Entering the City

“Name?”

“Renata Cennard.”

“Race?”

“Moon Elf, a branch of the Elf Tribe.”

The silver-haired girl patiently explained to the Dragon Tribe guard who was performing a basic interrogation at the city gate.

“Where are you from? What is your reason for entering the city?”

The Dragon Tribe guard, clad in armor and with a burly face, clearly looked like a tough, violent character. However, facing the elegant and distinguished Moon Elf lady before him, even the ill-tempered Dragon Tribe guard’s tone softened somewhat when he spoke.

This was a racial advantage. With very few exceptions, other races, upon encountering Elves, would immediately label them as elegant and kind.

“I am from the Cennard family of the Elf Forest. As for my reason for entering the city, I heard along the way that the Imperial City will soon hold the eight-yearly Dragon God Festival. As a traveler, I naturally wish to witness the grandeur of the Dragon God Festival with my own eyes.”

The reason had been carefully considered before entering the city. Although Elves were generally reluctant to leave their homeland, Moon Elves were a unique branch.

If Gold Elves represented the face and majesty of the entire Elf Tribe, then Moon Elves represented the poetry and romance flowing in the Elf Tribe’s blood. Adult Moon Elves often enjoyed traveling alone, using their own eyes to see a broader, freer world.

This was why Gold Elves and Moon Elves were both high-ranking Elves, yet as a princess in Emerald City, she rarely encountered Moon Elves. For no other reason, the Moon Elves who remained were either old or young. The older Elves had too great a generation gap with her, and the younger Elves couldn’t play together.

The truly age-appropriate Moon Elves were all out pursuing their own poetic lives, hoping to perhaps find their own romantic love in a distant foreign land.

“Very good, esteemed Moon Elf lady. Your basic conditions and requirements are suitable for entering the city. For the final step, please present a token that can prove your identity, and we will allow you to enter the city.”

The Dragon Tribe guards were already polite. Towards normal outsiders, they usually only asked questions and offered no explanations. Such a kind and gentle tone towards an outsider was truly a unique treatment reserved for Elves.

“I have one, please wait…”

Selina smiled slightly, taking out a silver family crest from her jungle-style satchel. The moment the two inspecting Dragon Tribe guards saw the crest, their respect deepened even further.

They had originally thought this Moon Elf lady was merely an unknown collateral daughter of the Cennard family, but unexpectedly, among her belongings was the exclusive family crest representing the Cennards.

This item was only possessed by the distinguished direct descendants of the Cennard family. This Moon Elf lady’s true identity was likely far higher than they had previously imagined.

“Please enter, esteemed Miss Cennard. We wish you an unforgettable time in the Imperial City.”

The two heavily armored Dragon Tribe guards respectfully let her pass.

The silver-haired girl’s lips curved into a smile, her demeanor cool and elegant. She slowly retrieved the badge, her steps light as she crossed the city gate, drifting into the heart of the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty’s capital like a dandelion.

‘Truly entering the Imperial City, Selina’s hanging heart finally eased slightly.’

Aurelia had entered the city four hours earlier. Her identity as a Moon Elf was naturally incomparable to that of an ordinary outsider. After she revealed her identity, the Dragon Tribe guards respectfully opened the city gates and let her in. Selina, despite the convenience of her Elf identity, still had to wait in line normally.

‘Upon truly entering the city, another problem arose.’

This was now the very core of the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty, the Imperial City. Looking at the city’s prosperity, the crowds were endless. But in reality, behind this hustle and bustle, countless eyes were watching every corner. She was secretly protecting the Dragon Saintess, so her identity naturally could not be exposed.

And as an elegant Moon Elf lady, whose grace was etched into her bones, some thief techniques and maneuvers were naturally impossible to implement in such a densely populated area. The city guards were not blind, and revealing her identity could easily make her a target. This was definitely not what Selina wanted to see.

