Princess of Victory - Guardians of Forewood [1]

Chapter 22: Trials and Tribulations

Day 24of the Fourth Month, Year 1016

Dustor City, Grizzle Province

The trial was held that weekend with the evidences found.

It was a messy affair that Victoria didn't want to recount. She had asked for help from Adefine to conceal the transport of Colonel Grant to the military prison as to not alert the true traitor. The trial was closed down from the public for the same reason, with the minimum number of higher-ups. Unfortunately, both Palmer men just had to be there. Victoria had observed them, though, but both of them showed puzzled look when they saw Trina. Her feelings said they didn't know about Trina being the traitor.

She wasn't sure she should believe her feelings any longer.

She did feel a bit off when she met Trina again before. But she thought... Trina was a good classmate and friend back in the academy, and since she heard about what happened to her father the Marquis, she amounted the weirdness to that matter. But clearly Colonel Grant was quite a greedy one who weren't above killing people to achieve her purpose.

So, what happened to her old classmate? What changed? Perhaps she should believe in her feelings more and shouldn't let hope interfered.

Because of that, Luz almost got killed. Another one of her friends almost fell dead just to protect her... Victoria gritted her teeth. She was careless. She shouldn't have sent Luz alone without backup. She knew Luz was older than her and clearly capable, but Victoria didn't want anyone dying for her. Not again.

They didn't manage to get anything out of Trina. Instead, the Colonel died, committed suicide in her cell when no one was watching. They still didn't know if there was any other traitor within, or who paid her to do so...

Everything frustrated her, but, on the bright side, she managed to free Dev. More good news was that Doctor Wentworth had finally finished the antidote for those unconscious trainees, although they still didn't know who put poison on their weapons. Needless to say, they gave the whole weaponry a thorough wash-down.

It was quite grand, all in all. Although now that they had resolved that, she had another problem.

The Crimson Corps' news had yet to come through. She was worried something might've happened, but Alize had reported that some of the Corps' member in the capital were still around. She wasn't sure what happened either. Anyway, Alize had started helping gathering everyone. She hoped that it was nothing big. Maybe she should go back to take care of it herself, she thought, but before she could consider that thought even further, a young soldier walked rather hurriedly towards her.

"Your Highness!" He said, with a bit of panic. "General Adefine invites you to join the emergency meeting."

Emergency meeting? She walked forward with the soldier boy. "What happened?"

"There's news from the South Watchtower," the boy replied with a low voice. "Lirsk are coming... with a huge army."

Her expression sank. That was bad news. "How big?"

The boy swallowed. "More than three thousand soldiers," he whispered. "Although, there would still be some time until they arrived."

Victoria narrowed her eyes, but she didn't push the soldier boy any further. The questions she had would have to be asked to the generals, along with the strategy to handle the situation. Still, how soon?

When she entered the conference room, the meeting had already started. All the higher officials in the room greeted her politely, with the exception of General Palmer who likely held a grudge against her. Victoria nodded towards them all and sat down next to General Adefine. "I heard about the situation. How far are they?"