Chapter 41: Princess Arrives?
“Well… kind of. I’m not from the Western Empire,” Abyss replied, nodding slightly from his seat. He didn’t even know his own nationality. His master never told him where he had been taken from. From a young age, he had traveled the world with his master, calling everywhere home. If he had to claim a belonging, he could only say he was a citizen of Haitville.
“Then are you a traveling scholar?” the girl asked, her eyes brightening as she stood up from her seat and approached Abyss, bending down to meet his gaze. The fragrant scent of her high-quality perfume wafted into his nostrils. “I’d like to ask you a few questions. It won’t take long. As a token of gratitude, I can buy you a drink.”
“Well… Go ahead,” Abyss said, not particularly fond of conversations with the living, especially unnecessary ones. But seeing the girl’s politeness, he agreed.
“Thank you so much,” the girl said, immediately taking out a palm-sized notebook and a pencil from her satchel. The pencil, a graphite stick encased in wood, was more convenient to use than charcoal and didn’t stain the hands, but it was also expensive. Ordinary people wouldn’t use it for writing.
Abyss was curious. Was this girl a scholar? But most scholars on the continent were unkempt bookworms. It was rare to find one as well-dressed, polite, and fragrant as this girl.
“I’d like to ask, during your travels in the Western Empire, what was your most profound impression?” the girl asked.
“The Western Empire’s tombs are simple yet grand in style, quite different from those in the Eastern Empire. They don’t rely on excessive ornamentation, yet they are aesthetically pleasing, sturdy, and practical. I highly commend them,” Abyss replied.
“…Hmm? Ah, yes, thank you. What do you think are the characteristics of the people of the Western Empire?”
“The people of the Western Empire? They’re not very devoted to rituals and have a more open-minded view of life and death. And, oh right, their methods of handling corpses are very efficient. The aroma of cinnamon and other spices lingers for a long time, not only preserving the bodies but also being environmentally friendly.”
The girl was a bit confused, but she continued taking notes and asked, “Then, sir, what do you think the people of the Western Empire lack?”
“Lack? Let me think… Hmm… They lack proper dietary habits. I’ve observed that many elderly deceased in the Western Empire have liver problems, compared to people from other regions.”
“Are… Are you a scholar who studies funerary practices?”
“Now you’ve got my attention…” Abyss chuckled, ready to launch into a lengthy discourse. Leona intervened, slapping a hand over his mouth, cutting off his impending treatise on the world’s funerary customs.
“Don’t ask him. He’s not right in the head. Ask me anything you want.”
The girl looked at Leona’s silver hair and green eyes, momentarily stunned, but she maintained her composure. “Alright, miss, what is your most profound impression of the Western Empire?”
“The people of the Western Empire don’t like to submit,” Leona replied.
“That’s a good observation. The Western Empire won its independence through rebellion against the Mynian Empire.” The girl seemed relieved by Leona’s answer. She jotted down notes and continued, “Then what do you think the people of the Western Empire lack?”
“The poor lack money, the rich lack morals,” Leona shrugged. “Ultimately, it boils down to an imperfect legal system.”
“Hmm… Your perspective is quite sharp,” the girl said hesitantly, writing it down in her notebook. “What do you think of the medical care in the Western Empire?”
“Oh, it’s quite good. The level of care is high. They can treat many illnesses,” Leona said after a moment of thought. “I’m talking about the court physicians. I’m not familiar with the common folk healers.”
“I understand. Thank you, miss. Are the three of you together? I’d like to buy you a drink,” the girl said, bowing slightly to Leona.
“Of course,” Leona replied, sitting back down with satisfaction. “Why don’t you join us for a drink, Helen?”
“If you don’t mind… Ah!”
The girl, who had been smiling, suddenly froze, covering her mouth as if realizing something dreadful.
“Helen?” Abyss looked up from his notes again. “Do you know her?”
“Are you that engrossed in your notes?”
Leona shook her head, exasperated, and jumped off her stool. She personally carried the girl’s drink from her table to the counter so she could join them. The girl, whom Leona had called Helen, was caught off guard, unsure whether to sit or leave.
“Excuse me, how did you…”
“You used an alchemical potion to change your eye color, right?” Leona whispered into Helen’s ear, standing on her tiptoes. “Your perfume cleverly masks the smell of the potion, but you can’t fool me. My sense of smell is much more acute than you think. These two beside me probably noticed too, but one is too lazy to say anything, and the other is too shy.”
“Ah, this…” Helen said, flustered, waving her hands despite the ticklish sensation of Leona’s breath on her ear. “I don’t know anyone named Helen… I’m just an ordinary scholar.”
“Hey, keep it down, don’t let others hear you,” Leona said, a mischievous glint in her eyes. “As long as you behave, I won’t tell anyone your secret.”
“Miss… How did you figure out my identity?” Helen asked, regaining her composure.
“It’s simple. First, your posture indicates you received proper court etiquette training. And your fluent Common Tongue, without any accent, also proves you’re a noble of high birth. Silver hair, ruling out green eyes, and then there’s the bracelet you revealed while taking notes. Although you didn’t bring any of your personal jewelry, this bracelet was made by the royal workshop, wasn’t it? Your Highness, Princess Helen?”
Leona didn’t mention that she recognized Helen because of her resemblance to herself. She didn’t want to acknowledge a niece as a dead person.
Indeed, this girl was Princess Helen, the only daughter of the current Emperor, Beos.
Leona was pleased to meet a blood relative, but she was also puzzled. Why was this princess conducting interviews outside the palace instead of staying within its walls?
Could she be bored like Leona was back then?
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