TGS - Chapter 20
Chapter 20: A New Test
The Lord of the city was an elderly man with graying temples. His face was lined with the traces of time, yet his build was not gaunt like most men his age. On the contrary, he was tall and robust, exuding an air that suggested he could don armor and charge into battle at a moment's notice.
Seeing Alyuin alight from her carriage, he lowered his head and bowed solemnly. "Hephit, Lord of Digebia City, greets Your Highness the Princess."
Alyuin inclined her head. "I have long heard of your reputation, Lord Hephit."
"It is getting late," Hephit said, swinging himself onto his horse. "Please follow me to the city lord's manor to stay for the time being. I have prepared a carriage for Your Highness. We can discuss any matters once we have arrived."
The moment the lord turned away, the smile on the young princess's face vanished. She stared darkly at Hephit's retreating back.
A perfect opportunity had been interrupted, and for what? To get out, exchange a few pleasantries with the city lord, and then transfer from her own modest carriage to his luxurious, spacious one? Damn it.
The party made their way to the city lord's manor. The cavalrymen were quartered outside, while Motis and a few others accompanied Alyuin into the lord's reception hall.
The lords of the major cities were, to varying degrees, related to the Solancian royal family. This meant that Hephit was, in fact, a distant relative of the young princess.
Of course, the blood ties were so distant as to be negligible.
The meeting began with the usual pleasantries. Hephit offered the main seat in the reception hall to the young princess, but as Alyuin was there to ask a favor, she could not simply accept it.
After a round of polite refusals, Hephit had a chair brought and placed beside the main seat, allowing them to sit as equals.
Once everyone was seated, Hephit’s gaze swept over Lotus, who stood behind the princess. He gave her a brief, assessing glance before looking away, likely dismissing her as an attendant.
Then, he got straight to the point. "Your Highness, for what reason have you come to see me?"
Alyuin did not beat around the bush either.
Motis had worked with this lord before. According to him, Hephit was a straightforward man who acted with integrity. When dealing with him, it was best to avoid excessive preamble, lest he lose patience.
So the young princess stated her purpose directly: "I have come to request your permission to join the border garrison."
Hephit's eyes widened beneath his wrinkled brow. "I don't quite understand. You are a princess. I fear I do not possess such authority."
"The Solancian Code of Law, Military and Governance Section, Article Forty-Two."
"What?"
The young princess leaned forward slightly and said deliberately, "That article stipulates that an exile, with the permission of the local magistrate, may join the army and accumulate sufficient military merit to atone for their crimes. That is why I have come to you."
Hephit’s first reaction was to look at the man beside him who appeared to be an advisor. The man pondered for a moment before saying in a low voice, "My lord, there is indeed such an article in the law, but…"
His next few words were too faint for Alyuin to hear. After listening, Hephit turned back to the princess. "Where did you learn of this?"
As he spoke, he glanced at Motis.
The captain of the Royal Guard shrugged. "Do I look like the scholarly type to you?"
"Motis," Alyuin chided, her tone neither harsh nor soft. Then she answered nonchalantly, "It was simply part of my daily studies."
"I don't recall the temple schools teaching such things," the lord said, shaking his head meaningfully. "But let us set that aside. Your Highness, you must understand that this law may not necessarily apply to your situation."
"But it doesn't necessarily not apply, either," Alyuin said calmly.
Another of the lord's advisors frowned and said in an admonishing tone, "Your Highness, I urge you to reconsider. The battlefield is no place for a young lady such as yourself. Swords and blades have no eyes."
I was waiting for you to say that.
Alyuin blinked, feigning innocence. "But I heard that Lord Hephit's own daughter serves in the army."
"Er, one cannot generalize about such matters."
The advisor shot the lord a stiff glance, then immediately lowered his gaze and fell silent. How could he have forgotten? The lord's only daughter had been serving in the army for years.
The reception hall fell utterly silent. The young princess calmly met the lord's gaze.
In truth, they both knew that whether the law could truly be applied to a princess exiled to a temple was irrelevant. All she needed was a pretext—a justification to pave her way into the army.
After a long moment, the lord pressed his temples. "This is a matter of great importance. Please allow me a few days to consider it. As you can see, it is nearly sunset. Shall I arrange accommodations for you first?"
This was a polite dismissal. Alyuin said no more, rising gracefully. "In that case, I shall await your decision."
After seeing Alyuin and her party out, Hephit pounded his lower back and stretched his joints.
Though he appeared robust, his body was long past its prime. Years of campaigning had left him with numerous ailments; now, for instance, merely sitting for a short while made his joints ache.
"Sigh…" he lamented.
The advisor on his left stepped forward. "My lord, what are your true thoughts on this matter?"
