Cat Princess and Human Knight

Sofia was taken aback.

"What do you mean by that?"

Yi Yin sighed.

"Think about the character of that Snowclaw Duke. A true nobleman, a ruthless and shameless politician. He took the five tons of corn you gave him, ate it all, and then turned his back on you. He's a genius cat."

If he truly believed in the nomadic cat invasion and the Dark God's determination to eradicate you completely, what do you think he would do?

Sofia's mind raced, and her face darkened.

"He will definitely betray me and hand me over to the nomadic cats in exchange for their non-invasion."

Yi Yin nodded.

"Even if it's inconvenient for the Duke of Snowclaw to do such dirty work of betraying his vassals on the surface, is it really that difficult for him to find an excuse to summon you over, and then secretly have a cat tie you up and send you to the nomadic cat pack?"

The good thing about the current situation is that Duke Snowclaw doesn't believe it.

"If he were to actually believe it when the nomadic cats launch a surprise attack, by then their army would be utterly defeated, and they'd be too busy dealing with their own problems to have time to plot against you."

Sofia nodded, then frowned.

"That's true."

Yi Yin added.

"But this hidden danger will always exist, sticking to you like a shadow, and you can't get rid of it."

When the nobles are convinced that the return of the two gods is not a rumor, that the Dark God harbors endless malice towards you, and that the Light God has not yet appeared, they will all feel that they want to get rid of you as soon as possible.

Do you think those nobles would protect you for the sake of maintaining the feudal system and the principle of lords and vassals?

Or perhaps they'll compromise with the gods, find a reason to send you to the god of darkness, or simply kill you to avoid angering the gods.

Sofia smiled wryly.

"Anything is possible. The way you're saying it gives me the feeling that no matter how I struggle, I'm doomed."

Yi Yin waved his hand and said.

"Don't be so pessimistic. Can things get any worse than being chased for 25,000 miles and running out of ammunition and food?"

There's always a chance for things to turn around; it just depends on whether we can seize the opportunity. In fact, the turning point was already hidden in the details Durotan mentioned.

Sofia carefully recalled what Durotan had said, and a thought suddenly flashed through her mind.

"You mean the Earth Mother Goddess?"

Yi Yin nodded and pointed at the orange cat, Paladin Bell.

"Bell said that the wound on Durotan's shoulder was stopped by the divine light emanating from the statue of Mother Earth."

This shows that Mother Earth was fully aware of what was happening among the nomadic cats.

For some reason, the Earth Mother Goddess was unable to contact the shaman priests of the nomadic cat pack, unable to expose the Dark God's conspiracy, and could only watch as the Dark God used his followers as pawns.

If you were Mother Earth, wouldn't you be furious?

Sofia's eyes lit up, and she nodded.

"good."

Yi Yin continued.

"According to you, the two gods have disappeared for countless years, and for thousands of years, the Church of the Earth Mother Goddess has been the sole dominant force on this continent."

Now that the two gods have returned, plotting and stealing believers, can the Earth Mother Goddess just stand by and watch her left cheek be slapped, only to offer her right cheek to be slapped as well?

Bell, standing to the side, interjected with a bitter expression.

"Alright, alright, stop with the analogy. I'm a devout follower of Mother Earth sitting right here, and it's making me feel uneasy."

Yi Yin chuckled, made a disdainful gesture at Bell, and then spoke seriously to Sophia.

"For us, the most important thing in this war is that the Duke of Snowclaw cannot win, and the nobles of the Shattered Hills cannot lose."

If Duke Snowclaw does not heed the Marquis of Iron Oak's warning, the riverbank defenses will inevitably be breached, and the allied forces of the central and southern nobles will suffer repeated defeats.

Only when the two sides are sworn enemies will Duke Snowclaw refuse to compromise with the nomadic cats, and only then will you not be betrayed by these nobles.

But if the nobles of the rocky hills lose completely, they will eventually compromise and hand over you, this short-legged cat, to ensure their own safety.

