Chapter 60

It was 2 p. m.

A troop of Crescent Knights escorted a high-end travel carriage, traveling on the muddy rural roads of Crescent River Valley.

There was a transport line stretching endlessly both ahead and behind the carriage.

Crescent River Valley had about fifteen thousand subjects; all who could move were conscripted, together with all horses, oxen, donkeys, and wooden carts—anything that could carry goods was diverted to the dock to transport supplies.

At least half of the people participated in the transport.

Like ants moving house, they used a primitive but quite effective method to quickly transport supplies from the dock to Crescent City.

Everyone was very enthusiastic.

Because the lord said that anyone who participated in the transport would receive at least 20 kilograms of potatoes.

If a family of five went to help, they could earn 100 kilograms of potatoes, enough to make up for this year's food shortage caused by internal strife.

Inside the travel carriage, Selena gazed at the beautiful valley plains, feeling the noticeably warmer autumn breeze within the valley, and her mood was quite good.

Because of all this, it was far better than the worst scenario she had imagined.

She looked toward the low castle on the distant hill, recalling the brief description the Crescent Knights had given her of the castle's capture, and seeing the Crescent Knights beside the carriage, their armor worn but their spirits high, she couldn't help sighing.

"I really married an extraordinary husband."

As the Dawn Princess, she had seen countless outstanding figures.

But these people were merely better than ordinary folk, each with their own helplessness.

But her husband seemed different.

At first glance he seemed quite ordinary, even blending into the crowd, but the longer they spent together, the more astonishing he seemed, as if there was nothing he couldn't accomplish.

Precisely because of that, even though everything she saw on the island was steeped in rustic charm, she didn't take it to heart.

Because she believed that before long, her husband would change all of this.

"I wonder what White Sturgeon Island will become in the future?"

"Creak~~creak~~"

"Clip-clop-clip-clop~"

Amid the sound of wheels and hooves, Princess Selena's thoughts drifted away.

At 3 p. m., the travel carriage entered Crescent City.

At this moment, the news that the Baron had married the Dawn Princess had spread throughout Crescent River Valley.

In Crescent City, the elderly, weak, sick, and disabled who couldn't help with transport had long been waiting on both sides of the road for the Princess's arrival.

When the travel carriage bearing the Dawn City golden sun flag appeared near Crescent City, it immediately caused a great stir.

Wherever the carriage went, roadside onlookers dropped to their knees without hesitation, ignoring the dirt on the ground.

Various exclamations spread through the crowd.

"Ah~~ I saw the Dawn Princess! She's smiling at me! Ah, the Princess is smiling at me!"

"I saw her too; she's really pretty, but she doesn't seem to have any more bust than my daughter."

"This horse is truly strong—not only big-bodied, but its equipment is bigger than my horse's!"

"Ah-ha~ this pile of horse dung is sticky, smells somewhat fragrant, and I don't know what feed they gave it."

"I tasted it—uhm—hm—it's soybeans—no wonder it's the Princess's horse, actually eating soybeans!"

Selena listened to this vulgar talk, feeling both annoyed and amused.

"Surely this is a barbaric land on the edge of civilization."

Fortunately, the town was small; less than twenty minutes later, the carriage drove up to the hilltop and arrived at the castle entrance.

Someone was already waiting to greet them at the entrance.

Clad in black armor, Luosen stood ramrod straight at the entrance, accompanied by a tall, thin middle-aged woman and a short, thin little girl.

The Flame Battle Regiment's shield guards stood in two rows beside the road, the ground laid with a long red carpet, while battle mages launched bursts of magical fire into the sky.

There was also a bagpiper, found from who-knows-where, playing a cheerful but slightly off-key tune.

When the carriage stopped, the driver, Ailiya, shouted loudly.

"The Dawn Princess has arrived~~~"

"Boom~~~boom~~~~"

The regiment's mages grew ever more eager, firing magical bursts into the sky.

"Woo~~~~"

A mournful horn sounded, and the Flame Shield Guards by the road simultaneously slammed their heavy shields to the ground.

This welcoming ceremony naturally paled in comparison to Dawn City's, but in tiny Crescent City it was unprecedentedly grand.

All the islanders watching the ceremony looked on with awe.

Luosen quickly stepped forward, opened the carriage door, helped Selena down, and at the same time reminded her via Spiritual Whisper.

"Madam, I've done my best to clean, but the castle is still somewhat messy; you need to be mentally prepared."

Selena smiled faintly, her visage radiant like sunlight on snow: "It's already far better than I imagined."

Next, Ailiya led the way ahead, scattering fresh rose petals she had specially brought from Shire County along the way; Luosen and Selena followed behind, walking side by side into the castle.

All the spectators' gazes were fixed on the two of them, especially on the Princess.

If one were to say, there had still been someone deep down doubting that Luosen was lying, but the moment the Dawn Princess appeared before the public, that last doubt completely dissipated.

The islanders of White Sturgeon Island lacked education and did not know such flowery praise as 'as graceful as a white swan, as brilliant as the morning light'.

But everyone's eyes were not blind; whoever saw Selena's radiant appearance knew for certain that this was indeed the Princess herself.

