Towards the Winter Cabin of Serenity and Madness, Cinderella Runs - Chapter 123
Kyden listened with one ear and let it flow out the other, but the knights around them reacted angrily.
“Hey, who are you going to introduce? Know your place.”
“And just look at you! Your daughter must look like that too!”
The mercenary who had been eager to arrange a meeting for his daughter raised his voice in indignation.
“Our daughter is incredibly beautiful! She looks just like her mother!”
“That’s a laugh!”
“How can you believe that! Ha ha ha.”
The mercenary who had started this was ruggedly built. With his large frame, fierce expression, and a massive scar on his cheek, he would hardly qualify as handsome, no matter how gw tried to be nice.
People laughed, claiming that his daughter would inherit his build as well.
“Our daughter is so pretty! She’s small, cute, kind, and if you don’t take her, you’ll regret it later!”
Their laughter only grew louder in response.
Kyden scratched the back of his head at the mercenary’s earnest gaze, which seemed to plead for attention.
Even a porcupine thinks its young are beautiful… That old saying suddenly came to mind. However, he had no intention of meeting anyone. He was deeply focused on building his skills and gaining experience.
It was a chaotic time of territorial disputes. He had come to the conflict zone to negotiate an agreement with Serley, but the negotiations had stalled as both sides engaged in a tense standoff, trying to reach favorable terms.
As the disputes dragged on, mercenaries began to desert, and the knights’ nerves became increasingly frayed.
At the end of autumn, everyone was eagerly waiting for the day they could return home, hoping to wrap up the conflict before it got any colder.
Winter was fast approaching, and news finally arrived.
“It’s a ceasefire!”
After nearly a month, Serley signed the agreement. He didn’t seem particularly pleased with the conditions, as his expression remained somber. He sighed repeatedly, fearing he would face his grandfather’s displeasure after returning to the count’s territory.
However, the knights, soldiers, and mercenaries rejoiced at the news that the conflict was finally over. It was time to return to the homes they missed.
Although he had no home to long for, Kyden welcomed the ceasefire news. Even if they were enemies, the act of killing was not something to celebrate. He had seen enough blood that he didn’t have enough cloth to wipe away the stains. His emotions had dulled, and he found himself slipping into a mindset that trivialized life, blurring the line between life and death.
“Kyden, let’s go back.”
“Yes.”
Serley mounted his horse. Kyden quickly followed to escort him.
There could be no relaxation just because the war had ended; dangers still lurked from within.
It was just after they had escaped the conflict zone. During mealtime, Kyden stepped away from the march for a moment to feed the horses, when a mercenary approached him.
“Hey, knight?”
This was the same mercenary who had been boasting about his daughter to others.
“What is it?”
Was he about to pester him again about meeting his daughter? Kyden shot a frustrated look at the mercenary, who swallowed hard and lowered his voice.
“Um, I think I heard something strange…”
“Strange, you say?”
“Those guys who keep coming around? It seems like they’ve been given some weird orders. They keep talking about kidnapping and killing…”
Before the mercenary could finish, Kyden mounted his horse. A red flag went up in his mind.
Serley’s position was always precarious.
Uncles who covet the position of the heir would likely be waiting for just such a moment when Serley stepped outside the castle walls.
Kyden approached the captain of the knights and whispered,
“I heard something suspicious. It would be better for Sir Serley to move separately.”
“Why is that?”
“Among the mercenaries…”
Kyden recounted what he had just learned. The captain nodded, signaling to the knights to be on high alert. The knights, bracing themselves for battle, began to move with tension.
Just as they were trying to extract Serley from the march, sudden screams and the sounds of clashing swords erupted nearby. A fight had broken out inside.
Mercenaries rushed in unexpectedly, but the knights, who were on guard, responded quickly.
However, the situation was grim due to the sheer number of mercenaries.
A chaotic melee ensued, with swords swinging and enemies mingling to the point that distinguishing between friend and foe became difficult.
Kyden joined the fray, fending off the attacking mercenaries when he heard the captain call out.
“Kyden! Over here!”
“You wait for an opening and protect Sir Serley. Zen! You all go right.”
There were simply too many enemies. Moreover, new foes were appearing from nearby hiding spots. They were likely other mercenaries lying in wait.
The knights split into two groups to disperse their opponents’ attention and planned to extract Serley.
As they all dashed forward, once they entered the forest, a group turned their horses. Confused mercenaries split in half.
When Kyden found a thicket to conceal himself, he quickly grabbed Serley and hid.
The sound of the mercenaries pursuing the knights echoed like thunder in the air. Kyden kept his breath steady, trying not to be detected, and waited until the surroundings fell silent before lifting his head.
“I’ll check the area.”
