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Chapter 162: Madam, Lend Me Your Head
🕑 Added 2025-01-13 02:49:20 +0000 UTCBeneath the walls of Mostar Castle, as the South Seraph restorationists clashed with the West Wind Knight Order in a chaotic melee, Hughes had already leaped onto the battlements. His loyal forces, part of the South Seraph restorationists, threw grappling hooks and climbed the undefended sections of the wall, infiltrating Mostar Castle.
By the time seven or eight tenths of his troops had scaled the wall, a combat squad led by two young women appeared below with several hundred warriors. Hughes cast a cold glance their way and then led his soldiers toward the Grand Duchess of Mostar Castle, who was observing the battle from atop the castle. He ignored the skirmish happening below between his subordinates and the two women, Belisa and Anastasia.
High Priest Auguslatin, noticing the South Seraph forces charging onto the wall, rose into the air, only to be intercepted by a streak of fire. Saint Viggo of South Seraph had intervened, engaging the High Priest in a fierce battle. Their light and flames intertwined as their fight carried them farther and farther from the battlefield, preventing either from aiding the troops below.
Hughes, leading the charge, showed no mercy to the nobles watching from the battlements. He cut through the "audience seating" without slowing until he stood face-to-face with the Grand Duchess Josephine.
The duchess, who had only recently risen to her position after the abdication of Grand Duke Ferdinand, paled in terror. Her voice trembled as she pleaded, "Please, don’t kill me."
Hughes replied indifferently, "Madam, lend me your head."
With a single stroke of his sword, he severed the duchess’s neck, grabbed her head, and turned to leave without hesitation.
Baron Febollet, who witnessed this gruesome scene, screamed in terror, "Charlot, save me!" as he jumped off the wall in a panic. Nobody paid him any attention. Hughes’s attack had targeted only the duchess, with no intention of harming him. Charlot, meanwhile, was too preoccupied with the ongoing battle against the South Seraph forces to spare any effort to rescue the baron.
The unfortunate Baron Febollet broke both legs upon landing and lay on the ground wailing in agony.
Hughes then led his forces to open the gates of Mostar Castle from the inside. Emerging triumphantly, he declared, "I have captured Mostar Castle and slain Grand Duchess Josephine! Long live Lady Nancella!"
At that exact moment, the South Seraph restorationists, who had been locked in a bitter struggle against Charlot and the West Wind Knight Order, broke into disarray and fled in all directions.
The West Wind Knight Order’s morale soared. Charlot, however, did not pursue the retreating enemy. Instead, he ordered his troops to form defensive iron-barrel formations, anticipating an assault from Hughes. The West Wind Knight Order tightened their lines into defensive clusters, a traditional tactic born from their origins as city patrol guards.
Yet Hughes, after briefly gazing at Charlot from a distance, chose not to confront his lifelong rival. Gathering his forces, he slowly retreated.
Charlot exhaled in relief. He knew he stood little chance of withstanding a full assault from Hughes on the plains. Once the South Seraph forces had fully withdrawn, he turned his attention to the pitiful cries of Baron Febollet. Charlot ordered the injured baron to be carried into Mostar Castle.
Charlot himself refused to enter the castle. He wanted no part of seeing his "family."
The battle had cost the West Wind Knight Order dearly—over a thousand soldiers lost, excluding the troops taken away by Anastasia. The loss pained Charlot deeply.
Though death is an inevitability of war, he couldn’t help but grieve over the deaths of his own men.
As he stood among the fallen knights of the West Wind Knight Order, Charlot realized he was no true military strategist.
Dubin Alger volunteered to lead a scouting mission.
Two hours later, Dubin returned with Belisa, Anastasia, and several hundred prisoners.
Dubin loudly reported, "Lady Nancella has already withdrawn her forces. They scaled the northern wall, but Belisa and Anastasia intercepted their rear. Hughes abandoned these men to kill the duchess, leaving them to be captured by us."
Charlot remained silent for a long time. He finally understood—Hughes had deceived him once again.
Hughes likely had no intention of engaging in a decisive battle. Even killing the duchess might not have been his ultimate goal. His true objective was simple: to retreat.
Why retreat? There could only be two reasons: logistical strains or a shift in the overall situation, necessitating the continued use of the South Seraph forces as pawns.
Charlot began gathering his forces, cleaning the battlefield, and collecting the supplies left behind by the South Seraph restorationists as well as the equipment of the fallen soldiers. The resources replenished his army, while the remaining supplies and the bodies of the dead were sent to Machubi.
Back on Earth, Charlot had often read historical accounts where monuments were built for fallen soldiers. He never understood the need for such gestures, but now he felt the weight of it himself.
At dusk, a baron from Mostar Castle sent messengers inviting Charlot into the city. Seeing the name on the message, Charlot flatly refused.
Soon after, Baron Febollet also sent an invitation. Once again, Charlot declined, stating, "Lady Nancella might attack again. I must ensure the safety of the night."
Baron Febollet, deeply moved, sent a batch of provisions in gratitude. Charlot distributed the food among his soldiers.
Seventeen or eighteen nobles from Mostar Castle sent similar invitations, all of which Charlot rejected. He had no desire to enter the castle.
The night passed uneventfully. By morning, Charlot was contemplating an early departure. The battle for Mostar Castle was over, though its conclusion was anticlimactic. Lady Nancella had besieged the castle with great fervor, Hughes had stormed it only to kill the duchess, and then retreated without so much as looting.
As Charlot deliberated his next move, his men informed him of a visitor claiming to be his brother.
Sighing, Charlot resigned himself to the meeting. Avoiding his "family" had always been his preference, yet he could not refuse.
In a military wagon, Charlot met his elder brother Mycroft Mecklenburg and his brother’s wife, Winnie Mecklenburg, who had taken her husband’s surname after their marriage.
Mycroft, seven years older than Charlot, was in his prime. A successful merchant, he exuded a cunning air, though his feelings toward his younger brother were deeply conflicted. Charlot, aside from his success in gaining university admission, had been a wayward youth.
Winnie’s emotions were even more complex. Her maiden name was Winnie Martin.
Yes, Charlot’s sister-in-law was also the elder sister of Sylvie Martin.
Winnie had once actively encouraged Charlot and Sylvie’s engagement. However, Charlot’s past disgraceful behavior had pushed Sylvie to repeatedly attempt to break off the engagement. It was Winnie who had convinced her sister to reconsider each time.
In the end, Sylvie succeeded in ending the engagement.
Thus began Charlot’s path of redemption...
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