Chapter 79: The Mischief-Maker’s Smile Slowly Fades

“Hmm?”

Astreia turned her head in confusion.

“Isn’t there supposed to be some kind of ceremony before the expedition?”

Laxana blinked, smiling sweetly.

“Like an Oath-Swearing Rally, for example?”

Wendy frowned slightly.

What is this woman plotting now?

“Oath-Swearing Rally?”

Astreia was taken aback.

“Now?”

“Of course!”

Laxana clapped her hands.

“Ten thousand troops marching to the Royal Capital—this is a historic moment! The soldiers need to know why they fight, why they might die. Don’t you think so?”

Astreia felt this made sense and nodded solemnly.

“You’re right, it was my oversight. Then…”

“I think…”

Laxana’s eyes spun, then suddenly pointed at Wendy.

“Our Prince should give a speech!”

“What?!”

Wendy almost jumped off the battlements.

What kind of international joke is this!

Let him—a fallen Cavalry Prince—give a pre-battle speech to the Valoran Kingdom’s army?

Isn’t that absurd?

On Earth, this would definitely count as interfering in another country’s internal affairs.

“No, no, no…”

Wendy hurriedly waved his hands, shaking his head like a rattle.

“I’m not suitable, really not suitable.”

“How could you not be?”

Laxana walked forward with a bright smile, speaking in an innocent, playful tone.

“After all, you are the chief strategist of this expedition to the Royal Capital! And…”

She deliberately dragged out the ending, her violet eyes sweeping between Wendy and Astreia.

“The soldiers all know you have a close relationship with our Eldest Princess. They must want to hear your thoughts on this operation!”

In an instant, Wendy understood—how devious this woman was!

She was pushing him into the fire!

Speak too humbly, and you’ll seem timid, shaking confidence in your ability.

Speak too boldly, and you’ll look ambitious, inviting accusations of meddling or treachery.

Brilliant!

Simply brilliant!

This “compliment trap” was executed to perfection!

“I think… it’s better to forget it…”

Wendy tried to keep a straight face, making a final struggle.

“After all, I’m just an outsider…”

“Outsider?”

Astreia suddenly spoke, her emerald star-like eyes piercing into Wendy, pain flickering in their depths.

“Wendy… you think of yourself as an outsider?”

Damn!

Wendy instantly realized he’d said the wrong thing!

Saying “outsider” at a time like this was practically denying his relationship with Astreia in front of everyone!

Now he was trapped no matter what he did!

Sure enough, Astreia’s expression visibly sank, her shoulders slumping as she leaned on her war spear, the very spirit draining from her.

“So… all along, you’ve considered yourself an outsider…”

“No! Astreia, that’s not what I meant…”

Wendy panicked, rushing to explain.

But how could Laxana give him the chance?

The “love rival” immediately switched to a heartbroken mode, adding fuel to the fire:

“Oh dear, Prince Wendy, how could you say such a thing?”

She pretended to be heartbroken, holding Astreia’s shoulder affectionately.

“Look how much you’ve hurt Astreia!”

Then, Laxana gave Wendy no time to react.

She turned directly to the soldiers below, casting Amplification Magic so her voice resounded throughout the formation.

“Soldiers! Our noble Prince, our future Duke Consort, says he’s an outsider, unworthy to speak for you! Tell me, is he an outsider?”

A moment of silence fell below the walls, then erupted into a thunderous roar.

“No—!”

“Nonsense! How could Lord Wendy be an outsider? Our Prince’s man is our man!”

“That’s right! Your Highness, please say a few words! If you don’t speak, we can’t rest easy!”

***

Wendy glared at the mischievous Laxana, wishing he could stuff a sock into her troublemaking mouth on the spot.

What magic genius?

This was clearly a scheming, black-hearted witch!

After such a combo attack, he had no choice but to go on stage.

“Astreia…”

She grabbed his hand, her face full of expectation and pleading, like a wounded little animal—impossible to refuse.

