The Queen’s Departure

The palace was a hive of activity in the early morning. Figures bustled through its corridors, each moving with a hurried urgency, as if deeply preoccupied.

Within one of the palace rooms, Lisa Kael stood clad in light purple soft armor. Her crimson hair cascaded freely, and a longsword hung at her waist, while her gem-red eyes gleamed with a sharp, resolute light.

Beside her, Jiu Hui remained in her usual maid’s uniform. However, she had changed her footwear, now sporting a pair of black flats—standard maid shoes, in essence.

Listening to the faint clamor beyond the door, Lisa Kael’s brow furrowed almost imperceptibly. “I’ll go take a look outside first,” she declared.

With that, she pushed the door open and stepped out.

Jiu Hui watched Lisa Kael depart, then chuckled softly, choosing not to follow.

She was well aware of the commotion outside. The instigator of the event had even extended an invitation, but Jiu Hui had declined, citing her duty as Her Majesty the Queen’s personal attendant, unable to leave Her Majesty’s side for extended periods.

Moving to the window, Jiu Hui pushed it open. A gentle breeze stirred the strands of hair on her forehead, softly caressing her smooth skin.

It was late summer, and a subtle coolness had begun to seep into the air, dispelling the oppressive heat that had long enveloped the city. Jiu Hui adored this kind of weather—neither too hot nor too cold.

The mild warmth brought her immense comfort, and coupled with the tender touch of the breeze against her skin, she had always held a special fondness for such days. Consequently, Jiu Hui preferred spring and autumn over the extremes of summer and winter.

She wondered when she would return, and if she would be fortunate enough to witness the palace in autumn.

Beyond its myriad exquisite structures, the palace grounds boasted a variety of unusual trees. Since her arrival, Jiu Hui had eagerly anticipated seeing the palace cloaked in a cascade of red and yellow autumn leaves.

Yet, to her surprise, she was to depart the palace by late summer, with no certainty of her return by autumn.

She truly hoped for the chance to behold the autumnal palace.

With a soft sigh, Jiu Hui pulled herself from her thoughts. She turned her attention instead to appreciating the palace itself, a place she had inhabited for a considerable time but had never truly observed.

The palace bore a striking resemblance to the European-style royal residences Jiu Hui had known in her previous world. Lisa Kael, Jiu Hui, Xiao Lü, Xiao Lan, Aivy, and several other maids resided in the residential buildings behind the main palace hall.

The other guards, meanwhile, were housed in a separate quarter.

Lisa Kael and Jiu Hui’s rooms were situated on the uppermost floor of the residential wing. From the window, one could perfectly gaze upon the surrounding flowerbeds, various trees, and numerous other structures.

As the most crucial edifice of the Kael Kingdom, the palace was, naturally, constructed with exceptional artistry and grandeur. Both its architecture and its ornamentation were breathtakingly beautiful.

The palace, adorned in gold with white embellishments, exuded an air of profound nobility. Exquisite carvings further enhanced its magnificent splendor, while the meticulously manicured flowers and trees infused the grounds with a vibrant sense of life.

Jiu Hui stood at the window, observing the palace bathed in the morning light. A comfortable smile involuntarily graced her lips.

A soft creak echoed.

The door opened, and Lisa Kael stepped in, her face etched with annoyance and vexation.

Seeing Lisa Kael in such a state, Jiu Hui couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh. When Lisa Kael had left, Jiu Hui had wondered what her reaction would be upon learning of the commotion, but she had never anticipated this particular expression.

Upon seeing Jiu Hui’s amusement, Lisa Kael immediately pounced on her. With a fierce expression, she reached out and pinched Jiu Hui’s cheek.

“You’re still laughing? Tell me, did you know about this all along?”

“Mph! Mmph! Mmph!”

Jiu Hui tried to speak, but only these muffled sounds escaped her lips.

Seeing this, Lisa Kael released Jiu Hui’s face. Once freed from the ‘demonic grip’, Jiu Hui clutched her cheek, glaring at Lisa Kael with an aggrieved expression.

“Don’t pull my face!”

“Hmph! You have the nerve to complain! If you knew about this, why didn’t you tell me? This is quite troublesome.”

Lisa Kael said, looking at Jiu Hui with a hint of reproach.

Hearing this, Jiu Hui gazed at Lisa Kael with a puzzled expression. “Troublesome? Why? Isn’t it wonderful?”

