Leonidas understood then that his plans needed to change.

He sent a gaze back toward Lady Eve again, seeing that her expression had turned ashen.

Lady Eve had known from the very beginning that training to the point of exhaustion during a time of war was foolish. But, she had let her emotions get the best of her. Now, she had no idea what she would do.

“Come.”

Leonidas walked back over, extending a hand.

Lady Eve looked at it, her eyes far more helpless than before. The warmth the palm emitted seemed to stave off the chilling wind that licked at her sweaty skin.

“The universe had decided that it won’t let you have the time to pout anymore. Are you going to sit here and accept death? Or are you going to come with me?”

“I…”

“I’ve already said it once before, Eve. I have no intention of abandoning either one of you. Today, you either rely on me, or you die. Regardless, what do you have to lose?”

The words seemed to sink in for Lady Eve.

She didn’t have anyone else to rely on.

She had killed her brother’s son and he would sooner kill her to raise an Apostle he could control rather than accept her back into the family.

The Rardin family’s view on the situation would be much the same. Why would they allow such a variable into their fold, especially since everyone knew the fall of the Peyton family was related to her?

Then there was Father Barat.

Not to mention the fact he couldn’t leave the confines of the Church, she had already betrayed whatever love they might have shared in what felt like a former life now.

There was no one left.

Lady Eve’s eyes trembled, her tears threatening to spill over once again. How many decades had it been since she last cried? What was wrong with her?!

‘… How long has it been since someone called me by my first name…’

Lady Eve’s heart trembled.

“You… You called me by my first name…”

The words were nonsensical and almost ridiculous. It was almost as though she had lost her mind.

“Of course I called you by your first name. You’re my wife, aren’t you?”

The words were like a hammer over Lady Eve’s head, grabbing onto her soul and shaking her violently.

Her hand subconsciously found itself in Leonidas’ and she had soon risen to her feet.

Leonidas ran a claw down the band that Lady Eve used to cover her chest, tearing it in half and revealing her perky breasts to the world.

Still somewhat absentminded, Lady Eve only realized what was happening when she felt a distinct breeze.

And yet, rather than reacting as one might expect, she blushed down to her collarbone.

“Le… Leonidas, this isn’t the time—”

Her words were cut off as she watched Leonidas cut the cloth into strips and use them to tightly bind her injured wrist.

“You weren’t going to wear it into battle anyway, right?” Leonidas confirmed. “Just switch into something light and comfortable, and follow behind me. You won’t have to fight today.”

…

Lady Eve was still in a bit of a daze as she followed Leonidas and Anabel through the town.

By this point, most were in a full-blown panic.

Shop owners barred their storefronts as though doing so would help. Men were forced to raise up whatever pitchforks and shovels they could find to rush to the gates. Women and children rushed toward the Church, hoping there was still room remaining to seek shelter.

The Knights, Paladins and Apostles were also on the move, but having passed through the noble community to get here, Leonidas had watched as they secured their tall gates first as though their location was the true first line of defense and everything else was just a buffer.

When Leonidas made it to the front gates, he found numerous men, some much too young, tightly holding onto whatever weapons they had managed to find. Compared to the Blessed weapons in his, Anabel’s and Lady Eve’s possessions, they were sorely lacking.

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By this point, Leonidas had outfitted Anabel in solid silvery armor and a greatsword just a few inches shy of her height.

The greatsword, especially, stood out as it was a Level 3 weapon about a palm width wide at its base before tapering off into a sharp point.

It was most definitely a heavy weapon one wouldn’t expect to find on such a petite woman.

Though Leonidas had said to wear something comfortable, Lady Eve had still put on her usual tight leather armor. But, judging by the blank look on her face, it seemed to have been done more out of habit than anything else.

Leonidas swept a gaze over the horizon.

The warning system of Violet Waters wasn’t that good. He had almost hesitated about whether or not to retrieve his and Anabel’s weapons, assuming that they’d be late when he finally decided it would be foolish not to.

But, there was still no sign of Lower Ogres in the distance. It was odd.

Leonidas’ gaze shifted, his pupils constricting as he watched Deacon Bruthers arrive in a flash of wind.

With a single bound and a light step, the man that seemed past his prime shot up 10 meters to land on the flat surface of a log pierced into the ground.

The log had seemed out of place, like it was the forgotten piece of a gate that was abandoned before it could be built. But, seeing Deacon Bruthers’ position, it was maybe not so random after all.

The sons of the Bruthers family rushed in after their father.

There was Jowell, who Leonidas was a bit more familiar with, and he was followed by two others Leonidas had seen that day at the banquet. Their names were Jasper and Jacob.

Jowell had already brandished his spear, Jasper seemed to be an archer and Jacob used a sword. Leonidas slotted these thoughts to the back of his mind, unknowing if he would care about this information later.

What he did find interesting, though, was the fact that everyone in the Bruthers family was here. Did none of them go off for missions?

Leonidas’ brows only raised higher when the Rardins rushed in soon afterward.

Maw was nowhere to be seen. But, Milon and Benet, along with Averit and the second Healer of the family, Oudin, were all here.

‘Interesting…’

Averit smiled and nodded toward Leonidas who gave him a polite enough greeting back.

The Healer looked really comfortable in his position, surrounded by what looked like at least five Paladins. The wealth of the Rardin family was, indeed, deep.

“Aunt Eve?”

Jowell’s voice caught Leonidas’ attention.

“Aunt, are you injured? Why don’t you come stay by us, we’ll protect you,” Jowell continued with confidence, inviting Lady Eve over.

“I agree with Jowell, Aunt Eve. They caught us off guard last time, but father placed better detection methods in place so we’re all prepared now. It shouldn’t be an issue to rebuff this attack, you can rely on us.”

Jacob, whose mouth had opened to speak, shook his head and closed it. If he spoke up as well, he would just be shoveling shit. He could only say that his brothers were faster this time.

The three youths were still competing for their father’s mantle and the three of them saw Lady Eve as an obvious target to befriend. If any one of them could convince Lady Eve to become a Healer, it would be like guaranteeing themselves the Promotion spot of Deacon in the future.

Watching this scene, Leonidas came to understand just how easy it had likely been for Lady Eve to rope Manfroi in. With this sort of sycophantic behavior, she didn’t even have to use a carrot or a stick, they would have just rolled into the trap themselves.

She likely chose Manfroi, though, because Deacon Bruthers wouldn’t tolerate the loss of an Apostle.

Lady Eve smiled somewhat weakly.

“No, it’s alright… I’ll stay here with Apostle Leonidas… You boys protect yourselves well.”

“Aunt Eve, are you alright?”

The three boys frowned, it didn’t take a genius to see that Lady Eve was acting weird.

Their gazes couldn’t help but shift toward Leonidas, turning hostile. Could it be that he was holding their aunt against her will?

Leonidas met their gazes with a placid expression, unmoved. The pressure he had once felt from fellow Apostles felt decidedly weak now. Maybe only someone at Deacon Level or above could hope to pressure him, especially after his practice sessions with the Basilisk eyes.

“That’s enough.” Lady Eve reprimanded the boys, some of her forcefulness returning. “He is my husband and your uncle-in-law, show some respect.”

Lady Eve seemed to have realized how weak she was coming off and her barriers seemed to come back up one after another. Her words, though, were like a stone thrown into calm waters.

Averit, Oudin and Benet all reacted with serious turns of expression, only Milon seeming to react with only pure shock among the Rardins.

As for the three brothers, they were stunned and rooted in place, not knowing what to say for a very long time, especially beneath their aunt’s glare.

Deacon Bruthers sent a casual glance in their direction before turning back, his focus still on the battle ahead.

Jacob, having lagged behind previously, stepped forward first this time.

“I see. I’m sorry for my rudeness, auntie. I wasn’t aware. I hope your marriage is long and fulfilling.”

The brothers gave their congratulations one after another, not knowing what else they should do.

They couldn’t exactly say that Leonidas wasn’t worthy of their aunt, but this had still come out of nowhere.

“A union between Apostles is a rare and beautiful thing. I’ll have to wish the couple congratulations,” Oudin smiled brightly, “it’s unfortunate that we’ve learned of such a thing in this situation, or else my Rardin family would have definitely prepared gifts.”

Leonidas nodded in return as Lady Eve said her thank you’s. But, inwardly, she was pissed with herself.

She had no idea whether Leonidas was ready to reveal this matter or not, but looking at the faces of her annoying nephews who only viewed her as a tool to get what they wanted, she had only wanted to find anything to say to shut them up.

These people hadn’t been her family in a very long time, and she had long since stopped viewing them that way.

“They are here.”

Deacon Bruthers’ voice spread over the battlefield. His words were like a blanket of darkness, passing over the commoners. Their expressions tightened, the grips they had on their weapons turning their knuckles white.

Leonidas’ gaze was constantly scanning the battlefield. He had never been in a large-scale battle before and was trying to pick up cues wherever he could get them.

Unfortunately, there didn’t seem to be anything particularly special about Violet Water’s defenses.

They had a few archers on the walls, Milon and Jasper taking their places among them. But, other than that, there was just a blob of individuals you couldn’t even call warriors.

The Healers stood on the walls, protected by their Paladins. Deacon Bruthers stood upon a log not seeming to have any intention of attacking just yet. And it was Leonidas, his cohort, and the Bruthers brothers, alone with Benet on the ground.

However, judging by the position of the Apostles, none seemed prepared to take the vanguard, instead letting the Knights and commoners take the helm.

“Uncle Leonidas, I can’t help but notice that the Siris family is not here. Has something happened?” Jowell asked.

Leonidas almost shook his head when he heard the form of address, but he answered anyway.

“I told them not to come.”

Jowell’s brows shot up.