Chapter 232 – Snowstorm

The blizzard in Greenvine City began its assault from dusk, showing no signs of abating even deep into the night. Instead of weakening, the snowstorm grew increasingly ferocious under the cover of the profound darkness.

Princess Trelinka stood before the window of Greentree Castle, opening the exquisitely crafted window to feel the snowflakes driven by the icy wind against her face, the chilling air gradually seeping into her heart.

As a seventh-level Apprentice Knight, Trelinka felt no discomfort even as the room temperature dropped to over ten degrees below zero. The reason she wore only a thin dress and deliberately suppressed her Battle Aura was precisely to experience this biting cold within the blizzard.

It wasn’t for any so-called maidenly sentiments, nor for poetic inspiration, but simply because it helped Trelinka maintain clarity of mind, dispelling the haze that clouded her thoughts.

Only one day had passed since the negotiations, yet whenever Trelinka recalled Kulun’s smug, triumphant expression, she felt genuine nausea. She had considered escaping the dreadful reality through sleep, but whenever she tried to rest, she would sense a profound malice approaching her.

After tossing and turning until midnight, Trelinka finally abandoned any attempt to sleep. The ominous feeling nearly suffocated her, which was why she opened the window during the storm’s peak intensity to feel the snow’s icy touch.

As for that intuitive sense of foreboding… Trelinka no longer wished to dwell on it, or perhaps she no longer cared. After a full day of contemplation, she had clearly realized the failure of her “revolution.” The Glory Army wasn’t as brave and fearless as she had imagined, nor was the Church of Dawn as easily compromised as she had hoped. The inevitable outcome would be the complete collapse of the Glory Army.

For the first time, Trelinka found herself thinking, “Even if all the Glory Army soldiers become part of the Kamos Kingdom’s forces, it wouldn’t matter. They need not sacrifice their lives for a war destined to fail.”

Undeniably, Kulun’s words had significantly influenced Trelinka. Now, Princess Trelinka’s sole desire was to preserve the lives of the Glory Army soldiers. As for the honor of the Dillon Kingdom and herself… it no longer mattered.

In the profound darkness, the three moons had vanished from sight. A drop-by-drop stillness slowly permeated the blizzard, while the howling wind began carrying tiny ice particles. Clearly, this snowstorm hadn’t yet reached its peak—it was gradually evolving toward worse conditions…

“Bam!”

Princess Trelinka’s door was suddenly slammed open. Under her astonished gaze, a squad of over a dozen Apprentice Rank warriors burst into her room with activated Battle Aura, positioning themselves near the windows while keeping their eyes firmly locked on Trelinka.

“What are you doing? Is this Dolan’s order?”

Trelinka made no attempt to flee or resist. As an Apprentice-Level knight, she stood no chance against over a dozen Apprentice Rank warriors. Moreover, she could distinctly sense an overwhelmingly powerful presence approaching the room from outside—one she absolutely couldn’t withstand.Upon observing the soldiers clad in the private militia uniforms of the Green Vine Family, Trelinka, though startled, still clung to the illusion that “someone intentionally dressed these soldiers this way to frame the Green Vine Family.” However, when she sensed the aura outside the room, Princess Trelinka finally fell into despair.

In the vast Greenvine City, there was only one Formal-Level powerhouse. Who else could that aura—absolutely irresistible to an Apprentice-Level mage—belong to but the old warrior Beigean of the Green Vine Family?

Watching the elderly man stride unhurriedly to the doorway, Trelinka sorrowfully realized the truth.

“Very well, Your Highness the Princess Trelinka, you should know that resistance is futile. My purpose here is not to take your life but merely to escort you to a new residence,” Beigean said, bowing respectfully. If one ignored the gleaming blade in his hand and the murderous soldiers filling the room, he might have appeared to be simply requesting the princess to relocate.

Gazing with complex emotions at the old man she had deeply respected, Trelinka, her face pale, asked, “Why? Why betray me? Is this Dolan’s decision or the entire Green Vine Family’s? Was my agreement to marry Kulun of the Kamos Kingdom not enough?”

“Unfortunately, this is the decision of the entire Green Vine Family, unchangeable and unstoppable. As for the reasons, I can inform you: First, Archbishop Kasparqi and National Guardian Archmage Lord Sangus have perished together. Second… Kulun has been killed! Do you understand now?”

The icy pellets of the blizzard struck the ornate floor, their rustling whispers carrying an unending, bitter cold.

Hearing Beigean’s words, a lifeless stillness finally crept into Trelinka’s eyes. As sharp-witted as she was, how could she not grasp the implications? In truth, upon hearing the six syllables (in the common tongue) “Kulun has been killed,” her heart had turned to ashes. Though she still struggled to accept the Green Vine Family’s betrayal, she at least acknowledged the inevitable fact—their betrayal was unavoidable.

What pierced Trelinka’s heart most deeply was the thought: Under the dual blows from the Kamos Kingdom and the Church of Dawn, where in this world could the 150,000-strong “Glory Army” find refuge?

Watching the light gradually fade from Trelinka’s eyes, Beigean sighed silently. As an old warrior who had lived over nine hundred years, he knew the princess’s spirit had died, leaving only a shell filled with despair and sorrow.

“Sigh… All personnel, heed the order of Dolan Greenvine, head of the Green Vine Family: Arrest the witch Trelinka immediately—leader of the ‘Glory Army,’ betrayer of the nation, defiler of the great Lord of the Dawn, and seducer of the people, guilty of heinous crimes. Confine her temporarily in the Greentree Family Prison and transport her to Cliffhorn City at dawn tomorrow to face judgment.”After speaking, Beigean walked over to Trelinka and gently touched her forehead with one finger. A stream of Battle Aura instantly penetrated Trelinka’s soul, forming a solid seal. Unless Trelinka possessed Formal-Level strength, she would never be able to use even a trace of Battle Aura again until Beigean lifted this restriction.

Seeing that Trelinka could no longer escape, Beigean let out a heavy sigh. With a desolate expression, he left the icy Room filled with blizzards.

The soldiers would handle Trelinka’s imprisonment. For now, Beigean only wanted to find a place to drink some strong tea, without thinking about anything—including the future of the Green Vine Family.

Formal-Level warrior Beigean was already over 930 years old. As a pure human without any long-lived race bloodline, with no hope of further breakthroughs, he only had about seventy years of life remaining. There was no need for him to ponder so many matters anymore.

(End of Chapter)