TGS - Chapter 97
Chapter 97: Rhea Arrives
Like the other major gods, the festival of the Sun God was presided over by the High Priest—that is, the God-Concubine.
It was a grand ceremony held once every eight years in the height of summer. On this day, the sky was typically clear and cloudless, the sunlight brilliant and intense, with both its brightness and heat being quite considerable.
The God-Concubine’s duty was to ride in an open-topped floral carriage across the entire city, finally returning to the Sun God’s temple to complete the ritual under the direct rays of the sun.
For others, it might have been a bit too much sun, a bit too much heat. But for Naimaer, it was unbearable torture. She hated and feared the sunlight, a shadow she would likely never escape in her entire life.
Horst had always been aware of this.
How could he not be? When Naimaer was sent from the royal city all those years ago, he was still the most trusted companion by the former king's side. He had personally witnessed her raising a hand to shield her face, screaming under the sunlight.
Horst believed that this fear would not diminish with the passage of time. Indeed, the God-Concubine was extremely averse to open flames and bright lights, to the point of being unwilling to use even candles in her daily life.
Under these circumstances, with Alyuin suddenly appearing as a possible replacement, how could Naimaer possibly object?
She must be desperate for him to issue the decree and send Alyuin to Surinia at once!
Horst was absolutely certain. Yet, after waiting and waiting, no letter of agreement from the God-Concubine arrived. Instead, his spy returned alone, a conflicted look on his face, and recounted the "Alyuin is the God-Concubine theory" with great seriousness.
Horst was speechless.
What kind of twisted logic was this?
His advisors, hesitating, also urged him to abandon the plan. After all, once anything involved the gods, it became an inescapable and messy affair of public opinion.
The problem was, Horst was not a particularly devout believer in the gods.
The gods were high and mighty; why would they care about the affairs of mortals? Otherwise, according to the notion that harming the royal family would surely incur the gods' wrath, he should have paid the price for his past actions long ago. How could he have sat so securely on the throne for all these years?
Even so, Alyuin's so-called vow and that inexplicable power were indeed somewhat strange…
Horst gazed into the distance with a heavy look, saying nothing.
After a long while, he smiled thoughtfully.
So what if Alyuin was treated with special favor by a god?
If he broke her vow, would the Goddess Lotus still continue to favor her?
Horst felt a long-lost excitement, just as he had nine years ago while waiting for the right moment to strike. He now couldn't wait to see the look on Alyuin's face when she was spurned by the deity she worshipped.
Meanwhile, Lotus's carriage was parked near the city gate.
It was early morning, and the air was still damp with the scent of dew and mist. She sat by the window, meditating with her eyes closed.
Alyuin was not there.
Ever since being officially appointed as a general, she had become visibly busier. Not only did she have to attend court meetings at scheduled times like other officials, but the number of people she had to meet with each day had also increased significantly.
Unlike ordinary military commanders, the Princess could not go to the barracks outside the city, which was where the city gate guards were stationed.
Horst was guarding against her at every possible opportunity. She wanted to be a general with rank and status? Fine, he would give her any title she wanted, but she was not to touch military authority.
A commander in name only could not stir up any significant trouble.
Alyuin was exceptionally patient. She had secretly established contact with the deputy commander of the city gate guards, keeping it completely hidden from the commander. The position of garrison commander had once belonged to Motis but was now held by one of Horst's confidants. If that man found out, things would become troublesome.
At this moment, Alyuin was out on official business and not sitting here with Lotus, waiting for someone.
That's right, waiting for someone.
A few days prior, news had spread from the temple that Saige, the High Priest of the River Goddess, was gravely ill and did not have much time left.
This priest had always been in poor health, and his current condition was exceptionally perilous. Neither the temple apothecaries nor the court physicians could do anything.
Once Saige passed away, the position of High Priest of the Yilu River would become vacant. Unlike the hereditary priesthoods in various regions, the High Priest was usually chosen from among many outstanding candidates, which would inevitably cause a stir.
Thus, after passing a preliminary assessment, the young head priests and their successors from the river goddess temples across Solancia were summoned to Akhet.
If they could stand out from the many candidates, they would become the next High Priest.
A convoy of carriages drove into the royal city. Behind the linen-curtained windows, young girls looked out curiously.
"So this is the royal city!" one girl exclaimed, unable to tear her eyes away. "It's so much more prosperous than our city. If I pass the selection, does that mean I can stay here forever?"
"I wonder if the assessment will be difficult…" another young woman fretted, wringing her hands restlessly.
There were five girls in one carriage, four of whom were chatting. Only one, a particularly petite girl, was looking down, writing and drawing on a piece of paper, not participating in the discussion.
Until the girl beside her asked, "Rhea, where are you planning to stay? Are you staying with us?"
Normally, candidates from all over Solancia were supposed to be housed in the temple. However, there were too many people and space was limited, so candidates were encouraged to find their own accommodations.
