Chapter 450
Having received the King’s guarantee, a great weight was lifted from Xander’s heart. He thanked the King again, turned, and quickly walked out of the imperial study, wanting to go back and see Athena and the children again.
Back at the Xander Manor, Athena was holding the two children, waiting for him at the entrance. She was wearing a plain dress, without any makeup, but still beautiful and moving. Seeing Xander in military uniform, her eyes instantly turned red, but she stubbornly held back her tears.
“Be careful on the road.” Athena stepped forward and straightened Xander’s slightly askew cloak. Touching his cold armor, she felt a pang of sadness. No one knew when he would come back.
The battlefield was dangerous, and Athena wished she could be by his side, but she had to take care of the children. Xander held her hand, gently caressing her fingertips, and said softly, “Wait for my return.” He looked down at the two sleeping children, his eyes full of tenderness. “Take good care of them for me.”
“Okay.” Athena nodded vigorously, her voice with a hint of choking. “The children and I are waiting for you to come back.”
Xander took a deep look at her. He suddenly let go of her hand, jumped on his horse, and didn’t look back. Seeing this, Michael immediately followed on horseback.
Elettra took two steps to chase after him, shouting with red eyes, “Michael, you must come back safely.” She was already five months pregnant and was so afraid that the child would lose his father.
Michael stiffened his neck, forcing himself not to look back. He replied in a muffled voice, “Understood.” He pulled the reins and shouted, “Drive.”
The warhorse carried him away. After the main force had left, a guard came to Elettra and handed her a letter. “The general asked me to send you this.”
Elettra opened the letter, which contained only a brief sentence. “If I die in battle, take the kid and remarry.” Seeing this, Elettra tore the letter to shreds in anger. “Michael, you bastard, how could you say such a thing? If you die, I will never let you go.” As she cursed, she began to sob.
Athena took Elettra into her arms and comforted her, “No, they will all come back safely.”
The massive army of hundreds of thousands marched mightily towards Ramberg, raising dust and deafening hoofbeats. Athena watched the receding figure until it disappeared from sight, then slowly turned around and walked into the manor with her child.
The news that Xander personally led an army of hundreds of thousands to set out on an expedition swept through Ramberg. Ray’s fingers tightened when he heard the news, and the jade thumb ring broke in half.
“Worthless, a bunch of worthless people!” Ray stood up abruptly from the throne, his fierce gaze swept across the shivering secret agents. “Xander is acting so fast? Is the surrender of the Thirteen Tribes not enough? He dares to personally lead troops to invade?”
He paced back and forth in the study, the king robe on his body rustling. “Damn Xander, he’s trying to drive me to a dead end!” Thinking that his painstakingly managed Ramberg was about to usher in war, Ray’s face was gloomy like venom-quenched cold ice.
He hurriedly summoned his ministers to discuss countermeasures. In the hall, civil and military officials stood in two rows. Everyone frowned, but no one spoke.
Ray looked at them with a gloomy expression. “What’s wrong? Are you all mute? Xander’s army is about to reach our doorstep, is this all you’re capable of? I feed you all on weekdays, and you enjoy the King’s bounty, but now that the war is tight, you don’t even dare to fart?”
As soon as he finished speaking, an old minister with white hair and beard tremblingly stood up, cupping his hands and saying, “Your Majesty, please calm down. The Grand Luminary Empire is powerful, and Ramberg’s forces are insufficient. Why don’t we temporarily avoid its sharp edge and make plans later?”
“Temporarily avoid its sharp edge?” Ray sneered and slammed the table. “Ramberg is only so big, where can we avoid it? Xander is pressing us every step of the way. Does he want us to surrender and wait for him to chop off our heads?” He walked a few steps to the old minister and kicked over his table. “This battle can only be won, not lost. I want to see how capable Xander is!”
The officials were so frightened by his rage that they knelt on the ground, not even daring to breathe loudly. Ray was now at the end of his rope, forced into a desperate situation, and the words he spoke were filled with a crazy hostility.
“Pass down my order…” Ray’s voice suddenly rose. “From this moment on, close all the city gates and fortify the city defenses! Mobilize all able-bodied men in the city, enlist them into the army, and execute anyone who dares to disobey!” He paused, a sinister glint in his eyes. “Also, take out all the hoarded grain and distribute it; tell the soldiers that the city stands or falls with them!”
The ministers dared not object in the slightest and quickly kowtowed to accept the order. Ray vented his anger in the front hall, and when he returned to the Core Palace, Atheny hurriedly brought him hot tea.
Seeing her face, which was almost identical to Athena’s, the anger in him subsided a lot. “Atheny, do you know?” Ray held Atheny in his arms, his voice gentle. “Ramberg is about to be engulfed in war, what will you do then?”
Nova’s eyelashes trembled, her clear eyes reflecting Ray’s shadow. Unable to speak, she could only reach out her hand and gently smooth his furrowed brow. She signed: I’m fine, you don’t need to worry. Nova’s abdomen was swollen, and she was due to give birth in two months.
Ray held her hand to his cheek, his voice a little choked. “In my life, I have fought, snatched, and schemed against countless people, but you are the only one I care about. Ramberg is not safe. I have already had a carriage prepared to send you to Nostia tonight. It is far from the war and can keep you and your child safe.”
Hearing this, Nova shook her head violently, broke free from his embrace, and took a half step back. She gestured urgently with both hands. “I’m not leaving.” Her eyes were firm. “Wherever you are, I will be. The child cannot be born without a father.”
“Listen to me, Atheny…” Ray took a step forward, wanting to embrace her again, but she gently pushed him away. Nova began to gesture again, this time the movements were slower, each gesture revealing determination. “If you die in battle, I will take the child and accompany you. If you live, I will wait for you here.”
Ray looked at her, his heart as if wrapped in something warm. His throat was sore, and his eyes were wet. He smiled self-deprecatingly, as if he didn’t expect Nova to treat him sincerely, but he only treated her as a substitute.
“Okay, I won’t leave.” Ray finally compromised, his voice terribly hoarse. “None of us will leave.” He held her in his arms again, as if trying to blend her into his very being. “I will defend Ramberg and protect you and our child. When the war is over, I will take you to see the peach blossoms of Southvale, okay?”
Nova leaned against him and nodded gently. Ray handed the tea to her lips and coaxed, “Drink it, and get some rest.” Nova obediently drank the tea, her eyes shining as she looked at Ray. Before long, she drowsily closed her eyes.
Ray looked at her face and ordered his confidant, “Escort Nova safely to Nostia. If anything happens to her, you need not return.” The families of these assassins were all in his hands. He wasn’t afraid that the assassins would disobey.
“Yes.” His confidant stepped forward and helped Nova into the carriage.
Taking advantage of the night, they rushed out of Ramberg.