119: Chapter 115: lia’s Desire 119: Chapter 115: lia’s Desire “Luo’er, what’s wrong with you?” Tangmo couldn’t help but ask in concern, noticing Luo’er’s unusual expression.
“It’s nothing, perhaps I had so bad food.” Luo’er responded with a slightly haggard expression.
He shook his head, choosing not to think about his troubling thoughts any longer.
The caravan had been traveling for about three days, and, just as the knights were on the verge of exhaustion, they arrived at a town within the Masaya Kingdom’s inland territory.
Even though this region was a frontline in the war, it was still under the control of the kingdom.
Upon reaching the town, they began to seize horses and other animal-powered tools to replenish their forces.
The common folk who had their horses taken received nothing in return, forced to watch helplessly as their animals were taken by the knights.
Seeing all this, Luo’er could only shake his head helplessly.
These nobles had no idea about the roots of the rebellion.
They didn’t understand that these people, stripped of their horses, were humans too and had every right to be angry.
Considering the operations of the nobles, Luo’er estimated that it wouldn’t be long before this place was occupied by the rebels, with the people gleefully welcoming the rebel forces and seeing off the troops of the kingdom.
Fortunately, Princess lia took out so of her own precious jewelry and bestowed them upon the common people who had their horses taken.
This managed to placate their anger.
Witnessing her actions, Tangmo praised lia’s charity and his affection for her grew considerably.
But Luo’er saw sothing else entirely.
In her, Luo’er saw the qualities that a young politician should possess.
Luo’er believed that if the King of Masya were to pass the throne to Princess lia, quelling the rebellion would be just a matter of ti.
But clearly, this was unrealistic as there already existed a crown prince in Masya.
He was the king’s firstborn and half-brother to Princess lia.
Unless anything unforeseen occurred, the prince would inevitably beco the next king after their father’s death.
Luo’er thought, if he was the crown prince, the first thing he would do upon his succession would be to marry lia, his half-sister, to a foreign country.
Leaving her at one’s side was too risky for her presence threatened to usurp the power one day.
Of course, this was purely hypothetical – if the prince was a fool, he might not even notice when he was being manipulated by lia.
By that ti, lia would inevitably beco the supre ruler of the Kingdom of Masya.
lia, to rely let her be a figurehead princess, would indeed be underestimating her abilities.
After a full day of chaos, the convoy rested for the night in the small town.
The forr front line, the town housed about 500 kingdom soldiers.
These were lower-level troops, clinging to their old-fashioned muzzle-loaded rifles, staring blankly as the knights passed in front of them.
To these traditionally minded knights, they looked down on these soldiers using Earth weapons.
Even when the highest-ranking officer in the army ca to visit, they left him waiting outside for quite so ti.
In truth, if the goal was to escort the convoy, getting them to the town was already considered a job well done.
But Princess lia clearly hoped they would follow her to Galan.
They didn’t know what she was up to, but since they made it this far, they had no choice but to press on one step at a ti.
The knights commandeered the town’s most lavish houses, forcing the hoowners and their families into a warehouse.
Although Luo’er and the others could stay in two rooms, they found it hard to escape the discomforting feeling and, therefore, slept uneasily that night.
The next day, they were summoned by Princess lia.
Sitting in the main hall of the house, separated by a long dining table, she awaited their arrival.
“Princess!” Imdiately upon entering, Luo’er perford the traditional greeting unique to Masya Kingdom, showing respect.
“You’re here, take a seat!” Seeing Luo’er and his team, lia imdiately wore an enchanting smile.
The team sat down opposite lia, surrounding Luo’er, regarding him as the center of their group.
lia, with a beaming smile on her face, asked them: “How co none of your comrades are talking?
Are they shy?”
“I apologize, my comrades tend to be cautious around strangers.
Please pardon their rudeness, Your Highness.” With a smile, Luo’er explained.
He, of course, knew why his team mbers were keeping silence, without his command, Hu Daoke would certainly have started quarrelling by now.
“No worries, let’s dine!” lia said, gesturing elegantly.
The waitstaff imdiately began to serve the exquisite food.
The servants were from the household which had been taken over; the knights had clearly driven the family out but kept the servants.
It made Luo’er wonder how they had managed the previous night.
Seeing the delicious food in front of them, his teammates could barely hide their salivating anticipation.
But, they naturally glanced at Luo’er before dipping in.
Only after he had waved his hand in concession, did they begin to eat with an appetite that showed no trace of the refinent expected of nobility.
lia watched them in silence, a faint smile gracing her features.
