The goddesses attempted to gain my salvation.

But the old man just couldn't stop.

All these years have passed, and he has never felt so comfortable as he does today.

"I never expected that Phoenix, that little girl, would be so bold!"

"He has a bit of my style back in the day!"

"Hahahahaha!"

The old man, leaning on his cane, slowly got up, looked at the scenery outside the window, and a smile spread across his face.

"I never imagined that I, an old man, would be able to witness the changes in this country firsthand."

"I have no regrets in this life."

The servant had spent so much time with the old man that she naturally knew what he was going to do next.

"Old man!"

"No, you can't! You're almost at the end of your life, you can't get involved in this mess!"

The old man gripped his cane with a slight force.

His already cloudy pupils shone with a sharp light that rivaled that of a young man.

"what are you talking about."

"Didn't that little girl from the Phoenix family just say that I am also the master of this country?"

"Now that my country is in danger, how can I sit idly by?"

The maid was speechless.

He knew this old man's character all too well; once he made up his mind, he would never change it.

"Let my old bones shine and give off heat once again!"

He slammed his cane heavily on the ground, and then his magic surged rapidly within his body.

"Let's go! We're heading to the royal city of Canosa!"

------

Rubek Fortress.

General Rick, who had guarded the border and never left the Rubek Fortress, was standing in the fortress hall. Before him was the familiar smiling face on the huge mural.

A faint smile involuntarily appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"Miss Mia..."

He grew up listening to stories about Phoenix Mia.

That valiant battlefield princess was his idol, and also a benefactor of the Rick family.

It was Princess Mia who saved her ancestor, who was then a new recruit, during the Four Kingdoms War.

From that moment on, the ancestors swore to protect Princess Mia.

However, Mia later died on the battlefield, while her ancestors were opening up another battlefield in the distance and failed to fulfill their oath to protect her.

Now, Rick sees the shadow of the former battlefield princess in Claire.

Moreover, her radiance was even more dazzling than the painting before them.

"Lord Ancestor."

Rick knelt on one knee and pressed his right hand onto his breastplate.

"It's time for us to fulfill our vows."

"This time, I will definitely make up for your regret back then and protect Phoenix Claire until the last moment of my life."

------

In a dark room.

The woman held her child, sobbing uncontrollably.

Just yesterday, she received news that her husband had died in battle.

It was a small-scale skirmish. Nobles from one's own territory clashed with another, resulting in numerous deaths and injuries.

And her husband was among them.

After receiving the news, the woman cried for an entire day, and the child in her arms kept wiping away her tears.

"Mom, who was that older sister just now...?"

"She is... Phoenix Claire..."

"Is it that child, the one cursed by the demon?"

The woman hugged her child tightly and spoke in a tearful but firm tone.

"Do not."

"child."

"She wasn't cursed, nor was she the child of a demon..."

“She is ours, Princess Claire.”

Chapter 152 The tide has turned

With a powerful and resounding declaration.

Women who had lost their husbands, farmers who could not plant on time, and people whose property had been confiscated all took up their weapons and launched an attack on the nobles' estates.

Because these nobles had already diverted most of their troops to attack Canosa, the manor's defenses were weak and unable to withstand the massive influx of people.

Those nobles who returned early were also unable to resist due to the heavy losses they had suffered in the war.

Of course, many more soldiers simply chose to drop their weapons and surrender.

Many even joined the ranks of those who directly attacked the nobles.

There was no other way; they also had their own families and friends. If they didn't do something, one day they too would die in this meaningless war, leaving behind orphans and widows.

Meanwhile, in the capital city of Canosa, the soldiers of the nobles were also shaken by Claire's declaration.

Many people stopped in their tracks, having no intention of launching another attack.

When Yann saw this, he panicked completely.

Because Claire's words just now have completely negated the motives and legitimacy of all the nobles to wage war.

Their enemy now is no longer Claire, but the soldiers under her command.

Seeing that the morale of the army was wavering, Yann quickly brandished his longsword and roared loudly.

"Don't listen to Claire's opinions!"

"Remember, she is the child of the devil, burdened with the devil's curse!"

"Everything she said was a devil's whisper to bewitch you!"

"We must advance immediately and storm the royal city!"

"At that time, I will reward you with money and status!"

"So, follow me and attack!"

However, these inspiring words did not have the desired effect.

The vast majority of soldiers remained standing in place.

"Lord Yann... I have a wife waiting for me at home... I don't want to fight anymore."

"My brothers have already fallen in Swordscarve Canyon. My mother is waiting for me at home. I'm sorry, Lord Yaen..."

A stone stirred up a thousand waves.

These remarks, like a virus, spread rapidly within the military.

The generals under Yann began to organize order, but it was all in vain.

More and more soldiers put their longswords back into their sheaths.

Yaen never dreamed that those soldiers who would normally only know how to obey orders would one day disobey them!

Yaen was furious.

"Don't forget!! Who gave you wealth, who gave you food, who protected Anseth City and allowed you to live a peaceful life!"

"Not that damn princess, but me!"

"It is I, Rema Yann!"

However, these remarks still had no effect.

They stared coldly at Ya'en, and someone uttered a casual remark.

"We grow the grain, we make the clothes, and we even forge the ironware."

"Moreover, it was Princess Mia who led us to victory against the invasion of the Pennsylvania Federation."

"It has always been us protecting Anseth City, not you."

Yaen was so angry at those words that his face turned green, and he immediately drew his longsword.

"Who was that who just spoke?!"

"Stand up for me!"

"I'm going to chop off his head!"

However, no one responded to his command.

The moment a general is isolated, he is no longer a general.

The moment the city lord was isolated, he was no longer the city lord.

Looking at the soldiers who ignored his orders, Yann felt both ashamed and angry, and his chest tightened with rage.

Just as he was at a loss about the situation, a fine horse galloped from afar and finally stopped in front of the Rema family's army.