Chapter 93 Won't Just Accept Fate
Holden let out a long sigh and held Candy's hand. "You should have told me earlier. That way I could have paid more attention to your safety and prevented Zotfort's people from hurting you."
Seeing Holden's reaction, Candy breathed a sigh of relief. Her voice softened as she pressed her face against his neck. "I was afraid you'd worry about me and it would affect your judgment on the battlefield. As for after we won the southern campaign and came back, I figured since it was all over, there was no need to bring it up again."
She sighed. "Who knew Anne and the others would keep bringing it up and suspecting me of doing bad things? After all, wasn't I doing it for the Soth Empire?"
Holden nodded. "True, but now that I've lost command of the Dawn Knight Order, proving ourselves again will be much harder than before."
Candy said in surprise, "Even if His Majesty asked you to give up command, you're still the leader. Can those people really not listen to you?"
"What was handed over was just battlefield command, but you can still arrange and plan things, and you have the right to kick out anyone who opposes you."
She moved closer to Holden, her low, husky voice both intimate and tempting. "As long as the actual control is still in your hands, when Friedel wants to command the knight order, won't he still have to watch your face?"
But Holden stayed clear-headed, pushing Candy away and gripping her shoulders. "Candy, it's not as simple as you think right now, and Friedel is no pushover either, nor are the other three knight commanders in our order."
He told Candy all about those three people's schemes. By the end, he lowered his head somewhat dejected. "I'm even wondering if I shouldn't have agreed so quickly to His Majesty's exchange terms in the first place. When he sent me to the eastern battlefield, he never said I'd have to follow someone else's arrangements."
Candy pressed her lips together. "Then let's write another letter to the royal city and apply to His Majesty. His Majesty is so open-minded, and he served in the army before. He'll definitely understand how important a suitable commander is!"
"It's not the same. Besides, even if we send a letter through the messenger officer now, by the time His Majesty's reply arrives, the battle will have already started."
Holden frowned. "Do you remember when we passed through Warlinekza today, those traces on the road? Since troops fought there recently, it means the situation can't be delayed any longer."
"We deliberately delayed on the road, and now that this has been exposed, we've lost command. But if we can establish new military achievements and let His Majesty see our abilities, maybe the next time orders reach the army, my command will be restored."
Candy didn't really believe such an opportunity would come, since Friedel was clearly supporting Anne. Those two came back together today - who knew where they'd been fooling around?
But she couldn't say this directly anymore. Holden had told her about what happened while she was unconscious, and she knew that the eastern battlefield was different from the southern one - the power networks were deeply entangled, and one wrong move could offend others and the noble forces behind them.
She sighed softly. "But if command is all given to Friedel alone, can he handle it?"
"Why don't you apologize, then take the initiative to ask him for help? See if you can get management of the Ivy Knights for me. After all, they're all women. If Anne can do it, why can't I?"
Holden couldn't help but remind her, "But the Ivy Knights have always been run by the Kivara family. At least Anne has a Kivara grandfather. What do you have?"
He meant well, wanting Candy to give up this idea, but to his surprise, Candy flew into a rage. "Are you looking down on me for not having connections?"
"I'm not."
"Then why are you speaking up for her? The army has always been about ability. Everyone has eyes to see. As long as I perform better than Anne, what's wrong with making an exception for me once!"
Candy lifted her chin proudly. "Anyway, it's not my first time being an exception. As the Soth Empire's first female knight commander, I could become a knight order leader in the future too. If I can do it, I can go anywhere!"
Holden felt somewhat angry. If there was a chance, he certainly hoped Candy could rise higher, but if she wanted to become a knight order leader like him, Holden found it completely absurd.
No matter how much he loved Candy, he could only accept her becoming the very best among his subordinates.
How could a woman become a knight order leader?
Especially remembering His Majesty's royal decree - he had actually promised Anne in advance that after achieving merit on the eastern battlefield, she could directly take over as leader of the Ivy Knights.
She was just a woman. No matter how capable, why should she be his equal!?
"Even if they make an exception, His Majesty has already made one for Anne, promising her the position of Ivy Knights leader in advance. If you achieve merit later and want to become a knight order leader, you can only wait for me to get promoted again and vacate the Dawn Knight Order leader position, or transfer out and lead a new group of soldiers."
Holden said coldly with a stern face, "Some things, even if they don't end up in her hands, won't be given to you either. Things that are destined not to belong to you - there's no point in wishful thinking."
Candy never expected this from Holden. She laughed angrily, glaring at him with words that seemed to squeeze through her teeth.. "Well, I won't accept my fate. Nothing in this world is destined to belong to anyone."
"You were originally Anne's husband. Barring accidents, you and she would have been bound together forever until death. But now? You've become my husband and completely cut ties with the Virlet family."
"So as long as someone wants to do something, they can definitely do it."
Holden was startled. "What do you want to do?"
He reached for Candy's wrist, but she dodged and turned away, her voice low. "If you won't help me, naturally there are other people just as resentful who can help me. Holden, don't block me for Anne's sake. Don't make me hate you."
"You..." Holden felt somewhat dejected. He hadn't thought about stopping Candy for Anne's sake, but with her looking like this, she clearly intended to stir up others to cause trouble.
Deliberately causing trouble in a military camp could warrant any kind of punishment. That's why when Cynthia and those people attacked Candy today, even if Holden wanted to appeal to His Majesty, there was no way to do it - not to mention Friedel had already given out punishment first.
But what about next time? If Candy was discovered deliberately spreading rumors about Anne and affecting morale in the army, if the upcoming battle failed even once, Candy would become a target for everyone to attack. According to military regulations, she would be permanently expelled from the army.