The towering stone walls of Dai Ding City came into view.
This was what a real castle should be called.
Stinkfort's lonely three-story tower wasn't fit for a dog!
Arthur muttered internally.
The Daedings Family banner fluttered in the wind on the five-meter-high city walls.
Due to wartime, and Lord Dading Balon was defending Seaguard.
The guarding soldiers, clad in armor and wielding blades, maintained a formidable defense.
The castle gates were tightly shut.
Seeing three armored, mounted men with weapons approach, the soldiers on the city wall quickly blew the horn for emergency assembly.
Arthur reined in the white horse gifted by Raymon Dayne, while Lucien and Hakon also stopped behind him, somewhat nervously.
"Who goes there!" four guards on the city wall sternly demanded, their bows drawn taut and arrows aimed at them.
Arthur was truly afraid of these archers; one unsteady hand, and the three of them would be turned into hedgehogs.
He quickly spurred his horse forward, pulled out his seal and family token from his In arms.
"Lord Arthur of Stinkfort, here to see the Lady of the Castle," Arthur shouted.
The captain of the guard at the forefront eyed the three of them suspiciously.
Arthur, in a black robe and cloak, with a sharp sword at his waist and riding a fine horse, exuded an extraordinary aura.
Behind him, Lucien and Hakon, though only in light armor, rode upright on their horses, long swords at their waists, their eyes vigilant, looking like seasoned veterans.
The guards on the city wall whispered among themselves.
"Stinkfort?"
"I heard they're so poor they don't even have a horse, or even guards."
"These three don't look like it."
"And wasn't it said that everyone from the Stinkfort Family died at the hands of the Ironborn, and the only remaining Little Suleiman was struck in the head by the Ironborn, left on the brink of death, and sent back to await his end?"
A guard was lowered from the city wall in a basket.
He cautiously walked over, took the seal and family token Arthur handed over, examined them carefully, then looked up at Arthur.
His gaze shifted from initial vigilance to surprise, then to bewilderment.
"Lord Arthur of Stinkfort?" he confirmed.
"Precisely."
The guard returned the seal and family token to Arthur, his tone considerably softer.
"Please wait a moment, I need to report."
He turned back to the basket and was pulled back up to the city wall.
The wait was not long.
Soon, the castle gates opened, and a dozen knights galloped out, surrounding Arthur and his two companions.
The leading knight spoke with a respectful tone, but his hand remained firmly on his sword hilt, his gaze scanning Arthur and his companions.
"Lord Arthur, Lady Roslyn requests your presence."
Arthur nodded, urging his horse forward into the city.
Lucien and Hakon followed closely, trying to maintain their composure, though their expressions were slightly stiff.
After all, being surrounded by a dozen knights and entering the city together was quite an experience.
Upon entering Dai Ding City, the sight made Lucien and Hakon secretly click their tongues in admiration.
The roads were paved with flagstones, and on both sides stood sturdy two- or even three-story houses built of bluestone, with patrolling soldiers visible everywhere.
No wonder Arthur called our place a refugee camp!
Later, the knights separated Arthur and his companions, and once again verified information with Arthur and the others, finally confirming it.
After escorting the three to a side hall, they were asked to disarm themselves of their weapons and armor, and were then searched.
"Lord Arthur, please wait here," the knight said.
The side hall was not large, simply furnished, but clean and tidy.
Arthur found a chair and sat down to rest, closing his eyes to compose himself.
Lucien and Hakon, however, appeared uneasy.
"My lord, this horse, this horse is truly not meant for riding," Hakon said softly, wincing and tightly rubbing the inside of his thigh.
Lucien also nodded with a bitter face: "My butt feels like it's about to fall off."
"I used to think those knight lords looked so dashing and imposing on horseback, but I never imagined it was such a torment," Hakon continued to complain.
Lucien quickly stopped him, "What are you saying! The lord giving us horses to ride means he thinks highly of us."
Arthur opened his eyes, a smile playing on his lips.
He said faintly, "You'll get used to it."
"There will be many more opportunities to ride horses in the future."
Upon hearing this, the expressions on their faces grew even more bitter.
Not long after, a soft patter of footsteps approached from outside.
A brown-haired woman in a simple long dress entered, accompanied by two maids.
She was about forty years old, her face haggard, her expression tired, her hair simply coiled at the back of her head, looking as if she hadn't had a good rest in a long time.
Yet, her eyes were gentle and calm, and as she walked, she carried the inherent dignity of a Lady of the Castle.
This was Lady Roslyn, the Lady of the Daedings Family.
Arthur rose, bowed, and saluted: "Good day, esteemed Lady Roslyn."
Lucien and Hakon also hastily followed suit, mimicking Arthur's movements, appearing a bit clumsy.
"Little Suleiman, no need for formalities." "Please sit," Lady Roslyn's voice was gentle, with a hint of an almost imperceptible hoarseness.
