The little girl rescued by Lux seemed terrified, her thin body trembling uncontrollably—it was unclear whether it was because of the blood splattered on her face or for some other reason.
"I... I deserve this," she finally replied with difficulty after a long pause. "I used magic to deceive the Lord."
"Is that so?" Lux reached out and wiped the blood from her face, asking softly, "Then why did you do that?"
"Because... the Lord is kind and cannot bear to see people suffer," she closed her eyes, letting tears stream from the corners. "If I just said my family was struggling, I could go to his estate as a maid."
"And then your brother could become a guard, and your family would have two fewer mouths to feed, right?" Lux's tone was incredibly gentle. "Then, your family could save a bit more money to buy your brother a set of armor and a horse, even a packhorse, to make him a knight's squire, isn't that right?"
The desperate girl's eyes widened.
"Honorable young lady, this was all my plan, it has nothing to do with my family—"
"Of course it has nothing to do with your family!" Lux raised her voice, speaking loudly enough for everyone to hear. "It doesn't even have much to do with you. Just seven days ago, I was here, and there was no frost then!"
"Were you going to be a maid seven days ago? Or was the frost in Silvermere reported to The Capital seven days ago?!"
At this moment, the girl could no longer hold back her tears.
Grievance, bitterness, pain, shame... all emotions erupted at once. She finally covered her face, squatted down, and sobbed uncontrollably.
"Isn't that right, esteemed Uncle?" Lux turned to look at Kodora, who had just stopped her bleeding. "Esteemed... Mr. Worm!"
"You—" This time, Kodora was truly enraged. "You little brat, you really have some tricks up your sleeve!"
"That's what I should be saying to you," Lux shook her head. "Carefully setting up multiple traps, even willing to ruin an innocent young girl, just to seize a benefit that doesn't belong to you and that you don't even desire—you're the one with tricks up your sleeve. Clearly, your family isn't short on this money!"
"Of course I have tricks up my sleeve, because I have to consider the rest of the family!" Kodora took two deep breaths, putting distance between himself and Lux, while snorting coldly. "I don't lack this money, but there are plenty who do—I'm not like your heartless father, who isn't even willing to help his own kin—"
"Father is naturally willing to help the younger generation," Lux interrupted Kodora for the third time. "However, he will not betray His Majesty or Demacia for it!"
"That sounds really good!" Kodora snorted. "Too bad such a eloquent junior will suffer a miserable end at the hands of a despicable mage today—Ino, act! I can guarantee your family's safety and get them out of Demacia!"
Unfortunately, the little girl named Ino showed no intention of attacking Lux. She just squatted on the ground, sobbing, her freely flowing tears almost turning into ice.
"Don't just stand there!" Seeing Ino unresponsive, Kodora simply raised his voice, looking at his kin around him. "Can't you tell? She's coming for all of us!"
Many nobles, hearing this, were somewhat wary, and their guards also drew their weapons—but unlike what Kodora expected, they did not step forward to help.
Clearly, Lux's performance made them feel uncertain and unwilling to go all the way with Kodora.
Just then, Dili, with his head wrapped in white gauze, stepped forward. He swiftly drew his sword and stood before Lux, holding the sword horizontally.
"Kodora, you are bringing about your own destruction!" Dili shouted loudly. "If you want to touch Luxanna, you'll have to step over my corpse!"
"You freeloading son-in-law who climbs women's skirts, are you still trying to act loyal with me?" Kodora was even more anxious and angry. "Guards! Dili is colluding with mages and holding Luxanna hostage! Don't just stand there!"
Although slightly hesitant, these guards loyal to Kodora still drew their weapons and raised their shields.
Kodora's trusted guards were well-equipped. Although few in number, Lux only had two escorts—even with Dili, there were only three people.
Then, as these guards surrounded them, with a whistle from Dili, a tall white horse galloped from a distance. It was covered in horse armor, fully armed, and even carried a lance commonly used by Rangers. Before the guards could fully encircle them, it charged into the encirclement.
"Young lady, mount up!" Dili took the lance in one hand and held his sword in the other. "You go first, the city guard's station isn't far from here!"
"Hahahaha!" Hearing Dili say this, Kodora couldn't help but burst into laughter. "What, do you want to pave the carpet for your son to climb into Lux's bed with your life? Dream on! Today, all of you will die here!"
The guards subtly formed a circle, and Kodora's wrinkled face became terribly distorted—although doing so would have a great impact, it had come to this, and he had no other choice!
"Really?" Lux smiled slightly. "I don't believe it."
"???"
"Actually, Mr. Dili said one thing wrong—the city guard isn't far, they're already here," Lux casually pulled up the still-crying little girl Ino. "By the way, it's not just the city guard, but also the Dauntless Vanguard from the nearest outpost."
Almost as soon as Lux spoke these words, the ground suddenly vibrated. Everyone present instantly changed color—dust rose from the official road not far away. At least several hundred cavalry, riding tall horses, were galloping towards them!
And at the very front of the cavalry, was Garen, with his greatsword drawn!
Even from several hundred paces away, Garen's voice was still like thunder, rolling and reverberating in everyone's ears.
"Treacherous villains! Who dares to touch Lux!"
Garen, fifteen years old this year, already showed a preliminary hint of The Might of Demacia. He was helmeted and armored, leading the charge, and behind him, all the cavalry were arrayed in a wedge formation, lances in hand, already in an attacking posture!
The bright Rune Steel Armor reflected the morning sun. This cavalry unit came through the dust, and every hoofbeat seemed to land on Kodora's heart!
