Starting With an SSS-Rank Swordsmanship Talent

In front of them were fifteen warriors led by an old Knight who looked to be in his late sixties.

"Sir Rollins?" Lyanna exclaimed in surprise. The group turned out to be former warriors of House Jillings.

"My lady, are you alright?! Did these people do something to you?!" The old Knight was agitated. He wanted to rush in and save Lyanna from her 'captors', but his instincts told him otherwise.

Henry who was about to command his subordinates to attack immediately swallowed his words. He turned his gaze to Lyanna and asked with furrowed eyebrows. "What is going on here?"

Lyanna quickly stepped forward and gestured at both groups to calm down. "Wait, everyone! This is a misunderstanding!"

Everyone looked at her and waited for her to explain the situation.

Lyanna took a deep breath and said. "Sir Rollins, there is no need to be alarmed. These gentlemen are warriors of House Silversword. They are good people so there is no need to be hostile towards them."

"Sir Henry, I apologize on their behalf. These men are former warriors of House Jillings. They acted against my father when he sold us to the slave traders, making them lose their jobs."

Lyanna's words made everyone relax their guard.

"Lower your weapons, everyone!" The old Knight named Rollins commanded his subordinates.

He then cupped his fists to Henry's group and apologized, "We have misunderstood you. Please forgive us!"

"Please forgive us!"

Henry shook his head and waved his hand. "It's nothing serious so you guys don't need to worry."

The two groups exchanged greetings after that awkward encounter.

"I'm glad to see you unharmed, my lady. But…where is Miss Emma?" Rollins asked with a look of concern. He had watched the Jillings siblings grow up. They were like grandchildren to him so he was worried about them all this time.

Lyanna smiled faintly and replied. "My sister is in good hands, Sir Rollins. Lord Alaric of House Silversword took us in and gave us proper care. He didn't force us to become slaves. We voluntarily decided to work for him."

Rollins furrowed his eyebrows as he observed her expression. He didn't sense any falsehoods in her words so he was relieved. He let out a sigh and kneeled before her, his face filled with remorse. "It's my fault, my lady. If only I was strong enough, you and Miss Emma wouldn't have to go through all that suffering…"

The old Knight's voice trembled.

"Please don't blame yourself, Sir Rollins! This isn't your fault!" Lyanna pulled the old man up and gently tapped his shoulders.

The old man expressed his anger towards the head of House Jillings and also his relief upon knowing that they were safe.

Lyanna hesitated for a moment as she asked. "What happened to the household after we left?"

She didn't know why she had asked this question. Was it her lingering attachment to House Jillings or was it something else? She couldn't tell.

Rollins' face darkened as he responded. "Lor-, that bastard went back into gambling! I don't know what kind of shitty luck he had, but he won back all the money he had lost! He used the money he won to hire new warriors and he also spent them on women! That pathetic piece of sh-…"

Ehem!

"I apologize for the language, my lady."

Lyanna was distraught.

That bastard… He didn't even bother to look for us!

She bit her lower lip to hide her pain, but Rollins could see through her emotions from her little hand movements.

She still has these little habits when she is in emotional distress…

At this moment, Henry had to cut their reunion short. "I apologize, but I have to interrupt your reunion."

He looked at Lyanna and said in a stern voice. "I hope you understand, Miss Lyanna. We have an important task to deal with."

Lyanna immediately lowered her head. "I understand, Sir Henry."

She then looked at Rollins and said. "Please forgive me, Sir Rollins. We need to leave soon. You can wait for me at the…"

Lyanna set up a meeting place, but Rollins had other plans. "My lady, we want to follow you!"

Lyanna and Henry's group were stunned when they saw the other party kneeling in unison.

"What is this, Sir Rollins?"

The old Knight lifted his head and stared at her with determination. "My lady, there is nothing we want more than to serve you again. Please accept us!"

"This…" Lyanna was stumped. She was no longer the young lady of a merchant family so she didn't know how to respond.

While she was hesitating, she felt a big hand tapping on her shoulder.

"Since they want to follow you, why not accept them? We need loyal people like them in the household." Henry's voice drifted into her ears.

"But I'm no longer the young lady of House Jillings. Can I really do that?" Lyanna hesitated.

"You are not, but you are now a team leader of House Silversword's armed forces. You can take in these people, but they will be your responsibility," Henry answered.

Hearing this, Lyanna became silent. She seemed to be in internal turmoil so everyone waited patiently for her decision.

After a few minutes, she finally made a decision. "Alright. I will accept you guys, but as I said, I'm no longer the young lady of House Jillings but a warrior of House Silversword. Follow me means following House Silversword."

Rollins nodded. "It doesn't matter, my lady. We will do anything to serve you!"

Lyanna helplessly smiled. Their loyalty burdened her. She felt that she still wasn't ready to lead these men.

"Since you have already decided, prepare to depart immediately. We have a task to complete!"

"Yes, my lady!" Rollins and the former warriors of House Jillings answered in unison.

"Call me Team Leader Lyanna from now on." Lyanna corrected them.

"Yes, Team Leader Lyanna!"

After dealing with them, she apologetically looked at Henry. "I apologize for delaying our task, Sir Henry."

Henry grinned at her. "It's alright."