Novel Full Chapter 454: Promotion Celebration Party
Chapter 454: Promotion Celebration Party
Night fell over Frostvele, but the fortress no longer felt cold or tense like it had during the days of battle.
Instead, the entire city was alive.
Large bonfires burned across the courtyards and open squares. Long wooden tables had been placed everywhere, and huge barrels of beer were rolled out from the storage halls. The smell of roasted meat drifted through the air while cooks hurried back and forth carrying plates stacked with grilled ribs, sausages, and freshly baked bread.
Soldiers gathered in groups, laughing loudly and slamming their mugs together.
Some were still wearing pieces of armor while others had finally changed into simpler clothes after weeks of fighting.
Tonight, no one cared about rank or formality.
Victory had to be celebrated.
Music soon began to echo through the fortress. A few soldiers brought out old instruments while others clapped their hands to keep rhythm. Some even started rough dancing near the fires while the younger recruits cheered them on.
The festive atmosphere quickly spread through every corner of Frostvele.
Barrels of beer were opened one after another.
Foam spilled from mugs as soldiers drank deeply and wiped their mouths with satisfied sighs.
“Another round!”
“Bring more meat here!”
“Damn, this is the best night we’ve had in months!”
Laughter and shouting filled the night air.
High above the courtyard, Ethan stood on the fortress wall and looked down at the celebration.
The orange light from the bonfires flickered across his face while the cold wind moved gently across the battlements.
Beside him stood several officers and veteran knights.
Below, thousands of soldiers were celebrating.
Ethan slowly stepped forward and rested his hands on the stone railing.
“Soldiers!” he called out.
His voice carried clearly across the courtyard.
The noise gradually faded as more and more people turned their heads upward.
Within moments, the entire crowd fell silent.
Thousands of eyes looked toward the wall.
Ethan looked across the sea of soldiers before speaking again.
“You fought well.”
His voice was calm, but it carried a firm strength.
“You stood your ground when demons marched toward our homes.”
He paused briefly.
“You held the line when others would have run.”
The soldiers listened quietly.
Ethan’s gaze moved across the crowd.
“Many of you bled on that battlefield. Some of our brothers will never return.”
The mood became heavier for a moment.
“But because of your courage,” Ethan continued, raising his voice slightly, “Frostvele still stands.”
Cheers slowly began rising from the crowd.
“You did not fight for glory,” he said.
“You fought for your homes. For the people behind these walls. For the land we protect together.”
He lifted a mug of beer that one of the guards handed to him.
“And tonight,” Ethan said with a faint smile, “we drink for victory.”
The soldiers roared loudly.
“But remember this,” Ethan continued firmly.
“The war is not over.”
The cheers quieted slightly.
“The demons will come again. They will bring stronger armies and greater monsters.”
He raised the mug higher.
“And when that day comes…”
His voice turned sharp.
“We will crush them again!”
A thunderous roar erupted across the fortress.
“For Frostvele!”
Ethan shouted.
“For Frostvele!” thousands of voices answered.
“For Blanks!”
“For Blanks!”
“For victory!”
“FOR VICTORY!”
The cheers shook the entire fortress.
Ethan finally took a long drink from the mug and laughed.
“Now stop standing around and drink!” he shouted.
The crowd exploded with laughter and excitement.
Music started again.
Beer mugs clashed loudly while soldiers returned to celebrating with even greater energy.
Some began singing loudly while others dragged their friends toward the fire pits to continue drinking.
….
High above the courtyard, on the quiet stretch of the fortress wall, two figures stood side by side while the celebration roared below them.
Amber leaned lightly against the cold stone railing while the wind moved gently through her hair. From where she stood, the entire courtyard of Frostvele was visible.
Bonfires burned brightly across the open grounds. Soldiers laughed loudly while raising their mugs of beer. Some were already singing, and others were arguing over who had slain the most demons during the battle.
At the center of it all stood Ethan.
He was surrounded by soldiers who were cheering and shouting his name. Someone had forced another mug into his hand while others slapped his shoulder proudly. Even though he was their lord, tonight he looked just like one of them.
Relaxed.
Happy.
For the first time in days, the heavy tension of war had disappeared from his face.
Amber watched quietly.
Without realizing it, a faint smile appeared on her lips.
Beside her, Julia noticed it immediately.
Julia leaned slightly against the stone wall and crossed her arms while looking at Amber with a playful expression.
“Do you like Ethan?”
Amber froze instantly.
“What?” she blurted out, turning toward Julia.
Julia simply raised one eyebrow.
Amber’s face quickly warmed and a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
“Of course not,” Amber replied quickly.
Julia could not help smiling.
“Oh really?”
Amber frowned slightly.
“What do you mean?”
Julia chuckled softly and looked back toward the courtyard where Ethan was laughing loudly with the soldiers.
“I can literally see your admiration for him,” she said calmly.
Amber opened her mouth but could not immediately respond.
Julia continued speaking.
“You watch him every time he appears. When he fights, when he speaks, even when he is just standing there.”
Amber’s cheeks grew even redder.
“You are imagining things,” she said while trying to sound calm.
Julia shook her head gently.
“No, I am not.”
She then nudged Amber lightly with her elbow.
“If you like him, just go for it already.”
Amber blinked in surprise.
“What?”
“You should not hold back,” Julia said casually. “Life is too short to keep pretending you feel nothing.”
Amber looked away and stared toward the courtyard again.
Below them Ethan had just lifted another mug while soldiers shouted around him.
For a moment she stayed silent.
“I don’t know what you are talking about,” Amber muttered quietly.
Julia watched her for a few seconds before speaking again.
“You admire him.”
“That is obvious.”
Amber did not deny it this time.
“Anyone would admire someone like him,” she said quietly.
Julia nodded.
“That is true.”
For a moment both of them simply watched the celebration below.
After a short pause Julia spoke again, her tone softer this time.
“But admiration and feelings are not the same thing.”
Amber sighed slightly.
“You make it sound simple.”
Julia shrugged.
“In some ways it is.”
Amber turned toward her again.
“You are his wife. Of course you would say that.”
Julia laughed softly.”You think I would feel threatened?”
Amber did not answer.
Julia looked toward Ethan again and her smile softened.
“Ethan is not someone who belongs to just one person,” she said calmly.
“He carries too much responsibility for that kind of life.”
Amber listened quietly.
Julia then looked back at her with a warm expression.
“If your heart really leans toward him, you should not be afraid of it.”
Amber stared at her for a moment, clearly surprised by how honest Julia was being.
Below them the soldiers roared loudly again while someone started another drinking contest.
Amber slowly looked back toward Ethan.
He was laughing again.
And without realizing it, the small smile returned to her face.