Oathkeeper Duncan! (Extra chapter for Alliance Leader FrankChiao)

Chapter 47: Oathkeeper—Duncan! (Bonus Chapter for Alliance Leader FrankChiao)

A fine drizzle fell.

Britain Island's weather truly was terrible. The front line had only just stabilized when two or three straight days of rain set in.

A troop of knights hurried along a muddy road.

"This won't do."

"The stone roads built by the Empire back then still need to be repaired."

Duncan looked toward the distant fortress, reined in his warhorse, and said, "Rest for now. Get out of the rain."

Britain Island had no Four Directions Road.

In many places, there was only a dirt road that kicked up dust. Better places had stone-paved roads, but after decades without maintenance, they had become little better than mud tracks. You could tell whether an empire was prosperous just by looking at its roads. The dynasties of the Central Plains had always placed great importance on official roads and relay stations.

An eight-hundred-li emergency dispatch was a test of the roads.

Clegane led the Sarmatian Riders in guarding Duncan. Looking at the sky, he said, "My lord, we should reach our destination before nightfall."

As he spoke, he gave the men beside him a meaningful look.

Those Sarmatian Riders immediately began handing out food and water to the others, mainly the household guard knights who had sworn allegiance to Duke of Tintagel.

In a deep voice, Clegane said, "My lord."

"I've made contact with them in secret. Quite a few are willing to swear loyalty to you!"

The weather was turning cold.

Put another layer on my lord!

Clegane's meaning was plain: if Duncan wished to take Duke of Tintagel's position, the overwhelming majority would support him.

Duncan could take the ducal seat whenever he wanted.

Duncan merely glanced at him and calmly said, "I understand."

The decision was entirely his to make.

Although Cornwall was Duke of Tintagel's homeland, and there should still be many people loyal to him, if Duncan truly wanted to seize the title, no one would likely be able to stop him.

A man made his name on the battlefield!

Duncan's military achievements and formidable reputation were enough to intimidate and forcibly subdue the others.

But if he did that, his reputation would certainly suffer. How long had Duncan even been on Britain Island before seizing Duke of Tintagel's title and estate?

Some people might say nothing openly, but fear would inevitably take root in their hearts.

A mutiny that placed the yellow robe upon him would not look good. Duncan had another plan in mind.

He also wanted to show all of Britain Island the breadth of his spirit!

To borrow a line from the Romance of the Three Kingdoms—"A hero harbors great ambitions and sound strategies within his breast; he possesses the opportunity to encompass the universe and the will to swallow heaven and earth."

The sky gradually darkened.

Before nightfall, Duncan led a cavalry force back to Cornwall. His return set off a wave of cheers from the city walls, as many soldiers had heard of his reputation. With Duke of Tintagel gravely ill and on the verge of death, everyone felt uneasy and desperately needed someone to step forward as their pillar.

"Summon all the lord knights at once. Gather every commander in the army above the rank of centurion at the castle as well."

Clad in armor, Duncan cut a dashing figure as he strode into the castle. The guards on either side respectfully lowered their heads, awed by his legendary reputation; quite a few even dropped to one knee.

Raven Queen Triss stood ahead to greet him, joy on her face. She could sense that Duncan had already won the hearts of the people here.

"Yes!" Clegane said excitedly.

He did not know what Duncan intended to do, but the order stirred his excitement.

"Light the torches!"

"Gather everyone in the Lord's Hall for a council!"

Duncan gave Raven Queen Triss a slight nod, then noticed someone behind her—a Three-Star Silver-Gray witch, likely one of the founders of the Witch Coven. Her face was veiled, and her bright eyes were curiously studying Duncan.

"Bring Duke of Tintagel over. Bring the Duchess and her three daughters as well."

Duncan issued orders one after another, and everyone answered in acknowledgment.

A burst of footsteps sounded.

