Ye Chui held Princess Linda’s hand with a warm, friendly air, and this scene quickly drew the eyes of many in the garden.
Among all the women present, Linda’s extraordinary height had already attracted considerable attention from the start, along with no small amount of whispered malice. A woman as strikingly tall as she was indeed stood out far too much in this magical world. Yet in Ye Chui’s eyes, Linda carried her own captivating aura.
Especially those endlessly long legs… Ahem. Her tall, perfectly proportioned figure, honed by years of combat, combined with her attractive, gallant features, would absolutely qualify as supermodel material in the world he came from.
He paid no heed to the worldly stares. He simply led Princess Linda to a nearby pavilion, invited her to sit beneath its shade, and poured her a glass of wine.
“Thank you, Master Ye Chui,” Linda said softly, clutching the glass with gratitude. She knew exactly how conspicuous her height made her. Even in Rock, where people respected and feared her, no one would ever call her “captivating”. She had long accepted that she was a “female monster” and felt no sadness about it.
She was a warrior. A towering frame let her swing a sword with greater force and win more glory for her empire. That was enough.
“I wasn’t lying. You truly are a captivating princess,” Ye Chui said with a smile, guessing her thoughts. “In my standards, your figure is also extremely beautiful. There’s no need to feel inferior. Perhaps in some worlds, long legs… er, I mean, tall and graceful figures are considered the very pinnacle of beauty?”
“Is… is that so?” A faint blush rose on Linda’s cheeks. Deep down she still believed Ye Chui was only trying to console her. How could any place in the world regard someone built like her as beautiful? Still, Master Ye Chui really was kind.
“Princess Linda, I have a question,” Ye Chui said as he sat beside her.
“What is it?”
“What does your battle armour look like? The kind that shows off your legs, perhaps?”
“…Huh?”
…
Inside the little black hut beside the Garden of Stars.
Debbie, Guni, and Shalumei were stationed in front of the surveillance screens. All three pairs of eyes were currently glued to the feed showing Ye Chui and Princess Linda sitting together. Guni and Shalumei munched on snacks secretly pilfered from the kitchen, faces full of gossip. Guni pointed at the screen and whispered to Debbie, “Ye Chui is openly flirting in front of everyone…”
She had picked up the new slang from Ye Chui himself.
As she spoke she turned to Debbie for a reaction, she found the girl grinding her teeth furiously.
Debbie barked into her magiphone, “One, One, this is Two. Please remember your duties. Over!”
On the screen Ye Chui seemed to rise reluctantly from his seat and leave Linda’s side. Debbie gave an annoyed huff, folded her legs on the stool, hugged her chest, and muttered under her breath, “It’s just a little taller than me, that’s all…”
“Two, Two, I must remind you, it’s not ‘a little’. It’s more than a whole foot. Over.” Dany’s teasing voice chimed in.
Debbie: “…”
…
By whisking Princess Linda away from Karl and Mia, Ye Chui had delivered a resounding slap to both the Northern Ridge prince and the Seventh Princess of the Empire. Mia’s breathing grew visibly heavier. She, the enchanting princess, had been completely ignored while Ye Chui called that female monster Linda “captivating”?
It was nothing less than an insult to her own beauty!
Prince Karl, meanwhile, felt he had been slighted. He had genuinely tried to befriend Ye Chui, only to be rejected with cold contempt. Of course, compared to the idiotic thoughts swirling in Mia’s head, Karl’s mind worked on deeper levels.
Stellar was at war with the Church, and Northern Ridge supported the Church. Strictly speaking, he and Ye Chui were enemies. Ye Chui’s attitude was therefore understandable. Karl had only approached him hoping to gauge the man, perhaps even lure him to the Church’s side… Clearly that was now impossible.
“Hmph. So the legendary Omni-Magus is nothing more than an ignorant, overconfident boy,” Karl muttered under his breath, as though disparaging Ye Chui could soothe the sting of the earlier snub.
“Ye Chui is just an arrogant fraud with an empty reputation. I don’t know why Grandfather Emperor and Grandfather Cover value him so highly,” Mia added in a low voice.
Karl glanced at her and sneered inwardly at this idiot princess, but his face wore the warmest smile. He had no objection to letting something happen between them. Stellar was at war with the Church, but if he could marry this princess and somehow seize the Stellar throne, the Church would surely reward him handsomely. The crown of Northern Ridge would then be within easier reach…
Harbouring these ambitious and delightful fantasies, Prince Karl continued his pleasant conversation with Mia.
He was certain he had already captured the heart of this foolish princess.