"Little Suleiman, have you come to inherit your family's title?"
Lady Roslyn asked.
Arthur took a deep breath, his face instantly filled with sorrow.
Life is like a play, all about acting.
His eyes reddened, and he rushed forward, kneeling and tightly hugging Lady Roslyn's legs!
His voice choked: "Madam! Madam! Madam! My father and two elder brothers! All have! All have died in battle at Seaguard!"
"My mother, thinking we all perished, jumped from Dreadfort in grief and despair!"
"Madam! Madam!"
As he spoke, as if overcome with unbearable sorrow, he lowered his head, his body convulsing with tears.
He gripped Lady Roslyn's skirt even tighter.
Lady Roslyn watched him quietly, a hint of pity in her eyes, gently stroking Arthur's hair with her hand.
What had this poor little fellow been through?
She sighed:
"I have heard of the tragedy of Stinkfort."
"Your father and two elder brothers were brave warriors; the Daedings Family will remember their loyalty!"
"Your mother was also an excellent mother; she raised three good children."
Arthur looked up, tears welling in his eyes:
"In response to the summons, Father nearly exhausted all of the family's savings to purchase equipment and weapons. Now, now, only I remain at Stinkfort, the granary is empty, the treasury has no gold, and my people and I are on the verge of starvation!"
Arthur cried out in anguish, his voice mournful: "I implore you, Madam, have mercy! For the sake of my father and two brothers who died on the battlefield for Lord Dading, please be generous and help me through this difficult time!"
Lucien and Hakon stared dumbfounded at the pathetic sight of Suleiman kneeling on the ground, tightly embracing Lady Roslyn, crying out in sorrow.
What was happening? Had Suleiman been pretending to be indifferent in front of them all this time, perhaps hiding his pain?
Our Suleiman had kept his tears hidden in his heart for so long.
They felt guilty again, wondering why they were so useless.
Lady Roslyn looked at the young Lord, who was kneeling on the ground, shedding tears, and a trace of sorrow and pity flashed in her eyes.
She was silent for a moment, then slowly spoke:
"Little Suleiman, your family has shed blood for Dading; the Daedings Family will never forget this loyalty!"
Her voice was still soft, but carried a sense of insight.
"But I also heard that the benevolent Lord Arthur, upon returning to Stinkfort, distributed all the family's remaining food and money to the families of the fallen commoners?"
Upon hearing this, Arthur's heart churned, and the sorrowful expression on his face instantly stiffened.
It made sense; if an overlord couldn't know the situation of his vassals immediately, what kind of overlord would he be?
But Arthur quickly recovered, continuing to weep and choke as he clung to the Lady's leg, saying:
"My father and brothers died in battle, and those farmers also died for my family!"
"Their families are now helpless and alone; I, I truly cannot bear to watch them starve!"
"You know, Madam, I am the youngest son of the family and have never received the education of a family heir!"
He raised a hand to wipe away his tears: "I acted on impulse, I just, I just didn't realize the family's situation had become so dire."
Lady Roslyn looked at him, her gaze now holding a hint of scrutiny, and also an indescribable touch.
Lady Roslyn sighed softly, her tone carrying a hint of pity and also a touch of helplessness.
"You will be a kind, benevolent Lord."
She reached out and gently helped Arthur to his feet.
"Rise, Little Suleiman."
"Regarding your request, I will consider allocating some provisions to help you through this difficult time."
Arthur rose smoothly, his face still showing the perfectly appropriate gratitude and sadness.
"Thank you, Madam! Thank you, Madam!"
The best way to move women is to appeal to their empathy.
Just then, hurried footsteps came from outside the door.
A guard rushed in, looking flustered, even forgetting to announce himself first.
"Madam! Madam! Urgent military intelligence!" The guard ran, breathless and pale.
Lady Roslyn frowned: "What is so urgent?"
The attendant presented a letter to Lady Roslyn.
Lady Roslyn's expression changed dramatically as she read the letter, finally becoming solemn, the fatigue on her face deepening.
Then Lady Roslyn turned to Arthur, her voice tinged with apology:
"Little Suleiman, I need some time regarding your request."
"You can stay in the city for now, and I will give you an answer after I have dealt with the current military matters."
Arthur secretly sighed in regret, thinking, couldn't it have come a little later!
The Lady seemed to have been ready to be generous.
Helpless, he could only respectfully say: "I await your news, Madam."
Lady Roslyn nodded: "I will do so as soon as possible!"
"Arthur takes his leave!"
He led Lucien and Hakon out of the side hall, pondering his next course of action.
Lady Roslyn's attitude did not seem bad.
Moreover, Lady Roslyn seemed to have been moved and intended to be generous to him, but the urgent military intelligence just now made her change her mind and consider it first.
But considering it also meant variables; he didn't know what the urgent military intelligence was.