The next day, news that Barrett hedisken the punishment next for Aurora spread throughout the ente camp, Sere word''s crys rumors about the two of them had grousted widely, and sexxy everyone at the Southern Frontie


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    At first, Aurora tried to ignore the gossip, going out her day as if to silence the criticism with indifference. But as the mormors grew louder and the stares more ourous, she could no longer toeeet and used her lingering injuries as an exove to withdraw and fide away/This content ? 2024 N?velDrama.Org.


    On the other hand, Barrett bore the brunt of its silently. He heard the whispers, but could offer no response of exnation. He knew the issue involved more then just personal scandal-its connected to the Victory Pass battle, the Westhaven civilians ughtered by Aurora, and...


    These were matters that could not be exined away and any attempt to do so would only worsen the situation.


    The soldiers, however, were unaware of theseplexities. They simply believed that Aurora had failed to follow orders and left the main force, leading to her capture by the enemy. Moreover, during the siege, she had charged in and disrupted the Mystic Army''s formation, nearly causing Carissa to fail in breaching the city.


    As a result, the soldiers held Aurora in contempt. They viewed her actions as a grab for credit that backfired. With that assumption in mind, who would feel any sympathy for her?


    In contrast, Barrett''s act of taking the punishment for his wife earned him the respect of his men. Despite this, neither the Hell Monarch Army nor the Southern Frontier veterans held him regard.


    On the battlefield, men fought fiercely and spoke of protecting their country and territory, but everyone prioritized their own families first.


    However, after achieving military merits, Barrett had used his achievements to request a marriage edict, abandoning a wife who had dutifully served his parents for a year. Any soldier with a sense of honor would despise him for it.


    Moreover, many of the Southern Frontier soldiers had once served under Hector, making them naturally inclined to support Carissa.


    It was not until the beginning of May that Rafael formted a defensive n for the border. After that, he left several generals to guard Simonton City and began leading the Mystic Army and the Hell Monarch Army back to the capital.


    As for the troops originally stationed at Victory Pass who hade to help at the Southern Frontier, they were to return to their original


    post.


    The memorial ques had been carved, and Rafael had arranged for them to be escorted back to the capital. Upon arrival in the city, he and Carissa would carry the ques together.


    The capital city was very far from the Southern Frontier, so the journey back would take a long time. As the army traveled, citizens along the way weed them warmly.


    Reiming the Southern Frontier was a long-cherished wish of the Starhaven people, and atst, Rafael had seeded. He was a hero, as were all the soldiers who fought at the Southern Frontier, except for one-Aurora.


    The once-renowned female general had caused the deaths of


    hundreds of soldiers through her pursuit of personal glory, leading to her and eighteen others being captured and subjected to torture.


    This knowledge was not confined to the military. Many Southern


    Frontier civilians knew of it as well. Such information had been spread by spies dispatched by Liam. Of course, once Rafael discovered these spies, he sent them back to Westhaven.


    After the Southern Frontier was reimed, numerous merchants traveled there and learned of the news. Thus, by the time the army began its return to the capital, the information had already spread throughout Starhaven. It was only a matter of time before it reached the capital.


    By mid-June, the grand army finally arrived in the capital.


    Salvador led the court officials and awaited them at the city gates, which were packed with citizens. They had arranged for dozens of musicians there, ying various instruments.


    Rafael got off his horse, holding Hector''s memorial que, while Carissa held the que for her eldest brother. Timothy and the other generals held the ques for Carissa''s other brothers, and they all stood solemnly.


    At that moment, everyone from the court officials to the weing crowd was in tears.


    Before the army entered the city, Salvador ordered for fireworks to be ignited. The crackling of fireworks filled the air, and the colorful sparks indicated that Starhaven would be free of war from now on. Salvador stepped down from the carriage and raised his hand, prompting the drums to start beating. At the same time, over a dozen musicians began to y their trumpets.


    As the trumpets yed, the drummers, wielding drumsticks adorned with white silk, struck their drums in rhythm with the majestic beat. The violins yed a melodious introduction, followed by the trumpets and drumsing together in harmony.


    The sounds surged like a mighty army charging into battle, with the


    roar of thousands of troops and the sh of weapons. The stirring notes echoed from the city gates all the way to Royal Street.


    D