The comforting thing was… expenses would be reimbursed.
Rhea thought for a moment and was just about to nod when she inadvertently glanced out the window and suddenly saw Lotus.
The other woman was also sitting in a carriage, her expression tranquil and leisurely. Noticing Rhea's gaze, she lightly tapped the window frame as a signal.
Rhea's round eyes immediately widened even more, and she almost blurted out, "Lord Messenger!"
But she quickly composed herself and said apologetically, "No need, I see someone I know. I'll go on ahead."
The young priestess happily jumped down from the carriage and ran straight toward Lotus, leaving the other girls in the carriage to stare at each other in bewilderment.
Not having seen her for over a year, Rhea was still the same.
Round eyes, a baby face, delicate and small. Though she was a few years older than Alyuin, she still looked like a young girl who hadn't come of age.
Rhea ran up close and joyfully whispered, "Lord Messenger!"
Lotus, who had passively acquired the "messenger" persona in front of the priestesses of Kadera, paused for a moment before nodding. "It's been a while, Rhea."
At this response, Rhea's cheeks flushed with excitement.
As expected of the Goddess Lotus's messenger, still as approachable as ever, yet without losing her otherworldly detachment.
Recalling her mother's instructions before she left, Rhea clenched her fists, her eyes filled with fighting spirit.
To better serve the goddess, this selection must be a success, not a failure!
After the initial wave of excitement passed, Rhea suddenly remembered.
"Is Her Highness the Princess here too?"
"Yes, Alyuin had some business to attend to. I came to pick you up."
"Go back with you—I mean, I can stay with you?"
"Of course, unless you have other arrangements…"
Lotus glanced at the carriage parked not far away.
"No, no." Rhea waved her hands slightly, her smile shy and sincere. "I was just worrying about where to stay. It's wonderful that you came to pick me up."
Goddess Lotus, be praised!
Rhea recited silently in her heart.
Thus, when Alyuin finished her business and returned to her own residence, she saw the two of them sitting opposite each other in the foyer.
Lotus was quietly holding a cup of tea, her expression serene. Only the Princess, who knew her well, could detect a well-hidden trace of awkwardness.
Rhea, holding a thick stack of papers, was reading aloud with great cadence and emotion. One didn't need to listen closely to tell that it was a hymn of praise to the Goddess of the Yilu River.
Alyuin decided to address Rhea first. "...What are you doing?"
Rhea insisted on finishing the hymn before curtsying. "Greetings, Your Highness. I was asking Lady Lorja to review the hymns of praise I've written for the Goddess."
Lady Lorja—in front of Alyuin, this was the consistent form of address Rhea and her mother used for Lotus.
Both sides had a tacit understanding of the "fact" that this young female scribe was actually a divine messenger. For the priestess mother and daughter, it was a logical deduction, while Alyuin, knowing it was a misunderstanding, had no intention of pointing it out.
Seriously, they were already so devout towards a suspected divine messenger. Who knew how fanatical they would become if they found out she was an incarnation of Lotus herself.
They might even chase after Lotus reciting hymns of praise.
Alyuin had once thought this in a half-joking manner.
And now, this scene was actually happening.
Rhea, not even knowing Lotus's true identity, was already asking her to critique her hymns. When it came to the piety and purity of their faith, that mother-daughter pair was second to none, even among priests.
However—
"You wrote these yourself?"
Rhea nodded. The little priestess, no longer afraid of interacting with others, was clearly much more confident than before. She held the stack of hymns carefully in her hands, her voice filled with pride. "This is my faith in the Goddess. As a priestess, I should write more poems praising the Goddess for the believers to sing and pass on."
Alyuin walked over, naturally sat down leaning against Lotus, placed her chin in the crook of her shoulder, and said casually, "Let me see."
She took the papers filled with poems and looked through them seriously.
Lotus was used to the Princess's closeness. Since they weren't really in front of outsiders, she let Alyuin lean on her as she wished.
But Rhea stared, her eyes wide with shock.
Having been a head priestess for a few years, she had met many more people and her horizons had broadened. Seeing this, she inexplicably felt that something wasn't quite right.
The Lord Messenger and Her Highness… their interactions didn't seem this intimate before… right?
While she was still confused, Alyuin put down the papers and said with praise, "Very well written."
Rhea immediately tossed the doubt she just had to the back of her mind. "Really? Thank you for your praise, Your Highness."
Alyuin wasn't particularly gifted in the arts, but in this era, appreciating poetry was a necessary skill, and she was no exception.
In the Princess's view, Rhea's poems were somewhat like a bard's style, suitable for the common people to understand and sing, while also aligning with the aesthetic of the self-proclaimed noble and wealthy merchants.
Very useful.
The Princess made an immediate judgment.
The two of them began a discussion on the matter, critiquing and editing words and phrases on the spot.
Lotus listened to them go on about "the Goddess's radiance" and "the clear and holy water of the world," her expression gradually turning wooden and emotionless.
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