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CHAPTER 270
297 AC
POV THIRD PERSON
The light of dawn filtered through the dense canopy of the forest, casting a gentle glow on the verdant surroundings. Dacey stirred, her senses gradually coming alive as she awoke from a night of passionate entanglement with Aermir. The air was crisp, carrying the subtle fragrance of pine and earth, and the distant murmur of a nearby stream provided a soothing backdrop to her waking moments.
Dacey's eyes met the filtered sunlight dappling the forest floor as she turned in the makeshift nest of leaves and moss where they had found solace. The silence around her was punctuated only by the rustle of leaves and the occasional call of a distant bird, creating a serene tableau that contrasted with the fiery intensity of the previous night.
Noticing Aermir's absence, she couldn't help but feel a twinge of vulnerability. Her body was still sore from the shared passion. Blushing at the memories, Dacey ran her fingers through her tousled hair and tried to pull out all the leaves and all the other things that got entangled in there. The excitement of creating a mana heart had propelled her to seize the moment, to bridge the gap between them. Although her body ached in the aftermath, there was no hint of regret; instead, a newfound sense of empowerment lingered.
The earth beneath her felt cool and supportive, grounding her in the aftermath of a night filled with both vulnerability and empowerment. She could clearly feel the mana coursing through the ground, the air, and in herself.
As she lay in the morning light, Dacey acknowledged the reality of her feelings for Aermir. Understanding the limitations of their paths, she embraced the notion that perhaps she could not be his wife, but for now, being his lover held a different kind of fulfillment. Determined to savor the moment, she allowed herself a soft smile.
...
After a few more minutes, Aermir returned with something to eat. There was an awkward silence between them. After the last night, the dynamics between them had changed for Dacey, and it was the same for Aermir. He might not be in love with her, but he wasn't a playboy who could feel casual after having sex with a woman.
He had some feelings for her, but he was sure it was not love since he had fallen in love in his last life and knew what kind of feeling it was. This was more like fascination and sexual tension. To be honest, he still felt horny, but from the way Dacey moved around, he felt he had gone a bit too overboard last night.
After breaking their fast, Aermir cast a healing spell to alleviate the soreness Dacey was feeling. He sat down next to her and said,
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"It was a beautiful night?"
Dacey's cheeks become crimson again, and she becomes embarrassed. She doesn't know what to do and has learned to be outspoken from her mother.
"Ahh, don't act like a courting Southern knight! I am in love with you; it is clear, and I am not some Southern lady trying to trap you in honey. I... I might feel shy for a while, but I will get used to it. Just don't push me away until you find someone to marry."
Aermir couldn't understand why she was acting like this,
"Why are you doing this? You are a noble lady from an ancient noble house; you will have many suitors in the future."
She shook her head, "I know who I am. I might not be an earth-shattering beauty, but like you said, I am beautiful. At the same time, I am outspoken and powerful. I don't mean in the sense of political or any other; literally, I am physically superior."
She gripped her fist while feeling the mana sourcing inside her,
"Now, I am more powerful. There is nothing bigger than a woman more powerful than men to shrink their dicks. At the start, they might say they are good with it, but in time, they will lose all their confidence and manhood."
Aermir spurred the water he was drinking, and Dacey released a hearty laughter, "No man would truly love me for an extended time; they will feel too small next to me, and I would feel the same. I don't think I can truly love and respect a man if they are weaker than me. At least for now, I want to be with a man who wouldn't shrink when he sees who I am."
She took a sip from her water, and while looking at Aermir's crotch, she said, "And you definitely didn't shrink, and I have soreness to prove it."
Hearing this, Aermir stumbled and thought she was definitely the daughter of the She-bear of Mormonts. Dacey stood up and put her Morningstar on her shoulder, "Let's go and find the other two; you must know where they are."
...
In the heart of the Vale, more than a week had elapsed since Aermir's audacious attack plan had left the Vale Lords bewildered and unprepared for the imminent threat. A veil of uncertainty shrouded the region as Jon and his counterparts still didn't know what to do since their attempt at peace with The Druid's forces had failed.
On top of that, Misled by their assumptions, the Vale Lords, including Jon, still believed that the mountain clan army lingered in the high peaks surrounding the Vale of Arryn, and they continued to conduct routine scouting operations. Finding sightings of hundreds of mountain men passing through the mountain paths.
Little did they know that Aermir's mountain men army had stealthily repositioned themselves in the mountains to the west of Strongsong. Aermir's ability to maneuver his troops covertly, aided by his familiars, contributed to the Vale Lords' misjudgment.
Moreover, Aermir had left a contingent of 1000 soldiers behind as a diversion before departing the Vale of Arryn. This detachment, strategically moving through mountain paths and engaging in hit-and-run attacks while they traveled towards the southeast, successfully drew attention away from Aermir's main force.
The ravens placed by the two old wargs among the diversion group served as silent orchestrators, ensuring that this contingent never got surrounded. Since this was exactly what Aermir wanted, a war of attrition was perfect for him; he had enough grain thanks to the Vale harvest, while Vale itself needed to buy high-priced grain from Reach.
On the other hand, Jon was ripping off what little hair he had since his expensive army was doing nothing but sitting uselessly; every passing day, hundreds, maybe thousands, of gold dragons were going to waste.