As the noblemen knelt, Princess Delilah's gaze was unyielding.
"What is the meaning of this barbarism, Lord Artois, and all of you?" she demanded, her tone sharp.
"Th-Third Princess?" The noblemen's surprise was evident as they recognized her. "Your Highness, what are you doing here?"
Delilah did not soften. "As noblemen of Araknis, you bring shame to His Royal Highness. Are you not ashamed of your actions?"
A few of the noblemen bowed their heads, visibly chastened, but resentment lingered in the eyes of some.
Lord Artois, a man of fifty, carefully chose his words as he replied, "But, Your Highness, this bast....no this man crippled our sons. Where is the justice for that?"
He glanced nervously at Aengus, unable to fully mask his fear after experiencing Aengus's terrifying aura. None of them dared provoke him again.
Princess Delilah's gaze remained steely, her tone laced with anger.
"Those spoiled, reckless brats deserved what they got," she declared coldly.
"They were drunk, unruly, and dared to speak disgracefully to their Princess. Not to mention, they insulted our new captain, who holds authority equal to the commander. Are any of you prepared to take responsibility for such war crime offense during wartime?"
"War crimes?" The noblemen looked at her in shock, stunned at the severity of her words. They exchanged bewildered glances, unable to process the implications.
"But, Your Highness... how can this be a war crime? And since when was he given the rank of commander?" Lord Artois stammered in confusion.
Delilah's expression hardened further. "He is our new Captain, an S-Rank war hero. If you dare create obstacles for him, how could it be anything less than a war crime?" Her words struck like a hammer, dashing any defiance remaining in their hearts.
The noblemen shrank under her domineering gaze, realizing the power and authority of the man they had unwittingly provoked.
"How could their useless sons provoke an S-Rank war hero?" they lamented, cursing their sons' stupidity.
Yona and the others perked up, intrigued by the mention of Aengus's family. They still didn't know much about his background, and the mystery piqued their curiosity.
"Captain, why don't you tell us something about your family?" Yona asked, half-teasing.
Aengus looked up at the evening sky, his gaze distant.
After a pause, he replied, "They're... special. To some, they're gods; to others, devils. Their pride and arrogance know no bounds. It's better if you don't know about them yet—you might start doubting your own existence if you do."
He shook his head, clearly not willing to delve further.
The answer only deepened their curiosity, his words were both vague and intriguing. With no clearer answers from Aengus, they turned to Aria.
She shook her head with a knowing smile, indicating that she wouldn't be sharing any secrets, either.
"Oh my god, why are you two so mysterious?" Yona and Drake complained in exasperation, while Princess Delilah kept a reserved, knowing smile.
Aengus only smiled, savoring the rare moments of peace with his companions.
Night fell quickly, shrouding the camp in darkness. The moon hung in the sky, half-lit—a fitting symbol for the uncertain future they faced. Around them, the camps buzzed with tension, as news had arrived that the Imperial forces were nearing, prepared to put an end to Araknis Kingdom's rule.
Aengus received the report and turned his gaze toward the horizon. Even from a distance of tens of kilometers, he could see the vast Imperial army swarming like ants, their numbers reaching tens of millions.
With his Supreme Hunter's vision, he took in the scene in stark detail, far beyond what his teammates could discern in the darkness. He saw warships hovering above, the rumbling sounds of heavy cavalry, and an endless swarm of magical energy signatures flickering ominously in the night air.
The enemy was close—closer than ever.
"Ethan, did you see anything?" Aria asked, slightly nervous.
The others' expressions turned grave as they waited for his response.