Thus, the Crescent Moon Knights felt honored, their posture straightened even more, their chins lifted high, as if they wanted to lift them to the heavens. The soldiers of the Blazing Flame Regiment also felt glorious on their faces, and they performed with even greater vigor.

Only after the two entered the castle and went into the lord's longhouse did the islanders who had been watching from afar reluctantly disperse.

But this scene remained forever etched in the islanders' hearts, never to be erased in this lifetime.

Similarly indelible, or rather unshakable, was Luosen's position as lord of White Sturgeon.

After this performance, Luosen's lordly position was as solid as Dragon Sleep Snow Peak.

Because to question Luosen's position would mean questioning the position of Duke Weilan, and in the islanders' hearts, Duke Weilan is a legendary figure like a heavenly deity, an existence mortals can never oppose.

Therefore, on the first day of his return, Luosen leveraged the Princess's influence to firmly secure his position as lord of White Sturgeon.

"Luosen, there's really no need to be so formal; it's too troublesome."

Selena whispered.

Rosen Ziran explained the reason seriously in the whisper.

After the explanation, Selena understood, but still had some doubts: "Even without my help, you could easily control the whole island."

Luosen gave a low chuckle: "Perhaps, but it would bring many unexpected troubles and waste a lot of time."

"Moreover, some plans simply cannot be carried out."

"Plans? What plans?"

Luosen smiled faintly: "The plan is to steadily hold Crescent River Valley, develop our territory in peace, and wait for the opponent to collapse on their own."

Selena blinked: "I don't quite understand."

At this moment, Luosen had already brought Selena to the highest level of the council hall.

Originally there was only one bench, but now two were placed side by side, each covered with newly bought bear pelts.

Holding his wife's hand, they sat side by side on the new lord's chair, overlooking the bustling crowd in the hall, and whispered: "There are two ways to defeat an enemy."

"One is to conquer with an army."

"The other is to make oneself strong enough that the enemy feels despair, even admiration, and thus gives up on their own."

"The former is time- and labor-consuming, only worthwhile if the enemy has enormous wealth; unfortunately, the Forest Spirits are all poor."

Selena understood: "So we are currently developing only Crescent River Valley?"

"Exactly, but more precisely, for now only Crescent City."

"Because with our current strength, we can only guarantee absolute safety for Crescent City. The river valley plains outside the city are, for now, a buffer zone between us and the Forest Spirits."

"Places where safety cannot be guaranteed cannot be developed."

"Strictly speaking, even the current Crescent City district is not truly safe; only Crescent Castle is truly safe."

Selena had some worries: "How long will this situation last?"

"At most about a month."

Upon hearing this, Selena raised her eyebrows: "Have you figured out all the countermeasures?"

"Of course, I'll briefly tell you."

Luosen was about to speak when Klub came over to report the situation.

"Your Highness, Lord, all important supplies have been transported into the castle; one-third of the food has already been brought in, and the castle's granaries are already full."

"The remaining two-thirds are also being loaded into temporarily requisitioned granaries, estimated to be completed before sunset."

Luosen was very satisfied, and his slightly anxious heart finally settled completely.

He thought for a moment and said: "Go find someone to inform the Tatar knight of the Sturgeon Wharf, have him bring all the villagers, and return to Crescent City before dark."

Klub hesitated slightly, then immediately understood Luosen's intention: "Lord, is this to guard against retaliation from the Forest Spirits?"

"Correct, also notify Captain Kadeline, have him strengthen night patrols in Crescent City, and be wary of night raids."

Crescent City is populous, and the Blaze Battle Group is stationed there; once the Forest Spirits react, they may not dare to cause trouble, so the Sturgeon Wharf more than ten miles outside could become their venting target.

Although this may not actually happen, he naturally cannot risk the lives of the nearly thousand residents of the wharf.

Klub immediately said: "I'll take care of it right away."

Luosen then switched to Spiritual Whisper, secretly instructing Klub: "Also instruct Captain Kadeline to properly arrange that batch of arrows."

Klub already knew of the existence of diamond-tipped arrows, and at this moment he nodded slightly to show understanding.

After he left, Mother Sachsen came over.

She glanced somewhat reservedly at Selena and whispered softly: "Lord, the inner rooms are being set up, but there are too many varieties of furnishings, and they are extremely exquisite; no one dares to handle them, for fear of damaging the good things."

Selena smiled: "I can handle these. Come on, Mother, let's arrange the rooms together."

She took Mrs. Sachsen's hand and went to the inner room, while whispering to Luosen: "Dear, you go ahead and be busy. I, Mother, and my sister will get acquainted properly."

Luosen was indeed very busy; he responded, instructed Ailiya to help Selena, and then found the family's loyal old steward Ah Fu.

"Old sir, let the chefs from Shire County start preparing the banquet."

"Tell them I expect to host about 300 guests with huge appetites but not too picky about flavor; have them prepare more food, especially meat."

The old steward, his vision blurred, nodded like a chicken pecking grain: "Yes, yes, yes, Lord, I'll go right away."

Luosen then summoned Stonard: "Come on, Shitou, let's go meet the recruited mages together."

These mages are all his treasures, the basis of his confidence in swiftly mastering White Sturgeon Island.

They need to be carefully arranged.

(End of chapter)