In the deepest part of the cold, dark Winter Palace of Ice and Snow, Catalina sat exhausted on the throne, with gloom creeping up her brow and face like a shadow, and uncontrollable sadness pouring out of her heart.
Lando and Irene were like her right-hand men, and now they are both gone. Katarina feels tired and restless. She has never been so powerless as she is now. The legion has suffered countless casualties, and the people's hearts have long been gone. It's Luo
De, that once unknown little frontier lord, caused today's situation.
She should have killed him long ago, and there would not be a situation like today. However, it is too late to regret now. The Northern Army is just outside the city. Their camp is comparable to a city area, and the firelight blooming at night is greater than the city streets.
Comes dazzlingly.
Catalina was tired, really tired. She glanced at the ministers in the throne room. They all bowed their heads and said nothing. The emotions on their faces were almost the same, that is, sadness.
She wanted to call them like before and ask them to come up with strategies to retreat from the enemy. However, the current situation is that everyone only wants to protect themselves. Catalina knows that they are still standing here because the city gate is still closed. If the city
When the door was opened, these ministers who cherished their lives had fled long ago. Just like the soldiers guarding the city, during the day, no one dared to escape when they were exposed to the sun, but at night, they took advantage of the darkness to abandon the city and escape. Every day
Some soldiers escaped. Although I ordered that deserters be executed on the spot when they were found, the number of soldiers continued to decrease.
Catalina spurns these weaklings. Their weakness is like reptiles, which is disgusting. But what's the use? People who only run for their lives in despair, pursue glory, and value dignity are the minority after all. Not everyone can become a knight.
Not everyone among the knights values honor so much...
She took a breath of cold air and her legs trembled slightly when she stood up.
"Trash, a bunch of trash."
She whispered and walked out of the crowd.
Pale sunlight poured into the hall through the skylight, and the crystal crown on the Queen's head reflected the cold blue light. She regained her confidence, and the cold was overwhelming. Even hundreds of thousands of green-skinned troops besieging the city could not do anything to her, let alone now that she was only
A mere 50,000 Northern troops.
Stepping on the steps, Catalina climbed up the city wall step by step. The Krem guard lowered his head to make way for her. On the city wall, the shooting soldiers cast a look of reverence at her. Although they didn't know whether this look was sincere or not.
Pretend, but no matter what, at least they have not escaped yet. They are still sticking to their posts. This city has at least three years of food reserves, which is more than enough to supply soldiers. Catalina originally planned to stick to it, but now it seems that humans are not trustworthy at all.
, when danger comes, they are so weak that they don't even have the courage to take up arms.
Perhaps the food should be distributed to the civilians and let the civilians take up arms to fight for their queen? For a moment, such an "absurd" idea appeared in Catalina's mind. But then this idea was rejected by herself...
Civilians and regular soldiers are not worthy of trust, let alone civilians. If you give them weapons and food, they might rebel the next second and target yourself...
What's more, the three-year food reserve is calculated based on the number of soldiers. The number of civilians is much larger than this. If the food is distributed to the civilians, the food will be used up in less than three months. Hmph... Catalina couldn't help feeling sorry for her naivety just now.
The thought sneered.
On the city wall, Catalina stood upright like a real king. Outside the city wall, there was a dense and black Northern Army. The cold wind blew through, and thousands of flags fluttered in the wind. For Catalina, that was a provocation.
Today is the first meeting between her and Rhodes since the war started, and it may also be the last time. Catalina at the top of the city is wearing a brocade robe, and under the crystal crown is a cold and ruthless face.
"Open the door and surrender, Katarina the Bloody, you are desperate. The legion has surrounded the city. In order to prevent more innocent people from being injured and bleeding, open the city and surrender. At least, you can still leave a little reputation. In the North
The king will forgive you for the mistakes you have committed."
On the great plain outside the city, Rhodes' adjutant, Knight Virgil, shouted to the Queen on the tower on behalf of the King of the North.
"Traitor. You are so rude when you see Her Majesty the Queen! You should be the ones to surrender! The city of Kislev has the tallest city wall on the continent. While Her Majesty the Queen still has a trace of pity in her heart and is unwilling to let the blizzard fall,
Retreat. Otherwise, what is standing here is not a legion, but a pile of bones."
The queen's servant, the witch Marilyn, loudly retorted.
"It's still unclear who the king will be. Stop talking nonsense. The King of the North wants you to meet someone."
Virgil replied arrogantly. Behind him, a tall prison car was slowly pushed out. The man's shawl was spread out, and his dirty hair covered his face and reached his lips. Several thick silver chains locked his legs and feet.
, like the shackles of judgment, tightly locking the skinny legs and feet.
When the guard swept away the prisoner's hair, revealing the thin, inhuman face, Catalina's heart trembled violently on the city wall, but then she regained her composure. Lando was her lover, the best person she had ever known.
A lover of love, but in the struggle for power, she chooses power.
"Open the city gate and you will be reunited. Leave here, leave Kislev. Never come back again. This is the last mercy of the King of the North."
Virgil shouted loudly. The sound penetrated the cold air and went straight into the Queen's ears. Caterina's lips twitched, her heart was frozen, and no one could make her give up her power.
Lan Dao, who was under the city wall, raised his head and looked at her weakly, at his queen. However, what he got was the queen's indifference.
Catalina turned her head and snapped her fingers at her maid. Two guards carried out a slender girl. She was a peasant girl, but she was disguised because she looked like Dennis.
Afterwards, it was delivered to the queen. Catalina didn't know whether the escaped Dennis had reunited with Rhodes in the northern military camp. She just took a gamble. If Dennis had not escaped to the northern military camp, then the scene in front of her would be okay.
Stimulated Rhode's sensitive nerves.
"When the siege artillery fires, your daughter's head will fall to the ground."
The witch Marilyn came to speak for the Queen.
After saying that, he pulled up the girl's hair with force, and the girl screamed. Even though they knew it was not Dennis, the scream still echoed in the hearts of every northern warrior, making them angry.