Chapter 384: Chapter 384

Lucia’s raised fist commanded every gaze in the room. The silent threat was clear—anyone who resisted would end up like Lucas sprawled unconscious on the floor.

“What do you think you’ve done!”

“Do you think this will make us follow that ridiculous order?”

But the vassals immediately erupted in rebellion. Had they been the type to bow before raw power, or the kind to blindly obey the family head’s commands, the Lucid family would never have grown to its current strength.

Every decision required rational, logical thought backed by solid reasoning. This was the primary reason why Lucia, despite her tremendous achievements, hadn’t been acknowledged as the next family head.

The current vassals believed ‘Lucia lacks that crucial quality.’

‘What sister just did is like pouring oil on their anger.’

The vassals’ rebellion continued, but Lucia’s response was even more outrageous.

“Tch, bunch of old geezers.”

The vassals’ voices rose to new heights.

“To be treated ! I can’t believe it!”

“Apologize immediately!”

“Ah, but you are old geezers. Do we really need to debate this in an emergency? A Legion Commander has appeared—we have to run. Is there any other option?”

Lucia’s final words sparked another uprising among the vassals.

The conference room had devolved into something resembling a marketplace when a new voice cut through the chaos.

“Everyone, calm down.”

The voice carried such mana-infused authority that silence fell instantly. Even without the magical enhancement, that particular voice would have commanded immediate attention.

Pure white hair, a matching beard, and deep wrinkles marked the face of the man who stepped forward.

Head of a family bound to the Lucids by blood alliance, a veteran who’d fought alongside Duke Luke on countless battlefields. He was also the leading figure supporting Lucas as the next lord.

“It seems the ‘young lady’ doesn’t understand the importance of this place.”

Several vassals flinched and glanced at Lucia. The title ‘young lady’ carried deliberate weight.

‘He’s refusing to acknowledge sister as the next family head.’

Count Klaus used the title ‘young master’ for Lucas as well, but Lucia was currently the unofficial heir apparent. His choice of words was a direct, public insult.

“Then again, that’s probably why you speak so carelessly.”

“Ha… so this is what the Lucid family has become. Did someone call her the greatest lion in history? No, that’s wrong. You are…”

Count Klaus looked down at Lucia with undisguised contempt.

“Just a puppy wearing a lion’s mask.”

If she chose retreat after such harsh criticism, there would be no return. Lucia would be forced to choose defending the castle instead. Everyone expected exactly that.

“I understand perfectly the importance of this land and what retreat means.”

Their first defeat in 120 years. Abandoning territory they’d protected for centuries. It would announce to the world that the Lucid family had fallen into decline.

They’d be attacked from all sides for abandoning imperial territory and fleeing to save their own lives. Enemies would try to strip away every advantage the Lucid family had earned.

They might even lose their position as one of the Empire’s eight pillars.

“When you must retreat, you must retreat.”

That was the truth. Lucia, who had experienced real war, understood this better than anyone.

Blind fighting accomplished nothing. Retreat was also part of strategy. When commanders made wrong choices, it wasn’t the leaders who bled—it was the soldiers.

Lucia knew this more intimately than anyone present.

“All territories grow and shrink, are born and die, over and over again. Countries are no different.”

No nation had maintained its bloodline for thousands of years. The Annwood Empire, which the Lucid family currently served, would also decline someday.

“That day has simply arrived for the Lucid family today. That is… all.”

Solemnity settled over the conference room. Everyone here knew the harsh reality—stopping a Legion Commander would be nearly impossible.

Yet their incredible 120-year record, the Lucid family’s reputation, the Northern Alliance’s immense power and pride—all of this had allowed them to harbor hope, however slim.

More than anything, supporting Lucia’s call for retreat without even attempting a proper defense felt wrong. Dying with honor was also their duty.

As if reading their thoughts, Lucia continued.

“However, retreating doesn’t mean we’ll lose the war. We’ll lose this battle, but we’ll win the war.”

This was the Lucid family that had protected the north for hundreds of years.

“Because we are the Northern Alliance.”

Lowell’s body trembled. Everyone else in the conference room was no different—they shook even more violently than she did.

It was pure elation and pride coursing through them.

‘Even I, who’ve accomplished nothing, feel this much… how fired up must these people who’ve served the Northern Alliance their whole lives be?’

Count Klaus, who’d delivered those taunts to change Lucia’s mind, muttered in apparent disbelief.

“Why? Was my logic too solid? Or was I just too cool?”

Lucia tried to strike a dramatic pose, sweeping her hair back with one hand.

“You actually know how to think? I’m genuinely surprised.”

“That’s what surprises you!? What exactly have you been seeing me as this whole time?”

“I thought you were a beast wearing human skin. Your thoughts could never keep pace with your strength…”

The vassals nodded in solemn agreement. Their expressions were deadly serious—they’d truly believed this.

“No… of course it was because I was being lazy. Of course I, a human being, know how to think.”

“I see. Congratulations. You’ve progressed from beast to something on the verge of being a beast.”

“I’m still not free of beast status!? At least promote me to the verge of being human!”

