Side hall of the church in Muxi Town.
A knocking sound came from the door.
After Todd agreed, Huggins pushed open the door and entered. Todd gestured to a seat, indicating that Huggins should sit down first.
"Is everything settled in?"
Hearing the priest's question, the man's expression turned somewhat somber: "The monks, skilled in medicine, are treating the wounded, but one knight's injuries were too severe, and he ultimately did not make it."
Todd sighed, made the sign of the Holy Cross on his chest, and then looked around the side hall. Rachel, Alfonso, Brother Joe, and Hudgens were all watching him, waiting for his next words.
"I believe everyone is already aware of the matter concerning Queen Mary and Baron Cumberland..." Todd sat in his chair, touched the bridge of his nose, and said with difficulty, "Let's think about what we should do next."
Seeing that everyone else remained silent, Alfonso straightened his back and chose to speak first: "When I was still a secular knight, I served under Baron Cumberland for a time. In my opinion, the Baron is a man of high character, and I trust his character and judgment. I feel that they should be given protection."
Huggins looked up at Todd, opened his mouth slightly as if to say something, but ultimately gave up.
Rachel listened to the knight's words, but her face was turned to the ground. Her eyes darted around and looked at the monk beside her.
Having lived in the monastery for a long time, Joe was surrounded by monks and devout people. He was always outspoken and spoke his mind. He immediately refuted the Papal knight's statement: "Before we discuss asylum, shouldn't we talk about self-preservation first? There are more than a thousand unarmed residents in Muxi Town. At this time, taking in the kingdom's fugitives is tantamount to pushing these residents into the crucible of war!"
Alfonso was getting anxious. He forced himself to stand up and said, "Are we just going to stand by and watch them die? Are we just going to hand these knights over to those butchers?!"
Brother Joe stroked his chin and said uncertainly, "Perhaps we can find a few small boats in the town, give them some necessary supplies, and let them leave here."
At this moment, Rachel spoke up: "When those barbaric soldiers outside demanded the return of the fugitives, if they knew we had let them go, guess what those angry guys would do?"
Alfonso slammed his fist on the wooden table in front of him and shouted, "If they dare to do that, I will fight to the end and defend justice and honor with my sword and blood!"
Seeing the crowd discussing amongst themselves, Todd rested his chin on his right hand and suddenly asked, "I heard from the Baron that Holy Guard City is going to declare war on Silver Ring City?"
Upon hearing this, Huggins immediately stood up and said, "According to recent reports from merchants, the armies of both countries are indeed gathering at the border."
Todd fell silent again.
——————————————
"You have the right to resent me..."
Cumberland, his upper body wrapped in bandages, sat in the church chapel and looked at the speaker—Queen Mary, dressed in plain clothes. The old man frowned: "If you are talking about my son, then I'm afraid you will be disappointed."
With the help of his subordinates, Cumberland put his armor back on.
He took out the cross that had once belonged to Hermann from his pocket, placed it in his palm, and gently stroked the surface of the pendant with the pad of his thumb. Then, he looked at the wounded groaning in pain and the corpses covered with white sheets in the chapel, and sighed heavily.
“Think of how many people struggle and fall in vain between disease and pain, instead of dying gloriously on the battlefield.” Cumberland put the cross back into his arms and looked at the bewildered Queen Mary: “My son, he died with the glory of a knight, protecting those he considered more important than life itself.”
Looking at the miserable state of the knights around her, the queen closed her eyes in despair, buried her face in her hands, and sobbed softly, "Me? I am nothing but a sinner."
"Your Majesty!"
Cumberland's roar startled the woman, who was lost in grief and self-blame.
"By denying your own worth, you are denying my son's sacrifice!" The old man slung his long sword over his waist, strode towards the door, and left with the words: "Live on, find yourself a reason to live on!"
Cumberland pushed open the door, walked to the square in front of the church, glanced at the curious onlookers not far away, and whispered to his subordinates, "Have the pursuers arrived?"
"The Eastern Legion's cavalry company has arrived, with about 25 'lances'. They don't seem to have any intention of entering the town, but are constantly patrolling and moving around the area."
(A "cavalry lance" was the smallest unit of a medieval European cavalry force, typically consisting of one heavy cavalryman, two mounted archers, and one light cavalryman. This composition varied depending on the country and era.)
Cumberland pondered for a moment, then said in a deep voice, "It seems those guys aren't stupid enough to turn against the Church."
"Sir, what should we do now?"
The baron turned to look at the cross atop the church in Twilight Town: "I need to talk to someone."
——————————————
Todd sat at the table in the chapel, frowning as he looked at Cumberland, who was wandering around the room and casually looking around.
He finally couldn't hold back any longer and asked, "Your Excellency, I heard you wish to see me?"
Cumberland glanced back at Todd, then calmly sat down opposite him and said, "Father, don't call me a baron anymore. You and I should both understand that it's only a matter of time before my title is stripped."
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