Chapter 27: The Princess with a Bad Temper
The official, initially filled with trepidation, knelt on one knee, awaiting reprimand. However, after a long silence, hearing no scolding from Abyss and the girls, he dared to look up.
Leona, not a bit flustered, stood before him with her arms crossed, allowing him to study her face.
The official’s panicked expression suddenly calmed. He parted his lips slightly, slowly rose from the ground, brushed off his knee, and sat back down. Then, in a leisurely tone, he said, “Ahem, I hope you won’t tell anyone about what just happened. That young lady with silver hair bears a striking resemblance to Princess Helen. I mistook her for the princess. You have no pass, so according to the law, you cannot enter Golden Griffin City. Please present valid identification and state your purpose for entering the city.”
“Do I really look that much like Princess Helen?” Leona’s interest was piqued. “Does she also have silver hair like me?”
“I don’t want to talk about it anymore. If you don’t intend to enter the city, please make way for the people behind you,” the official said, his embarrassment turning into annoyance. Kneeling before strangers due to a momentary lapse in judgment was quite humiliating for him.
“Tell us more. We won’t tell anyone—if you cooperate,” Leona said, a mischievous glint in her eyes.
Since she could remember, Leona had lived in the palace, surrounded by important figures. She wouldn’t show weakness in front of a lowly clerk responsible for registering entry into the city, someone who was likely already on thin ice. His attempt to conceal his embarrassment only fueled Leona’s playful nature.
“Are you threatening me?” The official found it unbelievable. However, he was indeed caught in a compromising position. He spat on the ground and said, “Fine, I mistook you for Princess Helen because you look so much like her. You have the same silver hair and similar features. The only difference is your green eyes. Princess Helen has blue eyes. No one dares to offend her, not because she’s scary herself, but because her grandmother, the Empress Dowager, has her spies watching the princess constantly. If the Empress Dowager found out about our disrespect, losing our jobs would be the least of our worries.”
“Shouldn’t the Emperor be the one in power?” Leona asked, unceremoniously sitting on the official’s desk. “Why does the Empress Dowager have so much authority? This is my first time in the capital, so please enlighten me.”
“Those matters are not to be discussed. If the Empress Dowager finds out, my head will roll,” the official said, annoyed by Leona’s questioning. “You better get off my desk, or you’ll never be allowed into the city.”
“Have you seen this?” Leona ignored him, raising her leg high, her boot almost hitting his face.
The official, unable to tolerate Leona’s arrogance any longer, was about to explode in anger when he noticed the gold plate on her boot.
It was the mark of the royal workshop. The gold plate was inlaid with silver threads and intricate patterns, a craftsmanship difficult to imitate outside the palace. And judging from the quality of the boots, they weren’t cheap goods from an ordinary store. They were definitely from a high-end establishment. These boots spoke volumes—at the very least, this silver-haired girl was of high status.
“I’m Princess Helen’s cousin, the grandniece of the current Emperor, His Majesty Beos. With this identity, can I enter Golden Griffin City?” Leona lowered her leg and sat languidly on the desk, cleaning her already spotless fingernails. “I’m here on a secret visit by invitation. I hope you won’t tell anyone.”
The official was caught in a dilemma. He didn’t know if the girl was telling the truth, but her identical silver hair, similar features to the princess, and the royal workshop boots that signified her high status made it impossible to refuse.
“These two are my guards, two very powerful mages. Flora, show him something,” Leona said, turning to Flora.
Flora was suddenly thrust forward. After a moment of surprise, she decided to cast a healing spell on the official. However, the official immediately stopped her. “Stop! Go cast your fancy magic somewhere else! This is a city gate post! Do you want the whole city to know? I’ll let you pass!”
“Why aren’t you worried now?” Leona asked, jumping off the desk cheerfully. “Aren’t you afraid we’re villains here to cause trouble?”
“If you were villains, I’d advise you against entering the city,” the official said, wiping the sweat from his nose, shaking his head at Leona.
“Oh? Is there something remarkable in the city?” Leona blinked.
“In recent years, the royal family has spent a fortune hiring high-ranking mages and warriors into the army. They’ve also funded the establishment of a mage organization called the ‘Arcane Society,’ providing various benefits to its members. Representatives of each magic school even have seats in the Imperial Council, and the Arcane Society’s headquarters is located right here in Golden Griffin City,” the official said, tapping the desk lightly. “The city is full of high-ranking mages. Anyone who dares to cause trouble here will be turned to ash in the blink of an eye.”
“Wow, that sounds quite scary,” Leona said, feigning surprise, glancing back at Abyss and Flora. “Don’t you think so?”
“Yes, yes, yes,” Abyss said, staring at the ceiling.
Flora was a bit embarrassed, but she nodded.
“Let’s go, enter the city,” the official said, realizing he couldn’t communicate normally with this arrogant noble girl. He waved his hand dismissively, allowing the trio to pass.
…
“We could have passed directly. Why did you have to stay there and bully him?”
Abyss said to Leona as they entered Golden Griffin City. He had thought Leona was just a simple-minded girl in every sense, but it turned out she could be quite mischievous.
“I’m actually disappointed,” Leona said, pouting. “That wasn’t how I envisioned it. The official was supposed to underestimate us, and then I would reveal my identity, making him apologize profusely. Who knew he would kneel before me as soon as he saw me, ruining my entire plan? Of course, I couldn’t just let him off the hook!”
This princess has a really bad temper… Abyss had met his match.
“Come on, we still have plenty of time. I’ll take you to some fun places in the city. After lying in a coffin for forty years, I want to see what’s changed in Golden Griffin City!”
Leona, completely forgetting about the official, pointed ahead and grabbed Flora’s wrist, leading her forward at a run.
“Huh? What are those soldiers doing?” she asked before they had taken a few steps, her attention caught by something.
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