TGS - Chapter 84
Chapter 84: Akhet
When the second batch of disaster relief supplies arrived in Disimeng from the royal city, the work of aiding the victims and rebuilding after the disaster was already well underway.
This meant that Alyuin had achieved her purpose here, and the Crown Prince’s relief mission could also come to an end.
The Princess decided to lead the caravan away and head for the final destination of this long journey—Akhet.
Romuer, on the other hand, planned to return with the convoy that had delivered the supplies.
One after the other, the two convoys drove out of Disimeng City, separated by a moderate distance.
Before departing, Alyuin had ordered a royal crest to be forged from silver and inlaid on her carriage. At this point, the identity of the caravan guards no longer needed to be mentioned.
She would return to the royal capital as a princess.
Inside the spacious and bright carriage.
Lotus had a fluffy, pure white ribbon covering her eyes. She leaned back against a soft cushion, her head slightly raised as she rested.
A golden eagle swooped down from the sky. Just as it was about to land, it folded its wings and perched on the carriage window. Its sharp, powerful talons gripped the window frame as it craned its neck to peer inside.
"Your food is here, Shepla," the Princess, sitting beside Lotus, said to the golden eagle that had landed in the wrong spot for the umpteenth time.
The golden eagle tilted its head. Its instinct to be close to a god ultimately lost to its craving for food. Just as it was about to fly to the other window, its sister occupied the spot.
The other golden eagle pecked a slice of meat from Alyuin’s hand, tilted its neck back to swallow, and even let out a cooing laugh from its throat.
Not to be outdone, the golden eagle Shepla returned the gesture with an even louder cry, and so they went back and forth.
With the two golden eagles’ squabbling as background noise, Lotus spoke. "Are we almost at the royal city?"
The road along the way had begun to grow smooth and wide; they had clearly entered the main thoroughfare.
Alyuin nodded.
A smile touched her lips, but her eyes were calm, her state of mind exceptionally steady.
Akhet was the center of Horst's power. For Alyuin to return with only her personal guard was nothing short of a tremendous gamble.
The risk existed, but it was also a form of protection—who would believe that a princess accompanied only by her personal guard would have any intention of seizing the throne?
Horst was exceptionally concerned with his reputation and image. If he wanted to act against Alyuin without regard for public opinion, he would have to weigh the consequences himself.
Of course, Alyuin had no intention of succeeding in the royal city just like that.
The power her title as princess could exert was rather limited. Her greatest advantage still lay with the military. She had accepted Horst’s summons to return to Akhet simply because she wanted to make the most of her status and weaken the resistance in the later stages of the struggle.
It was very risky, but as long as it succeeded…
"Speaking of which, there have been no assassins recently."
Could it be that Horst had finally seen the light and decided to stop wasting manpower?
Alyuin returned to her senses. "Perhaps he's being cautious because of Romuer, or maybe he thinks I can't stir up any trouble on his turf, so he's simply waiting for me to arrive before making a move."
Or perhaps he had another scheme in mind.
What kind of plot would make Horst abandon his assassination attempts along the way?
Thinking of a certain possibility, Alyuin’s lips tightened, and a look of disgust flashed in her eyes.
In any case, she would just have to adapt to the situation.
They were still some distance from the royal city. Lotus removed the fluffy ribbon from her eyes, folded it neatly, and set it aside.
"Care for a game of chess?"
A Seshat Chess board was placed between them. The beast-headed pieces landed on the board without any hidden killing intent, the pace leisurely.
So much so that the pieces no longer seemed to be in conflict, but rather like a group of small animals visiting one another and playing around, casting a light, fairytale-like atmosphere over the board.
"Lotus, Creation Day is in a few days."
"Mm."
"The common folk all say that Creation Day is the day the main gods were born. Does that mean it's your birthday?"
The hand with which Lotus held a chess piece paused in mid-air.
Creation Day was the first day of every year, also known among the people as the God's Birthday Festival. Legend had it that the eight main gods and the world were born from the Primordial Water on this day.
"I suppose not," Lotus replied.
"Then do you have a birthday? When is it—the day of the spring festival?"
The beast-headed piece landed on its square with a crisp click.
Lotus did, of course, have a birthday, but it was not her birth as a god. It was a memory from her time as a human.
Year after year, the same unchanging banquets, being dressed up like a perfect symbol. Not a single word she said or a single thing she did could have the slightest flaw.
Although she recognized the significance of birthdays to others and was more than willing to offer her blessings on such occasions, as far as Lotus herself was concerned, she did not like them.
The silence lasted only a moment before Lotus said lightly, "I don't have one."
"Is that so? I was thinking of giving you a special offering on your birthday…"
Lotus felt a little curious. "What is it?"
The Princess immediately pointed to herself.
"Not accepting. You should stay in the mortal realm."
Lotus chuckled, a rare mischievous look on her face.
This was not the first time the Princess had come up with the sudden idea of offering herself.
The most recent time had been just a few days ago, before falling asleep on the day of judgment in Disimeng. Alyuin had once again begun planning for the future, stating that while such corrupt officials could not be completely eliminated, they must be severely punished, and the fewer, the better.
