V2: Chapter 189: Justice Will Never Be Absent
After the speech, Liang Lin and Liang Di didn't leave immediately. They moved through the crowd, shaking hands with everyone, listening to their stories, and offering encouragement and support.
Their shadows stretched long in the afterglow of the setting sun.
Knights will surely come to arrest them soon; there's no need to rush.
The knights rode through the filthy streets of the slums, their hooves echoing through the narrow alleys, kicking up clouds of dust. Their armor gleamed ominously in the sunlight; clearly, this mission was not honorable.
The terrified civilians scattered, some casting furtive glances, others whispering tales of the "knights'" infamy. They knew these so-called knights were actually henchmen of power, often acting without regard for morality, driven only by their own conspiracies and selfish desires.
Finally, the knights arrived at the central square. The solemn statue, bathed in the afterglow of the setting sun, appeared particularly somber, seemingly a silent protest against the impending injustice.
In the statue's shadow, Liang Lin and Liang Di stood calmly, like red and white roses shrouded in darkness.
The knights slowly dismounted and surrounded Liang Lin and Liang Di. Their movements, though elegant, conveyed an undeniable threat in every detail. The lead knight stepped forward and coldly read out the so-called "crimes," but these were merely pretexts for a power struggle.
The knight loudly proclaimed the utterly absurd charges:
"In the name of the kingdom, I hereby declare that the two young ladies of the Langwendi family, for the heinous crime of treason, will be escorted to the capital for trial!"
His voice echoed across the square, like a cold blade cutting into the hearts of everyone present.
Treason?
The accusation struck like a bolt from the blue, shocking everyone present.
The commoners exchanged bewildered glances. They all knew the Langwendi family had been loyal for generations, and considering Liang Lin and Liang Di's speeches, how could they possibly be associated with treason? It was clear the Empire had wronged these two. They were obviously victims of power struggles, lies woven by greedy individuals for their own selfish gain.
A low murmur of protest began to ripple through the crowd. Though weak, the yearning for justice and discontent with tyranny were quietly spreading. However, faced with the knights' armor and swords, these protests seemed utterly powerless.
"I'm sorry, my sister, and I, cannot go with you."
"Because..."
Liang Lin pointed towards the direction outside the royal city.
"...The judgment of justice is about to begin."
The knights nervously looked in the direction Liang Lin was pointing. Half a minute passed, and all was quiet except for the whispers of the commoners. Nothing shocking had happened.
"Ha, just a bluff."
The lead knight chuckled coldly, drawing his sword.
"Miss Liang Lin, I admit you are an excellent swordsman, but can you really defeat hundreds of us alone, protecting Miss Liang Di?"
Liang Lin also drew her sword.
"I know you. You deserve to die. You should feel honored to die by my sword. It's just a pity your filthy blood will stain my blade."
The knight gritted his teeth, raising his sword high.
"His Majesty said that if you insist on disobeying, then we're free to take your heads!"
Just as the knights were about to charge forward, a series of rapid and powerful hoofbeats broke the silence of the square. The sound grew louder as it approached, accompanied by the heavy clanging of armor and the shouts of soldiers, its momentum formidable and not to be underestimated.
People turned to look in the direction of the sound, and saw a troop of fully armed soldiers galloping towards them. They were clad in uniform armor and carried gleaming weapons.
At the head of the column, a bright banner fluttered in the wind, embroidered with the crest of the Kronin family, announcing the troop's origins.
The knights, seeing this, exchanged bewildered glances, clearly surprised by this sudden turn of events. They knew the Kronin family's prestige and power, and even more so, their unwavering pursuit of justice and fairness.
At this moment, a sense of unease and panic arose within them.
But why had they arrived so silently?
Shouldn't they be defending against an attack from a neighboring country? Why were they suddenly here?
Three months ago, a caravan of twenty-five people, driving nearly a thousand white horses, set off from the border, approaching the royal city. At the same time, a large number of "refugees" were also fleeing towards the vicinity of the royal city.
As for those defending the border against an attack from a neighboring country…
The Magic Tower was now completely empty.
As the soldiers drew near, the atmosphere in the square grew increasingly tense. Liang Lin's former subordinates quickly surrounded the knights, forming an impenetrable defensive line.
The leading general shouted, "Stop! Anyone who dares to move!"
The knights were forced to halt, their eyes warily scanning the surrounding soldiers.
The two leading soldiers turned and gave Liang Lin a simple, honest smile.
"My lady, long time no see."
"Marquis, long time no see."
"Long time no see, Ulysses, Blaze."
Indeed, family understood me best.
Six months ago, Liang Lin sent a letter to her uncle. She thought it would take a lot of persuasion to convince her uncle, who was as loyal as she was, to betray the Empire. However, her uncle didn't need much persuasion at all; his reply was full of support.
One sentence in particular brought tears to Liang Lin's eyes.
“My dear child, I think I should have known more than a decade ago what kind of empire everyone truly desired. Certainly not the one engulfed in war and causing such suffering.”
“What we must protect is the Soteland Empire's people, not the Soteland Empire itself.”
The flashback ended, and the knights in the square were bound by soldiers and thrown beneath the statue.
A soldier led over a white horse, and Liang Lin mounted it with a swift, fluid motion.
“Liang Di.”
Liang Lin reached out her hand to Liang Di.
“Let’s go, Liang Di. This time, we will fight together.”
“Yes! Sister Liang Lin, I’ve been looking forward to this day for so long.”
Liang Di gripped Liang Lin’s hand tightly, and Liang Lin pulled her onto the horse with a strong tug, holding her tightly in her arms.
Liang Di felt her eyes welling up with tears.
Monsters don’t cry.
But I'm no longer a monster.
The procession marched forward in a mighty procession, followed by the shouts, cheers, and desperate pleas of the civilians.
"Miss Liang Lin! You must win!!"
"Believe in justice!"
"Believe in the Langwendi family! Believe in the Kronin family!!"
"We! Still have hope!"
Author's Note
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