Early the next morning, Priscilla arrived very early and even brought an outfit for her to wear to the Royal Selection that day.
It was a rose-red Gothic dress—noble and elegant.
"Miss Shendu, a red gown suits your appearance best. As my friend, what you wear cannot be inferior."
After delivering the dress, Priscilla fixed her gaze on Shendu and spoke with a smile.
"Then I'll accept it with thanks."
Shendu picked up the dress. A purple magic circle flashed across her body, and in an instant, she completed a seamless change of clothes.
Once she had put on the gown, Priscilla praised her before summoning an opulent dragon carriage. The two of them boarded together and swiftly headed toward the royal city.
Since today was the day of the Royal Selection, the surrounding knights were even more vigilant than usual. Upon recognizing the dragon carriage of a candidate, they refrained from stepping forward to question it.
"Lady Priscilla, dragon carriages are not permitted to enter the venue. Please proceed on foot from here."
After passing through the royal city, an armored guard knelt on one knee before Priscilla's dragon carriage and respectfully conveyed the requirement.
"Tch. I am of such noble standing, and yet you expect me to walk?"
Priscilla spoke coldly, finding it somewhat excessive that a dignified candidate would be asked to proceed on foot.
"My apologies, Lady Priscilla, but these are the rules. Please comply."
The guard remained strictly professional, absolutely unwilling to allow anyone to break protocol.
"Then, Miss Shendu, let us walk together."
"Very well."
Priscilla spoke with reluctant composure. Shendu had no objections, and the two of them began strolling leisurely toward the venue.
Behind them followed the oddly dressed Al. Though he was Priscilla's knight, he appeared rather humble.
From earlier until now, he had not even been permitted to sit inside the candidate's dragon carriage. Instead, he had acted as the coachman, driving it himself—likely the most humble knight among all the candidates.
The meeting was being held in the royal capital's castle. Armored guards stood everywhere, while members of the Royal Guard in white robes surrounded the area so tightly that not even water could pass through.
It could be said that the majority of the royal capital's combat power had been gathered here. Even if the Witch Cult attempted to storm in by force, they would meet a miserable end.
With Priscilla's status, Shendu smoothly entered the castle. Walking along the red carpet, flanked by knights standing on both sides, they advanced step by step.
With each step, piercing gazes fell upon them—swift and imposing. Yet neither Shendu nor Priscilla showed the slightest excess emotion.
The two chatted and laughed, even commenting on the castle's defenses as though they were strolling through their own garden, utterly unafraid.
In her previous life, Shendu had ruled over the Earth and governed the East for a time. Naturally, she regarded the Royal Selection as a minor affair.
At the deepest point ahead, a massive door blocked their path.
Guarding it was a middle-aged knight. Upon seeing Priscilla, he immediately bowed respectfully, his attitude exceedingly serious.
As one of the royal candidates—someone highly likely to rule the kingdom in the future—the attitude of the officials was only to be expected.
"We have been awaiting you, Lady Priscilla."
"All participants of the Royal Selection have arrived. Only you were missing."
"At ease."
Priscilla glanced at the knight indifferently, her expression utterly unconcerned as she responded casually.
After the greetings concluded, the middle-aged knight shifted his gaze to the silver-haired, red-eyed young woman standing beside Priscilla, with Al behind her.
"May I ask, Lady Priscilla, who is the silver-haired lady at your side?"
The knight stared at Shendu. Noting her silver hair, he recalled the rumors circulating recently and formed a tentative guess, though he dared not confirm it.
"She is my friend. Do you intend to defy my command?"
Priscilla's arrogance was unmistakable. Her dissatisfaction grew as she glared at the knight, finding his questions excessive.
"My apologies. According to the rules of the Royal Selection, unrelated individuals may not enter—even if they are your friend, my lady."
The knight responded politely. Just as Priscilla was about to say more, Shendu raised a hand to stop her.
Then, Shendu took out a token. On its front was engraved a purple Eastern dragon, while the back was a patterned mithril plate.
Within the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild, ranks were divided into red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Red signified ordinary members, while the purple token represented the highest rank—that of the president.
Even Akane, who had only recently entered as acting president, held merely a blue token.
...
"As the president of the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild, is this identity sufficient?"
Shendu looked calmly at the middle-aged knight, a faint smile playing on her lips as she asked.
"More than sufficient. I apologize for my earlier discourtesy, President."
As the most prominent merchant guild in the royal capital of late, the knight dared not show the slightest negligence. Its status was second only to that of the royal candidates.
After all, the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild had begun gradually taking control of the royal capital's economic lifeline, and its network of connections was extraordinarily formidable.
It was precisely due to such influence that some of the older members of the Council of Wise Men, disregarding their colleagues' objections, had directly extended an invitation to the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild.
"It's nothing."
Shendu waved her hand indifferently. The knight quickly ordered the soldiers to push open the massive doors before them.
In an instant, the interior of the castle unfolded before their eyes.
The walls gleamed with a golden luster, as though coated in gold dust. A vivid red carpet stretched across the floor all the way to the deepest point.
Overhead hung an enormous crystal chandelier, while the curtains were woven from pearls. Massive load-bearing pillars stood in several directions, supporting the weight of the castle.
At the very center, five luxuriously decorated chairs were arranged at the front. Intricate patterns were carved into them, and a subtle fragrance lingered in the air.
The pattern on the front wall was, astonishingly, the image of a dragon.
After briefly admiring the surroundings, Shendu shifted her gaze toward the gathered crowd.
Members of the Royal Guard stood on both sides, while officials in formal attire were scattered throughout the hall.
At the forefront stood the four other candidates. Upon seeing them, Priscilla lifted her folding fan to cover her mouth and teased them.
"You all arrived so early. How disappointing. After all, the ultimate victor of the Royal Selection will undoubtedly be me!"
Still speaking arrogantly, Priscilla stepped forward and addressed the candidates with apparent warmth.
As her words fell, the four candidates' gazes turned toward Priscilla, then shifted to Shendu at her side, each wearing a different expression.
Shendu's silver hair and her various deeds were already well known to them, yet none of them knew her identity as president of the Divine Dragon Merchant Guild.
Because Shendu had kept her information tightly sealed, aside from Priscilla, very few people were aware of her true identity.
This was precisely the effect Shendu wished to achieve.
The grand drama of the Royal Selection was about to begin.
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