“Hiss—”
With a sharp whistling sound that tore through the air, the white dove perched on a distant tree branch was instantly seized by Artedinis, the distance between them as if deleted entirely.
Seeing this, Faust couldn't help but twitch an eyelid. This technique of telekinetic capture was already the pinnacle of the path of the blank slate.
The 【Radiant King】 path, a unique journey that only those with the bloodline of the empire’s founder could inherit and practice, could no longer be simply summarized as a “heroic warrior” or “sage mage.”
It was omnipotent and powerful in an absolute sense, encompassing almost all techniques and spell-forms of the mainstream paths. According to the sect definitions of the elflands, the 【Radiant King】 path integrated the schools of “flame,” “steel,” and “soul,” unifying them within their blood.
Though not quite like the ancient holy kings whose veins flowed with literal gold, the imperial royals’ blood was no longer mere blood; it was pure magical flame, sufficient to support their execution of various exquisite and brilliant spell-form manipulations.
The white dove was clutched in the Imperial Highness’s hand. The small, pristine bird struggled in terror within her slender, jade-like palm, yet the princess herself showed not a shred of pity, simply saying to Faust:
“What a beautiful, pure, and wonderful little creature. Don’t you think so, too?”
The prince saw the pupils of Artedinis’s indigo eyes narrow, almost resembling vertical slits.
“It’s certainly pretty. What are you planning to do? Make soup with it?”
Faust cracked a joke, yet the action Artedinis took next was no longer a joke.
The princess exerted a gentle pressure, and brilliant golden magic was channeled into the white dove’s body.
“Sizzle... hiss-hiss-hiss—”
The dove’s body was consumed by golden flames, as if it were a gold vessel melting in a furnace, burned away from the inside out by the shattered light.
Feathers, bones, and flesh alike were roasted by the 【Radiant King】’s flame spell-form until only flowing blood remained.
【Stone to Gold】!
Faust recognized Artedinis’s method—a vicious and ruthless spell-form that was essentially an instant-kill single-target attack.
Talk about bird abuse!
Artedinis tilted her head back, drinking the golden blood dripping from the dove’s remains.
Then, with fingers stained in blood, she brushed her hair back from her cheeks to behind her ears, smearing the blood across her skin.
The Imperial Highness still wore a smile, but at this moment, it was chilling.
“A little light entertainment. The small animals that dwell within this conservatory occasionally become nourishment for me.”
“I enjoy plundering. The more beautiful and moving a thing is, the more I wish to claim it as my own. In the process of this pursuit, true joy rises within me, and that delight intoxicates me.”
“Of course, things that are too fragile cannot withstand my affection. Just like this white dove, it could only turn into nutrients amidst my fervor. It is truly a pity.”
Faust lowered his eyelids and pointed out without evasion: “Then you really are quite terrible. You want to destroy the things you like the most? You seem a bit of a psychopath.”
“Psychopath... that accusation is a bit hard to accept.”
Artedinis tapped her flawless cheek with a lily-white fingertip and laughed:
“But I am not so malicious. I am just... perhaps too greedy. It is not a longing for worldly authority or glory, but rather for things that can add interest to my boring, peaceful daily life. I want to witness them, complete them, and finally, plunder them.”
“Take this empire, for example. I was born in the empire, raised in the empire, and of course, I love the empire deeply. Therefore, I stood on the side of the dragonslayer faction without hesitation, not just to fulfill my script, but to balance the scales of the civil war.”
“Because if I were to join the dragon’s camp, wouldn’t that be too boring? There would be no suspense, and regardless of whether the dragon-slaying succeeded, it would all end too quickly. In that case, how could I savor the deliciousness of the empire rising from the ashes of pain, stripped of its former vanity?”
The Imperial Highness opened her arms and smiled:
“In such a short time, the originally rotting, withered, and cold empire has changed so much. The honor of the imperial people has been tarnished, their pride damaged, and they are forced to bow their heads and grit their teeth. All the schemes, jealousy, fear, and anger interwoven together fill the void in my soul.”
So she’s a connoisseur of misery, too!
Faust summarized: “Boring. I want to see rivers of blood... is that it?”
The princess’s indigo eyes widened, and she nodded in agreement:
“Ah! Although it is very subtle, if you must describe it that way, it is not impossible.”
Mephisto offered a sharp critique in the prince’s mind:
【She is not satisfied with being a diner; she wants to step into the kitchen and cook it herself.】
【Her mental state is already indistinguishable from some of my fairy kin.】
Artedinis rested her chin on one hand, her gaze lowering into a lazy, languid look as she said to Faust:
“I have never revealed so much of my inner thoughts to anyone before. Even the Lady of the Lake or the High Masters of the Sanctuary have only had fragmented guesses. But as someone who also toys with fate, I think you might understand me.”
“So, could you be my only friend to date?”
No, how does making a friend sound like a marriage proposal in your mouth?
Perhaps to a normal person, the real side of Artedinis was a bit off-putting, but the prince felt she was much like him.
Incomparably arrogant and greedy, even while clearly understanding every consequence and risk, she would still act without hesitation for the sake of her own desires and cravings.
It was just that Faust’s pursuits were more mundane, making them easier for others to accept, whereas Artedinis was somewhat abstract; ordinary things could not provide her with the satisfaction she sought.
Faust stared into the princess’s eyes: “To be honest, I find you quite interesting and I like you (because you are beautiful), so starting as friends is fine by me.”
Artedinis nodded in satisfaction at these words. She then beckoned with her fingers, plucking petals of vibrant colors from the surrounding flower beds. Her slender fingers moved, and in no time, she had woven a crown made of fresh flowers.
The princess handed it to Faust.
“What is the meaning of this?”
“Are you going to ask me why I’m giving you flowers? What a man who doesn’t understand romance!”
Artedinis shook her head continuously, looking at Faust with an expression that said “you don’t understand anything at all,” before tilting her head and saying:
“Nothing. This is a gift for you. I should give gifts to friends, and furthermore, I shall look forward to your return gift.”
The Imperial Highness then ended the topic, sighing with satisfaction:
“Today’s conversation was very pleasant. I have never felt my emptiness filled by such a simple talk before. Prince Faust... I hope that as we spend time together in the future, I will come to like you even more.”
Excuse me, sister, is being liked by you a good thing?!
Rate on N.U.
