Rotten Situation

A man who looked like a beggar was brought before Catherine.

Catherine was stunned.

Because she could vaguely recognize him from his features. The man before her was Becky Mandel, the second son of the Mandel Family, a noble family of the Royal Capital.

A year ago, he had accepted his family's arrangements and gone to Watchman Fortress to undergo training and earn his own knightly title.

In Catherine's impression, Becky had been a burly young man who, like the other young nobles of the Royal Capital, had placed great importance on his appearance.

But the man before her was worlds apart from the Becky she remembered.

He staggered as he walked and looked utterly exhausted, clearly having endured a long journey. The muddiness in his eyes revealed how difficult the journey had been. His clothes were tattered, and his exposed skin was covered in bright red wounds. His hair was tangled like a mess of hemp, filthy and blown into disarray by the wind.

"Are you Becky Mandel?"

Catherine asked in disbelief.

"Waaaaah, Princess, I never thought I'd live to see an old acquaintance from Crystal Radiance, or live to see you! This must be a blessing from the Lord of Light."

Becky actually burst into tears in his excitement. He stumbled and nearly fell, but Auffina beside him caught him in one swift motion.

The black-haired female general comforted him. "Becky, you're surrounded by your own people now. You can relax. Explain the details to Her Highness."

Becky Mandel composed himself and described a terrifying reality to Catherine at a rapid pace.

The Bradley Family had betrayed the kingdom, and Watchman Fortress had already fallen.

"The fortress was subjected to a full assault by an army of orcs. That was nothing unusual. We were confident we could repel