Chapter 344: Shameless

Preston City, Prince Augustus’s Castle

Tevez looked up at the strange object slowly drifting in from outside the city. Like him, the entire city of Preston was staring at the thing in the sky.

What was even stranger, it had dropped a stone tied with a piece of paper. After the city guards opened the note, they immediately went to find Tevez.

"General Tevez, His Highness is drunk again. You’d better come back tomorrow." Said the steward at the gate.

Since the siege began, Prince Augustus had been drunk nearly every day. Though the other generals had complaints, no one dared speak out because of his violent temper.

Hearing that the prince was drunk again, Tevez was furious.

Last time, they gave grain to the reavers in hopes they’d turn east and fight, but that only made the reavers look down on them even more.

The reavers had taken the grain, but mocked them as fools in return. Clinton had left, but Fern and his reaver army took over and continued the siege on Preston.

Only now did they realise they’d been tricked. Fern didn’t want grain; he wanted Preston City itself.

With the siege tightening and no reinforcements arriving, Prince Augustus drank every day and often beat his servants.

Life inside the castle had become unbearable for the staff.

Looking at the whip marks on the steward’s face, Tevez stopped the door from closing with one hand.

He said loudly. "I must see His Highness today. The Brambleford army and imperial guards are outside the city. To break the siege, we must coordinate from inside and out."

With that, he pushed the gate open and walked inside, ignoring the guards.

Tevez was highly respected among the Preston army and was also the brother-in-law of Prince Augustus’s wife. Since he forced his way in, the guards didn’t dare stop him.

Before he even reached the main hall, he heard singing along with bells and music.

Frowning, Tevez entered and saw Prince Augustus, red-faced and clearly drunk.

Two dancers were lying in his arms, laughing and singing.

"Your Highness!" Tevez shouted from outside the hall.

The sudden voice made everything go quiet. Prince Augustus looked at him with bleary eyes and laughed. "Why are you here? Have the reavers broken through? Hahaha, I’ve been waiting for them! Someone get me my sword!"

With the city surrounded and no reinforcements, Prince Augustus had given up. He shouted again. "What are you all waiting for? Go run for your lives!"

Tevez’s frown deepened. He raised his voice and said. "Your Highness, the Brambleford army and imperial guards are fighting the reavers outside the city. This is a message from the Brambleford army; they want us to observe the battle and join them in attacking the reavers when the time is right."

"Nonsense! You think I’m really that drunk? The city is surrounded; how would the Brambleford army send a message in? Can they fly?" Prince Augustus scoffed.

Tevez thought to himself. ’They actually did fly.’

He said. "Your Highness, it may sound strange, but this really is a message from the Brambleford army. If you don’t believe me, come outside. That strange thing is still in the sky."

Prince Augustus laughed. "Fine, I’ll go see it with you. But if you’re lying, I’ll skin you alive!"

Swaying on his feet, Prince Augustus followed Tevez outside.

Since the balloon moved slowly, it had only just reached the sky above the prince’s castle.

Looking up, Prince Augustus sobered up quickly.

He rubbed his eyes and stared at the strange object. "That thing dropped the message?"

"Exactly, Your Highness. And look, there seem to be people on it." Tevez said, pointing at the balloon.

Prince Augustus took the letter from Tevez and read it silently.

"How is that thing flying?" He muttered.

Tevez looked just as confused and shook his head.

"If there are people on it... does that mean it can carry me out of Preston?" Prince Augustus asked, suddenly excited. "Tell them to land and take me with them!"

Hearing this, Tevez nearly pulled out his sword to strike the prince. With the enemy right outside, their leader only cared about escaping instead of saving the people.

He said. "Your servant doesn’t know how to make them land."

Prince Augustus had been living in fear these days. Ignoring Tevez, he ordered his servants to prepare a horse and rode off alone after the balloon.

Soon, everyone in Preston saw their prince chasing something in the sky.

From the south gate to the north gate, Prince Augustus shouted and cursed, but the flying object never came down.

Tevez followed behind, watching the prince, clearly driven mad by the reaver siege.

Then he asked again. "Your Highness, the Brambleford and imperial armies are outside the city. What do we do now?"

Prince Augustus stared hatefully at the disappearing object in the sky and said. "Sit back and watch the tigers fight. No one is to move!"

After chasing the balloon for so long, Prince Augustus was completely sober.

He felt a bit calmer, but also began thinking only about his own gain and loss.

Thirty kilometres away, on the main road...

The imperial guards’ supply wagons finally arrived at their camp.

With the supplies secured, Randy let out a long sigh. Casualties could be handled, but running out of food would have been a disaster.

"Is that General Randy up ahead?"

Aiden arrived with Brambleford soldiers.

After the ceasefire last night, the support troops had worked through the night to set up a camp. It was now taking shape.

"I am. And you are?" Randy asked, bowing.

He was filled with joy. Reaver cavalry had been attacking from both the front and rear, and if the Brambleford army hadn’t arrived in time, the food supply would’ve been in serious trouble.

So Randy was deeply grateful.

And as a strong man himself, he admired other strong forces. He looked down on the weak soldiers of the Eldorian Empire, but he had great respect for the Brambleford army.

And now that he saw their strength firsthand, he was even more impressed.

"I am Aiden, governor of Brambleford."

Randy’s eyes lit up. "Ah! So you’re Governor Aiden. I’ve heard much about you. Thank you; without you, our supply line would’ve been ruined."

"No need for thanks, General Randy. The reavers are a threat to us all. We should fight them together." Then he added. "What are your plans from here?"

Randy paused. ’Brambleford soldiers really don’t waste time.’ He thought.

He answered directly. "I had planned to head straight for Preston, but the reaver cavalry blocked our path. Now that you’re here, our strength has doubled. I suggest we strike now and push the reavers back. Attacking Preston could also relieve the pressure on Cobblestone."

Aiden nodded. "But... is the general aware that the reavers brought cannons this time?"