The Human Saint is Bored, so I was Summoned to Another World

Chersea's Stalingrad (Part 3)

**Madelaine**

Good thing we found the hidden passageway that the royal servant Tatiana was telling us about. It was a narrow, dark path that led to nowhere. However, this was not the time to question things now that the enemy was about to pounce on us.

"Hurry! Get the wounded inside!" I ordered the able-bodied paladins to carry their wounded allies to safety.

I took the sleeping Lily with me. Back in the last war, I used to carry her whenever she fell asleep and exhausted after the 'Bloodbath' rampage, so this task was no big-deal to me. The Marquise of Monfort also led her sister inside, with the princess, Jessica, following them.

"Your Holiness!" a paladin then called out to me. She was panting, a sign that she came from the upstairs at the first floor, and hurried down here, "Sir Kuro and the royal knights blockaded the passageway to the first floor, and they stood to fight the rebels trying to get in!"

My heart immediately melted when I heard that. My legs wobbled and nearly gave way. Lily almost fell from my back, fortunately, the Marquise was quick to assist me. The other paladins also moved in to stop me from going back.

"Your Holiness! Please stop this!" they pleaded, "It's your safety that's our priority; please don't do this!"

"Aaaarrrgh! Please work! Teleport! Teleport!" I desperately tried to activate my teleportation spell, but it was all in vain.

"Your Holiness!" the Marquise wrapped her arms around me, "Please calm down."

"Kuro! He's back there!" I cried out, "I need to go back to him!"

"His sacrifice would all be wasted if you go back, Your Holiness." she reiterated, "Kuro had created this opportunity for us, using his life, so that you could continue on your ideals for this land! Please don't throw away his trust in you!"

"Your Holiness...please be strong!" Jessica also came to encourage me, "We all wanted to go back for him, but knowing Kuro, we would only get him mad for wasting this opportunity he created for us."

The Marquise and Princess Jessica's words felt like a heavy hammer that crushed my spirit, and though I wanted to run back to the palace, I realized I would only throw away Kuro's sacrifice—as well as the others—if I did just that. My heart was heavy, and tears were falling uncontrollably from my eyes.

Still, I picked myself up and ordered the other paladins...

"C-Continue...f-for...ward."

Those were the heaviest words that came from my mouth. Kuro, a good friend and the man I loved, would be sacrificed just for me to live and continue my beliefs.

The Marquise and Jessica stayed with me for a while I cried my heart out...

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When I finally got back to myself, the Marquise had told me we should carry on with our escape. Then she entrusted me to Jessica and asked her to take me to the very end of this tunnel we're in. Our other companions were sent ahead, so as not to be burdened by my earlier episode.

"Where are you going, Lady Monfort?" I asked.

"Rearguard duties, Your Holiness," she answered, having selected twenty of her paladins. I guess they'd try to block the enemy from pursuing us, should they find the hidden entrance to the passageway?

I quickly gave my blessings to the Marquise and ordered her to, "Come back safely, Lady Monfort! If it is time to run, by all means, don't delay."

"Yes, Your Holiness!" she gave me a wink, "Let's meet again at the Nebat. Please be safe!"