn't over yet. The king's appearance was just to show his joy and trust. Rolf and Conor returned to the palace first, while Anne, Friedel, and the others would walk the entire victory parade route before entering the banquet hall through the palace gates.
Candy had assumed she would attend the victory banquet with Holden. She eagerly tried to walk in, but the knight guarding the entrance stopped her. "You're not on today's list. You can't enter."
The knight before her looked stern. Candy asked in disbelief, "My husband Holden is inside, and I used to be the knight captain of the Dawn Knight Order. Why can't I go in!"
The knight's expression didn't change. "Not on the list means not on the list. You can only wait outside, or choose to leave."
Candy made a fuss for quite a while, but the big knight in front of her showed no reaction. She didn't dare keep making a scene at the palace gates—she might need to seek an audience with Queen Mother Smith again later.
She stood idly by the roadside when suddenly a mocking laugh came from behind her. "Well, well, if it isn't... what's-her-name?"
Candy turned around and met the newcomer's eyes.
The young man across from her saw the ugly scars on Candy's face, his eyes full of disgust. "How did you get so ugly? Wait, no—congratulations, you got even uglier. Now you're a better match for that idiot Holden."
Hearing this noble call her ugly and call Holden stupid, Candy's face darkened. "What are you, daring to insult me like this!"
The noble sneered. "You two really are a pair—you even say the same things. I heard about your romantic exploits on the eastern front. Last time I told that idiot Holden you were a whore who spreads her legs for anyone, he didn't believe me. I haven't had a chance to ask him what he thinks now!"
Candy was nearly dying of rage. She'd been cursed at by people from the Dawn Knight Order in the camp, looked at with strange eyes by people from Ivy Knights and the Lion Knight Order. She never expected that even away from the camp, not drinking victory wine with those knights in their designated area, she'd still be humiliated by some noble she didn't even know.
She wanted to attack the noble directly, but the cold gaze of a nearby guardian knight warned her that any violence in this solemn place would result in immediate expulsion—or worse.
Candy held back with great effort, her eyes turning red with killing intent as she glared at the noble, looking like she wanted to devour him alive. "I've earned military merit for the Soth Empire. Aren't you afraid other knights will hear you insulting me like this and attack you?"
"But you're not a knight captain anymore. Everyone in the royal capital has heard—you challenged Duke Virlet, lost badly and threw a tantrum. But with Prince Friedel as witness, after the eastern front war ended, your knight captain status and all your military merits were erased. Now you're just an ordinary woman."
The young noble thought for a moment and added, "Not only unfaithful, but ugly too. The Titan family is truly blessed to have you."
Candy finally couldn't hold back. Gritting her teeth, she lunged at the noble, reaching out with both hands to grab his neck, looking like she wanted to snap it. "Damn you, I was the Soth Empire's first female knight captain. Disrespecting me is disrespecting women. I'll kill you!"
The noble was frightened and immediately shouted to the guardian knights nearby, "Save me! This crazy woman is attacking me in the palace!"
The guardian knights in silver armor didn't wait for his reminder—two of them had already rushed forward and pinned Candy to the ground. Her cheek pressed against the marble floor, the cold shocking Candy back to her senses.
She was filled with regret now. She'd actually let herself be provoked by that damn noble brat into losing her mind, making a scene in a place like the palace, right in front of the guardian knights. She was really done for!