In the past, during times of war, Nexia was only responsible for medical affairs. Now, she had to address all the issues plaguing Snowdonia due to war. Having been entrusted with great responsibilities by her husband, she refused to be a mere follower who simply nodded in agreement. She usually consulted with Capito before letting him execute decisions. After only a few days, the overwhelming tasks started to wear her down, leaving her dizzy and exhausted. So, upon hearing Capito’s name, she felt an instant headache and asked irritably, "What does he want now?"
"Well... Lady Geniandafra, she—" Naisuya hadn’t finished speaking when Nexia slammed the table hard. "Did she sneak out again only to be dragged back by Capipi?!"
"Yes." Naisuya quickly bowed her head.
"Our leader is currently leading troops in the front lines against the enemy, and as his wife, instead of setting a good example here, she’s causing endless trouble!" Nexia said angrily. "I don’t even have the face to meet Capito right now! Naisuya, have your mother bring two strong women over and escort Geniandafra here immediately. According to the rules of the main house, she’ll receive corporal punishment!"
"Madam, are you saying to ’escort’ Lady Geniandafra here? And actually ’punish’ her?!" Naisuya thought she’d misheard and couldn’t help but ask again.
"That’s right! Have your mother bring her over! Hurry up, and don’t waste my time waiting!" Nexia urged impatiently.
Naisuya hurried to the kitchen and informed Acronis about the matter.
Acronis laughed heartily. "Nexia should’ve done this a long time ago!"
"Mother, Geniandafra is the leader’s wife!" Naisuya reminded her cautiously. "If you treat her , it might upset the leader!"
"What do you know!" Acris glared, grabbing the firewood stick by the stove. "Ever since this Aldean woman came here, she’s been restless. Now she dares disobey orders repeatedly during wartime. The leader despises such behavior. Back in Italy, he often dished out punishments. Since he’s not here now, we’ll enforce the rules ourselves!"
With that, Acris indeed called upon two maidservants and marched straight toward the courtyard gate.
After Naisuya exited the hall, Florist Luscia, who had been accompanying Nexia, spoke up, "Sister, are you really going to punish Geniandafra?"
"It’s time she learned a lesson so she stops treating this place like Alde!" Nexia said sternly, her expression hard.
Florist Luscia opened her mouth but refrained from further persuasion.
Instead, Nexia spoke with concern, "Sister, if you feel uncomfortable witnessing what’s about to happen, you can head back to your room for now."
Florist Luscia hesitated for a moment and softly said, "Um... Sister, I... I’ll leave now."
Just as Florist Luscia left, shouts erupted outside: "Let me go! Let me go! If you don’t release me, I’ll make sure the leader breaks your hands when he returns!——"
"The leader would never break the hands of these sisters who endured hardships alongside him!" Nexia sharply interrupted Geniandafra’s words. "On the contrary, if he knew what you’ve been up to these days and the nonsense you’re shouting now, he’d definitely have someone whip you until your backside is ruined!"
Geniandafra looked furiously at Nexia sitting in the center of the hall. Her eyes burned with rage. "Nexia, what right do you have to treat me this way? Let me go immediately! Otherwise, when the leader returns, I’ll repay this humiliation double!——"
"I’ll tell you now exactly what right I have to punish you!" Nexia stood up and, with righteous indignation, stared at Geniandafra. "I am the First Lady of the Nix Tribe, empowered by specific decrees to manage the leader’s household affairs. For any of the leader’s family members who violate the rules of the main house or disrupt order, I have the authority to enforce discipline!
The leader assigned Capito full responsibility for the defense of this settlement. Three days ago, Capito issued an order—no one was permitted to enter or leave the stockade! Everyone in this settlement strictly adhered to that command, except you. You acted as if this order didn’t exist and have now tried to sneak out of the gates for the third time!——"
Geniandafra shouted, "The Pannonians are destroying the Aldeans’ tribes! Slaughtering my people! My uncle has sent countless messengers pleading for your help, but Capito has done nothing!——"
"All the able-bodied men in this settlement have been taken by the leader to fight. What do you expect Capito to do?" Acronis interjected.
Geniandafra immediately yelled, "Then I must go to the leader myself and urge him to bring the army back from the north to rescue the Aldeans!"
"Such an important matter—Capito has surely sent word to the leader!" Acronis sneered.
