Chapter 20: The Sudden Outbreak of War!
At this moment, Lilith's face bore a complex mix of emotions.
The king and prince of Lionara, ministers and nobles so influential that a mere stamp of their foot could cause an earthquake outside these walls.
In such a setting, the man before her shone with an audacious brilliance, even daring to challenge the supreme lion at the pinnacle!
"Let's go," Leo said, approaching Lilith with a calm demeanor.
He knew that there was no longer any need to stay here.
Nodding, Lilith prepared to leave.
Their departure attracted more attention than their arrival, with many eyes, both overt and covert, following their exit.
Leo, unbothered by these gazes, left the palace with Lilith.
...
Back at their temporary residence in the estate, Leo immediately ordered a swift departure from the capital.
Though today's actions had brought him personal satisfaction, he was well aware it wasn't a wise move.
The great king would only grow more wary of him, and his two brothers would treat him with even greater 'attention.'
However, before leaving the capital, numerous unfamiliar faces appeared at the gates of Leo's estate.
These were people of significant standing, esteemed even in the presence of his brothers.
"Take note of their names, then tell them I have no intention of entertaining guests," Leo instructed Frett.
"Understood," Frett responded, acknowledging Leo's strategy.
By nightfall, Leo had a list of names in his hand.
After memorizing the names on the list, Leo's fingertips ignited in flame, turning the list to ashes.
"Your Highness, the carriage is ready, we can depart immediately," Frett reported.
"Let's go," Leo nodded.
The capital was no longer a safe haven for him, especially after stirring the pot.
The number of eyes, both hidden and visible, watching him would surely increase.
He stepped outside the estate, where Lilith soon joined him.
Suddenly, Leo heard a jarring horn sound.
Simultaneously, a red streak shot up into the sky, bursting into a brilliant display.
"Snap!"
"What is that...?" Lilith asked, perplexed.
She didn't understand what it signified.
But Leo and Frett's expressions changed instantly.
They knew it was a war alert!
It signified that Lionara was now in friction with other nations or major powers, and such war alerts were only issued under urgent military situations.
"Frett, find out what's happening," Leo instructed, looking at him.
"Right away," Frett nodded and quickly left.
Shortly after, Frett returned with news: "The Kingdom of Blueyard has declared war on us. They've attacked a major city in the west, and now the entire northwest is in chaos!"
Upon hearing this, Leo's eyes narrowed.
If his memory served him right, the northwest frontline was under the command of his brother, Horn.
With issues emerging there, the situation was bound to get more complicated.
"What do you plan to do, Your Highness?" Frett asked Leo.
"It seems we don't need to hurry to leave anymore," Leo said with a smile.
With the nation entering a state of war, he figured his father and brothers wouldn't have the leisure to 'concern' themselves with him anymore.
The chaotic situation might even present some opportunities.
"War?" Lilith's brows furrowed slightly.
Not having the mindset of a ruler and being a former commoner, she instinctively feared and despised war.
"Don't worry, even if the cavalry of Blueyard Kingdom is formidable, they can't possibly storm the capital overnight," Leo reassured Lilith with a smile.
"But war means death," Lilith's voice trembled slightly.
"That's not for us to decide," Leo said calmly.
He gazed in the direction of the horn, as if he could already hear the hooves of Blueyard Kingdom's horses.
...
The onset of the war and its uncontrollable nature unfolded almost instantly.
In just a couple of days, the supposedly impregnable defense line spoken of by Horn was breached, allowing the cavalry of Blueyard Kingdom to directly threaten Lionara's capital!
Leo received a message from the palace in his estate:
King Vickery III was furious, demanding an explanation from Horn for the breach and ordering him to the frontline immediately!
For Horn, recently established as the crown prince, being rushed to the battlefield was undoubtedly a source of immense frustration.
He couldn't understand why Blueyard Kingdom had suddenly declared war on Lionara.
But the situation being what it was, he had no choice but to head to the frontline.
"When a person holds power for too long, they become overly concerned with their own life, even if they appear to be an immortal old soul," Leo said with a smile.
Frett stood by, not daring to speak. Even coming from Leo, such words seemed profoundly rebellious.
"Your Highness, if the war really..." Frett started, then hesitated.
The situation wasn't irreversible yet, but if the war did reach a point of no return, they might need to prepare early.
"Don't worry, let the wheels of fate keep turning for a while," Leo said calmly.
His gaze was fixed ahead, deep and thoughtful.
...
Inside the palace, King Vickery III was in a state of utter turmoil.
As a mighty sovereign, he had led numerous campaigns and built a robust defense for Lionara, believing that no nation would dare challenge Lionara for a century or two.
But now, the Blueyard Kingdom's army had not only waged war against Lionara but had also rapidly broken through the first line of defense, something beyond his wildest expectations.
"What on earth is going on?!" King Vickery III threw the military report on the ground, standing up abruptly in anger.
Below him, several ministers responsible for military and state affairs exchanged glances, none daring to speak.
In reality, they were well aware of certain facts they dared not mention.
Prince Horn, recently designated as the crown prince, was known for his arrogance and overconfidence, claiming to have slaughtered a beastfolk tribe for merely killing a lone beastfolk.
He frequently provoked and exploited neighboring states, demanding tributes.
The spark that ignited this war was a conflict where Horn took a fancy to a woman from Blueyard Kingdom and forcefully detained her, only to discover that she was, in fact, a princess of the Blueyard Empire!
Of course, Horn would never disclose these details to King Vickery III.
"Your Majesty, the military situation is critical. Prince Horn has repeatedly asked for reinforcements. Please, your command is needed," a minister spoke up, mustering his courage.
"I've already diverted all the forces I can spare to his aid, and he still says it's critical?!" King Vickery III's anger intensified.
He waved his arm, exclaiming loudly, "Does he want my royal guard as well? Or should I abandon the other defensive lines?!"
His roar echoed through the palace, further tensing the atmosphere.
The ministers looked uncomfortable, unsure of what to say.
King Vickery III took heavy breaths.
Despite his anger, he knew that the kingdom was facing an existential crisis and he had to find a solution.
"Can we divert more troops from other areas?" he asked after a moment, his voice hoarse.
"Further diverting forces from other defensive lines could weaken our positions in the southwest and east, potentially exposing us to the beastfolk taking advantage of our vulnerability," a military minister replied.
King Vickery III's eyes narrowed, his gaze flickering.
He clenched his teeth, ready to make a decision.
Whether the beastfolk would take advantage or not was uncertain, but the immediate priority was to stop Blueyard Kingdom's army before it reached the capital.
Otherwise, Lionara faced the risk of annihilation.
"Let the southwest and eastern..." King Vickery III began to speak.
"Your Majesty, Prince Leo requests an audience," suddenly, a servant approached King Vickery III, relaying the message.
Upon hearing this, King Vickery III's expression froze, his eyes turning icy.
What did that wretch want?
Why would he seek an audience at such a time?
He certainly didn't believe that Leo wanted to help.
So, what was his motive?
To kick him while he was down?
Did he really think he couldn't handle him anymore?!
King Vickery III's anger, seeking an outlet, flared up anew.
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