Crest of the Strongest Knight

Chapter 153 - The Other Fronts

"I merely jest, Lady Viviane. I would not dare criticize the knight of my dear friend so harshly during our first meeting in such a long while." Lady Scarlet said before turning to Medrauta, bowing in a deep and almost exaggerated manner. "Dame Medrauta. I apologize if my words offended you in any way. If there is anything I can do to repair the hurt I've caused, please do not hesitate to inform me."

Of course she's gonna back down once Vivi gets involved, Medrauta clicked her tongue in annoyance, crossing her arms. Despite Scarlet's supposedly genuine apology and tone, Medrauta wasn't buying it. After all, the look in Scarlet's eyes contained an obvious message: "Just accept the goddamn apology so we can move on."

Medrauta forced a smile on her face. "It's fine, Lady Scarlet. I took absolutely no offense from your emphasis on my origins as a 'commoner orphan.' But since you're offering, I'd like you to answer the question I was about to ask before your knight so rudely interrupted me."

"Of course." Lady Scarlet raised an eyebrow at Medrauta's verbal riposte. "Ask away."

"Where are Leticia and Lady Rosaline? Actually, where's Sir Lucas, for that matter? I recall he was still your knight the last time we met."

At the mention of Lucas' name, Scarlet's countenance darkened. Her gaze dropped from Medrauta's, falling to the blades of grass beneath the knight's boots. She pressed her lips together, remaining silent for an extended period of time before finally speaking.

"...Sir Lucas is no more."

There was nothing more she needed to add.

For a second, Medrauta froze, afraid of the answer she'd receive if she dared ask her next question. Her hands trembled and balled into tight fists, her hesitance becoming an almost palpable force that blanketed the air. Beside her, Viviane's eyes were similarly muddied by the possibility of an answer she simply couldn't accept. After all, she knew exactly what Medrauta wanted to ask next.

"...They're safe." Scarlet spoke at last, breaking the tension. As a veteran on the battlefield of court politics, it was all too easy for the seasoned noblewoman to guess what caused Medrauta to fall silent. "Dame Leticia and Lady Rosaline are currently leading my forces in my stead. We've taken the second shield tower and are now entrenching our position alongside Dame Rosette and Lady Estelle's forces. In truth, the lot of us thought the two of you would've marched the Revelo duchy's forces to the capital already, but your obvious absence made me come look for you here."

"Whoa there! Slow down now, Lady Scarlet. Second shield tower? Marching on the capital? What are you even on about?" Medrauta frowned, completely forgetting to filter her speech as a result of her confusion. Though Scarlet didn't seem to take issue with it, Eris bristled rather visibly nevertheless.

"I'm glad to hear that Dame Rosette and Lady Estelle are safe, but how did they end up leading soldiers?" Viviane asked, equally perplexed. She just couldn't picture the meek Estelle commanding anyone, but then again, she was just as shy mere months ago.

"My apologies. I should have expected that the two of you wouldn't be familiar with the current state of the empire. Come, allow me to show you the situation we have been placed in." Scarlet beckoned, gesturing for the pair to follow her to a nearby tent.

After the Walpurgisknight's departure, Medrauta and Viviane had signaled the forces garrisoned at the former Revelo duchy's border gates using Viviane's Crest to create a pillar of silver light that could be seen even from a large distance so long as the noblewoman focused on amplifying it. As it turns out, the signal wasn't entirely necessary, a large portion of the garrison arriving within minutes of the signal.