The current situation is actually the most advantageous for you, Sofia.

Duke Snowclaw didn't believe it, that's why he lost.

With the Marquis of Iron Oak on guard, the nobles of the Shattered Hills had a chance to turn the tide.

Now is not the time for you to step forward. You cannot persuade the Marquis of Iron Oak and those military nobles if you do so now. You can only wait.

When the riverbank defenses are breached and the noble coalition is not yet completely defeated, persuade Iron Oak to send troops to their aid.

That's our opportunity.

Sofia hesitated.

"Will the Marquis of Ironwood listen to me?"

How will you know if you don't try?

"Does sending troops guarantee victory?"

How will you know if you don't try?

Sofia said angrily.

"You don't know this, you don't know that, what do you actually know?"

Yi Yin rolled his eyes and said.

"I know that if we don't fight back, we're doomed!"

That's why we're taking a big gamble: we're betting that Mother Earth won't tolerate this, and that Marquis Iron Oak won't allow the nomadic cats to ravage the hills.

If you're lucky, you might gain the approval of the Shattered Hills through this war, earn the gratitude of the nomadic cat opposition led by Durotan, and truly establish your own influence.

If you don't have a group of truly loyal and capable people supporting you from behind, the curse of the return of the two gods will continue to hover over your head, and those selfish and self-serving noble cats will take your life sooner or later!

There's a saying in my hometown: "Put yourself in a life-or-death situation and you will survive."

You say you have nothing, then what are you afraid of? Those with nothing to lose aren't afraid of those wearing shoes. Damn the Dark God!

Sophia listened to Yi Yin's insights with narrowed eyes, her gaze shifting from confusion to clarity, and then to determination.

She exhaled deeply, recalling the golden-striped old bishop Milo and the Light Speaker's instructions.

Then Sofia looked at Bell and asked.

"Bell, can you do me a favor?"

Bell said.

"As you know, members of the Golden Flame Knights are not allowed to participate in matters related to secular wars."

Although Lord Yiyin's words make a lot of sense, I have no right to define this war without receiving a divine decree from the Earth Mother.

Sofia shook her head and said.

"I don't want you to join the war; I just want you to help me deliver a letter."

"Deliver a message?"

Sofia's expression turned sad as she spoke slowly.

"Yi Yin is right. The only way now is to risk everything and win this war launched by the Dark God so that I can survive."

so.."

Sofia remained silent for a long time, seemingly still struggling internally.

Her reason told her she should ask the cat for help, but her emotions prevented her from forgiving the cat, because it had chosen to stand idly by when the royal family needed it most.

Finally, Sofia sighed and said to Bell.

"Please make a trip to the capital for me and deliver a letter."

Luna seemed to realize something, and she blurted out.

"Your Excellency, are you asking him to send troops to support you? To that bastard who betrayed the royal family?"

Sofia nodded.

"Yes."

Luna shook her head.

"He can't possibly come. He has broken his oath of loyalty to the royal family. He has betrayed the royal family."

Sofia sighed.

"He will come, because I am no longer a royal princess, but just a duchess of Huru."

And he, you know Luna, he once swore to protect me, he is my guardian knight.

Grandpa Milo told me that if I encountered any trouble, I could try writing to him for help, and I trust his judgment.

Luna opened her mouth, unsure how to refute, and finally asked.

"But the capital is too far from here. Even if he were willing to send troops, he wouldn't be able to get to the battlefield in time, would he?"

Sofia looked at Bell and smiled.

"The round trip is too far, so it's impossible to make it, but if it's just a one-way trip, it should be possible."

So whether my request for help will be successful depends on you, Bear Grylls. I need your help.

I remember that the Stony Hills parish was a large parish, and there should have been an Albatross Post Station near the cathedral, right?

"Bell, you are a Grand Knight of the Golden Flame Knights. With your status, borrowing the Albatross Post Station shouldn't be a problem."

Bell grimaced and gasped; so that was Sophia's plan.