Chapter 455
An arrow whizzed past Nova’s ear and pierced the ground at her feet. Mud splattered, staining the hem of her dress.
However, Nova did not flinch. She stopped and looked up at the emotionally agitated guards on the city tower. The maid beside her translated her sign language and said loudly, “I am not a witch, nor a traitor!”
“Ray has been defeated and fled into the mountains. Now Ramberg is isolated and without assistance. Continuing to resist will only cause more people to die in vain and bring disaster to the people of the city! Have you forgotten that your parents, wives, and children are in the city? Can you bear to let them die with us?”
The cursing on the city tower gradually subsided. Some soldiers lowered their heads, their faces showing hesitation and struggle. They really missed home and their loved ones. They also knew that continuing to resist was hopeless. However, they were unwilling to surrender just like that.
At this moment, a general shouted loudly, “Stop spreading rumors! We still have the city walls to defend. As long as we persist, His Majesty will definitely send reinforcements!”
“Reinforcements?” Nova smiled bitterly, her eyes full of fatigue and helplessness. “Ray has been cut off from all escape routes. He can hardly protect himself, so how can there be reinforcements? If we surrender now, the Prince Regent said that he will spare the lives of all the people in the city and give you a way out. This is our only choice.”
She paused, her gaze sweeping across the faces of every soldier on the city tower, her tone laced with a hint of entreaty. “Brothers, lay down your arms. Don’t make any more unnecessary sacrifices, for the sake of your families, and for the sake of the people of Ramberg, open the city gates and surrender.”
Silence fell over the city tower, broken only by the sound of the wind rustling the flags. The soldiers exchanged glances, their eyes filled with conflict and struggle. They knew that what she said was true, and that continuing to resist would only lead to certain death. But they were unwilling to lay down their arms and surrender.
“Bewitching woman, shut your mouth!” A general suddenly shouted, aiming the bow and arrow in his hand at her. The arrow sliced through the air, shooting towards her.
Instinctively, she protected her abdomen and closed her eyes. The anticipated pain did not come. She opened her eyes and saw a dark figure flash past like a gust of wind, shielding her firmly behind him with his body. It was Ray!
His armor was covered in mud, his arm was bleeding, and he held the sharp arrow tightly in his hand. Although he looked battered, his eyes were sharp.
“Who dares to touch her?” Ray’s voice was hoarse but still commanding. He looked up at the angry soldiers on the city tower, his eyes churning with complex emotions. “If you want to kill or cut me, come at me. This has nothing to do with her!”
The generals all showed complex expressions when they saw Ray. They respected him, feared him, but also hated him. If it weren’t for Ray, Ramberg wouldn’t have fallen to this state.
Someone shouted through gritted teeth, “Your Majesty, it was this woman who persuaded us to surrender. She is a traitor!”
“She is not a traitor.” Ray shook his head slowly, holding Nova even closer. “It was my incompetence that implicated my brothers and the people of the city. She surrendered to save everyone’s lives. What’s wrong with that?”
He turned around and his eyes swept over the soldiers holding weapons around him. He looked at the dense figures on the city tower in the distance, took a deep breath, and suddenly knelt on one knee.
“It was me who was so eager to achieve success and disregarded the lives of the people, which led to today’s disaster.” He pulled out a dagger from his waist, a cold light flashed, and he stabbed his left shoulder without hesitation. “The first knife is to thank the brothers for their trust!”
His armor was instantly stained red with blood, but he seemed oblivious. Then, he stabbed his right shoulder with the dagger. “The second knife is to the people for their support!”
Nova was so frightened that her face turned pale. She wanted to stop him, but he stopped her with his eyes. His hand holding the dagger trembled slightly, but he still stabbed his abdomen firmly. “The third knife is to Ramberg for the crime of losing the city!”
Three knives and six holes, blood gurgling out. Ray’s face turned pale at a speed visible to the naked eye, but he still straightened his spine. He looked at everyone intently, “Now that I have atoned for my sins, if you are still not satisfied, you can take my life. But Nova and the child in her womb are innocent, and so are all the people in the city. I beg you to let them go, open the city gate, surrender to Grand Luminary Empire, and give everyone a way out.”
The soldiers were stunned by this sudden scene, and the weapons in their hands clattered to the ground. They looked at Ray, who was kneeling on the ground and bleeding non–stop. They looked at Nova, who was trembling behind him but had a stubborn look in her eyes. The anger in their hearts was gradually replaced by guilt and unbearable feelings.
Yes, Ray was wrong, but he also took responsibility for his crime with his life, and Nova did take the risk to persuade them to surrender for the sake of everyone.
The general who had been angry before stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and said in a choked voice, “Your Majesty, we obey.”
The other soldiers also put down their weapons and knelt down. “We obey!”
Ray looked at the scene before him, finally relieved, with a weak smile on his lips. He turned to look at Nova, his eyes full of tenderness and apology. “Nova, I’m so sorry…”
Before he could finish speaking, his eyes went dark, and he fell backward.
“Ray!” Nova exclaimed, rushing forward to hold him tightly in her arms. Tears mixed with his blood streamed down her face. “Hold on, you must hold on!”
At this moment, the maid looked at Nova with shock. “Madam, your voice?”
Nova belatedly raised her head and slowly touched her throat. She moved her lips, trying to make a sound again. “I… I?” Her eyes suddenly widened, and a huge joy burst out in Nova’s eyes. She could speak!
The city gate opened, and all the Ramberg army dropped their weapons to welcome the Grand Luminary Empire’s army into the city.
Xander rode a tall horse and stopped in front of Nova. He looked down at Nova, at her face that was somewhat similar to Athena’s, and felt a mixture of emotions. “Thank you.” He uttered two words.
Because of a woman, the war ceased, saving countless lives. Xander felt not only gratitude but also admiration for Nova.
“Thank you, Prince Regent.” Nova nodded slightly to Xander, her eyes full of gratitude. She made the right bet; Xander kept his promise. However, she was still a little worried. After all, the grudges between Ray and Xander could not be explained in a few words. Fortunately, Xander didn’t take Ray’s life.
He said to Nova, “Take him away.”
Nova looked at him gratefully and watched Xander and a large number of soldiers enter the city. Only then, with the help of the maid, did she help Ray into the carriage.
The winner became the hero, the loser became the joke. Although Ray was defeated, Nova was very happy. Because he just called out not Atheny, but Nova.