Lotus listened quietly, then said thoughtfully, "Is this considered a vow to a god?"
The Princess had replied, "Not just this time. Every word I've ever said to you is."
Just as described in many other mythologies, in Solancian myth, making a vow to a god and failing to fulfill it also came with a price.
Lotus had said nothing, but Alyuin had continued with a straight face, "If I fail to achieve any of these things in the future, I will offer myself to you."
At the time, Lotus had shaken her head, treating it as nothing more than a childish remark.
And now, the same words were spoken again.
Hearing the "not accepting" reply, Alyuin looked up, her pair of clear, upturned eyes gazing at the goddess, seemingly a little wronged. "You can't refuse."
"And why is that?"
"I am already your… believer. You can't make me change my faith."
"Oh—offering my own believer to me. Your Highness is truly cunning."
Lotus's expression was serene. If not for the smiling glint in her eyes, few would have realized it was a joke.
Alyuin's lips curved into a smile that seemed quite innocent.
Then she placed her piece.
A wolf-headed piece ruthlessly captured a bird-headed piece. The style of the game changed abruptly, shattering the peaceful atmosphere of little animals visiting one another.
Lotus's attention immediately shifted to the board. The two went back and forth, beginning to enact a battle royale of the animal world.
In the end, Alyuin used a roaring, bared-fang lion piece to invade Lotus's den. At the same time, Lena's low reminder came from outside the carriage window:
"Your Highness, Miss Lorja, we're almost at Akhet."
Alyuin raised her voice slightly. "Understood."
She then began to clear the chessboard, saying, "On the surface, you lost, but in reality, I'm the one who lost."
Lotus laughed. "Oh? Let me hear your new interpretation of Seshat Chess."
The Princess argued with conviction, "You see, my beast king has fallen into your den. My side is now leaderless. In a real animal jungle, I would have already been defeated. I would have no choice but to be absorbed into your pack, to be commanded by you."
Lotus: "..."
It was a good thing the kingdom's chess players couldn't hear Alyuin's brilliant take. Otherwise, even if Alyuin was a princess, those players would surely have a heated debate with her.
Such an interpretation was simply absurd!
Lotus turned her head, her gaze passing through the carriage window to the tall city walls ahead.
The walls were built of light-colored giant stones, extremely tall, and seemed to be plated in a layer of gold under the sunlight.
Within the walls was the royal city of Solancia, Akhet, hailed as the heart of the kingdom, the place where the brilliance of the gods gathered.
Lotus had been here before, only it had been several thousand years in the future.
That modern metropolis had almost completely erased the traces of the ancient Solancian period. It was no longer even called Akhet. Only two or three dilapidated ruins and the city's museum preserved a glimmer of the old civilization's afterglow.
Lotus turned her head to look at Alyuin.
The light, pleasant smile from a moment ago still hung on the Princess's lips, but her eyes were fixed on the wall, light and shadow interweaving in their depths, her emotions difficult to discern.
Compared to Lotus, the Princess had a much deeper and more complicated relationship with this city.
She had spent her childhood here. As the little princess who was truly doted on and adored by all, Akhet held her most carefree times.
But her fall from the kingdom of the gods into the underworld, from the clouds into the abyss, had also happened in the royal city.
The carriage slowly came to a stop, then started moving again, passing through the city gate unimpeded and driving into the city.
The royal city was extremely prosperous. Even in the dead of winter, the streets were teeming with pedestrians. Since Creation Day, the start of the year, was only a few days away, the branches of the trees along the streets were hung with objects of various shapes—amulets corresponding to the gods—adding many different colors to the city's scenery.
"Are we going to… the royal palace?"
Lotus withdrew her gaze from the window.
Alyuin rested her chin on one hand, her eyes reflecting the buildings on both sides of the main road, matching them one by one with her memory. "Yes, this is the road to the Royal Hall."
Lotus frowned slightly.
The Princess said softly, "Horst won't act so quickly. After all, at my father's funeral, he was crying so desperately over the empty coffin."
If the Princess were to have an "accident" right after entering the city, his performance back then would seem rather suspect. Horst cherished his reputation; at the very least, he wouldn't make any dangerous moves in the short term.
But other maneuvers were not out of the question.
Alyuin said, "In a moment, Horst will surely summon me. Do you want to find a place to rest with the caravan first, or come with me?"
Lotus did not hesitate. "With you."
The Princess's eyelashes fluttered. "Alright."
Ahead, a dome appeared, rising a full head above the other buildings. The pillars were also exceptionally tall, and even from a distance, they could see the various symbols of the gods carved on the capitals, including the shape of Snowtu flowers and leaves.
Gradually, the Royal Hall revealed its magnificent and splendid appearance. Its outer walls were towering, almost comparable to the city walls, and indeed, its history was just as long.
The carriage slowed. The sound of approaching hooves came from ahead. It was Romuer, who had returned to the royal city a step ahead of the caravan.
"Father requests your presence in the Royal Hall. He wants to see you."
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