Geniandafra retorted loudly, "But the army is still in the north and hasn’t returned! I must request this personally from the leader——"
"You shut your mouth!" Nexia roared, her expression severe. "Matters of the tribe are for the leader and the other chiefs to handle. Outsiders have no right to inquire, let alone intervene! This is a rule everyone in the Nix Tribe knows and abides by!
As the leader’s wife, instead of setting a good example for the people during this critical time, you’ve disobeyed orders and violated decrees repeatedly, stirring unrest in the settlement! Acronis, according to our tribe’s laws, what punishment should be carried out for such actions?!"
Acronis responded loudly, "As per our customs, during wartime, disobedience of orders warrants corporal punishment at the very least, and execution in severe cases! Repeated offenses result in exile at minimum!"
Geniandafra began to panic. Struggling desperately to free herself from the grip of the two strong women restraining her, she shouted with faux bravado, "Nonsense! Utter nonsense! I don’t understand your Nix laws! My grandfather is Acoupaigos, the Great Chief of the Aldeans! If you dare act recklessly, he’ll make you pay! He’ll definitely——"
Nexia remained unmoved and said coldly, "Since this is her first offense, let’s proceed with corporal punishment."
Acronis unhesitatingly barked to her subordinates, "Pin her down!"
The two strong women seized Geniandafra’s shoulders and forced her downward, simultaneously hooking her legs with theirs.
With a heavy thud, Geniandafra fell face down to the ground, her curses abruptly silenced.
Seeing Nexia’s lips subtly move but not utter a command, Acronis immediately understood: strike with half strength.
She gleefully raised the firewood stick high and delivered a solid blow to Geniandafra’s plump backside.
"Ah! Ah!..." Geniandafra let out piercing shrieks. Pampered and spoiled all her life, she had never suffered such pain before. After only two strikes, tears began streaming down her cheeks.
At that moment, commotion could be heard outside the hall. Nexia was about to instruct Naisuya to check it out.
The Guard Captain walked in first, his gaze unwavering, and reported to Nexia, "Madam, earlier when Steward Acronis ordered us to guard the hall to prevent unauthorized entry, Lady Geniandafra’s attendants tried to barge in. They were stopped by the guards. Eventually, they got into a scuffle with the guards and even injured one of them. The guards had no choice but to subdue them..."
"You did the right thing!" Nexia praised loudly before continuing sternly, "The fact that Geniandafra has misbehaved likely stems from their encouragement! For violating tribal laws themselves, they deserve an even harsher punishment! You are entrusted to handle this matter!"
"...Understood!" The Guard Captain left the hall, and soon screams echoed loudly outside.
A while later, Naisuya re-entered the hall, glanced at the scene, and quickly approached Nexia. She started whispering a few words.
Nexia immediately said loudly, "No need to whisper. Speak openly, so everyone can hear!"
Following orders, Naisuya complied, "Madam, Capito just sent another messenger to report that the leader is leading the army back from the north!——"
Still lying on the ground after the punishment, Geniandafra instantly stopped crying upon hearing this.
"However, the leader has not entered the settlement, nor has he rested nearby. He only instructed Capito to send the pre-prepared bread to the troops. The army must push forward quickly to Kolana River!" Naisuya finished.
Geniandafra froze for a moment, her worry dissipating. But now, her overwhelming grievances and the pain in her backside rushed to the surface, causing her to burst into torrents of tears...
.............................................
Near Validosi, the Nix Army finally arrived and retrieved the scouts previously sent forward.
"Report to the leader: The Pannonians’ vanguard troops are close to reaching Kolana Swamp!"
Kolana Swamp... Maximus felt a slight jolt: They’re not far from us!
Suddenly, a commotion arose within the frontline units.
"Leader, we’ve detected Pannonian scouts!" The First Legion messenger rushed forward to announce.
The enemy is approaching!... Maximus tightened his grip on the reins.
"Leader, we should quickly occupy the elevated hills east of Kolana Swamp!" Quintus suggested loudly.
"You’re right." Maximus decisively ordered the army to speed up their march.
After issuing the directive, Maximus looked up at the sky. The radiant sun had only just climbed halfway into the heavens.
"It seems that today we may decide the outcome against the Pannonians," Maximus murmured.
"Isn’t that what we’re hoping for? To handle the enemies here swiftly so we can hurry back to Westeni," Quintus said.
"Leader, rest assured. The Pannonians will certainly be slower than us in preparing for battle. Our soldiers will have enough time to recover their strength." Flanitnus reassured.