Her smooth entry into the Imperial City was, of course, arranged by the Moon Elf Queen. If any mishaps occurred, it would likely worry her mother, who was far away in the Elf Kingdom.

The most important thing was to find her.

The reason for Aurelia’s return was explained in the letter Vice Principal Hecate left for her. As the Saintess of the cult, her subordinates were actually rebelling and trying to overthrow her, installing a new leader.

When she saw the contents of the envelope, Selina’s mouth couldn’t help but twitch.

‘Truly the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty. Even after eight years, the upper echelons of that dragon kingdom are still so chaotic. First, the former Saintess entrusted me to protect the little dragon girl from the royal family’s pursuit. Now, the Saintess’s subordinates are defying her and trying to depose her.’

In any case, if such a thing happened in the Elf Kingdom, it would be a shocking case that would stun the entire nation. But in the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty, it seemed almost like an everyday occurrence.

‘Are the heads of these Dragon Tribe upper-echelon members all hollow? Enjoying the conveniences of their status day after day, muddling along, just thinking about plots of ‘you kill me, I kill you, today I rebel, tomorrow you revolt’.’

To this, the former Thief Saint Conde’s evaluation was:

‘Too full, with nothing better to do. An idle ache.’

As for why it wasn’t Selina’s evaluation?

Because she had no… ‘aches.’

“If she came back to quell the sectarian unrest, then Aurelia should be at the Dragon God Cult cathedral now.”

Selina pondered for a moment, then made up her mind.

And so, her eyes searched through the constantly shifting crowd for her target. Finally, a seemingly humble Dragon Tribe woman walked past her.

The Dragon Tribe woman turned her head to look at the girl with confusion.

“Excuse me, Dragon Sister, I am a traveler here. I wish to visit the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty’s largest Dragon God Cathedral, but as it’s my first time in the Imperial City, I don’t know the way. So, please, Sister, could you help me with directions?”

Selina was beautiful, sweet-spoken, and had a pleasant voice. Most people found it hard to refuse such a girl.

Sure enough, upon hearing the girl’s request, the Dragon Tribe woman enthusiastically helped her with directions.

“You’re welcome. The Imperial City is indeed too vast compared to cities of other races; it’s perfectly normal for outsiders to get lost their first time here.”

The Dragon Tribe woman chuckled, waving her hand nonchalantly.

Selina walked in the direction the Dragon Tribe woman pointed. When she felt a faint gaze on her, she quickly merged into the crowd and disappeared with the flow of people.

Meanwhile, Aurelia, who had entered the city four hours earlier than Selina, found herself in a somewhat peculiar situation.

Deep within the Dragon God Cult, in a confession room, Aurelia and Archbishop Hodmogh sat opposite each other. There were no other people in the entire room. The conversation between the Archbishop and the Saintess was classified. Only a few people in the entire Imperial City were qualified to listen.

After listening to the Archbishop’s narration, Aurelia slowly put down her teacup, her eyes showing a hint of coldness.

“So, does His Grace the Archbishop mean that he hopes I, the Saintess, will voluntarily abdicate and yield my position to the young lady of the琉璃 family?”

“Precisely. This is also the best solution I arrived at after careful consideration. After all, there were indeed some issues with the steps taken during the previous Saintess election. Under normal circumstances, Miss Delphina should have been the first to enter the Dragon God Sacred Land…”

“Miss Delphina is a recognized genius throughout the Imperial City. And during the period of your return, Your Highness the Saintess, I also personally brought Miss Delphina into the Dragon God Sacred Land. Without exception, Miss Delphina received a response from the Dragon God.”

“Thus, everything that happened back then was an accident. The one who truly should inherit the position of Saintess is Miss Delphina琉璃. This is the will of the Dragon God, and the desire of the people. I hope Your Highness the Saintess will reconsider thoroughly…”

Archbishop Hodmogh’s face always held that seemingly benevolent smile, but looking at his familiar golden eyes, Aurelia felt a deep, inner chill and unfamiliarity.