Chapter 33: Surrender

Two and a half days later. Valley of Weeping Blood, the Alliance army’s remaining camp. Uther VII sat inside the tattered command tent.

A feather quill gripped tightly in his hand. Yet the tip hovered above the parchment.

Trembling violently, unable to descend.

“Your Majesty… are you really going to write it?” Lorian’s voice was hoarse and dry.

Carrying an unmistakable tremor.

Uther VII suddenly lifted his head, his eyes bloodshot. He looked at Lorion, and in his gaze was no longer resentment. Instead, it was a profound terror, etched deep into his bones after complete realization.

“Write? What else can we do but write?” He growled hoarsely.

“Lorion, don’t you understand even now?”

“What we lost wasn’t just a battle!”

He stood up excitedly, pacing back and forth in the tent, his expression both deranged and devout.

“We were wrong… wrong from the very start!”

“We arrogantly called her the ‘Sacred Vessel.’”

“Thought we were heroes saving the world.”

“Trying to ‘rescue’ her from the ‘evil’ bloodline.”

“What arrogance! What foolishness!”

Uther VII’s voice suddenly rose sharply: “We are like ants at the bottom of a well, foolishly trying to save the sun above!”

“She doesn’t need saving at all!”

“She came into this world, perhaps just to experience life.”

“And we… we ignorant worms—”

“Dared to disturb a deity’s refined mood with our so-called ‘righteousness!’”

Lorian was stunned speechless by the pope’s words. A chill far more terrifying than defeat surged from his feet to the crown of his head.

“A god… a deity?”

“Isn’t that obvious?” Uther VII gave a bitter laugh.

“What do you think that was?”

“One glance alone shattered the will of a million-strong army.”

“That wasn’t magic, nor power—that was a crushing force on the level of ‘concepts!’”

“She was telling us that between mortals and gods lies an insurmountable chasm!”

He stopped pacing, his eyes growing vacant and fanatical:

“This defeat isn’t punishment, Lorion… it’s mercy!”

“It’s a warning and revelation from a deity to us ignorant mortals!”

“She could have wiped us out with a snap, but she didn’t.”

“She only took away our courage.”

“Allowed us to fall with dignity… she’s teaching us to recognize our place!”

This interpretation sent chills through every noble and general present. They realized they weren’t fighting an empire. They had offended a true god!

Uther VII sat back down. This time, his hand no longer trembled.

“We must show sufficient humility.”

“Enough remorse to beg for divine forgiveness.”

He lifted the quill, the tip moving quickly across the parchment. Though the handwriting was messy, it was filled with humble reverence.

“To Her Majesty, Queen Ophelia of the Eternal Night Empire…”

No, he crossed out that line.

Instead, he wrote directly: “To Her Most High, the Sacred Vessel, Lady Sylvia.”

“Sinner Uther, on behalf of the entire Holy Radiance Alliance.”

“Offers the deepest confession for offending divine majesty.”

“We accept all consequences and offer all wealth and faith of the Alliance.”

“Only begging that the Sacred Vessel Lady grant mercy, forgive our ant-like ignorance and offense…”

Lorian read the humble words penned by the pope.

All resentment vanished from his heart, replaced only by relief and fear. Relief that the pope had “awakened,” meaning they might still have a slim chance.

After finishing, Uther VII seemed drained of all strength. He collapsed into his chair, murmuring repeatedly: “We offended the gods… we deserve death…”

***

Nightfall in the city, the silent royal court. The communication crystal flickered with a faint light.

Duke Cassian received news from the front and showed a shocked expression.

“Your Majesty, the Alliance army has sent a surrender letter.”

He handed the parchment to Ophelia. “The content is extremely humble, almost pleading for our forgiveness.”

Ophelia took the letter, skimming it quickly. A flicker of surprise crossed her eyes. She had expected this war to drag on for months. She hadn’t anticipated such a swift and complete submission.

“Looks like Sylvia’s deterrence is even stronger than I thought.” Ophelia placed the surrender letter on the table.

