Two days had passed, and it was time for everyone to go back to where they should be. Rasmus, Novia, and Thalior were about to go back to the north side. It was also the time for Astrea to proceed with the plan that they had agreed on, to bring the Revolutionary parties that were against the other parties that had sided with the demons to their side. Xena would accompany Astrea since she could be said as a neutral party in South Neva.

“Count,” Astrea approached Rasmus before he got into the carriage.

“Your Holiness,” Rasmus bowed his head at Astrea.

“I took your advice, and it didn’t help,” Astrea chuckled as she crossed her arms. “However, it steeled my heart even though my mind still think that there might be better choices out there,” she continued as she looked up at the sky with a smile on her face. “Thank you, Count, I really mean it,” she slowly looked down and stared into Rasmus’s eyes.

“I have done nothing for you, Your Holiness, but I also have done enough for you,” Rasmus responded as he nodded.

Astrea furrowed her brows, observing Rasmus’s expression for a few seconds.

“How can you be so humble and understanding while at the same time you can be so overbearing and harsh. Which one is the real you?” Astrea asked with her eyes narrowed.

“There are two sides of a coin. You can’t get rid one because it’s no longer the same coin,” Rasmus answered and showed a faint smile at her. “I treat people appropriately, Your Holiness. That’s all I can say,” he continued.

“Appropriately, huh? That’s an interesting way to say it,” Astrea chuckled and smiled at Rasmus. “Well then, Count, have a safe trip, may God protect you,” she bowed her head and then walked away.

Rasmus bowed his head slightly and watched Astrea walk back to the palace with the Paladins. He then walked into the carriage and left the city with Thalior and Novia.

‎Astrea and Xena, with fifty Paladins behind them, went to the Mildferd Kingdom to meet with the Revolutionary parties. They rode horses, and even Astrea rode a horse rather than using a carriage because she didn’t want to be seen as an envoy. By doing so, she also made herself equal to the Paladins and Xena rather than being superior if she sat in the carriage.

‎Astrea’s appearance in the Mildferd Kingdom shocked all the revolutionary parties. The revolutionary knights didn’t dare to do anything to her even though they had prepared to wage war against the Alliance and the South Neva Union.

‎The barricades they had made around the capital city were useless against Astrea. The revolutionary knights watched her, and the Paladins entered the city without any problem.

‎Once they entered the capital city, the people couldn’t believe their eyes. They tried to get near Astrea, but the knights prevented them from getting near the street. She waved and smiled at them, showing no hostility toward the revolutionary parties.

‎”Your Holiness, my name is Herden, I’m one of the commanders of the revolutionary army. I’m here to escort you to the palace, Your Holiness,” an old man in full plate armor said as he went down to one knee in front of Astrea’s horse.

‎”Please, tell your leaders that they don’t have to prepare anything. We came here to have a talk; perhaps a cup of tea would be sufficient,” Astrea smiled at Herden.

‎Herden bowed his head and told the knight to convey Astrea’s message to their leaders. He then escorted them to the palace, making sure nobody blocked the roads.

‎Astrea and Xena entered the throne room and saw the three revolutionary parties’ leaders waiting for them. The leaders lowered their heads once they were in the presence of Astrea. They walked to the side and guided her and Xena to the table.

‎They introduced themselves to Astrea and Xena in a humble and respectful way. Yagesliv, Bornalis, and Durant were their names, however, Astrea already knew about them from Xena.

‎”I can see that the people here are living peacefully, and most importantly is they’re living happily,” Astrea said and watched her Paladin pour the tea into her cup. “But that’s not why we came here, and I believe you might have realized it by now of our sudden visit,” she looked at the three leaders across the table.

‎”We don’t dare to assume your visit, Your Holiness,” Durant said as he lowered his head.

‎”A treaty. I came here not as an envoy, but rather someone who wants nothing but to avoid unnecessary suffering of humankind,” Astrea said with a gentle voice.

‎The three leaders looked at each other and didn’t expect to hear something like that. They didn’t know how to react to that proposal.

