NOVEL NEXT WORLD Chapter 79
Episode 79: Gildoruk Annexation (6)
Sosua, tied up by Reos and his crew, was dragged to the Zabeiru military base.
As the gates of Rekuryaku Castle opened, the Zabeiru soldiers looked slightly confused upon seeing Sosua bound and brought in.
“We surrender to the Zabeiru Military. We have captured the leader, Sosua. We request an audience with the Supreme Commander, Yuan-Zabeiru, the Royal Younger Brother!!”
Reos confidently declared this to the Zabeiru soldiers.
“Thank you for waiting. We will guide you.”
“Ah, lead the way.”
“…Understood.”
After a while, a commander arrived, bowed, and proceeded to guide them.
(Sigh… Reos is such an idiot. Doesn’t he realize the Zabeiru soldiers are looking at us with disdain?)
Sosua sighed inwardly. She noticed the cold stares from the Zabeiru soldiers and was convinced her predictions were spot on.
However, what Sosua didn’t realize was that the soldiers’ gazes were filled with sympathy, not hatred. Despite being part of the despised Gildoruk royal family, Sosua was only thirteen years old. Seeing her betrayed by her own subordinates and bound like this naturally evoked pity. Had she been crying and making a scene, the soldiers might have felt differently, but her dignified demeanor only deepened their sympathy.
For Sosua, who had already resigned herself to her fate, the humiliation didn’t break her. She wasn’t sure how she’d react if she hadn’t already made up her mind.
(Sigh, still, we’ve been thoroughly defeated.)
On the way to the Zabeiru base, Sosua saw the corpses of many Remnant Army soldiers, and her heart grew heavy. She couldn’t help but feel she should have resisted more fiercely.
(I guess I’m not cut out to be a queen…)
Sosua felt she lacked the most important quality a ruler should have: the will to stand firm and not yield.
(Protecting the people… I don’t have the resolve to carry that through.)
She mocked herself for this.
When Sosua arrived at the Zabeiru headquarters, Reos and his group were asked to surrender their weapons.
“Don’t mess with us!! We’re not prisoners!! We captured the leader, Sosua!!”
Reos and his crew were furious at the demand.
(Sigh, they’re really idiots… Their little plan means nothing.)
From their words, Sosua understood what Reos and his group were trying to claim. They intended to say they had infiltrated the Gildoruk royal family to capture Sosua, not because they were loyal to them. But of course, Yuan-Zabeiru wouldn’t fall for such a scheme. After all, Ryoshua and his people had already infiltrated their ranks, making their plan pointless.
“We cannot allow armed individuals before His Highness, the Royal Younger Brother… If you can’t understand that, we’ll cut you down right here.”
The officer said this while slowly placing his hand on the hilt of his sword. The intensity of his gaze and the murderous aura he emitted made it clear this wasn’t an empty threat.
“Gulp…”
Reos and his group swallowed hard.
“What will it be? Will you die gloriously here? We don’t mind either way.”
Under the officer’s words, Reos and his group finally relented.
“Hey.”
“…”
At Reos’s command, everyone handed over their weapons to the Zabeiru soldiers, who snatched them away rudely. Reos and his group wanted to protest, but the officer’s glare silenced them.
(Oh dear, they’ve been completely rejected.)
Sosua calmly observed the scene. The attitude of the officers and soldiers made it clear they weren’t welcoming Reos and his group. If capturing Sosua had been seen as a merit, they wouldn’t have been treated so harshly.
“This way. Follow me.”
The officer turned his back and started walking. Reos and his group silently followed. By this point, even they were starting to sense something was off.
“Your Highness, we have brought the Queen of Gildoruk.”
“Bring her in.”
“Yes!!”
After this brief exchange, Sosua was dragged before Yuan and his advisors by Reos and his group.
“Your Highness, Yuan-Zabeiru, it’s an honor to meet you!! We have captured the leader, Sosua.”
Reos and his group knelt and greeted Yuan in unison, their voices carrying an obsequious tone.
“Hey!! What are you standing around for?!”
Reos yanked the rope, causing Sosua to fall to the ground.
“Stop!! Hey!”
“Yes!!”
At Yuan’s command, the officers immediately moved to help Sosua up. One of them drew his sword and cut the ropes binding her.
Reos and his group watched in shock.
“Now then, shall we begin the surrender negotiations?”
“Understood.”
Sosua responded without flinching. Following Yuan’s gesture, she took a seat prepared for her in front of him.
“Y-Your Highness!! T-This is…”
Reos was clearly overwhelmed by unease, his voice trembling with fear.
“Reos Markein, you’ve done well.”
When Yuan called Reos’s name, the group’s fear eased slightly, as Yuan’s voice was calm. But Sosua, understanding what was coming next, quietly closed her eyes.
Yuan glanced at Sosua for a moment, a slight smirk forming on his lips.
(Just as Ryoshua reported… She’s quite sharp.)
After making this quick judgment, Yuan turned his gaze back to Reos and his group.
“Thanks to you, the reconciliation between Zabeiru and Gildoruk will progress.”
“Y-Your words are too kind!!”
“Truly, you’ve done well. For the sake of Zabeiru, you’ve taken upon yourselves the hatred of the Gildoruk people.”
“Huh?”
“As sacrificial offerings, you lack grandeur, but we’ll make good use of your noble sacrifice.”
With that, Yuan’s officers immediately subdued Reos and his group.
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