Li Chen had already built up enough prestige in this region, so he decided to continue south.
Alfred and old Castro were thrilled when they heard the news, because the major city to the south was the core territory of old Castro's lineage.
At dawn, a grand procession set out through the city gates.
At the front were twenty knights of the Holy See in silver armor, holding banners embroidered with golden crosses high.
In the middle was Li Chen's gilded carriage, drawn by six pure-white steeds.
Behind it came the guard companies of Alfred and old Castro's lineage, numbering more than three hundred in all.
Servants and maids accompanied the procession on both sides, along with several lavish carriages carrying the women of the household.
Throughout the journey, Lady Ophelia displayed extraordinary devotion.
Whenever the procession stopped to rest, she would immediately kneel inside Li Chen's carriage to "confess."
Sometimes it was in a forest clearing, sometimes on a stony bank beside a stream. Everywhere bore traces of her "confessions."
Her voluptuous figure was always wrapped in the most conservative black gown, yet the exaggerated curves revealed when she knelt still left every guard unable to look away.
Even the way she looked at Li Chen had changed. Where was the bearing of a Holy Scion's wife? She was practically his servant.
"Lord Personal Guard, please forgive my sins." Ophelia's voice was sweet enough to drip honey, and her once-proud blue eyes were now filled with infatuation.
Gwyneth and Sophia stood nearby, biting their handkerchiefs in jealousy.
They simply could not understand how Ophelia had earned such favor, but she was their mother-in-law, after all, so they could hardly say anything.
Five days later, towering city walls finally appeared on the horizon.
The sheer scale of this major northern