Time passed quickly. At last the Grand Scholar reached the final line of his interminable scroll. The poor elder’s voice had grown hoarse. He accepted a cup of fruit wine from an attendant, moistened his throat, gave a gentle cough, and announced that his address was concluded. The envoys and nobles could now present their gifts to the new emperor.
Those who had been strolling about the garden quickly gathered once more before the high platform. This was the second part of the coronation: receiving the blessings and lavish tribute of foreign nations.
Every envoy wore an expression of solemn readiness. Such occasions were opportunities to display national prestige. A gift that stood out among all others could bring immense honour.
“This is Alpaca Thirty-Two. Priority target Nima, number thirty-eight, is showing signs of activity. She looks strange and has taken out a sheet of black paper. Over.” The report sounded in Ye Chui’s ear at the same moment.
“Maintain strict surveillance. Prepare to initiate the combing plan. Over,” Ye Chui replied calmly, his eyes sliding imperceptibly towards Nima.
He saw her mingling among the guests, visibly nervous, staring fixedly at the new emperor atop the platform while slowly inching forward. It appeared she had decided to act.
The gift-giving segment had already begun.
“From the Yellow Sand Empire, blessings to His Majesty Jacob I. This is the pelt of a snow dragon from the utmost north, with the personal regards of the Yellow Sand Emperor.” The Yellow Sand envoy was a powerfully built man. Though his hair and beard were neatly trimmed, he still radiated ruggedness. He opened a jade casket to reveal a flawless snowy pelt.
A wave of admiring gasps rose around the garden.
Snow dragons were tier-seven magical beasts that lived in extreme cold and were nearly impossible to hunt in snowy terrain. Their fur was priceless. It protected against bitter cold yet remained cool and refreshing even in scorching heat. This specimen was perfectly intact, without a single scar. Its value was beyond measure.
Next, the gaunt envoy from the Tidal Empire presented his gift.
“Pearls harvested from demonic shellfish, crafted into a necklace by the most renowned pearl merchant of the Tidal Empire.”
The luminous pearl necklace drew another round of astonished sighs.
The Morning Wind Empire’s envoy, Lauren, offered exquisite armour forged of Losia steel, the hardest metal known in this world. Many swordsmen present gazed at it with open envy.
Then Prince Karl of Northern Ridge strode forward with proud steps, cradling a long wooden case. He angled his body slightly so he could savour the shocked expressions below.
He opened the case, revealing its contents, a sword. Yet it appeared to be no famous blade. The edge was covered in rust, as though it had endured countless centuries. Puzzled murmurs rippled through the crowd. Northern Ridge, the wealthiest empire on the continent, was presenting nothing but a rusted old sword?
Was this a deliberate insult to the new Stellar emperor?
Prince Cover’s face darkened beside Jacob.
Yet when Karl explained the sword’s provenance, the entire assembly erupted in shocked exclamations.
“This is the weapon once wielded by the legendary swordsman-mercenary Thorin! It has survived a thousand years and is utterly priceless!”
It was actually Thorin’s longsword!
Almost every mercenary guild on the continent displayed a statue of the legendary Thorin outside its doors. For this to be his very sword…
The moment it appeared, every other gift was instantly eclipsed.
The blade might now be powerless and brittle, easily snapped by any common sword, but its significance lay not in sharpness but in legend, like the most ancient and priceless antique.
Northern Ridge’s coronation gift had, in a single stroke, surpassed every other offering.
Now only the Rock Empire had yet to present its tribute. After handing the wooden case to an attendant, Prince Karl cast a faint, mocking glance at Linda. He had deliberately gone just before her. He knew a poor place like Rock could never produce anything valuable. This was his chance to humiliate her and, by extension, the Stellar Empire’s shabby ally.
Following Karl’s gaze, many others also looked towards Linda.
Some shook their heads pityingly. Some quietly worried for the envoy of their allied nation. Others, like Princess Mia, wore open smirks. Prince Cover silently glanced at Jacob, signalling with his eyes that they must find a way to restore Linda’s dignity later.
Linda’s head drooped even lower.
Rock truly had nothing impressive to offer. The gift she carried was merely an ordinary gemstone, one her father had personally removed from his own crown. Compared to the other empires’ offerings, it was laughable.
She felt the uncomfortable atmosphere pressing in, gritted her teeth, and began walking towards the platform.
Yet at that very moment, Ye Chui suddenly stepped in front of her, stood on tiptoe (…), and leaned close to her ear.
“Don’t worry. I’ll give you the most precious gift of all.”