Duncan sat directly in the lord's seat in the hall. The attendants had no way to help the dying Duke of Tintagel to his feet, so they carried him over together with his chair and placed him below Duncan.

After so many days.

Duke of Tintagel's face was utterly ashen, filled with the pallor of death. He was only barely clinging to life.

His clouded eyes looked toward Duncan, seated in the lord's position. There was a trace of desolation on his face, all hope extinguished, as though he had long anticipated this outcome.

This fellow was pitiful too. His wife had cheated on him, and now his lands, estate, and ducal title were about to slip away as well.

Inside the Lord's Hall.

People gradually began to enter. Some knights' expressions changed the moment they saw Duncan seated in the place of honor, while others looked furious. Many gazed at Duke of Tintagel with a hint of pity in their eyes, for he had once been the man to whom they had sworn loyalty.

But Duncan's reputation was simply too terrifying!

No one present dared make a rash move.

Raven Queen Triss consciously took her place behind Duncan. The two witches stood to either side, ready to suppress the situation at any moment. Combined with Duncan's martial prowess, it would not have been difficult to cut down everyone present by force.

The firelight flickered.

Duchess Igraine appeared, trembling as she led her three young daughters, their faces filled with terror. She wore a tattered long dress, no longer possessing the dignity and beauty she had shown at the beginning. Bruises could even be seen on the skin of her exposed arms.

Her eyes turned toward Duke of Tintagel, who lay before her unable to move and seemingly on the verge of death. There was a trace of grievance, a trace of hatred, a trace of pity, and a trace of lingering affection in her expression. Her gaze was so complicated that it could not be interpreted at all, because she, too, was merely a victim.

She had devotedly served her husband after his return from the battlefield. What was wrong with that?

King Uther had disguised himself as her husband. How was an ordinary woman like her supposed to know?

He had fooled so many guards.

King Uther was an old man in his fifties. After learning the truth, she had lived in constant fear every day. Several times, she had nearly vomited. Countless times, she had desperately scrubbed herself clean, almost rubbing her skin raw and bloody.

But what could she do?

After her husband accidentally learned the truth, he had imprisoned her immediately and even beaten her.

Who was she supposed to vent the grievance and resentment in her heart upon?

In the end, she was only a helpless woman. She had no ability to choose her own fate. Merlin could deceive her with ease, and her husband could put her to death just as easily.

Hiss!

At the sight of Duchess Igraine, Duke of Tintagel grew agitated, his eyes filled with resentment. Having been reduced to this state, he clearly blamed his wife.

Under God's Eye View.

Duncan's expression suddenly shifted slightly. He saw a marker labeled "Familiar" on the map.

Merlin truly was watching everything here.

Duke of Tintagel became so emotional that he nearly failed to catch his breath. The lords and knights around him also looked toward the beautiful Duchess, each wearing a different expression—some disdainful and contemptuous, others sympathetic and pitying. Rumors were spreading wildly outside now, with every sort of story being told.

In the most vulgar of those rumors, Duchess Igraine's conduct was portrayed as utterly shameless.

In the end.

Duchess Igraine, whose eyes were equally dim, raised her head to look at Duncan seated in the lord's chair. That man sat in the seat of honor; his meaning could not have been clearer.

Before everyone's eyes, she slowly knelt down and opened her arms to embrace her three young daughters beside her.

This was a plea!

Not for herself, but for her children.

Duchess Igraine humbly lowered her head, showing submission to the man before her and begging him to spare her children.

Clang!

Under the firelight, Duncan drew the Oathkeeper Sword from his waist.

He descended the steps and glanced at Duke of Tintagel, who could not speak. His gaze was firm. In the instant their eyes met, Duke of Tintagel seemed to understand something and, surprisingly, his breathing became much steadier.

Duncan walked up to the eldest little girl and asked in a deep voice, "What is your name?"

The girl shrank fearfully into her mother's embrace. She was only seven or eight years old and held her two trembling younger sisters close as she replied softly, "Morgause."