“One sentence shattered a million-strong army’s morale.”

“My little daughter has truly surprised me.”

The dukes in the council exchanged glances. They knew the princess was special. But never imagined she was this extraordinary.

“Your Majesty, how shall we reply?” Duke Lorenzo asked.

“Should we just accept the surrender directly?”

Ophelia pondered briefly, then shook her head. “No, I have a better idea.”

She picked up the parchment again and began drafting a reply.

“Since they fear Sylvia so much…”

“Let that fear serve an even greater purpose.”

“Your Majesty, you mean…?” Duke Grak asked in confusion.

“I want them to witness Sylvia’s majesty with their own eyes.” Ophelia’s eyes gleamed dangerously.

“Request the Holy Radiance Alliance to formally invite our imperial family to Dawn City.”

“For a friendly visit.”

“What?”

All the dukes were stunned.

Inviting the Vampire Royalty to the humans’ sacred capital? That was beyond absurd.

“Your Majesty, isn’t that too risky?” Duke Zakaria spoke with concern.

“Dawn City is the heart of the Alliance, surrounded by countless holy light barriers.”

“Our powers will be heavily restricted.”

Ophelia sneered coldly.

“Restricted? Do you think Sylvia needs to worry about restrictions?”

“A being who can strip away the Laws of Voice—what are mere holy light barriers to her?”

Duke Zakaria immediately understood the queen’s intention.

If the little princess truly wielded power on the level of a Law, she was absolutely safe wherever she went.

Meanwhile, humans would live in fear.

“Besides, I want Sylvia to see for herself.”

Ophelia’s voice softened. “How our former enemies trembled before her.”

“Perhaps the best bedtime story.”

At that moment, Avira pushed the door open. She had just finished a “friendly” diplomatic negotiation.

Which was really a one-sided slaughter of several Alliance spies attempting to gather intelligence.

“Mother, I heard the Alliance army surrendered?”

Avira asked, a hint of disappointment in her tone.

“I was hoping to kill tens of thousands more.”

“The war ended too quickly, no fun at all.”

Ophelia looked at her eldest daughter’s disappointed face, feeling a twinge of helplessness.

Avira always treated war like a game.

“Don’t be disappointed, we’re going to Dawn City soon.”

“Then you can meet even more interesting toys.”

Avira’s eyes lit up instantly. “Really? We’re going to the humans’ sacred capital?”

“How many knights are there? How many priests?”

“Can I collect them all?”

Ophelia rubbed her temples. Her daughter’s collecting obsession was acting up again.

“Avira, we’re going for a friendly visit.”

“Not to massacre the city.”

“And most importantly, don’t scare Sylvia.”

Avira immediately curbed her excitement. In her heart, her little sister’s feelings were more important than anything.

“I know, I’ll be good.”

“I won’t do anything bad in front of her.”

“Maybe just sneak a little playtime when she’s asleep.”

Ophelia sighed. In her eldest daughter’s dictionary, “sneak a little playtime” usually meant rivers of blood.

“Forget it, we’ll deal with that later.”

“For now, let’s finish the reply.”

She picked up the quill again and wrote on the parchment:

“The Eternal Night Empire accepts the Holy Radiance Alliance’s surrender.”

“But as a condition for reconciliation—”

“Request that the Alliance formally invite the imperial family to Dawn City for a friendly visit.”

“All expenses borne by the Alliance, security guaranteed by the Alliance.”

“Violators will bear the consequences.”

Finishing, Ophelia handed the parchment to Cassian.

“Send it to the Alliance army immediately.”

“Remember, use a firm tone.”

“Let them know this is not a request, but an order.”

Cassian took the parchment respectfully and nodded.

“As you command, Your Majesty.”

At that moment, Sylvia was in her own room. Focused intently on studying the Imperial Culinary Compendium.

“Bloodberry tarts need twelve hours of fermentation, such a hassle.” She flipped to the next page and saw even more complex procedures.

“Moonlight pudding requires stirring with a special silver spoon?”

“Making dessert is more complicated than fighting?”