Gazef lowered his head, not daring to look too much. Given Renner's status and fame, staring too long might cause a negative impression.
"Your Highness." Leinas, however, had no such concerns; she bowed and then raised her head again.
Renner, like a pure flower, walked over with light steps, her face soft with a somewhat shy smile. "Your Excellency Warrior Captain, there is no need for such formality."
"I hope I'm not interrupting you two?"
A hint of curiosity and playfulness was hidden in her clear, ethereal voice.
Gazef, who was about to look up and respond, lowered his head again and quickly replied, "No interruption... uh, I mean, Young Miss Leinas and I weren't discussing anything just now."
"And here I thought I might overhear something."
Renner muttered softly, her tone carrying a bit of disappointed gossip.
The muttering wasn't loud.
But with the keen senses of Leinas and Gazef, they could clearly hear her.
Leinas's refined face remained expressionless. Her waist-length golden hair was tied at the end, emitting a unique, fresh fragrance.
Gazef, standing beside two beautiful women, looked a bit embarrassed.
"Well then, Your Excellency Warrior Captain, we shall take our leave." Renner reached out with her slender fingers, tugged at Leinas's sleeve, and smiled innocently.
As the two figures disappeared.
Gazef finally raised his head, scratched his nose with his finger, and his embarrassed expression slowly faded.
On the other side.
Along the long, exquisitely carved corridor, Renner walked in front, her white dress fluttering slightly with her steps.
Leinas followed closely behind, watching Renner's back, her lustrous lips pursed. She was somewhat surprised that Renner would appear here; it seemed like she was waiting for her specifically.
Could she want to ask about the purpose of Ramposa III summoning her and Gazef?
But as they walked, Renner showed no intention of asking.
Instead, she would occasionally discuss the taste of the pastries provided by the court today, or which flower on either side of the corridor was prettier.
Another thing.
Leinas also noticed that the other party seemed to be in a good mood lately.
"What is it, Leinas?" Renner stopped and blinked her deep blue eyes, looking at Leinas with innocent curiosity.
"It's like this, Your Highness. Considering the defeat on the battlefield against the Empire this year, His Majesty intends to form two legions."
Leinas paused her steps and spoke directly in a soft voice. Her current status was that of an Imperial who had sought refuge with Renner, so there was naturally no need to hide such things.
"One will be commanded by me and the other by Gazef, each consisting of three thousand men."
"That's amazing, Leinas."
Renner clasped her hands in front of her chest, a joyful expression on her face.
That smile wasn't because her subordinate had gained the right to recruit a legion, but purely out of happiness for Leinas being given such an important role.
At least, that was what the "smile" appeared to mean.
"That's why I'm a bit troubled." Leinas tossed her smooth golden hair and sighed softly.
Forming a legion sounded simple, but recruiting personnel alone was a very complex issue. Leinas guessed that Gazef's recruitment would likely have the secret support of Ramposa III.
As for her?
From the moment she chose Renner, she had essentially rejected both the Royalist Faction and the Noble Faction.
And from Leinas's observations, Renner indeed had no power base supporting her.
"Leinas, are you troubled by the issue of recruiting personnel?"
Renner spoke considerately, and after a moment's thought: "Indeed, it's not easy to recruit excellent soldiers, and Leinas has no fief or connections here."
Saying this, Renner lowered her head slightly, seemingly ashamed that she couldn't help Leinas.
"It's alright, Your Highness."
Faced with Renner's pitiful appearance, even the usually cold and ice-like Leinas couldn't help but soften her expression and spoke quickly.
Leinas wasn't surprised that Renner could guess the reason.
The title "Golden" didn't just describe Renner's appearance; it also described her quick wits.
During this time, besides observing Renner, Leinas had also attended many noble banquets and naturally gathered a lot of information about her.
What the nobles most enjoyed talking about and mocking were the many measures she proposed to help the people at the bottom of society and strengthen the country's power.
Almost all of these proposals were rejected due to various loopholes and unrealistic circumstances.
However, the kind heart Renner displayed became known to the common people, who were deeply moved. This was the other meaning of the title "Golden."
Analyzing from this information alone.
Leinas couldn't help but feel a genuine fondness for Renner, but when she thought of her master's description of the princess.
This forced Leinas to feel a hint of wariness.
Leinas knew her master's power and mystery all too well. For a princess to be seriously praised by her master and compared to the Blood Emperor...
Thinking of this.
Leinas suppressed the thoughts and emotions rising within her.
"By the way, Leinas, I've invited Brother Zanac over today. Perhaps he has a way."
