Duke Grant was captured alive by the enemy. His personal guard unit was all but wiped out in the aftershocks of the battle.
The city gates were thrown widely as wave after wave of Valeria Empire soldiers in standard-issue armor poured in. The few remaining defenders on the walls, faced with such a scene, could only lay down their weapons and surrender to the expeditionary army before them.
Eight hours later, the Valeria Imperial Expeditionary Force had fully occupied Coldwind City. Under Lyra's command, they opened the military rations Duke Grant had prepared for the defenders, then organized manpower to distribute food in an orderly fashion to the starving residents within the city.
There had originally been no shortage of surrendered soldiers who suspected that the legendary Imperial Regent and Duke Grant were likely cut from the same cloth, arrogant nobles who talked big and never delivered.
