A/N: Extra chapter for the castle
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Through the Jungle of Pines, a dense forest of towering pine trees that lay along the path between the Duchy of Ironvale and the Duchy of Thornwall, the rumbling of countless marching steps echoed throughout the woods. Leaves trembled upon the branches, and flocks of birds burst into the sky as an army of seven hundred thousand soldiers from House Ironvale marched through the forest.
"I always hate this damn forest," Astrid muttered while riding at the front of the massive army along with his two personal knights. "If not for the Emperor's wish to not harm nature, I would have cut down this whole forest. This place gives me the creeps."
"Suppress your discomfort for a few more hours, Duke," said the knight beside him. "We will soon reach the open plains."
"Tsk, let's increase the pace," Astrid ordered, tightening the reins of his horse.
As his horse sped up, one of the knights turned and commanded in a booming voice,
"Move faster!"
