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Chapter 1001 - 1001 128 Following the Bad Example

1001: Chapter 128, Following the Bad Example 1001: Chapter 128, Following the Bad Example The army returned to the city, and Caesar IV, accompanied by a host of officials, came out to welcome them, giving Hudson the highest standard of treatment.

It was standard procedure; the Expeditionary Army’s military achievements were already legendary.

Moreover, with the contrasting example set by the allies, the victory seemed all the more hard-won.

It was evident that everyone was satisfied, for not only did Hudson, the Commander in Chief, benefit from the Expeditionary Army’s resplendent victory, but the Nobles and royal dignitaries were beneficiaries as well.

The military honors belonged to all, and the young members of various aristocratic houses who had undergone trials together not only accumulated a wealth of combat experience but also managed to reap a good amount of military honors along the way.

What was crucial was the low casualty rate among the Elite force’s Main Family Descendants.

Aside from a few unlucky ones, the main descendants of each family triumphantly returned.

It wasn’t that Hudson had been deliberately looking out for them; rather, these individuals were naturally protected by the masters each family had arranged.

With continuous victories, as long as one didn’t court death themselves, survival was almost guaranteed.

However, “relatively low casualties” is indeed a relative term; the thirty-five thousand men who had set out on the expedition had been reduced to just over twenty-six thousand five hundred by their return, a casualty rate close to one-fourth.

Heavy losses did not equate to diminished fighting capacity—after a series of victories, the Expeditionary Army had forged its own military soul.

In any battle, it was clear to everyone that these troops were Elite, and the sheer power of the aura they radiated was palpable even hundreds of meters away.

Fortunately, the Alpha Kingdom’s higher echelons were all military-bred; otherwise, being confronted with the Expeditionary Army’s might would likely have led to embarrassment on the spot.

Hudson certainly could sense that Caesar IV had lost his composure, but he covered it up well, and few noticed.

Once the victory ceremony ended, the celebration commenced immediately.

It was truly not easy; since the onset of the Continental war, this was the first time the Kingdom had hosted a banquet.

As the main character at the banquet, Hudson was far from having an easy time; instead, he ended up exhausted both physically and mentally.

Being adored is enjoyable, especially by members of the opposite sex.

However, while one beautiful Noble lady is a pleasure, a crowd of them is more like a torment.

Regrettably, Hudson was too fortunate in this regard, so much so that he was unable to appreciate it.

On the other hand, his officers mingled more freely at the banquet, some particularly daring ones even managing to cozy up with Noblewomen.

Of course, this was a highly risky endeavor, greatly testing one’s judgment.

Engaging with the wrong person could have very serious consequences.

For instance, most of the Noble ladies who were crowding around Hudson, inquiring this and that, were of the sort one should not provoke.

If not a princess of one house, then a miss of another.

Those of lower status couldn’t even get near.

Thankfully, this scenario didn’t last long; as people’s curiosity was satisfied, the crowd dispersed quickly.

After all, as a married Noble, he wasn’t to everyone’s taste.

Romantic affairs come with a price tag to consider.

Many things in the Noble World come with a price tag attached.

“Marshal Hudson, you’ve left so soon.

Could it be that among so many young ladies and Noblewomen of the Capital, not one has caught your eye?”

Hearing the teasing voice, Hudson felt a wave of annoyance.

Now he was a target of desire in many eyes, everyone seemed eager to take a bite.

Without knowing the other party’s background, how could he dare to act recklessly?

History is replete with heroes who met their downfall in the bedroom.

“Your Highness, with all due respect, what am I to make of your comment?”

Hudson said with annoyance.

Unlike those princesses from the Nobles and royal dignitaries’ houses inside, the person before him, Princess Madelena, was the true princess of the Kingdom, the sister of Caesar IV.

The last time they had met, the gap between them was too significant for Hudson to do anything but gaze from afar.

Now they were able to speak face-to-face, but that alone wasn’t a reason to develop ties.

According to the customs of the Continent of Aslante, Princess Madelena was expected to marry out to a King or heir of some Kingdom.

Had Hudson been unmarried, given his current status and position, it would have been conceivable for The Royal Family to pursue an alliance through marriage in an endeavor to draw him in.

Of course, this was also an unlikely event.

The choice of marriage partner for The Royal Family would first and foremost be a matter of birth, with the various royal families of the continent being interrelated to a greater or lesser extent.

Two people who ought not to be associating could only bring about trouble if seen together.

Should any scandal leak, potentially affecting Royal Family alliances, Caesar IV would certainly turn against him.

“Hmph!”

“All men are lecherous!”

After hearing Princess Madelena’s words, Hudson unintentionally let the wine in his hand spill.

To try to get his attention in such a manner was rather too obvious.

“Your Highness, if that is the case, I shall take my leave.”

With that, Hudson turned and walked away.

A Royal Princess wasn’t worth spending all his efforts to fathom.

Love and hate do not arise without reason in this world, and he did not believe that Princess Madelena, who had long been educated by The Royal Family, was an innocent naive soul, simply approaching him out of curiosity.

If she were that easy to attract, then they should have met at the last victory celebration.

Everything had its value.

Instinct told Hudson that all was not well within the Alpha Royal Family, or else Princess Madelena would not have acted so recklessly.

Even if he wanted to form a connection, there was no need for such haste.

Especially by using a woman to attract a man—such tactics could easily lead to trouble.

Should an affair arise, Princess Madelena, still unwed, would suffer far more than he, already a married Major Noble, ever could.