The Duke's Passion

Chapter 528 - Your Majesty, The Empress

It took a long time for every single one to enter the estate. With almost half of the town with us, it wasn't a surprise. Normally, they would all find refuge in the Earl's estate. But since that place was an easy target and Jaime didn't take care of it, the best option was the Roux estate.

I appreciated Sam's effort in hiring kind and smart people in our house, as they didn't raise a question. They simply did as they were told, helping everyone with everything they could. The elderly, women, children, and injured were welcomed inside.

Since we didn't have time to prepare and it was an emergency, the butlers moved the furniture in the mansion's foyer to accommodate everyone. On the side were wounded soldiers being tended. In the middle were women, the elderly, and children sitting on the floor while drinking the soup to fill their stomachs.

Our house was akin to a labyrinth, so I didn't want them to get lost in it. That would be troublesome. I turned around at the open entrance. Outside were uninjured knights and able men drinking their soup to replenish their strength. That was all our house could offer right now in a hurry.

"Madam Roux, why don't you eat as well?" Bey came to me with a bowl in her hand, but I shook my head lightly.

"I'm alright, Bey." My eyes fell on Law, who was helping the maid with Adam give food to the children. Those two were dirty, so was everybody else, including me. "Eat so you can also help others."

"Yes, Madam."

I watched Bey help the maid since she was also a worker in this place. Some women who were initially in the group also seemed they had recovered, helping in everything they could since the maids alone couldn't help everyone. I was relieved that they were choosing unity right now.

I walked outside the open door. As I did, the men outside raised their heads and set their eyes on me. I scanned everyone from this raised platform, holding Lakresha on my side. They didn't speak a word and even the noises from inside the estate subsided with everyone's attention on me.

"What I am about to say may scare everyone," I spoke sternly, raising my voice so everyone could hear. "Right now, I can feel people marching towards the Roux Estate."

The night breeze blew past me as I sensed their breathing slowed down. But none of them panicked, nor did they make a sound.

"Those who are prepared to lose a limb or... prepared to die, take up your weapons and fight for their survival!" I pointed at the people inside without looking away from the men in front of me. "Take up your weapon, not because of honor or glory, but wield your weapon with a mindset to protect those lives inside this place. For your family, friends, for your colleagues!"

I took a breath, looking at everyone in the eye. "This may sound ridiculous, but allow me to lead you. I may not be able to protect everyone, for I am but one, but I can assure you your death will not be in vain. We will reclaim Minowa and stand victorious!"

There was a brief silence as my chest moved in and out heavily. I could understand if they still questioned me as I was a woman and I was asking them for too much.

"I entrust my life to you, Madam Roux!" someone from the crowd yelled after a brief silence. My eyes searched for the source and caught Omar bending down to his knees with his fist across his chest.

"For my son...! I will fight!"

"My wife and daughter who nearly got burned alive, but because of Madam Roux, they were safe! I will not let those people terrorize my family anymore!"

"My friend is wounded because he saved me... it's my time to protect him."

After Omar spoke, everyone declared their reasons to fight one after another. Even though not everyone was a knight, they also bent down to their knees until every one of them was on their one knee like real soldiers.

I took a deep breath, keeping my chin up as my grip around Lakresha tightened.

I looked back inside, only to see everyone bowing as well. My chest moved in and out heavily as these people didn't hesitate to entrust their lives to me as well. But what caught my eye was Law, smiling weakly at me while he was holding a tray.

The look in his eyes wasn't the same as that shock and terrified earlier. This time, his eyes were soft matched with a kind smile.

'My son...' I whispered in my heart as I wanted to ask for his forgiveness for everything. 'For you... I will fight.'

I peeled my eyes away from Law as I gazed ahead. A sharp breath slipped past my lips as I rocked my head while everyone rose from their knees.

"For our people! For Minowa!" I shouted at the top of my lungs, holding Lakresha up.

"For my mother!"

"For my son!"

"For my family!"

"For my brother and friend!"

"For Madam Roux!"

Everyone also yelled the reason they were fighting as their eyes blazed with determination. I could only offer them some weapons, so others had wooden swords and sticks, some pitchforks, and anything they could use to fight, holding them up.

*****

After my words of encouragement, we all marched outside the estate. I was confident that even when someone snuck inside, they would get lost. So, we all stood outside. I was in the front. Narrowing my eyes, seeing the torches from the distance.

"These rebels aren't just here to kill the Earl and the Malum," Glory muttered from behind me. "I realized that after seeing the plaza."

"Just what are they after?" Omar also wondered under his breath. At this point, everyone was clear about this. That even if we sacrificed the Earl and Jaime, they would kill us all.

"Hmph! It's obvious!" Jaime, who had no option but to stand on the same ground as everybody else, huffed. "Those rebels and those traitorous knights who conspire with them want to make Minowa theirs! A turf of rebels — whatever the reason or the source of their confidence for doing this that can alert the emperor, that is for sure!"

"Jaime is right." I backed him up, slicing a bit of the hem of my ripped skirt, and used it to tie my hair up while keeping Lakresha between my legs. "Their plan is to make this a territory against the empire. For what reason, I sort of had a guess."

"A guess?"

"A not-so-wild guess," I said coldly, holding Lakresha once again as I walked forward. "Minowa is a place with the strongest border — an impregnable fortress if used right. If someone capable and against the emperor took control over it, that would be troublesome for the empire."

"Madam, what are you -- "

"Stand back." I spun Lakresha in between my fingers before swinging it to create a line. "We have a guest."

BOOM!

I squinted my eyes as soon as I uttered those last remarks because someone suddenly landed several meters away from me. As dust and smoke dissipated in the air, a figure rose up.

"Don't cross the line," I said while keeping my eyes on the figure in front of me. "If you do, you will die. Am I correct, Acheron Roseberg?"

"Good to see you again, Your Majesty, the Empress."

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NOTE: Acheron Roseberg is one of the people in the seance (CH 250-251) with Zero, Theodore Darkbridge, and Mortas Martin.