With the support of a knight, Affia appeared in everyone's vision, followed by Delan. This Alchemist was actually wearing black chainmail, with ornate leather gloves touching the longsword at his waist; his long boots had traces of blood, but at this moment, who here wasn't dressed for battle.
Everyone turned their gaze towards these two. Some recognized Affia, but most did not know Delan. Only a few who recalled the decrepit ministers of the Former Queen's era showed a surprised expression upon seeing Delan.
"Captain Ade?" Affia's face was as pale as ice on a winter lake, so fragile that a gust of wind could topple her, her gentle gaze now surprised, staring at Fang Hong's right arm: "Your hand..."
"Just a small matter." With Ai Xiaoxiao and Hilveld's help, Fang Hong sat up from the stretcher, looking at this frail girl. "Affia, it seems Mr. Delan and the others have healed you?"
Affia nodded. "Mr. Delan and another gentleman healed me. I don't know what happened earlier, just remember being taken from the Earl's Mansion, everything else was told to me by Mr. Alphonse and Mr. Parker."
"Miss Affia, Miss Affia," Parker trotted over with short legs, glanced vigilantly at Fang Hong, and quickly blocked between him and Affia. He stepped back and whispered to the girl: "Be careful, Miss Affia, this guy has a girlfriend."
But this foolish and clumsy little fellow forgot to close his team communication channel. Hence, Fang Hong, with a dark expression, watched this nonsense, already thinking of this pitiful man's outcome.
Affia blushed slightly upon hearing this and quickly shook her head: "I didn't mean that, Mr. Parker..."
One certain 'girlfriend' smiled as she watched this scene, then turned to glance at Tang Xin beside her. But Tang Xin only looked dazedly at her cousin's shoulder.
Princess Rupert looked at a face uncannily resembling her mother's youth, feeling a bit disoriented. She quickly blinked and, with a slightly trembling voice, said: "Miss Affia—"
Affia didn't pick up on the weakness in her words.
This girl didn't know who had previously ordered her capture, and might never in her lifetime uncover this secret; she was just extremely flustered that the legendary Grand Princess knew her, quickly performing a curtsey: "Grand Princess—"
"Princess." Afterwards, Delan also bowed. "His Highness Aleph."
Aleph quickly nodded in response, not knowing who this person was, nor why he knew him.
Rupert looked at the man in black chainmail. "Are you, Mr. Delan...?"
The latter gently nodded.
She turned back, looked at Fang Hong, then asked: "Mr. Delan, do you have any solutions?"
"I don't, but some people do—"
Outside Kashan Palace, the guards suddenly stirred. The crowd started to retreat, as if scattered by something, and at the back of the people appeared a tall construct beneath which stood people, many people.
Walking at the forefront was Lady Aierna. Behind her were people in robes and coats of various styles, whom Fang Hong recognized as Alchemists. The Alchemists from the Istania Artisans' Guild had all come here.
Lady Aierna swiftly crossed the crowd, bowing to Aleph and Princess Rupert, her tone surprisingly uplifting. "Princess, initially we helped relocate the citizens to the North City District. Upon hearing you were still here, the Istania Artisans' Guild came over, and most of us still alive are here—"
She turned back, pointing to those people: "They also want to stay and protect this Royal City, myself included."
Fang Hong saw Alphonse in the crowd, Pasha, Xiangzi, and Luo Yu all following to rendezvous.
Princess Rupert's eyes flickered.
The atmosphere in the hall loosened considerably; the sudden reinforcements seemed to instill a sense of hope among everyone.
An old man with silver-gray beard almost reaching the ground stepped out to bow to Aleph and the Princess. He wore a long black robe, with three rings on his hand, one adorned with a black spider emblem. With Hilveld's hint, Fang Hong realized this elder was the head of the Istania Artisans' Guild.
The artisans had depleted many constructs in the earlier battle, but that wasn't a problem, as there still was Royal Household inventory within Kashan Palace. Aleph promised to take out those treasured constructs for everyone to use. With constructs, a Combat Artisan equaled an army, especially considering this was a battle division of the entire Istania Artisans' Guild.
If they had joined the previous battle, the Sand Thieves would have been defeated even faster.
Yet, this still didn't resolve the root issue. The artisans seemed to have been aware of this fact, and before the Grand Princess could inquire—starting from Aierna and that elder, everyone tacitly made way.
This path led beneath the tall construct, where a silent man stood wearing a gray-black coat, with silver buttons on it like pairs of studs on a city wall. Standing there, he resembled a silent wall, frosted at the temples, with eyes shining intensely.