Knights and Magic Wand
Chapter 291 - 291 145 Resting Under the Tree_2

291: Chapter 145 Resting Under the Tree_2 291: Chapter 145 Resting Under the Tree_2 The girl spoke as if she had come to terms with it, but before her words finished, she, who thought she had accepted her mother’s passing from this world, suddenly felt a slight soreness and longing in her eyes.

She paused, holding back the heart palpitations that came out of nowhere, and lowered her head to rest against the other’s chest.

Leon, seeing Olivia’s suddenly fragile expression, had no choice but to hold her tightly in his arms.

Relying on the warm comfort, the girl slowly steadied the heartache of yearning for her dearly departed.

“As a child, I couldn’t understand my mother’s constant sadness.

She was very gentle with me, but I rarely saw her smile sincerely.

Until that day…

when my mother quietly went to sleep in bed and, no matter how much I shook her, she never opened her eyes again.

But it was also that day when I saw a smile on her face, free from all burdens.

My mother left us with a smile, I don’t want my selfishness to pull her back into this painful world…”

Olivia calmed down from her reminiscence, lifted her head, and said self-mockingly, “It’s laughable that long ago, I used to think it was my father who did something wrong to make my mother so sad all the time.

Now I know that she and my biological father must have gone through many tragedies, and if she were to be brought back to this world now, it would only continue the pain she experienced in life.”

Leon gently soothed the girl’s back, nodding his head, “I was inconsiderate, reviving your mother without considering the deceased’s wishes might not be a good thing after all.

Not all those who have passed want to live again.

May she rest in peace.”

But then realizing the wording used by Olivia, Leon stared at the girl in his arms, surprised, “Wait, you said biological father?

You…

know already?”

“Uncle Bryan told you?” Leon widened his eyes, he clearly remembered that the man had not intended to let the girl know the truth about her parents yet.

“My father hasn’t told me anything, but…” Facing Leon’s surprise, Olivia propped herself up and sighed helplessly, “Leon, you don’t think I’m stupid, do you?

Since that return, I could feel the change in my father’s attitude towards me.”

It wasn’t just that subtle change in attitude; there were many more clues that made her suspicious, which Olivia was too embarrassed to speak of directly.

Ever since she was toyed with by this big bad guy night after night, she was no longer as innocent and ignorant about matters between men and women as she had been.

This realization led her to recognize that as a child, until her mother’s death, she had always slept in the same room as her mother and had never seen her parents share a room, nor had they ever had even the slightest intimate gestures like she now had with Leon.

Not even holding hands or hugging, living separately day after day, cohabiting for many years without any conflicts or arguments, treating each other with respect – such a “husband and wife”…

what could that indicate but that they were not truly married.

“Of course, I don’t think you’re stupid.

I just hadn’t figured out when to tell you the truth,” Leon smirked.

“Then don’t tell me yet…

I also feel that I’m not ready to accept everything.”

Olivia nodded lightly, since Leon was willing to guard her destiny, she was willing to follow her partner’s guidance until she could bear the truth.

“Besides, no matter who my biological father is, it’s my current family that brought me up with hardship, and that will never change because of bloodlines.

Bryan will always be my father.”

The girl said, warning Leon, “That night returning from the forest, when I confronted my father, I gave him quite a fright.

You must not tell him what I’ve guessed, alright?”

Olivia didn’t want to see the man who had been a father to her for so many years suddenly treat her with great reverence and unfamiliarity one day.

“Mm, but if he knew about your attitude, he’d be so moved he’d be in tears,” Leon nodded.

The old knight had given too much for Olivia’s family, dedicating all his years and life to fulfilling his oath to his former master, and even now, he would not hesitate to lay down his life for the sole heir of his lord, of course, because he already viewed the girl as his own.

What was unknown was whether he had a family of his own before protecting Reilia and Olivia in their secluded life in Selva, or whether he had left behind any real offspring.

If there weren’t any, Leon pondered that once things settled down, he might consider finding a companion for Mr.

Brian Sr.

Perhaps with age came vigor, and it might even give Olivia more nominal brothers and sisters.

After enduring so much hardship over the years, it would be too tragic if this loyal and faithful old knight ended his days without an heir.

…The days in Longka flashed by in a blur.

The wait didn’t last long.

On the third day after Baron Eriv led his cavalry to the Wacht Castle to station,

the Scout Rider, who had constantly been observing the encampment of the Wolf Domain Army to the west, hurried back to Longka to report that the troops stationed by the Wolf Family in Aiken Village had already completely withdrawn.

The stalemate here seemed to be lifted, but this did not mean the end of troubles.

Because that army did not return to Wolfenhol, they appeared to have marched toward Wacht Castle instead.

On the day after the Wolf Domain Army left, a messenger from the north, from the Thorny Flower Family, brought Baron Eriv’s military orders.

Leon gathered everyone, discussed, and left Zerrien to watch over the Longka camp.

Then he mobilized the Three Kingdoms’ soldiers, outfitted with the captured armor, and together with Sir Redo’s Long Spearmen—a total of over a hundred bloodied veterans in full armor—, led by a group of knights, he answered the call to go north.

With the captured warhorses of the Wolf Territory, despite only having about a dozen, including Leon’s six Guards, who were skilled in horsemanship, to be considered proper “cavalry,” and another ten or so who could only be called “cavalry in armor” rather than “mounted infantry,” the strength and weakness of the unit were not easily discerned unless charged into a cavalry rush.

The thirty-man heavy cavalry unit, at first glance, looked formidable and was very intimidating.

Unless they fought with a real elite force, this impromptu heavy cavalry was still an overwhelming force against ordinary light infantry.

When Leon led dozens of heavy cavalry and a hundred heavy infantry in chain armor to the location, outside the tall fortress walls, the formations of two…

or rather three armies had already spread widely across the plain outside Sir Marcello’s castle.

The knights’ banners, along with the swallowtail flags of the infantry squares, fluttered among the dense arrays of long spears and pikes, with the gleaming blades reflecting bunches of cold light under the sun.

Atop the western hillside, the military formation stretching as far as the eye could see was the recently returned 3,000-strong Wolf Family Army from Mamor County, which had not yet been disbanded.

The Wolfenhol Soldiers who had withdrawn from the Aiken encampment were most likely already part of their lord’s main force.

On the northern side of the plains by the river, the green sigil of the stag’s head waved proudly.

The 1,000-strong force under the Earl of Buck’s banner stood neatly between the two confronting families.

And as for Farolis itself, it was naturally not unprepared for the oncoming threat of the Wolf Domain Army—witness the walls of Wacht, where Thorny Flower Soldiers filled the ramparts, their bows and crossbows drawn taut, and the catapults and ballistae on top of the towers were already in place.

According to the messenger’s oral message,

the troops of 200 Marcello Knights, 100 supply camp guards, 400 Farolis City Soldiers, 200 cavalry brought back by Baron Eriv, and his own additional hundred soldiers or so.

In the Wacht region, more than 1,000 troops from the Thorny Flower Family had been assembled under Baron Eriv’s call.

With the defensive advantage provided by the fortress and pass, a fight with the invading 3,000-strong Wolf Domain Army wasn’t out of the question.

However, Leon knew that with General Trolsa, a Great Noble, mediating, it was highly unlikely a battle would ensue.

Baron Eriv had him bring some soldiers over, as much a precaution as simply a show of force.

It was just unknown whether he had informed the Earl of Buck about the events in the Nightmare Forest at this moment.

Upon leading the soldiers into the Thorny Flower encampment outside the castle, Leon had Mr.

Brian Sr.

settle the troops and then he, along with Knight Redo, went to meet the Sealing Lord.