Chapter 519

"Set out!"

At Gervas’s command, the column slowly moved southward, while the Mil Baron’s Castle gradually fell behind.

Yes, Gervas had spent the night at the Mil Baron’s Castle last night.

As the soldiers trudged along the muddy road, each breath they exhaled turned into a wisp of white mist.

Gervas gazed at the white expanse around him, his heart troubled.

The snowscape was naturally pleasing to the eye.

But in this backward age, it also meant many would face another life-or-death trial.

Those who endured it would live another year.

Those who did not would remain forever in this bitter winter.

Thinking of this, Gervas no longer hesitated: "Order the troops to move faster—aim to reach Stormhold by noon!"

Not only because of the boarmen’s attack, but also to return to his domain quickly and check on the serfs’ winter preparations.

"Yes, my lord!"

With the rumble of wheels, the Storm Legion gradually vanished into the white expanse.

…

"My Lord Marquis! The snow is heavy! Please get into the carriage!"

On the northern gate road of Maicheng Town in Stormhold, Catherine stood on the muddy ground, gazing at the castle through the swirling snow, her eyes filled with reluctance.

These past three days, though Gervas was not in the castle, Catherine had not left.

The reason was simple: she worried for Gervas; she knew that if she returned to Violet Castle, she would lie awake with anxiety and longing.

So staying in Stormhold—even with the same worry—allowed her to sleep with the scent of Gervas lingering, bringing a faint sense of calm.

Of course, this stay was temporary; with the first winter snowfall, she had no choice but to depart.

After all, she too was a lord, required to inspect her own lands and verify the serfs’ winter preparations.

To prevent her subordinates from falsifying reports and leaving serfs to starve through the cold.

"Gervas, you must return safely!"

As she thought this, Catherine prepared to reboard her carriage and leave Stormhold at once.

Ding-ding-ding!

But at that moment, urgent alarm bells rang from within the small town behind her.

"What’s happening?"

Catherine froze mid-motion.

"My Lord, it’s the alarm—Stormhold may be under imminent threat!" The knight captain also froze; one moment all was calm, the next the alarm sounded?

"My lord, we should leave quickly, lest we…"

"How can we just leave now? Go find out what’s happening!"

The knight captain had intended to urge Catherine to flee first, but before he finished, Catherine’s brows snapped together and cut him off.

"Yes, my lady!"

Hearing this, the knight captain sighed helplessly but obeyed, sprinting toward the town with two subordinates.

Moments later, the knight captain returned in haste, face grim: "My lady, I’ve confirmed—Stormhold’s guards spotted a boarman tribe approaching from the south, numbering at least a thousand!"

"Boarmen? A thousand?" Catherine’s face darkened instantly.

Though a woman, living in the southern frontier, she knew well the threat these half-beasts posed to humans.

Only weaker half-beasts like rabbit-folk and fox-folk posed little danger.

Others—dog-men, wolf-men, and boarmen—were among the kingdom’s most persistent border threats.

The number of humans killed by them each year rivaled those slain by even more vicious, bloodthirsty monsters.

"My lady, I strongly advise you to retreat immediately—Lord Gervas has taken most of our troops north!"

"Though we have fifty barbarians and over a hundred guards, they cannot stand against a thousand boarmen!"

"The townsfolk are already evacuating, but the barbarians and guards insist on defending the castle!"

"But to be honest, a baron’s castle with a hundred men—holding it will be difficult..."

The knight captain’s voice grew quieter with each word.

He saw the coldness in Catherine’s expression.

"Knight Captain Dali, I know you only wish to protect my safety!"

"But I, Catherine, am also a noble lord—even as a woman, I bear the knight’s conviction and duty!"

"Stormhold is our ally, and Gervas is my friend. When his domain is in peril, do you think I could sleep soundly if I fled?"

"But my lady, your safety is paramount... Moreover, when Duke Hernade sent me to serve you, he ordered that your safety always come first..."

Dali was assigned by Duke Hernade to protect Catherine.

As an old knight, he possessed abundant combat experience and was a seasoned Silver Knight.

He was certainly qualified for this duty.

But only in safe conditions.

Now, with a thousand boarmen attacking, if surrounded, even he could not guarantee Catherine’s safety.

So the wisest choice was immediate retreat—ensuring her absolute safety, avoiding all risk.

"Knight Captain Dali, I know my grandfather sent you to protect me. But I ask you: do you now serve my grandfather, or me, your lady?"

"If it’s the former, then leave now—I’ll return to Gervas’s castle myself and fight!"

"But if it’s the latter, then obey my command: accompany me to Gervas’s baron’s castle and defend it!" Catherine’s voice was icy.

She had lost all her usual kindness toward her subordinates.

Dali stiffened, then gritted his teeth: "My lady, since I swore fealty to you, I am your most loyal guardian knight!"

"Good, Knight Captain Dali—then follow me back to Gervas’s castle!"

Perhaps sensing her words had been too harsh.

After all, the old knight was not only captain but also an elder to her.

So Catherine added: "Knight Captain Dali, Gervas’s castle holds weapons you cannot imagine—so I believe our safety won’t be in serious danger."

"And with our fifty-plus knights, Gervas’s castle will be far more secure!"

"Unimaginable weapons?" Dali blinked.

He had not been in the south long, but he’d heard of Lord Gervas.

Word was, Gervas had once saved Lady Catherine, which explained her special regard for him.

Of course, as her guardian knight, he was assigned by the duke to protect Catherine—so such gossip meant nothing to him, and he never involved himself.

He assumed Gervas had simply been lucky, stumbling upon Lady Catherine during her time of need and rescuing her.

Thus, he had always viewed Gervas and Stormhold as ordinary minor nobles.

But now his lady claimed the castle held weapons capable of holding it.

How was that possible?

What weapon could bridge the gap between two hundred humans and over a thousand boarmen?