"Wow, is this the Empire's warship? That is impressive."
Alkin looked up, whistled, and exclaimed in admiration.
The white-wolf girl had changed into gear more suitable for action today, draped in a short cloak of the same color. A wide leather belt was fastened around her waist, hung with various small pouches, and her long silver-white hair was tied into a high ponytail, cascading briskly behind her.
"Unlike those conventional airships, this must be a mystery relic as well."
Faust was already accustomed to such things; a mystery relic was a catch-all term for anything you could imagine and more. Given the Empire's foundations, having a few such relics from the Golden Age was perfectly normal.
When the warship descended to a height of one hundred meters above the ground, a silver bridge of light extended from the center of the hull, flowing like moonlight, and landed directly in front of Faust.
"Prince Faust, Her Highness invites you to join her for morning tea."
A court attendant approached from the ground and bowed respectfully to the prince of Qingxi.
"Since when did you get so close to the imperial princess?"
Selena crossed her arms and frowned at the sight: "Just because you met once? Don't tell me you've already hooked up with her?"
Viviana, however, remained very calm. The pale-gold-haired girl said matter-of-factly:
"What is so strange about that? Anyone who can resist liking Her Highness for even a second is simply unreasonable."
What is that supposed to mean! What do you take me for?
Faust could not stand such slander, so he waved his hand quickly and said:
"Stop guessing. It is not the same as with you; you are good girls, but that imperial princess is an absolute bad woman."
"So you have been targeted by a bad woman?"
"You could say that. Anyway, I will go up and see."
He stepped onto the bridge of light as he spoke.
With every step he took, the seemingly fragile path of light rippled slightly, as if he were walking on a calm lake.
Those ripples spread outward, merging into the halo at the edge of the bridge, emitting a very faint sound like wind chimes.
The moment he stepped onto the deck of the ship, the bridge of light quietly dissipated behind him, turning into countless points of light that merged into the air.
"Prince Faust, welcome aboard my flagship."
A familiar voice rang out, and Faust looked in the direction of the sound.
He saw Artedinis sitting at a round table near the edge of the deck, elegantly lifting a cup of black tea and smiling in greeting at Faust.
Her beige hair still covered one eye, and a few strands hung down over her forehead, making her exquisitely beautiful face appear even more alluring.
"Please, sit. Make yourself at home."
Artedinis stretched out her hand lazily, gesturing for Faust to sit opposite her.
Faust sat down candidly and asked straight to the point:
"Is there something you need?"
"Does one need a reason to invite a friend for tea? Besides, the Sanctuary's red tape is simply too much. If one does not find some amusement while waiting, it becomes too unbearable."
Artedinis shrugged and looked down. At the edge of a pond chosen as the planting site, over a hundred people had already gathered.
The monastics of the Sanctuary were dressed in neat white ritual robes, holding scriptures and circling in a ring, chanting ancient prayers in low voices as they began to unseal the magic beans.
It was a seed the size of a thumb, with ancient golden runes flowing across its surface. It was currently descending slowly, sinking into the pond.
It seemed it would take some time before they reached the main event.
Faust nodded, acknowledging the value of idle chatter, and spoke first:
"I thought you would have gone to the fiend defense line instead."
Artedinis poured tea into her cup, the sound crisp and clear:
"Alexander went. He seems to want to avoid being in the same place as you."
"He is a good man, but not interesting enough. He is so boring you can see through him at a glance. He even harbors worship and respect for me. It is truly ridiculous; those who worship and yearn for others are only at that level themselves."
The imperial princess shook her head:
"He blends in too well; he is already every bit the occult noble. In the end, he is just a lucky one. By comparison, that colleague of ours, the brave one from the north, at least dares to show contempt for authority, even if he is of barbarian origin."
She set down her teacup, leaned forward slightly, rested her chin in her hands, and looked straight at Faust with her indigo eyes.
"By the way, Eleanor has been complaining to me for the past two days, repeatedly reporting your evil deeds, saying you are handsy with her and planning to get all the maids in the Governor's Mansion pregnant."
Faust picked up his teacup, sniffed it lightly, and said:
"I did nothing of the sort. That is all I have to say."
"I know, of course. After all, you left with my gift; Eleanor could not possibly be indifferent."
The prince of Qingxi raised an eyebrow: "Was this intentional?"
The imperial princess gave a noncommittal hum and tapped the tea table with her finger:
"Unlike my other siblings in the royal family, Eleanor's fief was seized due to the Great Rebellion, so she came to my side. Her upbringing has lacked much in the way of tempering and experience."
The smile on Artedinis's beautiful face grew even brighter:
"Although the imperial family members are arrogant to the bone, her pride is particularly flamboyant and fragile. As a royal, she lacks the internal substance to support that pride. She is like fine porcelain. I wonder how sweet and delicious Eleanor's tears would be if one could ruin her and torment her."
Faust looked at her with the same disgust one would reserve for scum. Previously, it was Yusewood who looked at him with such eyes; the prince really had not expected there to be someone with lower moral standards than himself.
"Your personality is truly terrible. Do you hold such malice toward your own sister?"
"Of course I like my sister. If I did not like her, why would I look forward to her breaking?"
Artedinis clutched her heart with both hands, her indigo eyes shining brilliantly:
"Faust, as a friend, can you help me realize this vision?"
Ugh, that is enough. Is that really how you use the word friend?
".........."
"BOOM—!"
Just as Faust was contemplating how to respond, a dull, thunderous roar came from the depths of the pond, shaking the earth beneath everyone's feet violently!
The seal on the magic bean was lifted, and it suddenly erupted with a blinding golden light.
The bean shell shattered, and a tender green vine, the thickness of a thumb, poked its head out from the split shell.
The green of the vine was not any green found in the mortal world—not the tender green of spring grass, nor the deep green of summer leaves. It was a color that seemed to have condensed all vitality, so rich it was almost dripping, a color that made one feel a palpitation just by looking at it.
The vine poked its head out and hesitated for a moment.
Then—it began to grow, or more accurately, it sprinted.
At a speed invisible to the naked eye, it extended madly toward the sky! One zhang, ten zhang, one hundred zhang—in just a few breaths, the vine had pierced through the clouds and stabbed into the firmament.
The tremors on the ground grew increasingly violent, sending rocks flying and dust swirling. But the vine paid no heed; it just continued upward, and upward, and upward... as if to pierce the sky itself.
"Rumble—"
A sound like a thunderclap rang out.
Faust looked up at the vine, which was growing thicker and taller, watching it break through layer after layer of clouds, watching its top disappear into the unreachable heights of the heavens.
The growth of the vine lasted for a full quarter of an hour.
When it finally stopped, the vine was already so thick it would take dozens of people to encircle it, and so tall its top could not be seen.
Its surface was covered in strange patterns, with veins that pulsed with a faint light. Those veins throbbed slowly in a certain rhythm, as if the vine itself were a living behemoth with a heartbeat.
Rate on N.U.