Their exchange—half-banter, half-serious—sparked laughter throughout the room.

Lowell found herself giggling as well, but the atmosphere suddenly turned heavy.

Count Klaus had dropped to one knee in a formal bow.

“With the Duke and young master unable to communicate, command authority rests with Lady Lucia.”

The other vassals also knelt before Lucia, taking their positions of allegiance.

Lowell followed their lead, awkwardly dropping to one knee.

“Please give your orders.”

How many people noticed that Count Klaus had just addressed her as ‘Lady Lucia’ instead of ‘young lady’?

Even in this crisis, Lucia remained composed. After a moment’s consideration, she spoke.

“We retreat to Orion Castle.”

“Not Gorgon Castle at the second defensive line?”

“The dying land is spreading gradually. If there’s no limit to its growth, it will reach Gorgon Castle soon. We could retreat there, but we’d have no time to establish proper defenses.”

A bold decision to fall back to the third defensive line, accounting for erosion’s gradual expansion. Later, this choice would be recognized as optimal, and Lucia’s name would once again resonate across the continent.

“Then we’ll have to evacuate the people at Gorgon Castle too…”

“Exactly. I’ll take full responsibility. We retreat with only essential items and personnel. Move. Now!”

At Lucia’s sharp command, the vassals sprang into action.

They were abandoning 120 years of achievement, but no one hesitated. Tʜe sourcᴇ of thɪs content ɪs novᴇlfire.net

Count Klaus, after giving orders to several people, approached Lucia.

“What do you intend to do, Lady Lucia?”

“I have to go to father.”

“The opponent is a Legion Commander. If both the Duke and you die, the Lucid family will…”

Be finished. Count Klaus swallowed the final words, but Lucia responded as if it were nothing.

“What do you mean, finished? He’s right here.”

Lucia lightly nudged something with her foot—the eldest son of the Lucid family, still unconscious from her punch. Lucas.

Lucia reached out and gently stroked Lowell’s head.

Lowell stood perfectly still, unsure how to react.

“My younger siblings will lead the family better than I ever could. You were already thinking that anyway, weren’t you?”

“I never thought such a thing.”

“To be able to spout such bullshit with a straight face.”

“Please watch your language. Vulgar words create poor impressions.”

Lucia frowned. She’d noticed this about him for years—this old man simply didn’t get along with her.

She relieved her irritation by tugging Lowell’s cheeks in various directions.

“I’m already broken. There’s no way someone like me could properly lead such a large family.”

A body and mind devastated by war. At this point, Lucia simply wanted to rest.

But the Empire revered her as a hero and kept dragging her back into the spotlight. No matter how well she hid, they pulled her back into the sun. That was Lucia’s current reality.

“You could do it. If you just tried.”

“Never mind that—I’m going to fight, so just handle the retreat properly.”

Lucia rose from her seat.

Was she really going to fight the Legion Commander? Lowell was stunned. Judging by Count Klaus’s expression, he felt the same way.

“Anyway… that guy fighting alone and you both being out of your minds.”

“Calling my father ‘that guy.’ If he hears about this later, you’ll get quite the scolding.”

“What does it matter if I’m about to die? Anyway, he’s as much trouble now as he was back then. I should have known he was insane when he tore down my gate and dragged this old man out, demanding I join him…”

Count Klaus grumbled about the famous story known to every citizen of the Empire—how Duke Luke had literally demolished his gate to recruit him as a vassal.

Count Klaus followed behind the now-giggling Lucia.

“Let’s go together. It’s meager strength, but I’ll add it to yours.”

“Wow, people always die first. It’s not too late—why don’t you just join the retreat?”

“I can’t leave the rear guard to a fool and a beast-on-the-verge.”

“Who’s been calling me a beast-on-the-verge this whole time!?”

Their bickering continued.

Just before the two left the conference room, Lowell instinctively grabbed Lucia’s cloak.

The Legion Commander. She could tell just from that brief glimpse at a distance—it wasn’t a being that could be defeated.

But she couldn’t voice such thoughts to Lucia, who had already made her decision.

Swallowing her fear, she asked.

“S-sister… w-what should I do…”

Suddenly, Lowell felt warmth as Lucia pulled her into a tight embrace.

Only then did her trembling stop. Lucia whispered in her ear.

“Lowell, I have a favor to ask.”

Right—Delin. There was little Delin to think about.

Who would protect her if not Lowell herself? She was probably trembling somewhere right now, looking for her.

“Leave it to me. I’ll protect her with my life.”

“Good. Don’t let go of Delin’s hand until you reach Orion Castle. Understood?”

Lucia started to leave, then stepped back as Lowell grabbed her cloak again.

“Ah, Pleche went earlier. He’s probably fighting right now.”

Her friend Pleche. It was already overwhelming just dealing with the Legion Commander, and here she was making additional requests.

Lowell thought she’d made a pointless demand.

“All right, don’t worry. Sister will bring everyone back.”

Mother, father, Pleche. And everyone on this land—all life.

Lowell watched Lucia’s retreating figure for a long time.

For the first time, Lowell truly understood the lion cloak that had always just looked impressive—she felt the weight it carried.

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