บท 210: Drawing Closer

"The strong and the capable are doomed to lead a lonely life," Owain said, as though he bore a great burden. "My father was a hero and his father before him, but we've never had peers who could march to glory with us, only those who served below and failed us when we needed them the most."

It seemed like a curse had befallen his family. Whether it was his father, his grandfather or any of their predecessors, at some point, their conquest fell to ruin. Every one of them could boast of some success, but whenever it felt like they would achieve real gains, a single defeat unraveled all of the momentum they'd built. 

One or two key allies faltered, a brush with death came too close to taking the life of the current Marquis and it was over. Their path to additional conquest and greater glory was snuffed out like the flame of a candle.