"Sir! The demons have destroyed Rinnei and Crustra. They’re coming to this city!" A knight reported in panic.
A young man sat behind the table with a grim face. He closed his eyes for a mont.
"Sir! You need to evacuate."
The young man was none other than the Lesen family’s current count, Adam Lesen. After a while, he couldn’t help but ask, "Do you think we can financially recover from this?"
"That’s..." An old adviser looked away.
"It doesn’t matter. Give your honest opinion." Adam shook his head.
After carefully organizing his words, the old adviser explained, "It will be hard to do so. Right now, they have destroyed two cities and marched to this city. Even if there is reinforcent, this city will have been destroyed by then.
"The mont this city is breached, it will be the sa as cutting the Lesen family’s head off. This is the core of our economy. That’s why destroying this city will freeze the economy. Including the damage that the demons will do after that, it will be impossible for the family to recover."
"It doesn’t matter!" The middle-aged knight stepped forth. "As long as you are still alive, we can rebuild the Lesen family."
"Captain Ronnie." Adam glared at him. "Send so people and evacuate my youngest brother."
"But you..."
"I will stay."
"That can’t happen. You have to evacuate as well!"
"I... WILL... STAY!" Adam slamd the table, marking his words in their minds. "Because I’m privileged to have all the resources in my possession, I am allowed to escape? What do you think the people who don’t know will think?"
"But my lord..."
"I might not be the greatest. In fact, my achievent is nothing compared to my sister’s. I don’t have a talent like my father.
"The Lesen family is at its direst mont. If I leave, the territory will crumble. Even if I stay, it might not change the outco.
"But!" Adam gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with resolve. "I refuse to be a coward. I, Adam Lesen, refuse to escape.
"I have a privilege that our citizens can’t possess no matter how hard they work for their entire lives. That’s why I also have an obligation to protect their lives.
"That’s why I’m staying. If you want the Lesen family’s bloodline to continue, there is still my sister. As long as you evacuate my youngest brother from here, he can take over what’s left in the family.
"However, if the Lesen family is going to fall, then let this, Adam Lesen, die first!"
The middle-aged knight was dumbfounded. As the young patriarch, who was replacing his father due to his exile, Adam had no particular achievent or charisma honed by his experience.
Most people in the territory looked down on him. Although he was doing his best to recover the family, his achievent was overshadowed by his sister, who purged most of their debts.
But at this mont, the courage that Adam showed gave him goosebumps. As the captain of the Lesen family’s army, he had definitely seen a lot of other lords. Yet, this young man, despite knowing full well he would die, showed more courage than most lords.
He might not have the talent or experience that his father had, but his speech definitely moved his heart. Even the old adviser, who had followed his father for over three decades, couldn’t help but tear up.
The middle-aged knight pumped his fist on his chest before saying with a solemn face. "My lord. Allow to fight alongside you. I have sworn my allegiance to the Lesen family. There’s no way I can allow the master I serve to die before ."
Adam smiled before turning to the old adviser. "Go with my youngest brother. If the family has fallen, it’s up to him to restore our forr glory. My brother is still too young, so he needs you by his side if he wants to rebuild this family. I’m counting on you."
The old adviser closed his eyes. Evacuating this city didn’t an he was a coward. Instead, he was tasked with a much bigger duty. He not only had to survive, but he also had to rebuild the family.
The old adviser gave him a sincere smile. "I understand, my lord. As long as there’s still energy in this old bone, I shall serve the Lesen family to the best of my ability."
Adam nodded firmly. "Have you gathered our soldiers?"
"Yes, my lord."
"Let us depart!"
The soldiers had been split into two groups. The first group manned the wall, preparing themselves for a brutal fight. The second group was gathering in front of the lord’s mansion, waiting for their captain.
Due to the incoming demons, the city was in chaos. People were rushing outside the city, saving everything they could.
Adam couldn’t help but watch them with a pained look, wondering what would happen if this was the Ardagan family. Without a doubt, there wasn’t a single citizen who would escape. In fact, the commoners would most likely take up arms to protect the city.
Even so, it didn’t change what he was planning to do.
Adam climbed the platform, accompanied by the knight captain. He had worn his war gown, clad in his father’s armor.
The soldiers were confused, wondering why Adam Lesen was still here. They thought he had evacuated already. After all, they didn’t have the strength to resist the demons. This was just their last struggle.
*Clang!*
Adam hit the platform with the tip of his sword while resting his hands on the back of the sword. He shouted, "Hear , warriors of the proud Lesen family."
The people stopped chatting. Most of them didn’t do it out of respect. They just wondered how this guy was going to run his mouth before evacuating.
However, Adam dispelled their doubts right away. "I might not be as strong as Marquis Ardagan. I am not as wise as my father.
"If I stand in the front line, I will definitely die right away." Adam gritted his teeth. He had to let everyone know his position to show his resolve. Once they knew the truth, Adam raised his voice. "However!"
"I’m not leaving. I am Adam Lesen, the Lord of the Lesen family. I have a duty to protect this family to the very last breath.
"Even if the enemy coming to destroy this family is stronger than anyone has ever seen in this life. Let my blood be the first to flow.
"I refuse to be a coward. If soone has to die before the family is destroyed, then that soone is !
"Even so, I know my own limits. I’m not strong enough to fight this battle by myself. That’s why, even though I know how shaless I am to ask this from all of you, who have served the family loyally, I ask you.
"Proud warriors of the Lesen family. Please fight with together and protect this family to the very last breath. I promise you, as the Patriarch of the Lesen family, that I, Adam Lesen, will stand in front of you until my last breath!"
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