“Wonderful? How?” Lisa Kael sighed softly, her gaze drifting to the window. “This feeling of leaving under the gaze and fervent hopes of so many people is incredibly heavy.”

She added, “Especially when those hopes are so difficult to fulfill. It’s truly crushing, almost suffocating.”

Jiu Hui observed Lisa Kael’s face, etched with gravity and worry. Smiling gently, she stepped forward, smoothing away Lisa Kael’s furrowed brow as she spoke.

“There’s no helping it,” she said. “You are their Queen, after all. Though the throne is majestic and splendid, it is also unyielding. Though the crown is exquisite and noble, it is also heavy.”

“This is the responsibility you must bear as a monarch. Of course, if you find it too burdensome, I can help you. I am your personal attendant, after all.”

As she spoke, Jiu Hui offered Lisa Kael a remarkably bright smile.

Lisa Kael looked at Jiu Hui, then suddenly broke into a radiant smile, one imbued with a touch of pride. She turned and began walking towards the door.

“Don’t underestimate me,” she declared. “I am Lisa Kael, the Queen of the Kael Kingdom!”

Jiu Hui watched Lisa Kael’s retreating back, chuckled softly, and then followed close behind her.

****

At the grand main entrance of the palace, Lisa Kael pushed open the massive doors and stepped out. Half a step behind her, to one side, followed Jiu Hui, and then Xiao Lü, Xiao Lan, and Aivy.

The moment the doors swung open, a thunderous roar of exhilaration erupted. It was the collective shout of almost every citizen in the royal city!

As Lisa Kael and Jiu Hui emerged, their eyes met a dense throng of citizens lining both sides of the path. Upon seeing Lisa Kael, each person’s face lit up with fervent excitement, and their mouths unleashed enthusiastic cheers.

“Her Majesty the Queen!”

“Her Majesty the Queen!”

Jiu Hui stood beside Lisa Kael, gazing at the scene. She felt a surge of both excitement and awe.

Lisa Kael’s prestige was truly immense!

She wondered what expression Lisa Kael wore.

Jiu Hui instinctively glanced at Lisa Kael’s face ahead of her, but found it utterly devoid of emotion. Lisa Kael remained impassive despite the fervent shouts of her people.

Before long, Lisa Kael and Jiu Hui, under the watchful eyes of the crowd, made their way through the lanes of people. They advanced towards the soldiers clad in armor and mounted on warhorses that lined both sides.

Several warhorses stood waiting there, the foremost being Lisa Kael’s white steed, which Jiu Hui had seen before.

Gazing at the precisely matched warhorses, Jiu Hui’s heart suddenly skipped a beat.

‘It seems I don’t know how to ride a horse!’

Lisa Kael approached her horse, gently stroked its coat, and then deftly swung herself into the saddle. Next, to Jiu Hui’s slight astonishment, she extended a hand towards her.

Looking into Jiu Hui’s eyes, Lisa Kael displayed her first expression since stepping out of the palace gates: a gentle smile.

“Come on up,” she invited. “You don’t know how to ride a horse, do you?”

Seeing the smile on Lisa Kael’s face, Jiu Hui’s heart gave a sudden leap, a tremor passing through her. Her eyes felt a little moist.

With a slight smile, Jiu Hui reached out and took Lisa Kael’s hand. This time, Lisa Kael didn’t pull Jiu Hui onto the horse with the same force as before; her movements were much gentler.

Jiu Hui felt her body lighten, and before she fully registered it, she was already sitting securely on the horse’s back.

Behind them, Xiao Lü, Xiao Lan, and Aivy had also mounted their horses.

At that moment, Lisa Kael turned her horse to face the citizens, her expression utterly solemn. Gazing at the assembled crowd, she suddenly drew the longsword from her waist, a sharp glint flashing in her eyes.

Then, she let out a mighty roar.

“For the glory of the Human Race!”

The instant Lisa Kael’s words ended, a deafening, explosive roar erupted. Both citizens and soldiers instantly burst into a feverish fervor.

“For the glory of the Human Race!”

Amidst the sky-shattering roars of the multitude, Lisa Kael galloped forth on her warhorse. Xiao Lü, Xiao Lan, and Aivy followed closely behind, and then numerous warriors surged out, astride their warhorses.

They swept through the straight, wide streets, ultimately leaping through the city gates and departing the royal city!

Behind them, the earth-shaking clamor reverberated, lingering long and unabated.