Hephit replied, "When the princess was here just now, you looked as if you were holding something back. You must have an opinion. Let's hear it."
The advisor spoke frankly. "Ultimately, the princess's affairs have nothing to do with us here in Digebia. We might even incur King Horst's displeasure. Therefore, I believe it is best not to get involved."
But the advisor on his right countered, "I disagree with the notion of ignoring Her Highness. She is our princess, the sole legitimate heir of the royal bloodline."
Hephit remained silent, his fingers tapping a rhythm on the armrest of his seat as he was clearly lost in thought. After a while, he murmured to himself, "Yes, she is the former king's only child."
"Have you made your decision?"
"No, I must wait a few more days," Hephit said. "It is precisely because she is the former king's only daughter that I cannot make this choice lightly. If the princess lacks the necessary ability, my permission will only place her in even greater danger."
"We will wait. We will wait and see."
The Moon Goddess took over the sky from the Sun God, casting the world into deep darkness. In the temporary residence arranged by the lord, candlelight illuminated several faces, some grave, others calm.
"The lord wants me to prove myself," Alyuin stated with certainty.
Motis, sitting to one side with his legs crossed, was clearly displeased. "If that's what Hephit is thinking, it's completely unnecessary. The fact that we were all willing to follow you here—is that not proof enough of your ability?"
"If I were the lord, I would be cautious as well," said Alyuin. "Not like you, who thinks a single fight is sufficient proof. What kind of unreliable assessment is that?"
The one being tested shouldn't complain about the examiner's methods! Motis dared only to grumble inwardly.
But since the young princess clearly had a grasp of the situation, they said no more.
The cavalrymen sat and discussed the matter animatedly for some time. Eventually, a few were left to stand guard and patrol outside for security, while the rest returned to their quarters to rest and recuperate.
Inside the room, Lotus asked, "If he still refuses in the end, what will you do?"
The young princess replied, "It's not that there are no other options; it's just more convenient to start with Hephit." She paused thoughtfully. "But he will definitely agree."
"It seems you are quite confident."
"I was raised by you, after all," Alyuin said. "If even I cannot satisfy the lord, I doubt anyone in all of Solancia could meet his standards."
Alyuin let her racing thoughts slow, stretching lazily. As her mind disengaged from its various deductions and plans, she suddenly remembered what Lord Hephit's arrival had interrupted.
Lotus's blessing kiss…
Missing out on that was a huge loss!
The young princess wondered how to bring the topic up again. Some things happen naturally in the moment, but to mention them later always feels a bit abrupt—like an interrupted kiss of blessing.
However, before she could speak, Lotus had already drawn near. She lowered her head, her eyes smiling, and gently brushed aside the young princess's bangs to press a light kiss upon her smooth forehead.
The warm, soft touch on her skin made Alyuin freeze. An indescribable feeling surged through her heart, as if someone hidden deep within her mind had let out a sigh that was at once satisfied and yet still wanting.
She met Lotus's gaze. Those frost-blue eyes were gentle and clear, but after a few seconds, a hint of confusion appeared in them, likely wondering why Alyuin was standing there, frozen and motionless.
Alyuin involuntarily lowered her head slightly, fiddling with her bangs as she felt her earlobes grow warm.
Before receiving the blessing, she had racked her brain trying to obtain it. But now that she had it, a sudden sense of unreality washed over her.
"We've been traveling for days and haven't slept well. You should rest. I'm going to check on the golden eagles and see how they're adjusting… Good night."
Alyuin's expression was perfectly normal as she turned and walked out the door, but her retreating back had the distinct air of someone fleeing in haste.
Lotus, who had been waiting for the young princess's reaction, was left speechless.
She felt a little disappointed. She had expected the young princess to respond with a sweet smile.
Meanwhile, at the other end of Digebia City.
The melodious sound of a harp drifted through the night. As the music rose and fell, it was as if a magnificent painted scroll were slowly unfurling before one's eyes.
When the piece concluded, the audience remained stunned for a long moment, still immersed in the scene the music had painted. It was only when the first person began to cheer that enthusiastic applause erupted.
"That was magnificent!"
"Unbelievable! Your hands must have been kissed by the Goddess of Performing Arts—"
The plain-looking, blonde girl set down her harp, her smile serene. "It was nothing special. Please, do not praise me so excessively. It might cause me to lose my way on my artistic path."
Unsurprisingly, such humble words only invited more praise.
Ah, no matter how many times this happens, hearing their endless praise is still so pleasant.
The blonde girl thought smugly. Suddenly, her gaze froze.
She shot to her feet, her eyes fixed on a certain direction in the dark night.
"This feeling… is it the divine power of a high-ranking god?"
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