Chapter 316: Sneaking Into The Southern Borders
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When they successfully made it to the Southern borders, the huge iron gate was heavily guarded by Marius’s guards, making it nearly impossible to get in. The towering structure before them seemed insurmountable, its height accentuated by the vigilant archers patrolling the top.
Ivan’s keen senses detected the tension in the air– the guards were at full alert this time, their watchful eyes piercing the darkness as they moved about, staying warily conscious of their surroundings.
Ivan, who remained hidden by one of the bushes, could sense that Marius was more than prepared to welcome him with dozens of his armies. He clenched his teeth at the thought and turned to Duncan who remained hidden by the tree next to him, and after getting the message, Duncan turned to Lucy who had let her hair loose and was all prepared to act out her role for tonight.
She applied slight mud to her cheeks and allowed the hand of her dress to hang limply on her left arm. She was adding a few leaves and twigs to her hair only to catch Duncan staring.
"Too much?" She whispered, wondering if her outfit and appearance appeared real enough, or if she was exaggerating her attempts. Duncan was instantly snapped out of his trance by her voice. He averted his gaze and cleared his throat awkwardly.
"Ivan says it’s time... but are you sure you can do this?" He wanted her to realize the gravity of what she was about to do, because never in his life has he seen a woman willingly agree to be used as a scapegoat. If her plans don’t work, or if she fails to fool them, she would land in trouble, but to his surprise, this woman before him appeared confident, and her lips tilted proudly to the side.
"I have a remarkable skill when it comes to acting, Your Majesty, just watch."
Before Duncan could utter anything else, Lucy had stepped out of her hiding place. She exchanged glances with Ivan who reminded her of what she had to do, and she nodded, making him aware that she knew it already. Taking a deep breath while everyone waited for her to pull her acting, Lucy finally made a move.
The guards who were safeguarding the borders stayed alert, as they had already been informed of incoming intruders. The leader amongst them was strictly telling them to keep an eye on the borders when a strange lady suddenly ran out of the bushes with a frightened scream, catching them off guard. Their weapons were instantly unsheathed as the lady stumbled and fell to the ground, and in her eyes, there was evident fear as she seemed to be backing away from something in the woods.