Chapter 78: One Push of Momentum, Then… Waning?

“Eh? It’s over so soon?”

Laxana’s face showed a lingering expression, but she still released Wendy with a smooth motion.

Her lively violet eyes swept over the prince’s handsome face, flushed slightly from lack of oxygen, and her lips curled into a playful arc.

“I wanted to hug a little longer! After all, His Highness Wendy is so beautiful and cute, the feel is amazing~”

This bold and shameless remark was like a lit match thrown into a barrel of gunpowder.

“Little Shanna, you…”

Astreia stared at Laxana, a vein throbbing at her temple.

“Weren’t you a bit too much just now?”

The princess’s voice lowered, obviously suppressing her anger, even a dark glint flickered in her eyes, making the air thick and oppressive.

“Too much?”

Laxana tilted her head in feigned surprise, that innocent expression mixed with her shocking actions making her look even more provocative.

“I’m just expressing my gratitude~ Between friends, isn’t it normal to hug each other?”

As she spoke, she deliberately leaned closer to Astreia, seductively licking her lips, her eyes full of mischievous laughter:

“Or is it… Astreia, are you… jealous?”

Boom!

“Who… Who’s jealous!”

The princess’s cheeks turned crimson, and her speech instantly became stammering, the previous fierceness gone.

“I just… just think… you’re too… too frivolous with Wendy! It’s unbecoming!”

“Frivolous?”

Laxana’s expression grew more playful, covering her mouth as she laughed, trembling with amusement.

“But as I recall, the commotion between you two last night was much more ‘frivolous’ than what I just did~”

In an instant, Wendy’s expression froze, his blood almost turning to ice.

Maniac!

This woman is definitely a maniac who doesn’t play by the rules!

What is she trying to do?

Flip the table?

Make everyone lose face?

Astreia was so embarrassed and furious she wanted to dig a Sunset Fortress out of the ground and bury herself in it. She could only defend herself incoherently:

“You… how can you……That, that was just to help me return to normal!”

“Return to normal?”

Laxana blinked her innocent eyes, pretending to realize with an exaggerated “oh”.

“In that case, you two are truly a good match~”

As she spoke, she cast a meaningful glance at Wendy, her eyes full of the pride of “I know all your secrets”.

Wendy felt a chill down his spine.

This woman is definitely up to something!

Just as he racked his brain, thinking how to interrupt this disastrous conversation, two figures appeared at the entrance to the dining hall.

The white-haired Deputy and the one-eyed female General.

Both were in full military dress, their steps steady and firm, carrying the murderous aura of the morning drill ground—forming a sharp contrast to the strange, ambiguous storm inside the dining room.

“Your Highness, Lord Wendy, Lady Laxana.”

Cara spoke first, her gaze sweeping over the three, sensing the odd atmosphere.

Especially when she saw Laxana practically glued to Wendy, and Her Highness Astreia’s face flushed red.

The loyal Deputy’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly.

General Sera’s one eye was even sharper, scanning the scene like a hawk.

Though she didn’t know exactly what had happened, the nearly boiling tension made this battle-hardened veteran feel a headache.

“Ahem.”

The one-eyed female General coughed heavily.

“Flirting can wait until after the war. For now, we have official business. Is it convenient to speak?”

Her military-style words successfully pulled everyone back on track.

Astreia, as if granted amnesty, immediately straightened her back, forcefully banishing the chaos from her mind, and regained the dignity of the Commander of the North.

“Laxana has joined us. Speak, what’s the matter?”

Cara stepped forward, standing at attention and saluting:

“Reporting, Your Highness! According to Lord Wendy’s plan, the soldiers disbanded yesterday have reassembled this morning, morale ready for use! Supplies and equipment have been tallied and loaded. The entire army is ready!”

She paused, looking at Astreia and Wendy, her gaze blazing.

“Ten thousand soldiers of Sunset Fortress are arrayed outside the city! Ready to march at your command… to the Royal Capital!”

The four words “to the Royal Capital” sounded like a war horn, dispelling all ambiguity and awkwardness.

The shadow of war fell once again, replaced by a heavier, more urgent sense of duty.

Astreia took a deep breath, gave Laxana—still smiling beside her—one last glare, and then nodded firmly.

“Pass my order!”

“The entire army… march!”

With the order given, those in the dining hall sprang into action.

Sera and Cara accepted the command and hurried away.

Astreia turned as well, striding out to don her gleaming silver armor.

Wendy breathed a sigh of relief.

Originally, the march should have started yesterday, but was delayed by the matter of Magic Detection.

Fortunately, on the way to the Council Hall, Astreia had deliberately arranged for Cara to notify the troops.

Otherwise, the soldiers might have waited the entire morning for nothing.

As they say, “The spirit of battle rises with the first beat, weakens with the second, and is exhausted by the third.”

He had worried that if the soldiers were treated this way, they might lay down their arms.

Therefore, the fact that Sunset Fortress’s army could regroup so quickly today surprised him.

If it were any other army, they’d have mutinied by now, right?

It seemed Astreia and General Sera truly knew how to command their forces.

(Female Soldier A: What other army gets to listen to a handsome man’s ** voice all day?)

(Female Soldier B: Exactly, and there’s eye candy too. I’d die on the battlefield and not regret it!)

But just as Wendy was about to leave, his sleeve was gently tugged.

The prince turned and met Laxana’s smiling violet eyes.

“His Highness Wendy,”

She lowered her voice, leaning close to the prince’s ear, her fragrant breath tickling his earlobe.

“Just now… was it fun?”

“………”

Before Wendy could answer, Laxana had already released him, stepping past like a graceful cat, leaving only a light remark in her wake.

“Don’t rush, my Prince.”

“This journey to the Royal Capital is still long. The real show is just beginning~”

Wendy stood frozen in terror, watching Laxana’s graceful back, and for the first time wavered in his decision to let the wolf into the house.

This wasn’t a guide—he’d practically invited an ancestor into his party…

***

Half an hour later.

On the towering walls of Sunset Fortress, banners fluttered.

Wendy, Astreia, and Laxana stood side by side, overlooking the black tide of steel below.

Ten thousand soldiers stood in orderly formations, blades and spears like a forest, armor gleaming, murderous intent soaring to the sky.

Astreia had changed into a modified suit of plate armor, her pale golden hair coiled high, radiating heroic spirit.

She leaned on her spear, gazing at her army, eyes full of a commander’s pride.

Wendy stood beside her, his deep blue robe fluttering in the wind, his overly beautiful face unreadable, only his eyes shining with excitement.

What man could refuse an army of his own?

Laxana, on the other side, her blue-violet mage’s robe swirling, did not look at the army, but watched the two beside her with interest, violet eyes full of anticipation.

Three people, three minds, intertwined before the torrent of war that would decide the fate of the Valoran Kingdom.

“Your Highness!”

General Sera rode her warhorse below the wall, reporting loudly.

“The entire army is ready! We can depart at any time!”

Astreia nodded, about to give the order, when Laxana gently tugged her sleeve.

“Wait, Astreia.”