Even the guards loyal to Kodora could no longer hold their spears against Lux at this point. They could only turn around, trying to protect their master and leave—at this moment, they only hoped the farmland could slightly delay the speed of these cavalry, giving them a few more steps.
Then, before they could go much further, from another direction, another army blocked their path.
The blue Dauntless Vanguard battle flag was held high, and the winged sword emblem fluttered in the wind.
Beneath the banner, the Dauntless Vanguard's Vice Marshal, Tiana Crownguard, rode slowly on her warhorse.
A faint smile involuntarily appeared on the corner of this usually serious lady's mouth—Lux, this child, had indeed grown a lot, and it was worth her making this special trip for her.
...
The situation reversed dramatically in an instant.
It wasn't until Tiana and Garen appeared that the other nobles truly realized that, from beginning to end, everything in Silvermere had been under Lux's control.
Thinking back to her previous "slight chill," an uncontrollable coldness emerged from the bottom of everyone's hearts.
Is this... is this really a twelve-year-old girl?
Kodora also finally realized that the tide had turned, and he could only surrender dejectedly—struggling further was meaningless. Giving up resistance now might preserve the last shred of noble dignity.
Even if it was just a semblance of dignity.
And Dili, who had been prepared for battle, stared dumbfounded at the changing situation, feeling as if he had entered a circus and was playing the clown.
But... that no longer mattered.
Even if Lux didn't really need him, and he hadn't played any substantial role, at least he had chosen the right side and performed quite well.
At least better than the other fence-sitting idiots.
Especially when Tiana came up to him, nodded, and praised him with "not bad."
Hehe, when it's time to settle accounts, I'll definitely be the one in charge of confiscating property and collecting debts!
As long as I skim a little off the top, I can go to Demacia Capital and establish myself there!
However, just as he thought he was about to become Lux's right-hand man, the order Lux issued caught him off guard.
"Kodora Crownguard and his accomplices, who falsely reported disasters and concealed taxes, are unforgivable to both the nation and the family."
"Kodora Crownguard's surname is to be immediately stripped. His specific crimes shall be dealt with according to national law, and he shall be punished publicly."
"The rest shall be punished according to their degree of complicity and the amount of taxes concealed. Kulen shall compile the statistics."
"The common people were unaware of the inside story, so the land taxes for the past three years are hereby cleared and will not be pursued."
"Furthermore, Silvermere is close to the Northern Border and frequently experiences military affairs and disasters. To prevent such incidents from happening again, four Disaster Relief Knights shall be appointed, regardless of origin, who must be knowledgeable in agriculture, responsible for reporting disasters, advising on seasonal changes, and assisting farmers in cultivation. Their status shall be considered as knights under the Crownguard family."
After announcing all this, Lux led the white horse to Dili and then smiled as she introduced him to Tiana.
"Mr. Dili's skills are quite remarkable, Auntie. You must find him a good position in the military!"
Hearing this, Dili was finally dumbfounded.
Although he quickly reacted and put on a look of profound gratitude, he was almost crying inside—he had worked so hard for so long precisely because he didn't want to fight on the battlefield anymore. How did he end up climbing back into the military, for crying out loud!
Unfortunately, from any perspective, Lux had already done quite well by him. Faced with Lux's recommendation, even if he was a million times unwilling, he could only express his deepest gratitude at this moment.
And as he finished his thanks and turned to leave, Kodora on the other side was also securely tied up—the old man was utterly dejected, but upon seeing Dili, he burst into laughter.
"Well played, Dili, your ability to read the room is superior!" Kodora's laughter was filled with uncontrollable glee. "Too bad, you still have to go back to the army! Did you really think you could cling to a high branch? Dream on! You—and your scoundrel son, there's no chance!"
"Mr. Kodora," Dili, whose mood was already quite sour, leaned closer to Kodora, lowering his voice and snorting dismissively. "I might cling to a high branch, but you clearly misunderstood some things. I never asked Gao Kan to pursue your idiotic granddaughter—she's not worth my precious son's attention. In fact, he put a lot of effort into getting rid of that idiot!"
"...What did you say?!"
"Thanks to you for locking her up," Dili smacked his lips. "Gao Kan even asked me to thank you for this—they always say Gao Kan is just like his father, but I think you and your granddaughter are truly like grandfather, like granddaughter!"
The smile froze on his face. At this moment, Kodora, having suffered successive blows and lost his only shred of happiness, finally succumbed to a surge of anger and could no longer hold on. He rolled his eyes, leaned back, and fainted on the spot.
The other nobles were not much better.
Many trembled, some even losing control of their sphincters, forcing the city guard to carry them away.
"I even held you when you were little!"
"I was the one who introduced Peter and Augatha—"
"I really didn't know Kodora was colluding with mages!"
"Wuwuwu, I didn't even get any money!"
"..."
"..."
As the center of all the commotion, Lux had no interest in the infighting among these nobles.
After dealing with almost everything, she pulled a clean handkerchief from her waist and handed it to the little girl Ino.
"Wipe your face."
Ino took the handkerchief and wiped her face—then, the tears on the handkerchief quickly froze, clearly indicating that she was already losing control of her magic.
The Demon Searcher, seeing this, stepped forward and directly handcuffed Ino with Petricite chains.
"Don't be nervous," Lux nonchalantly took the handkerchief from Ino's hand, then leaned close to her ear. "I'll visit you in the prison in a while... Your mother's soup is very delicious, just a little salty—don't worry, I haven't told anyone, they're fine."
With that, Lux waved to her, winked her left eye, and then gave a big smile.
(≧∇≦)
Throughout the entire process, Lux had not used any magic.
But Ino felt as if she had seen light.
"Thank you, Luxanna..."