“Do you really… think you’re an outsider?”

Staring into the Princess’s tearful eyes, Wendy sighed deeply in his heart.

Fine, so what if he was trapped?

Sooner or later he’d have to stand on stage anyway.

Better to be tricked by this madwoman than by the enemy.

“All right, all right…”

Wendy straightened his collar and nodded.

“I’ll speak.”

“Hehehe, wonderful!”

Laxana didn’t even bother to hide her glee, clapping her hands and bouncing slightly, the look of a villain who had succeeded in their plot almost overflowing from her eyes.

Astreia instantly broke into a smile through her tears, tightly gripping the Prince’s hand and placing it over her heart.

“I knew it, you wouldn’t leave me…”

Wendy felt the softness in his palm—helpless, yet warm inside.

This silly woman was being sold and still helped count the money…

Astreia cleared her throat, then faced the entire army, solemnly announcing.

“From this moment, I appoint Wendy Black as Chief Military Advisor of the Northern Legion!”

“Now, let our Advisor address everyone!”

Wendy stepped forward to the edge of the wall, taking a deep breath.

He decided not to pretend anymore.

If they wanted a show, he’d give them something memorable.

With Amplification Magic, his voice, supported by Laxana’s apparently kind but truly mischief-loving magic, echoed clearly in the ears of every soldier below.

“We go to the Royal Capital for three reasons!”

Wendy raised three fingers.

“Justice! Justice! And her damned justice!”

The entire field exploded!

Even Astreia and Sera were stunned by this crude yet soul-piercing opening.

Wendy ignored their shock and continued.

“You are the lionesses of the Northern Region, the shield of the Kingdom! You used your flesh and blood to stop the icy demons of the north, to protect the lights of the south! And what did you get in return?”

He paused, his tone sharpening.

“Those bloated nobles in the Royal Capital, sitting by their warm fireplaces, drinking fine wine, enjoying the peace you bought with your lives! They shortchange your rations, mock you as mudfeet! They trample your Honor beneath their feet, toss your Dignity into the mud!”

“For what reason?! Because they were born in the Capital? Because they have rich parents? Is this Justice?”

“Not fair!”

Someone shouted, and then the whole formation roared in unison.

“Not fair!!”

Wendy lowered his hand, signaling for quiet.

“Good! Now, we’re marching to the Royal Capital, to demand answers!”

“We’re going to take back everything that should be ours!”

“For every meal withheld, we’ll reclaim it tenfold, a hundredfold!”

“For every stolen Glory, we’ll make them kneel and return it with their own hands!”

“For every trampled Dignity, we’ll make them wash it clean with blood!”

“I promise!”

Wendy spread his arms as if to embrace the world.

“When we win, the women of Sunset Fortress will never again be treated as second-class citizens! Those with merit will be rewarded! The capable will be promoted! I don’t care about your background, or your looks! If you have the courage to fight, you deserve everything!”

“This is her damned justice!”

His voice grew fiercer, until he was nearly roaring.

“Now, take up your weapons! Follow your Eldest Princess! March to the Royal Capital! Show those high-and-mighty parasites who truly owns this Kingdom!”

“Roar—!!!”

Ten thousand soldiers boiled over, raising their weapons and shouting with all their might, madness written on every face.

The murderous aura seemed ready to tear apart the sky itself!

On the wall, a deathly silence fell.

Astreia stared at the Prince standing in the wind, mouth agape, forgetting to close it.

She realized she had never truly known Wendy.

That slender body seemed to contain enough fire to burn the world.

Sera and Kara were even more shocked, exchanging glances before looking at Wendy, their gaze transforming from admiration to frenzied worship.

As for Laxana, the instigator, she pouted, the smile long gone from her face.

She had intended only to embarrass Wendy, never imagining she’d build him a stage on which he’d leap from “mascot” to one of the army’s true leaders.

But for some reason, beneath her anger and frustration, an unfamiliar flutter of… admiration and excitement stirred within her.