Inside the secret chamber, the disturbing noise continued unabated.
The noise, instead, began to intensify, growing louder and closer.
The initially vague clamor gradually transformed into discernible screams, along with the cries of women and children.
Following that, the metallic clanging of weapons and the dull thud of some heavy object striking the door came one after another.
The mistress in his arms was the first to sense that something was wrong; her face lost all color, her body curled up, trembling in his embrace, and she spoke in a quivering voice:
"My Lord, what is that sound?"
Roger's mood was utterly crushed, all desire instantly evaporated, leaving only a raging inferno of anger.
He roughly pushed his mistress away, leaped from the soft bed, his corpulent body trembling with fury, haphazardly grabbed a noble robe to throw over himself, and stormed out of the secret chamber barefoot.
As he walked, he roared, "Who! Who!!! Someone!!!"
"Who dares to be so presumptuous in my castle! I will hang him on the city wall!"
He intended to punish that damned scoundrel who had ruined his good time.
When Roger Lygg pushed open the heavy wooden door leading to the main hall, the sight before him froze him in place.
He saw the hall in disarray, servants scurrying around like headless flies, knocking over candelabras and furniture.
Several guards were in a frantic hurry, desperately trying to close the main gate leading to the outer city, but the influx of people from outside made it impossible for them to shut the doors.
An old man with white hair, his castle's steward, crawled and stumbled to his feet, tears streaming down his face, his voice trembling uncontrollably:
"My Lord! This is bad!"
"There… there… an… army has broken in!"
"So many! So many!! The Lord is gone too!!!"
"Now, outside is in complete chaos." These words, like sharp swords, heavily struck Roger Lygg's head, and the dizzying sensation made him almost unable to stand.
All his arrogance, all his confidence, was shattered in that instant, his mind a blank.
How could this be, this is impossible, this is a lie!!!
He grabbed the steward, roaring furiously, "A lie!!! This is a lie!!!"
"I'll kill you all!!!"
A moment ago, he was still savoring fine wine in a gentle embrace; now, the icy water of reality poured over his head, chilling him to the bone.
His face, red from drink and debauchery, instantly turned ashen, without a trace of color.
He refused to believe it! But the facts were already before his eyes! But how did Arthur and Daedings Family manage it! Why was there no news at all!!
Immediately after, a blood-soaked attendant squeezed through the crowd outside the door and stumbled towards him.
The attendant saw Roger, as if he had seen a savior: "! This is bad!"
He shrieked, his voice reeking of blood.
"The enemy! The enemy has broken into the city!"
Roger's lips trembled, he released his hands from gripping the old man, unable to make a sound, and finally, he managed to squeeze out a few words: "Impossible! Impossible!?"
"Where did the enemy come from!!! Where did they enter from!!! Why was there no news at all!!!!"
The attendant knelt on the ground, gasping for breath and pointing towards the river: "On the water… they came down from the water."
"It's Arthur's army… they have already… already taken the outer city gate."
Arthur, this name was like a lightning bolt, cleaving through Roger's muddled consciousness; the color completely drained from his face, his drunkenness entirely gone, and cold beads of sweat rolled from his forehead.
How could this be!! He really dared! But why was there no movement or news at all!! Where did it go wrong!!
!!
Roger let out a roar, turned, and ran back, rushing into the warm, luxurious secret chamber, and roughly dragged his equally stunned mistress from the bed.
He yelled at the woman, then shouted desperately to the outside: "Quick! Follow me!"
"Guards!!! My Guards!!! Where have you all gone!!!"
He haphazardly pulled on his pants and shirt, not even having time to put on his armor.
Over a hundred guards responsible for protecting the Lord finally gathered at his roar, they were the Legge Family's last armed force in the inner castle, and their faces were also filled with terror at this moment.
Roger ran towards the core area of the inner castle, shouting frantically: "Assemble! Everyone to the inner city! Assemble!"
"Quick! Close the inner city gate! Quick!"
Soldiers and servants followed their Lord, who was holding his unclad mistress, all running wildly; no one had the desire to feast their eyes, and at this moment, like birds startled by a bow, they fled in panic.
Finally, the heavy iron portcullis made a screeching friction sound and crashed down.
The massive drawbridge was slowly raised by the winch, cutting off the stone bridge leading to the inner castle.
Lastly, the two thick oak doors, reinforced with iron, were slammed shut and secured with several thick bolts.
The booming sound of the doors closing isolated the earth-shattering shouts of battle and cries from the outer city, and the world seemed to instantly fall silent.
Roger leaned against the cold gate, gasping for breath, his legs weak, almost unable to stand.
He looked around; the small courtyard of the inner castle was crowded with over a hundred terrified soldiers.
There were also a few equally disheveled low-ranking nobles, and a dozen or so servants who hadn't managed to escape.
His wife and brother were both gone; Roger Lygg's corpulent body was trembling uncontrollably at this moment.
He looked at his naked mistress, who was clinging to his arm, trembling, and at this moment, he felt nothing but immense annoyance.
He suddenly remembered five days ago, sitting in the council hall, contemptuously telling his vassals who mocked Arthur: "He wouldn't dare to make a move."
Now, the enemy was at his city gates, in his home.
His mistress clung to his arm, asking tearfully, "My Lord, will we die?"
"I don't want to die! Don't want to die!!!!!"
Roger said nothing, he roughly pushed the naked woman away, forcibly straightened his back, trying to regain some of his Lord's authority: "Send the order down!"
His voice was hoarse, but carried a hint of last defiance.
"Hold the inner city to the death!! Anyone who dares to think of surrendering!! I will kill him!!"
"Collect all edible items for unified distribution!! Use everything that can be used as a weapon!!!"
The woman looked at Roger Lygg pointing at her, about to coo, but then heard words so heartless they made her body turn cold and her face ashen.
"This woman! As long as you resist bravely!! She's yours every night!!"
Ignoring the woman's despairing wails, he turned to a guard.
"Go!!! Release the raven!!! Send for help from my son and vassals!!! Quick!!!"
The now finally safe environment allowed his mind to clear, and he called out to the attendant.
"Wait!!! Tell my son not to come alone for aid!!! Mobilize the territory!!! Gather the vassals! Then come to my aid!!!"
Roger Lygg clenched his fist, Arthur surely doesn't have many men! He definitely wouldn't dare to launch a strong assault! There's still a chance! As long as his son gathers the army! Attacking from inside and out! Black Lion will be dead!!!
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