‎”We are here because we don’t want those demons to corrupt humankind. Since we have heard that all of you are against the other parties that have decided to side with the emissary and the demons, I believe we can put our differences aside, and let us through so we can prevent them from growing stronger,” Astrea said in a calm and soothing voice.

‎‎The leaders understood Astrea’s intention for saying those words. However, they were one of the many who had decided to turn their backs against humanity. They had raised their weapons, killed many lives, and forcefully took away the peace from those who were innocent.

‎”What would happen to us once you did that, Your Holiness? What would happen once you got rid of them?” Bornalis asked.

‎”Would you die for something that you believed in?” Astrea asked back, her gaze was soft and her voice was gentle.

‎The three of them were confused by her question because it sounded like a threat, but they believed it was nothing like that. They looked at each other once again, thinking about the question thoroughly.

‎”Would you compromise your ideals in exchange for something greater? Because His Grace, Duke Thalior Ardentis is willing to compromise his ideals in exchange for the future of South Neva,” Astrea said with a serious expression.

‎”Your Holiness?” Yagesliv tilted his head with his brows furrowed, staring at Astrea with a confused look.

‎”Duke Thalior is willing to give the three of you land to rule. Something like us, the Servil faction,” Xena answered with a straight face. “You can build your own land, to have authority and the freedom to do so.”

‎”In exchange to what, Lady Xena?” Durant asked.

‎”In exchange for you to let go of this nation and the other two nations that you occupied,” Xena answered without hesitation. “This land isn’t yours, the nobles you thrown away, the royal family that you took away, not all of them are in the wrong or deserve this,” she continued.

‎They knew they couldn’t do it, not after everything they had been through. They didn’t want to compromise their ideals and goals after so many people died for the cause and fell victim to the cause. They had killed and watched their own people got killed for the position they were in at the moment.

‎”That’s why I asked would you die for something you believed in. Would you let everyone die knowing that you wouldn’t stand a chance against them?” Astrea asked, her voice had a hint of concern and sadness. “How far would you go before you admit it’s enough?” She frowned and stared at them with sympathy.

The leaders lowered their heads, Astrea’s words cutting through their hearts, bringing the unbearable guilt and future regrets that they couldn’t bear. They didn’t know what to say or what to think, they were in a deep dilemma that they began to see that they were the ones in the wrong.

“I understand it’s hard for you to choose. It’s no longer about what’s right or wrong, it’s more about what you should do and what you couldn’t do,” Astrea said with a gentle smile, understanding their dilemma.

“Your Holiness, are we a sinner?” Durant asked, his voice soft and quiet.

“Yes, you all are. You have killed people who have nothing to do with you or cause you any suffering. You killed knights and militia, you have caused their families to suffer, to hate you, to cause them pain and sadness. The children of theirs are grieving, praying to God that you and those who caused their pain to be punished,” Astrea answered without hesitation as she nodded.

The leaders’s chests were squeezed by the words that came out of the Saint.

“But I’m not God nor do I condemn you for all the bad deeds you have done. God is the one who decides if you deserve an eternal punishment or not. I don’t know if what you have done is the right thing to do or not. I’m not here to judge your deeds, I’m here to prevent anyone from doing what God despise,” Astrea continued with a calm and gentle voice.

“You have achieved this far, and you are heard,” Xena said as she stared at the leaders across from her. “Is it really a waste of those who have sacrificed themselves to give up your position here where you can start a new journey as rulers in a vacant land? Without them, we wouldn’t be here, offering you a choice, a solution, and a way to redeem yourself and prove yourself at the same time. You have shed enough blood, how many more do you wish to see?” She asked.

The three leaders lifted their heads, staring each other in the eyes.

“Their struggle won’t go in vain, that’s the truth,” Xena said with a serious expression.

“We will think about it, Your Holiness, Lady Xena. We need time to decide, and we have to discuss this with everyone,” Bornalis said.

“Of course, we understand. It’s not only your ideals, it’s everyone who follow you,” Astrea smiled gently at them as she nodded. “Please, take your time,” she said as she stood up. “May God be with you,” she said and then left the room with Xena.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep