Chapter 871

Chapter 871: Descendants of the Red Dragon

“Thank you.”

The voice was somewhat frail. The girl took these fruits and ate them slowly. The sweet and sour juice of the berries burst between her teeth, bringing a bit of coolness and clearing her mind.

Most wild fruits were small and bitter, rarely edible directly, but these few she held were an exception. Although this black-and-white badger wasn’t particularly strong, it seemed to have a special talent for finding food.

Watching the girl gradually recover, Lolan Hill added some dry branches to the fire, and they began to converse.

“Are you out here alone? It’s quite uncommon at your age,” Lolan Hill observed the girl through the orange-yellow flames. Her fair, tender skin indicated good care, not like someone who had been traveling outdoors. Moreover, her exquisite swordsmanship and strength suggested she had received excellent education, not like someone from an ordinary family.

She must be from a noble family. Only the children of nobles were taught swordsmanship, a tradition of the Verdant Empire. They established their nation with martial prowess, and personal strength often represented the prestige of a noble. While not all were exceptionally strong, at least they knew some, not being complete amateurs.

“It’s just me.” The girl gazed at the fire, responding absentmindedly, then fell silent.

Seeing that she didn’t want to speak further, Lolan Hill stopped talking, allowing her to sit quietly and gather herself.

As night deepened, Lolan Hill took out a towel from her bag, poured some water onto it, and handed it to the girl.

“Do you want to clean up? We’ll be sleeping soon.”

Hearing this, Lotte looked at her hands, then touched her cheeks, realizing how uncomfortable she felt. She thanked Lolan Hill and took the towel.

Though the sweat from the day had dried, there was still some discomfort. At least washing would make her feel better. Given the current conditions, only a simple wash was possible.

When it was time to sleep, Lolan Hill spread a blanket over the cleared grassland and invited the girl over.

“We’ll sleep here tonight. Fortunately, we have two blankets, perfect for both of us.” In fact, she had many more in her storage space, but now wasn’t the right time to take them out.

Throughout the night, Lolan Hill curled up in the blanket like a large spring roll and fell asleep. But the pink-haired girl couldn’t sleep.

The night breeze was cold, but the nearby campfire was warm. The little black-and-white animal also lay near the fire.

The night sky in the forest was particularly clear, revealing the vast starry river. Although the stars seemed tiny and distant, under the starry sky, one always felt insignificant, as if one’s existence would be swallowed by this vast world.

Lotte’s eyelashes fluttered. She gently pressed her hand against her chest, feeling the occasional heartbeat and the pulse of blood flowing. Only then did she truly realize the sensation of being alive.

“I’m still alive.” This sentence carried hope but was also filled with sorrow.

Although she was still alive, she was the only one left. Her relatives had passed away one by one.

Some died in war, some were murdered, some perished due to conflicts with the royal family, and others during her escape. Her former family was once so glorious, powerful enough to sway the empire’s situation, instilling fear and trembling in countless people. Under the black flag with the red dragon, were countless legions ready for battle.

But everything vanished.

Just over a year ago, she was sitting in the tranquil courtyard of her home, painting the sky with colorful pigments. Then a knight in blood-stained armor rushed in, bringing tragic news.

Her father, the guardian of the southern region of the empire, the Duke of the Red Dragon, patriarch of the Basca family, died within the territory of Clancia. Meanwhile, the empire’s army suffered continuous defeats under the new weapons of Clancia.

From that day on, everything changed.

One urgent message after another arrived from the frontlines. The numbers of the family’s elite legions disappeared from records, and none of the uncles and aunts returned. Her aunts wept daily, and her mother spoke less and less.

She didn’t understand the intrigues and power plays among the upper echelons of the empire. But it was indeed a chaotic period. The lights in the study never seemed to go out, hosting visitors from various regions and discussing matters with nobles wearing top hats. Messengers continuously entered and exited the residence, conveying messages from all sides.

Yet, all this effort did not change the outcome.

With the sudden death of the emperor, the situation within the empire became uncertain. The Regent, Prince Adren, who held the reins of power, had no fondness for the Basca family. They had disagreements during past western campaigns.

Unfortunately, the previous emperor who could suppress the Basca family had passed away, and the Duke along with his elite troops perished on the battlefield. No amount of strategy could help against the Regent, who held the empire’s last great army.

Under his proposal, the Basca family became the sacrificial lamb in the empire’s war against Clancia.

Territory was ceded, wealth confiscated, and used as war reparations to end the painful expansion.

The descendants of the Red Dragon Duke naturally wouldn’t sit idly. Various rebellions arose in the southern region. As the un-crowned king ruling this land for centuries, the Basca family’s management was profound. Loyal nobles brought knights and warriors to join the rebellion.

Until they all fell under the black iron cavalry and blades.

Those lancers clad in short cloaks, armed with short muskets and sharp sabers. From the battles in Clancia, they had learned many tactics, entering a new era.

Once, lances and spears dominated, but now they were no match for rows of muskets and cannons. So-called heroic charges were merely a waste of bullets.

Most of the elite legions capable of resisting and defeating these musket forces had fallen on the battlefield. The weakened Basca family continued to rebel, only to be suppressed again and again by the Regent’s troops. Amidst these struggles, the Basca family’s last bloodline was drained. Now, no noble dared to accept the descendants of the Red Dragon, even if there were loyal individuals, they only advised her to leave this land sooner.

“I’m sorry, Miss Charlotte. We can no longer be loyal to the Black Dragon with the Red Crest. You will be sent far overseas, perhaps there you can spend a plain but peaceful latter half of your life.”

“We’ve done all we can.” The somewhat plump butler bowed apologetically, while the dragon-armored knights behind him remained silent, watching as the girl was placed in a carriage and gradually left her familiar home, fleeing into the unknown.

In the deep forest night, tears welled up in the girl’s eyes as she slept.

Perhaps, this is the retribution of the Basca family. Those who ignite the flames of war will eventually be consumed by those very flames.

Even at her young age, she couldn’t escape the weight of her surname, whether it was glory, splendor, sorrow, pain, or sin, all turning into bitter fruit, slowly swallowed.

(End of Chapter)