Chapter 44 Wedding Turmoil
Candy froze and immediately pulled away from Holden's embrace. "Why are you suddenly asking me this question?"
Holden honestly told her about what he encountered at the Virlet estate. Of course, he left out the part about getting beaten up. As a man and the leader of the Knights, Holden didn't want his beloved woman to know about his embarrassing moment.
Candy looked thoughtful. If Holden was just curious, it wouldn't hurt to tell him. But since it was Anne asking, she didn't want to say anything.
On one hand, this matter involved the conventions about handling prisoners on the battlefield. On the other hand, she didn't believe Anne was just asking casually.
But when Holden saw her reaction, a trace of suspicion flashed in his eyes. "Candy, is there something about this you can't tell me? We're about to be husband and wife!"
Compared to what this secret might mean, he cared more about whether Candy was willing to communicate with him.
Candy smiled bitterly. "Dear Holden, it's not that I don't want to tell you, but once this matter is revealed, the credit we earned might have to become a serious crime because it involves violating the conventions."
Holden was stunned. "Violating the conventions?"
He frowned, recalling the battle. Zotfort's soldiers nearly broke through their defense. Candy led the spearmen left, then sent word for him to flank right. Trusting her, he followed orders. Suddenly Zotfort's forces retreated rapidly. Though he didn't know why, it was the perfect moment to pursue.
The secret must be with those prisoners. As for violating battlefield conventions, could it be that something went wrong when handling the prisoners?
Holden's brow relaxed. "If it's just a small matter like accidentally killing one or two prisoners, it should be fine, right?"
Seeing Holden like this, Candy knew he hadn't noticed anything wrong. But she didn't want to make a big deal out of this. They still had a wedding to prepare for. Why bring up things that had already passed?
"Yes, but you know, some people just love to gossip about these things, saying such matters could trigger conflicts. How is that possible?"
"So..." Candy spoke as if casually, "Did Anne say why she wanted to know about this?"
Holden nodded. "Anne suspects that what happened at the Virlet estate a year ago is related to you. That's so ridiculous. How could it be?"
He pulled Candy back into his embrace, completely failing to notice her somewhat stiff expression. "You were absolutely right. These noble ladies just can't stand to see others doing well. She sees you have military merit and has to suspect your achievements came unreasonably. How vicious."
However, Candy didn't think so.
She leaned against Holden's chest with an unpleasant expression.
A year ago, the Virlet estate was attacked by Zotfort's people and burned to ruins. Except for those on the battlefield who were out of touch with news, who didn't know about this?
Originally, Candy hadn't connected this incident to herself. After all, the southern war zone where they were stationed was quite far from the Virlet family's territory. But if Anne was asking, it meant she had started to suspect that the revenge motive they had investigated wasn't reasonable.
Candy still remembered the Zotfort general's shocked, angry face when he saw the prisoners beside her. With no choice but to retreat, the tall middle-aged man pointed his sword at Candy and shouted, "I can retreat, but if you don't follow the battlefield conventions for treating prisoners and uninvolved elderly, weak, women and children, I'll show you what Zotfort's people are capable of!"
What was her response?
It seemed to be, "I swear by the great Duke Virlet that I will definitely follow the convention of not harming prisoners, just as he and your country's duke once did." But Candy was busy pursuing the retreating Zotfort forces and had no time for the prisoners, especially the well-dressed child among them. Later, she had someone load the prisoners onto a carriage and send them near Zotfort's army. She never asked about them again. Given the chaos, that child probably didn't survive.
Candy bit her lip. Not many people knew the specific situation at the time. In the following year, her spearmen squad had deaths and injuries. Few people knew about the prisoners, and even fewer knew the prisoners' identities.
As long as she insisted she didn't know, Anne, that woman, couldn't possibly reach into Zotfort to investigate, could she?
Thinking of this, Candy finally relaxed.
She had an inexplicable aversion to Anne, her former rival. Maybe it was because of the other woman's more beautiful face, or maybe because she, as a fellow woman, could have such a good background.
Fortunately, Holden was hers, Candy's.
Thinking this, Candy raised her head and exchanged a lingering kiss with Holden.
Thanks to the King's promise, a month later, Holden and Candy had their wedding as they wished.
The wedding venue was at the Titan estate. The nobles who had been unwilling to come before, whatever their thoughts, all arrived at the estate's entrance in carriages.
But as soon as they arrived, they witnessed a joke.
"Is the Titan family so lacking in manners? Don't they know to arrange servants to guide guests according to the guest list? They're actually making us walk in ourselves."
"Such a small estate is one thing, but look at the flowers on both sides - they don't look valuable either. These are two Knight Commanders, yet the wedding is so shabby?"
"I heard that the Titan family simply has no money. Especially after that person from the Virlet family left, they've been trying every way to borrow money. But who would dare lend to them now?"
"How can they serve such inferior tea leaves? My God, putting this stuff in my mouth is simply defiling me!"
The old lady stood to the side, so ashamed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Of course she wanted to make the wedding grand and respectable, but just the matter of guiding guests was difficult. Anne's departure took away most of the servants. The remaining servants left because they couldn't be paid. Now there weren't even enough to serve the family, let alone assign them individually to each noble.
When Trion came crying about this situation, she was also helpless. In the end, she could only arrange a few servants at the estate gate to guide, and by the way, show the nobles the way and receive gifts.
Thinking of the gifts, the old lady's expression improved slightly.
Although these nobles looked down on the Titan family, out of face and respect for the King, most of the gifts they brought were valuable and precious. Not only did it protect their dignity, but it could also rescue the empty treasury.
However, while she was happy, it was Candy's turn to be unhappy.
She had gotten up early to dress up and put on the wedding dress she had prepared long ago, just waiting for this moment to be the center of attention.
However, when the bride's carriage stopped in front of the Titan estate gate, Candy's eyes widened.