Renner seemed to remember something, raised her head again, and happily put her fair arms behind her back, smiling brightly at Leinas.
Zanac?
The Second Prince?
Leinas was stunned for a moment, and her master's words before he left suddenly flashed through her mind.
'There's no need for any extra moves. Just give the problem to that princess, and she will find a solution for us.'
Buzz!
Her mind shook.
Looking at the innocently smiling Renner before her, Leinas's lips parted slightly, revealing a small section of pearl-white teeth. An inexplicable sense of horror rose in her heart.
The matter of forming the legions was only decided today by Ramposa III after discussing it with some noble members. Only after a result was reached was the news told to the two of them.
In other words, before today, no one should have known about forming the legions!
Yet Renner had invited the Second Prince in advance. If one thought deeper, Renner had already known this result long before today.
Thinking of this.
Leinas's pupils couldn't help but contract.
No!
There was one other person who knew in advance, and that was her master. Thinking of his arrangements, it seemed he had long anticipated that the Kingdom would form legions.
"Phew..." Leinas let out a soft breath, and the tension in her heart eased a lot.
If Lyle knew Leinas was comparing him to Renner, he would surely be a bit helpless. He had deduced the result entirely through the plot.
Whereas she had guessed it entirely based on her own intelligence.
Renner's eyes curved into crescents as she smilingly swept over the change in expression that appeared on Leinas's face for just a breath, then withdrew her gaze as if she hadn't noticed.
However, the slight upward curve of her lips made it seem as if she were teasing a cute little animal.
"Let's go, let's head back to the palace first."
Renner turned around, her gentle voice drifting back.
"Your Highness, aren't you going to check on Climb's situation today?" Leinas seemed to remember something and asked softly as she followed.
After following Renner, Leinas had unexpectedly learned of such a person's existence. It was said that he was a slave boy picked up by Renner.
It was heard that he only had one breath left at the time.
Renner had sent people to take care of him for over half a year before his body was completely restored, showing how much attention Renner paid to him.
Leinas had seen him a few times. If she had to evaluate him, he was just a very ordinary boy.
"I won't go for now, Leinas. Let's not keep Brother Zanac waiting too long." Renner said softly.
"Yes."
Leinas nodded.
What she didn't know was that since Leinas joined her side, Renner's attention to Climb had not been as frequent as before.
On the side Leinas couldn't see.
In Renner's innocent, deep blue eyes, a monster-like look of excitement flashed for a split second.
"Just who could it be,"
"To send such a cute little animal to my side."
"I'm so looking forward to it."
Renner's gaze returned to normal as she continued walking down the corridor.
After picking up Climb, his gaze had given Renner a sense of satisfaction, but after Leinas appeared, that sense of satisfaction became even stronger.
Of course!
The satisfaction didn't come from Leinas, but from the master behind her.
To be able to control a powerful and proud woman like Leinas and send her to her side.
Renner felt an invisible clash across space. The feeling of being understood and recognized made her whole body tremble slightly.
"Mm~"
Renner's white dress fluttered as her body trembled slightly, and she let out an almost imperceptible moan.
Leinas looked at Renner ahead of her with some confusion.
...
Lower Earth Month.
December 20th.
Even though it was noon, the overcast sky made the world's light very dim.
Large raindrops pattered on the ground, forming a mist that blurred the vision ahead, enveloping the entire Royal Capital, "Re-Estize."
A carriage emerged from the rain and mist, its wheels moving quickly on the muddy road, throwing up a series of muddy splashes.
The Ghost Hound pulled the carriage toward the massive Royal Capital. The dense rain dripped down its smooth black fur without soaking its body.
The visual obstruction caused by the heavy rain didn't affect the Ghost Hound at all.
The originally open-air carriage was now wrapped in layers of glowing light-green plant vines, blocking the rain from entering.
Inside the carriage.
Enri looked through the gaps in the vines at the Royal Capital, which was somewhat blurred in the rain and mist, her eyes full of anticipation and curiosity.
As a citizen of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Enri had only heard of the Royal Capital but had never been there. In fact, let alone the Royal Capital, even the border city of "E-Rantel"...
If she hadn't been following the Lord, she might have only had the chance to go there in the future.
"After traveling for more than ten days, we've finally reached the Royal Capital." Lyle straightened his back, stretched, and spoke with a light laugh.
He wondered how things were going with Leinas and Imina. Besides seeing the two of them and arranging the next steps, his visit to the Royal Capital...
...was also to leave a Magic Mark to facilitate the use of Teleportation magic later.
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