746 Gifts and Provocation Part 2 (1/2)
”Princess.” Stephanie was serious when she spoke to Lex, ”I was not with Emperor Chanake when he was dying and I am sorry about that. I did not know if the Emperor's abilities would be present in you. Therefore, I will be your personal mage if you are able to repel Cloudflow. Before that happens, I will guard this city.”
”Thank you, Grand Master.” Lex did not say more. She knew that Stephanie was willing to defend the city only because of her father. She could very well have become the best amongst all the mages serving the royal family based on her age and abilities. In Holy Rock City, the mages of the royal family would be entitled to more resources than if they followed her.
”Hmm, you can go ahead and accept the gifts. The person who came over is the son of Earl Kant. He requested to come over.” Stephanie was not the messenger so she sent Lex away and began to meditate in the magic tower.
After leaving the magic tower, Lex saw Saleen. Saleen said to Lex, ”Lex, the skeleton magic stone artilleries that Cloudflow sent over are all spoilt. There is no way to repair them.”
”I knew it. Cloudflow people are not stupid after all. The gifts were meant to provoke us, of course they will make sure that they are spoilt first. It would be quite useful to use these two-hundred skeletal magic stone artilleries on top of the city wall otherwise.”
”Anyway, I kept the spatial boxes that they sent over. There are two-hundred of them. Not too bad as gifts.” Saleen laughed.
”What about the magic beasts? Surely you didn't slaughter them for their meat?” After Lex and Saleen decided to get married, they no longer maintained a polite distance with each other as they did before. Now, they could even joke with each other. Lex was well aware of the fact that Saleen was someone who liked to take advantage of situations.
”Of course not. They are all low-level magic beasts, so there are no decent magic nuclei to be had even if I were to slaughter them.” At this point, Saleen changed topics very abruptly and said, ”Lex, I want the two-hundred soldiers to be killed. I am afraid that a strong opponent might be hidden amongst them. Although I have personally checked it, we cannot afford to be careless. On the day of our wedding, Cloudflow will launch an attack. If one or two people with strange abilities have managed to sneak in prior to the attack and create chaos in the city, not only will we be flustered, we will also lose face in front of all the envoys.”
”All of them have been rounded up?”
”Yes. I have asked Cuisi to watch over them.”
”We cannot kill them since they are envoys. Do you have any other ideas?” Lex was also wary about this matter. It would not be right to kill these people or chase them out since they were merely delivering gifts. She was a member of a conventional royal family and born a mage, so she had no idea how to deal with this issue that was presented to her so unexpectedly.
”Send the commoners away. Leave only those two-hundred people behind. I will find a way.” Saleen did not wish to be troubled over this matter either. He had already observed them with his elemental eyes and did not find any problems with the two-hundred men.
”What way?”
”Since this is our country, we can set our own rules. Their attire is unacceptable so I have sent someone to bone castle to ask the winged skeleton to make new clothes for them. I will also be keeping all their belongings for the time-being.”
”We can do that too.” Lex shook her head helplessly and said, ”Come with me to see my brother's gift.”
Qin Emperor Ojarvis' gifts were sent directly to the palace along with the group of envoys and two battalions of royal swordsmen. These elite soldiers would not be leaving Daliang City. Ojarvis was aware of what Lex was lacking, but since he could not mobilize the soldiers and horses of the four towns, he could only deploy the men from the royal swordsmen battalion and send them to Lex. The soldiers of the royal swordsmen battalion were all loyal to the old Emperor so Ojarvis felt assured they would respect Lex.
The person leading the group of envoys was a young member of a noble family. He was previously an officer in western town. It was from him that Lex managed to obtain Wild Bear.
”Scott Frio, how is your father doing?” Lex greeted the young man with a smile.
”Your Highness, father is doing well and is now serving in the House of Lords.” Scott did not expect Lex to remember his name. Even if mages were capable of Recollection spells, that meant that Lex had paid attention to him back then when they first met. He felt pleased with the decision that he had made.
”Now that you are here, I suppose you will not be going back?”
”Yes, Your Highness. I have even brought over two-hundred of my bodyguards. My father gave them to me.”
”Earl Kant must still miss me. Scott, have you been officially conferred with any ranks?”
”Your Highness, I am now a grade-3 Baron of the Empire. It is the lowest grade,” Scott replied with slight embarrassment.
Lex smiled and said, ”No problem. Stay with me and become a grade-1 Baron. A war is coming soon. Keep your bodyguards with you. In a while, I will arrange a position for you.”
”Thank you, Your Highness. Father hopes that I can join the battle too.”
”I know. The Frio family was conferred with its rank of nobility because of meritorious deeds you performed in battles. Your father is very competitive. He hopes that you will make a name for yourself on the battlefield of course. Scott, come and meet His Highness, Saleen.”
Scott performed a formal ritual of noble families and said, ”Your Highness. I, Scott Frio, pledge to protect you and the Princess forever and until the end of my days.”