Blood Holy Scripture: True Ancestor Charlotte de Castel
Chapter 422: Baron Betel -170-

Chapter 422: Baron Betel -170-

In the northern part of Castel, about 120 kilometers away from North Port, lay a forest.

Underneath the large trees, Violet Soldiers in various attire were grouped in clusters, resting against the tree trunks.

They numbered around five hundred, the vast majority of whom were conscripted peasant soldiers, but there were also a few elite armored men; at the edge of the forest, several hundred horses of different colors were tethered, most of which they had plundered from various places in Castel these past days.

Not far from them, there were over two hundred soldiers, dressed distinctly in the style of the Northern Land, wearing the attire of Isaac’s Cavalry, and they formed a somewhat detached small circle with the Violet Soldiers.

The soldiers of Isaac clearly did not get along well with the Violet Soldiers, each one with fierce eyes, looking like untamed hunting wolves.

But when their gaze fell upon the middle-aged man at the very front of the Violet troops, their eyes filled with respect and fear.

He was a man who appeared to be in his thirties or forties, dressed in a tattered suit of armor, with the emblem of Violet engraved on his breastplate, clearly a noble.

"Baron, our food supply is running low; we can sustain for at most another three days. We must find a way to replenish it," said a Violet Knight responsible for logistics, full of concern.

The middle-aged noble nodded slightly,

"Thirty kilometers to the northeast, there is a Baron’s Castle; that will be our next target."

Upon hearing the noble’s words, the knight hesitated for a moment, and then, gritting his teeth, he said,

"Baron, there is certain news from the south that the war has ended, we... no longer need to oppose Castel."

The middle-aged noble looked at him,

"Are you questioning my decision?"

The knight quickly bowed his head,

"I wouldn’t dare..."

Taking a deep breath, he once again gritted his teeth and said,

"It’s just... the Duke has already negotiated peace with the Earl of Castel. Even if we continue the fight, it no longer holds any meaning."

"Baron, I have seen with my own eyes how you united the crumbling family bit by bit, how in a short period of time you trained us, a troop of disheartened soldiers, into a brave team, and how you led us to break through encirclements and raid those Castel nobles time and time again..."

"These days, you have led us to victories outnumbered, almost crossing a third of Castel, causing turmoil in the entire Northern Land; those incompetent nobles would wet themselves with fear at the sight of us."

"However... under your just and virtuous military strategy, although we were striking Castel’s rearguard, civilians of the Northern Land were willing to conceal our tracks..."

"Baron, you are the greatest commander I have ever seen, as well as the most upright, brave, and kind knight... To follow you into battle is both my honor and pride."

"But... please also look at everyone, the days of fighting have worn everyone out, the Duke has ceased hostilities, and everyone is homesick, wanting to return home."

"Without the pressure of war from Castel’s side, the armies that come to suppress us are growing in number, and if this continues, we could be surrounded and snuffed out at any moment."

"Baron, this fight has become meaningless, we... have no reason to persist any longer."

After hearing the knight’s words, the middle-aged noble fell silent.

His gaze fell upon the Violet Soldiers, watching their weary expressions, watching their confused gaze upon hearing the news of the negotiations, and finally he let out a long sigh,

"Yes, the war is over."

"You... certainly have no reason to keep fighting."

Watching the complex expression of the middle-aged noble, the knight hesitated for a moment, and said,

"Baron, not just us, you as well..."

"I know you fight to serve the Lord, for honor, but the Duke has already transferred your fealty to Castel; legally speaking, your lord is now the Earl of Castel."

"These days, North Port has released a lot of messages, that young Earl seems to hold you in high regard, once we end this strife, you’ll surely be heavily favored by Castel!"

"Favored by Castel, huh..."

After hearing the knight’s words, a touch of mockery flashed deep within the eyes of the middle-aged noble,

"I, Guillaume de Betel Willett, could bow to anyone, but I will never bow to Castel!"

The knight hesitated:

"You... are you still brooding over the decline of the Willert Family?"

"Baron, forgive my bluntness, but the Star Moon War is a matter of decades past; what’s done is done, and what matters most is the future."

"In these days of battle, you must have seen that the current Count Castel, though a young girl, is undoubtedly qualified to be a wise lord!"

"I think... if you were to follow her, there’s certainly a chance to rebuild the Willert Family and let the banner of the Violet flower wave high once again!"

"Rebuild the Willert Family..."

The middle-aged noble murmured to himself and then shook his head:

"It’s impossible now, the Willert Family has vanished; the few remaining members have grown accustomed to the life of commoners and have long lost their eligibility to revive the family."

"But isn’t there still you? You are also a collateral branch of the Willert Family!"

"Me?"

The middle-aged noble shook his head again:

"I’m not of true Willert blood, just a child adopted by the old Duke..."

"Then you have even less reason to oppose Castel, don’t you? The era of Willert is over, and you should look forward too."

The knight couldn’t help but say.

The noble looked at him and shook his head again:

"The Willert Family has been kind to me, my life was given by the Willert Family, and I will never betray them in this life..."

"Castel is the enemy of Willert, and my enemy."

With that, he said to the knight:

"You are right, there is indeed no point in fighting anymore. When we reach the closest town of Castel, you take everyone and enter into peace talks with Castel."

Having said that, the middle-aged noble turned and walked towards the woods.

"What about you! Aren’t you coming with us?"

Watching the retreating figure of the middle-aged noble, the young knight called out.

"I will abide by the oldest tradition, to draw to a close the grudge between Willert and Castel..."

The knight’s expression changed:

"The oldest tradition?! You’re going to engage in a knightly duel?!"

"Have you no regard for your life! Count Castel’s strongest follower is Sebastian of the Crimson Blade! He is a true warrior of Silver Moon Peak!"

Yet, no matter how loudly the knight shouted, the middle-aged noble no longer responded.

And just as the soldiers were finished resting and ready to set off, a soldier who had been patrolling outside suddenly stumbled in:

"Baron! Baron! There appear to be Castel cavalry circling us from the outside of the woods!"

Hearing the sentry’s words, the soldiers immediately became agitated:

"Castel’s cavalry?"

"How outrageous, how did they find us here?"

However, Baron Betel’s focus was elsewhere:

"Appear to be?"

He asked, frowning.

"Baron, they... they are flying the banner of the Violet!"

The soldier replied.