It took roughly five minutes for the leaders of the southern reinforcements to make their complete submission clear to Mary and promise to leave immediately.
Having secured the promise she wanted, Mary promptly rose to leave.
The underage princess had no desire whatsoever to linger in the southern reinforcements' camp.
Not only because of the hypocrisy of the people before her, but also because...
There was another coffin in the neighboring tent.
The faint sobs of Count Will's second son drifted over.
He had lost his father and elder brother at once.
And when that elder brother had been his father's murderer, no ordinary person could accept it.
Clearly, the count's second son was no exception.
Mary understood how he felt.
She had lost her mother, too.
And her mother had been killed by someone Mary had considered closest to her.
But she would not try to comfort the count's second son.
For some things, words of comfort did nothing.
You had to rely on yourself.
Of course...
Sometimes, you did not.
Holding Qin Ran's hand, Mary returned to the edge of the camp, with the leaders of the southern reinforcements following close behind. Just as she was about to board the carriage, one of the barons said again, "Your Highness, I swear I knew nothing about Count Will's affair."
At his words, the other five barons immediately began swearing oaths as well.
Listening to their vows, Mary gave a noncommittal nod and climbed straight into the carriage. Immediately, the leaders of the southern reinforcements turned their eyes to Qin Ran.
In fact, whether during their conversation earlier or while seeing them off now, these leaders had never taken their eyes off Qin Ran.
They discreetly watched his expression, striving not to miss the slightest detail.
But to their disappointment,