Luo’er was fully aware that she was observing them, but luckily, none of them did anything too inappropriate in their actions.
“How did you find last night, Lord Luo’er?” lia asked, noticing Luo’er wasn’t eating.
“Living in soone else’s ho, it’s a bit uncomfortable,” Luo’er laughed and said.
lia knew he was joking about the knights’ occupation of the people’s hos.
She chuckled, then said, “Don’t worry, no matter how long we stay, the hoowners will not object.
They will never forsake the embrace of the kingdom to join the rebels.”
“How so?” asked Luo’er.
“Has Mister Luo’er ever been to the territories occupied by the rebels?” lia leaned her chin on her hand, and turned around to ask.
“No, ever since we entered Masya, we have remained in the territories under royal control,” Luo’er candidly replied.
“Then have you seen the state of the towns and villages under rebel control?” lia turned back around and quietly looked at him.
“I haven’t!” Luo’er answered truthfully.
“I’ve seen!” lia raised her eyebrows, then her face gradually grew serious, “In the villages occupied by the rebels, all the houses have been burned down, all property plundered, all the weak and sick have been hard, and all won…”
lia looked at him, continued to speak, “The rebels pride themselves as the new working class resisting the aristocracy, but they commit acts worthy of bandits and plunderers.
In the villages they occupy, you cannot hear the laughter of the common people; only helpless wails.
Their so-called achievents are not calculated by how many nobles they overthrow, but by how many innocent heads they take.
I once saw a small hill made of human heads, fresh blood dyed the muddy road red, it also dyed the hem of my dress.”
“So,” lia looked around the room and spread her hands out, “Mister Luo’er, do you still think these people will make a fuss with us just for occupying their hos for a few days?”
lia’s words made the atmosphere instantly heavy.
Luo’er paused for a mont, then said, “I apologize, we co from Odelanqi and do not know about the situation in Masya.”
“Sure enough, this is our own matter, I’m sorry for troubling you,” lia spoke, her warm smile once again lit up her face.
“Considering how dedicated Your Highness is to the kingdom, if the day cos when the princess leads the entire country, exterminating the rebels is a matter of ti,” Luo’er joked.
Because of Luo’er’s comnt, lia’s expression froze instantly.
After a mont, she gathered herself, her smile reappeared, then, looking aningfully at Luo’er, she said, “Mister Luo’er, your comnt is sowhat inappropriate.”
“I apologize, I just speak my mind.
If I have caused any offense, I hope the Princess will forgive ,” Luo’er said, bowing his head slightly, no sign of regret on his face.
“It’s okay,” lia waved her hand and laughed self-deprecatingly, “Everyone knows Oliver is the next king.
I’m just a princess, a woman.
How dare I entertain such overreaching thoughts.”
“Indeed, Masya has never had a queen,” Luo’er nodded, comforting her.
“Yes, never had,” lia stared at the exquisite tableware, smiling quietly.
In her eyes, Luo’er could see a hint of desolation.
Luo’er was certain that lia was indeed attempting to seize power in the Kingdom of Masya.
Otherwise, how could the King of Masya entrust her, a teenager, to seek assistance from Odelanqi?
High-level communication between the countries of another world can be achieved through magical ssengers, not unlike Earth’s email.
The King of Masya could have sought help from Gudelv through a magical ssenger, but chose to send an envoy instead.
On the one hand, to show sincerity, and on the other hand, he probably had other plans.
Luo’er looked at lia’s lancholy expression, and a word flashed in his mind— marriage alliance.
If the King of Masya was not so dim-witted, he would probably have removed all obstacles to the Crown Prince’s succession, including Princess lia, before his son ascended the throne.
As lia’s father, the King of Masya would have no reason not to be aware of lia’s aspirations and ambitions.
Even though she was only seventeen or eighteen, once she cos into her own, she will surely seize power from her brother’s hands.
Thus, the reason lia was sent to Odelanqi was likely not only to seek reinforcents, but also potentially to negotiate marriage alliance with the royal family of Odelanqi and marry off this ambitious daughter early.
Of course, all of these are just Luo’er’s guesses.
Just as lia was observing them, Luo’er was also watching her, analyzing her actions and thoughts.
In a certain sense, they were of the sa kind, both able to ignite sparks upon eting.
Although it’s dangerous, their political aspirations were entirely different, so they wouldn’t naturally beco enemies.
This was the only thing Luo’er could be assured of.
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