The battle had ended.
But the echoes of war still lingered.
The royal palace was filled with tension.
In the grand war chamber, knights, ministers, and commanders sat around a long table, their faces grim as they listened to the final battle reports.
A high-ranking officer stood at the front, holding a stack of parchment, his voice steady but heavy.
"The rebellion has been suppressed. The rogue knights have been defeated, and Aldric has been taken into custody."
Murmurs filled the room.
One of the nobles, Duke Granheim, narrowed his eyes.
"What of our losses?"
The officer hesitated for a moment before continuing.
"We suffered heavy casualties. based on the report we received currently, 142 royal knights are confirmed dead. Another hundred of seventy-six are wounded. Several villages on the outskirts were burned down in the initial uprising. The damage to our forces is significant."
The room fell silent.
Then—a sharp voice broke through the tension.
"And the traitors?"
All eyes turned to Commander Alfonso Bareno, one of the highest-ranking knights in the kingdom,as well as the head of the Knights order. His gaze was cold, his fingers tapping against the table impatiently.
The officer exhaled.
"Of the rogue knights, two hundreds were captured alive. Hundred of fifty six of them were killed in combat. Aldric was subdued and taken to the dungeons, awaiting judgment."
Hearing this, Alfonso's jaw tightened.
"And what about Marianne Devearux?"
The officer's tone softened slightly.
"She was the one who struck the final blow. She,along with Knight Jeannie,played a crucial role in turning the tide of battle."
At this, the nobles exchanged glances.
Duke Granheim scoffed.
"Of course she did. She always was a loyal dog of the kingdom."
Alfonso shot him a sharp glare.
"Watch your tongue, Duke Granheim! She fought to protect this kingdom. It was something that you cowards Will never do. I could even bet here right now, when this kingdom was in danger, you nobles,will be the first to abandoned your homeland like a traitors and cowards."
Hearing this, the meeting was full of noise. The nobles were furious and glared to Alfonso with full hostility.
"Take back what you have just said earlier, Knight Alfonso! If you did not take back your words-"
"Then what Will you do, Duke Granheim?! Do you want to kill me right now?! I dare you!."
The tension between them was thick, and the room was full of chaos when the nobles and the knights cursed each others.
But before things could escalate further, the King's voice cut through the chamber.
"Enough!!"
The room immediately fell into silence.
From his throne at the head of the table, King Aldebrand III gazed at them all with tired but calculating eyes.
"…This rebellion is over," he said. "But our kingdom has been wounded."
He turned his attention back to the officer.
"What about the public opinion? What did they say?"
The officer's grip on his parchment tightened.
"There is… unrest, Your Majesty."
A pause.
"The common folk do not know who to trust. Some saw Aldric as a hero, a knight willing to stand against corruption. Others call him a traitor. The truth is muddled. The people are divided."
The King sighed. He knew this would happened.
He also knew what this nobles did in his back, but he could not do anything. Otherwise, civil war would happened, and this kingdom will be destroyed.
"…Then we must restore order."
His eyes darkened.
"We must make an example of Aldric."
Deep in the dungeons…
The air was damp.
Chains rattled.
Aldric sat motionless, his wrists bound in enchanted shackles. The once-proud knight—who had fought for his beliefs, who had stood against the kingdom—was now nothing more than a prisoner, waiting for his judgment.
The guards spoke in hushed voices.
"What do you think they'll do with him?"
"Execution, most likely."
"…I heard some nobles want to make an example of him. Public hanging."
Aldric didn't react.
He simply stared at the cold stone floor, his thoughts distant.
Was this… the end?
Had all of it been for nothing?
He clenched his fists.
"…No," he murmured under his breath.
The fight wasn't over yet.
Not as long as he still drew breath.
Back at the barracks, Marianne sat on the edge of her cot, her armor discarded beside her.
Her hands were still bandaged.
The battle was over.
But the pain hadn't faded, even after her conversation with Fiona lest night.
She had won, and managed to defeated Aldric.
But instead of relief, all she felt was emptiness.
A knock on the door broke her thoughts.
"…Come in."
The door creaked open, and Fiona stepped inside, her arms crossed.
"Well,you are still look terrible."
Marianne let out a dry laugh.
"Thank you for your honest words."
Fiona walked over, glancing at the untouched food on the table.
"…You haven't eaten."
"I'm not hungry."
Fiona sighed, sitting on the chair across from her.
"…I Will repeat that again. You just did what you had to do."
Marianne closed her eyes.
"…I know it exactly."
A pause.
Then—a quiet whisper.
"But why does it feel like I lost something?"
Fiona didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she simply leaned back in her chair, her expression unreadable.
"…Because you did."
The words hung in the air.
Neither of them spoke after that.
Marianne felt tired inside mentally.
But while the kingdom focused on Aldric's rebellion… unknown movements loomed in the shadows.
Far from the capital, in the dark underground of the land—a group of peoples watched in silence.
Rogues and Mercenaries gathered here, and at the center of them all, a hooded figure started to talked.
"…So, Aldric has failed."
A slow chuckle filled the chamber.
"Well. That's unfortunate. To be honest, his intentions to cut down that nobles was really good and we have the same purpose. But he just lack of patience. His defeat was confirmed,even before the fight started.", said the other figure with sympathy voice.
The hooded figure at the center replied
"Then I suppose it's time… to take matters into our own hands. These nobles are only a parasite in our kingdom. If we don't act quickly, soon we will be exposed.", said him with cold expression.
The Aldric's rebellion had been just the beginning.
The kingdom would soon learn that the real war was awating.