Duncan held his sword level and said, "Kneel."

The lords and knights stirred uneasily. Many exchanged looks, because Duncan's manner of holding the sword reminded them of something.

A flash of light burst into Duchess Igraine's eyes!

She pressed a hand against her eldest daughter's shoulder, signaling her to kneel.

Morgause was only a little girl and did not yet understand. She immediately dropped to both knees, but Duncan reached out and pulled her up at once, saying in a deep voice, "Kneel on one knee."

The Lord's Hall erupted into uproar. Everyone watched the scene in shock.

Morgause seemed to realize something as well.

The seven- or eight-year-old girl looked up at the heroic Duncan, scarcely daring to breathe. Her two younger sisters also looked up. One of them had lively eyes and was actually marked as a One-Star witch unit. Duchess Igraine had some luck indeed—she had given birth to a natural-born witch, and would later give birth to King Arthur as well.

"In the name of God and the gods!"

Duncan laid Oathkeeper flat upon Morgause's tiny shoulder. This longsword named Oathkeeper also entered the ears of the Britons alongside the legend.

He looked down upon everyone present and declared in a deep voice, "I, Lord of Southampton, the man who shot down the King of Kent, the allied commander who defeated Horsa, and the commander who successfully repelled the Saxon Pirates invading Britain Island."

"I hereby formally invest Morgause, eldest daughter of Duke of Tintagel, as the next Duchess of Cornwall!"

"Cornwall shall remain her hereditary fief."

"She shall inherit Duke of Tintagel's estate in her own right, including his castle, manors, lands, and all else."

Duncan did not slap the little girl as one would when dubbing a knight. That would have been far too cruel.

The entire Lord's Hall fell deathly silent.

Not only Duchess Igraine—even Duke of Tintagel, who had been on the verge of death, sat up at that moment. His breathing came rapidly, as though he had experienced a final burst of vitality. He stared at Duncan before him, his face filled with shock, seemingly never having expected Duncan to be so generous.

King Arthur was not his son, but these three daughters were all his own flesh and blood.

Duncan wanted only military authority and troops. Duke of Tintagel's property could remain, while the title of Duke of Cornwall would pass to his eldest daughter. She would be the first underage duchess in Britain Island!

"I know some of you think I will seize the ducal title and occupy Duke of Tintagel's property."

Duncan gave a scornful smile and said slowly, "But everything I want, I will take for myself from the battlefield!"

"Since the covenant still stands, let Oathkeeper bear witness to all that happens today!"

Inside the Lord's Hall, Clegane looked deeply moved. He led those Sarmatian Riders in dropping to one knee. One after another, the lords and knights loyal to Duke of Tintagel likewise went down on one knee.

Raven Queen Triss's breathing quickened, and her eyes never left Duncan for even a moment.

Beside her, the masked Witch's eyes lit up at once!

Below the steps.

Duncan took Morgause's little hand and led her up to the lord's throne. Yet he did not let her sit; instead, he had her stand at his side.

The many lords and knights also lowered their heads slightly. "Duchess Morgause!"

They knelt on one knee before Duncan, but before Morgause, they merely bowed their heads slightly, showing respect for her position as duchess.

Everything came to an end.

Duke of Tintagel gave Duchess Igraine one final look. There seemed to be a trace of relief on his face as his hand slowly fell. Before his death, his gaze rested on Morgause beside Duncan, and he revealed one last gratified smile.

A true man won the world from horseback—why would he need to bully an orphan and a widow!

With Duke of Tintagel's sudden death, Duncan formally invested his eldest daughter, Morgause, as the next Duchess of Cornwall in the Lord's Hall. Everything that had happened today swept across all of Britain Island like the wind.

—Oathkeeper Duncan.

King Uther had no chance to meddle in any of this. Duncan had already, in practice, taken control of all of Duke of Tintagel's lands.