Chapter 594: The Last Stand ( 594 )

After the punishment was over, silence blanketed Marrenthold like a funeral mist.

Every single soldier who had been in the barracks was now out in full armor—shined, straightened, perfect. Not a speck of dirt dared cling to them. Their boots were polished, belts tightened, weapons aligned with military precision.

They stood in perfect formation at the town square—rows and rows of beastkin troops, not one twitching, not one blinking. Faces forward. Eyes locked.

Those still on duty—guards on the walls, archers in the towers, scouts near the perimeter—continued their assignments in absolute silence. No whispers. No laughter. Not even glances toward the town center.

They were working. Or at least pretending to work harder than they ever had in their lives.

Because no one wanted to be next.

At the very front of the square stood Captain Juraban.

Posture straight.

Face neutral.

Hair still a bit unkempt, but soaked in cold sweat.

His pajamas had been swapped for armor—clumsily, but properly fastened. The occasional twitch in his eye betrayed the lingering trauma of the hundred push-ups.

Before them all sat Princess Felicia on her Pekko, still and regal.

Her voice rang out like judgment.

“You are soldiers of Marrenthold. You represent the Beastkin Kingdom’s pride.”

“Your armor is to be worn correctly. Your weapons—sharpened. Your formations—precise.”

She dismounted, walking slowly in front of the line like a general on inspection.

“Uniforms wrinkled. Boots mismatched. Helmets falling off during routine drills.”

She turned her head slightly. “You allow your guard posts to become beds.”

The silence tightened.

“Unacceptable.”

Juraban didn’t move.

Felicia’s boots clicked sharply against the stone as she stepped forward, her eyes like frozen gold as they locked onto the trembling captain.

“This is my last warning, Juraban.”

“Y-Yes, Princess!”

“If I ever hear about unkempt, undisciplined troops in Marrenthold again…”

“Y-Yes, Princess!!”

She turned slightly, letting her glare sweep across the entire formation. Soldiers stiffened even more.

“You are all lucky that I have my own mission to carry out,” she continued, her voice ice-cold but perfectly composed.

“But remember this—everything that happened today will be written in full detail…”

Her eyes narrowed.

“…and delivered directly to His Highness.”

The sound of armor creaking under tightened stances filled the square.

Felicia turned without another word and walked back to her Pekko with grace and fury.

Liana turned slightly, a faint smirk playing on her lips as she glanced over her shoulder.

“So, stray cat… you done?”

Felicia dusted off her uniform and straightened her posture, answering coolly, “Yeah… sort of, pointy ear.”

“Good.” Liana faced forward again, gripping Pikko’s reins. “Keep up, or we’re leaving you behind. It’s been too long since Gloria and I last saw our young master Javier. We miss him. Especially me.”

She narrowed her eyes, her tone turning serious.

“The reason we killed those halfling scouts quickly and cleanly is because we don’t have time to mess around. No long missions. No delays.”

Gloria sat gracefully atop Peanut, nodding once.

“Ara~ everything was handled in ten minutes. Quite efficient, wouldn’t you say?”

Liana continued firmly.

“We already gave you a chance to scold your troops. What happens next in Marrenthold is your responsibility. But Gloria and I… we’re leaving.”

Felicia moved closer to her Pekko, calm but determined.

“Who said I’m staying?” She climbed onto her saddle and looked directly at Liana.

“I also want to meet my fiancé.”

There was a brief moment of silence.

“Second wife?” Liana called without turning around.

“Yes, first wife~?” Gloria answered sweetly, adjusting her glasses with a gentle smile.

“What’s our next mission?”

Gloria’s eyes glimmered slightly.

“After we pass the border wall between the Beastkin Kingdom and the Dwarven Kingdom, we’ll stop at the first town inside dwarf territory. It’s just a small outpost, but since this stray cat is with us—” she tilted her head toward Felicia “—I’m sure we’ll get through without trouble. Her troops are stationed there.”

Felicia stayed silent, listening carefully.

Gloria added, “After that, we’ll head to Gilikan Town. That’ll be our temporary stop. We’ll send the sealed letter to Commander Raikus—her superior.” She glanced at Felicia briefly. “Just a formality, of course.”

Felicia finally spoke, her tone as calm as ever.

“As we rest there, I’ll personally inspect the stationed soldiers.”

Liana snorted.

“It’s up to you. Just don’t take all night.”

She leaned slightly forward in her saddle, her smile shifting from playful to something sharper—more predatory, eager.

“Once dawn breaks… we continue our journey. I can’t wait…”

Her smile grew even deadlier—pure and dangerous.

Gloria chuckled softly behind her.

“Ara~ Our young master is waiting, after all.”

Inside Liana’s mind, her thoughts whirled with longing and anticipation.

I miss you, young master.

Her grip on Pikko’s reins tightened subtly as the wind brushed her cheeks, stirring a flicker of emotion she kept carefully tucked away.

I really can’t wait to see you again… to kiss you… to hold you close…

Her eyes darkened with fierce affection, and a slow, dangerous smile curled her lips.

And there’s something special I’ve prepared… just for you~

The Pekko beneath her instinctively accelerated, sensing her mood, eager and alert.

Gloria, riding just behind, caught the subtle shift in Liana’s expression. She chuckled softly, her voice playful and knowing.

“Ara~ ara~ looks like you’re in big trouble, young master,”

Meanwhile, deep within the Dwarven Kingdom…

“Chieftain!!”

A dwarven soldier, bloodied and barely able to stand, stumbled through the stone halls of the war chamber. His armor was cracked, one eye swollen shut, his hands trembling as he dropped to his knees before the high seat of Chieftain Gumarak.

Gumarak rose from his throne slowly, his heavy frame casting a shadow over the dim torch-lit chamber. He recognized the soldier—one of the stationed guards at Stonehold Bastion, the last of the three remaining strongholds guarding the border.

The hall fell deathly silent.

“…You came from the first stronghold?” Gumarak’s voice was low, grave.

The soldier nodded weakly… then shook his head… and finally sobbed.

“Gone… all of them… captured…”

The room remained still. No one dared speak.

Gumarak’s gaze darkened.

“So that makes all three…”

He clenched his fists, knuckles whitening under the pressure.

“The first and second taken by the Human Kingdom. The third…” he paused, his voice colder, “was taken by someone unknown.”

Whispers rippled among the gathered commanders and generals.

Gumarak closed his eyes for a moment.

“…So this is our last defense… this central command.”

The remaining generals and commanders stood tense, waiting.

“How many troops do we have left to defend it?”

One commander swallowed hard. “Between sixty to eighty thousand, Chieftain.”

Another added, “…But many are reserve. Few elite remain.”

Gumarak looked down at his hand.

“…And they’ll come for us next.”

( End Of Chapter )

Have some idea about my story? Comment it and let me know.