ddish-brown square face. Before the revolution, he was probably a butcher.
Suddenly, Edith heard the sound of some animal.
"The hoot of an owl! Rebels are nearby!" Old Dupierre immediately held up his gun in alert.
Andre instinctively stretched his arm backwards, trying to shield Edith.
Edith forced herself to calm down and cautiously looked around.
Nothing happened. Only the whistling of the wind echoed in their ears.
As they emerged from the forest, they saw the village in the distance.
They passed a solitary mill. A middle-aged man stood at the door of the small cabin next to it, arms crossed, staring at them with hostility.
Three heads appeared at the small window: a peasant woman with a headscarf, and two children, one big and one small, all peering at them with wary eyes.
Edith suppressed her heartbeat, quietly grasping the pistol under her skirt.
"Bang! Bang! Bang!" With a series of deafening gunshots, the entire family fell to the ground in an instant.
Edith looked panic-stricken at Old Dupierre, who was smugly putting away his long-barrelled gun.
"Kneel!" a cold and stern voice echoed.
Andre drew his sword from his waist and pressed it against the butcher''s shoulder. His face was pale in rage, blue veins standing out on his hand gripping the hilt of the sword, his blonde hair fluttering in the wind, as if a god presiding over judgment.
The short and sturdy bod opened his mouth, seemingly attempting to argue, yet overwhelmed by the majesty of the man before him. He went down on his knees and lowered his head.
"What do you want? Turn here into another Nantes?!" ①Andre questioned sharply. His slim fit military uniform clung to his chest, which heaved up and down, as if he were trying to restrain strong emotions of grief and anger.
Old Dupierre muttered a few words but didn''t dare to speak aloud.
Andre gestured to the attending soldiers , "Confiscate his weapons, tie him up, and take him back to the barracks."
"The people''s court will decide your fate." He threw the last words at the big guy with disgust.
"This is unfair!" After Dupierre was taken away, Philippe immediately led his horse over and complained loudly, "You''re too harsh on Old Dupierre!"
Andre coldly glanced down at him. "What, Philippe! The Revolution brings salvation and liberation, not fratricide!"
"Fratricide?" Phil