Chapter 352 254: Hidden Killing Intent in the White Castle

Kolon White Castle, a fortress built of white marble, served as the Duke of the South's personal residence. It was normally bustling with noble ladies, young maidens, and aristocrats. At night, the castle would be ablaze with light, hosting one feast after another.

It was the very definition of decadence and debauchery.

Now, however, the City Guard Army patrolled the walls tensely. The castle itself was under complete lockdown, with squads of patrols sweeping its halls, terrified that some unknown person might have slipped inside.

"Someone's coming."

"Get out, quick!"

Startled, the maid who was having an affair with the White-robed Iron Guard hastily pulled down her skirt. She slung the basket of fruits and vegetables over her arm, ignored the mess on the ground, and hurried off in the opposite direction with her head down.

"Who's there?"

Having noticed movement in the dark corner, a squad of patrolling soldiers surrounded the area, their faces tense.

"I'm just taking a piss. Did you want to watch?" Oli emerged from the shadows, casually hitching up his trousers. He rested one hand on the hilt of his standard-issue Longsword and shot a glance at the grunts in Silver Armor, armed with Long Halberds.

"Ah, it's Lord Oli." The patrol captain breathed a sigh of relief, but still asked as a matter of formality, "By order of the Duke, no one is to be out and about in the castle during this time. May I ask what business brings you here, Lord Oli?"

The man before him was a White-robed Iron Guard and an Official Knight, but their units were not part of the same command structure. Besides, the current situation was tense.

So there was no need to be overly intimidated.

"Hmph. I am on my way to fetch the usurper, Onaya, and bring her to the main hall, on Lady Penny's orders."

Oli said coldly.

Upon hearing this, the patrolmen quickly stepped aside to make way. Oli departed without another glance.

The soldiers exchanged glances as they watched him go, then shook their heads and resumed their patrol.

Oli had once been just an ordinary White-robed Iron Guard. However, he was among the first of the guards to side with Lady Penny, the Duke's mother. Consequently, after the other, older Iron Guards who had failed to read the political winds were sent back to their villages to farm, he was promoted to Centurion of the White-robed Iron Guard.

He now enjoyed Lady Penny's profound trust.

His duties, however, had merely changed from guarding a small gate to guarding a large one. It was boring as hell, so he had taken to seducing a few of the prettier maids to alleviate his tedium.

'Just now, he had happened to run into one of them. With the way things were going, the enemy could break in at any moment. He'd figured he might as well enjoy her one last time himself, rather than letting those Northern Guys get their hands on her.'

Now that he'd been so abruptly interrupted, his sense had returned. He decided he should take care of his official duties first.

He followed the long corridor and soon arrived before a room. Two Iron Guards in Silver Armor and White Robes stood sentinel, perfectly still. Upon seeing him, they immediately offered a respectful bow. "Lord Oli."

"I have orders from Lady Penny to escort the prisoner. You two, go wait for me at the end of the corridor."

Oli didn't bother with further explanation, simply giving the order.

"Yes, sir."

The two guards knew Oli was one of Lady Penny's trusted men. They nodded, opened the door, and then took their leave.

Inside the room, a milky-white gem bathed the space in a soft glow. A woman in a long green dress sat on the balcony, her gaze fixed on the Duomo Cathedral of Milan within Kolon City.

The cathedral stood in the northwestern part of Kolon, and from this vantage point, a portion of the magnificent, golden-topped structure was visible.

"Lady Onaya, the Duke has instructed me to take you to the council hall."

The voice from behind broke the woman's reverie. She turned, revealing a face that was somewhat haggard, yet it could not conceal her beauty. Though in her thirties, she still possessed a mature charm.

If anything, it evoked an irresistible urge to protect her.

This woman was none other than Liya's mother, Lady Onaya.

"This is about the Northern Expedition Army outside the city walls, isn't it?"

A faint smile touched her lips.

Ever since Penny and Damon seized control of Kolon with incredible speed, she had been branded a usurper.

Her world had been reduced to this single room, no more than a few dozen paces across.

She knew very well that while she was confined, she was not being mistreated. The sole reason for this was her daughter, Liya, who had escaped under the protection of the Ice and Snow Mother Goddess.

She was a valuable bargaining chip, one they could use at a critical moment. Because of this, they would never send her to the gallows or mistreat her.

However, due to her confinement, she knew little of what was happening in the outside world.

She only knew that her daughter had apparently been rescued by a newly-knighted Knight, and that her sister, Fulina, was preparing to lead the Northern Army south to her rescue.

It wasn't until a few days ago, when she overheard a maid mention that Kolon City was surrounded by soldiers with no one allowed in or out, that she realized Fulina had finally arrived with her army.

Seeing that her captors had even locked down the White Castle itself, she knew they must be on the losing side, and a rare smile graced her lips.

"Lady Onaya, these matters can wait until you meet with the Duke," Oli said.

He had already wasted enough time with the maid. If he dallied any longer, he risked incurring the wrath of the nobles waiting for him.

"Oli, if I'm not mistaken, my sister has already taken Kolon City, hasn't she? You were forced to fall back to the White Castle, and now you're surrounded by an army of more than a hundred thousand."

After a year of captivity, Onaya seemed to have regained some of her former presence. She rose to her feet, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at the White-robed Iron Guard.

There were only about a thousand White-robed Iron Guards defending the White Castle. These Knights were masters of Martial Arts, proficient in Combat Qi, and formed the castle's most elite defensive force. As such, she recognized nearly all of them.