The Lord of the Rings: Lords of Middle-earth.

Chapter 179 Incorporation
“The Crusaders…” Roland stared blankly at the familiar flag.

“That’s right, it was the Crusaders…and some of them actually survived!” Caslo exclaimed as he approached Roland.

“Those are…my people?” Nyx ran up the stairs carrying the staff Roland had given her, and then she saw the familiar flag! That cross and bauhinia banner was stained red with blood!

“Let’s go out of the city to greet them…” Omsk sighed. With his eyesight, he could clearly tell that the number of people in this army was no more than 500, which meant that only about 500 people survived the entire Crusade.

"Creak!" The closed gate was pushed open again, and Roland led the group, protected by the knights, to meet the army that had been missing for more than a month. The usually composed and dignified Grand Duke Nyx was now like a madman, whipping his warhorse and charging at the front of the group.

……

"Lord Lavian, the city gates are closed! They seem to be on guard against something!" a scout knight reported.

"..." Hollin looked up at the tattered flag fluttering in the wind beside him and grinned. Could it be that the garrison of Swiftstream City was on guard against them...?

“No matter what, we have to go and see. This is the only land left for the Empire on the continent… We have nowhere else to go but here. We heard from those people that His Highness the Grand Duke is here too.” Ravian thought happily. Ever since he was discovered by Baldr’s group in the Tuput Forest, Baldr, who had seen the cross and bauhinia emblem, had been on guard. After confirming that the banner of this remnant army was the same as that of Nyx, the men immediately stopped the Crusader remnants who were wandering aimlessly in the wilderness like headless flies, and told them about the current situation in Swiftstream City, urging them to go here to find the last sanctuary of the Kingdom of Lagrand.

"Knights are coming to meet us..." Lavian's expression suddenly changed and he said excitedly. He could easily distinguish between knights and cavalry just by looking at those heavy lances and armor. Lavian would never be wrong about that.

"By the Dragon God! It's a hundred-man knight order! The kingdom can actually organize a hundred-man knight order!" Holin exclaimed, pointing to the large banner with a thick tassel hanging down. They had been filled with anxiety since learning that the empire had been downgraded to a kingdom and consisted of only one city. How many troops could a single city support? Not every city is called Lagrange! Even Swiftstream City, the northern capital of the empire, had declined after experiencing turmoil. Therefore, the appearance of a well-organized hundred-man knight order was a truly delightful surprise!
“Oh! It’s Your Highness!” Lavian keenly recognized Grand Duke Nyx, who was charging at the forefront.

……

"God! Thank God! You're still alive..." Nyx gently covered her cherry-like mouth with her delicate hand, sobbing uncontrollably.

"Thank you for your trouble, Your Highness... It's fortunate that we can still stand here and see you..." Ravian said with emotion, realizing that almost none of them would have made it back...

"How did you manage to break through?" Roland couldn't help but interject.

“You are…Greetings, Your Majesty the King.” Ravian was taken aback, then realized who it was when he saw Roland’s exquisite clothing with the golden holy dragon emblem on his chest, and quickly bowed. “It’s alright, rise. You are all heroes of the nation. Would you mind telling me your stories?” Roland was very curious about how a fourth-rank knight commander had led nearly 500 people out of a hopeless situation.

“Actually… it was those wounded brothers who bought us time with their lives… We are not heroes… the real heroes are left on the battlefield…” Ravian stopped there.

“I understand… You are all warriors, and they will pay the price!” Roland patted Ravian on the shoulder and said after a moment of silence.

"What are your plans?" Roland looked at Ravian, the de facto commander of the Crusaders. It would be a lie to say he wasn't tempted by this force, after all, there were several hundred men here! However, Roland couldn't directly annex this duchy's army, since they belonged to the Grand Duchy of Nyx. The overlord had the right to order them to fulfill their obligations but couldn't demand that they be incorporated into it.

“This…” Ravian looked at the pretty Grand Duke Nyx standing next to Roland, hesitating to speak. He really wanted to fulfill his own mission—to restore the kingdom! But he knew that it was a pipe dream to rely on their own strength. However, restoring the kingdom with the help of the kingdom would inevitably lead to its annexation. Even if the kingdom was successfully restored in the future, it was not certain that it would be able to break free again.

“Stay, Lavian. The Grand Duchy of Nyx is gone. Stop thinking about those unrealistic things. We have shed too much blood. It’s time to stop…” Nyx sighed, her beautiful eyes filled with loneliness and reluctance. Roland could clearly see the mist welling up in her eyes.

“Your Highness…” Ravian wanted to insist, but he couldn’t utter a word in the face of the facts. Any words seemed pale and powerless in the face of the huge difference in strength.

“Stay and fight alongside me. Although the Grand Duchy of Nyx has perished, the Kingdom of Lagrange still stands on the continent. What you fear will not happen. I have no intention of annexing the Grand Duchy of Nyx. In the future, my child with Nyx will inherit that land, and the Grand Duchy of Nyx will be rebuilt! This is my promise to all of you!” Roland said in a deep voice, then firmly took Nyx’s small hand and embraced her.

"Your Majesty...this..." Ravian was stunned by Roland's actions! Not only are you going to take over our army...but you're also going to abduct our Grand Duke? And then you're going to let your son inherit our duchy? Have all suzerain states gone this far?
“My lord… this is probably our best option…” Hollin whispered as he approached. Judging from the way Nyx and Roland, that despicable couple, were acting, it was clear they were in cahoots. Even their own Grand Duke had “defected” to the enemy. There was no point in them persisting to the end. Was Lavian supposed to become the Grand Duke himself? A knight who believed in chivalry would not do such a rebellious thing.

"As you wish, Your Highnesses! All Crusaders! Line up and prepare for battle!" Ravian took a deep breath and turned to look at the ragged but determined army behind him, which for a moment gave him a sense of desolation and decline.

"Your Majesty! The Crusaders request your inspection! The army should have numbered 100,000! 470 are present! There are 20 professional Crusader Bauhinia Knights, 30 ordinary Duchy Light Cavalry, and 420 ordinary Crusader soldiers!" Ravian roared, his heart bleeding with every word. Of the original 100,000, only fewer than 500 remained after years of wandering… After the death of the First Duke, Ravian led this force across the wastelands, gradually rising from a second-tier knight to a fourth-tier knight commander. Meanwhile, the original Crusader Bauhinia Knights dwindled: 100, 80, 70… and now only 20. Even the once-thousand-strong light cavalry regiment now numbered only 30 wounded and exhausted cavalrymen… This army had fought far too long…

"Welcome back to the family of the Lagrange people... Warriors of the Empire!" Roland was also moved by the tragic heroism of this army.

(End of this chapter)