The Grand Entrance and a Glimpse of Genius

“Look, His Majesty and the others have appeared.”

A clamor erupted as all the Rolanians standing in the square craned their necks, gazing towards the platform.

Well-equipped knights formed two orderly rows. Between them, their smiling Majesty emerged.

He was clad in Imperial robes, a golden crown adorning his head, and his azure eyes sparkled with mirth.

A wise ruler—such was the immediate impression everyone had upon seeing their sovereign.

His wife, the Queen, walked beside him, her arm linked through his. She too was a source of immense pride for the people of Roland.

The Emperor and Queen had shared nearly thirty years together, a period entirely free of rumors or scandal. Never once had the Emperor even glanced at another woman.

A good man, a good wife—this was the common appraisal of Roland’s monarchy. After all, the royal families of other nations were truly a sight to behold… for all the wrong reasons. Incestuous relations between siblings, chaotic private lives—such scandals were all too commonplace elsewhere.

“Is that truly our Majesty?” Mi Yin gazed at the man exuding the aura of a benevolent ruler. A surge of pride swelled in her heart. It was thanks to a sovereign like him that Roland had grown so powerful.

The Emperor and Queen settled onto their thrones in the center of the high platform. Yet, everyone knew there were still more members of the royal family to appear. Though the Eldest Princess and the First Prince could not return for this year’s Blossom Festival, two other princesses were still present. Moreover, it was rumored that the enigmatic Little Princess would also make an appearance.

Once the Emperor and Queen were seated, a golden-haired maiden and a silver-haired maiden ascended the high platform together.

“That’s Princess Elena, and… the Saintess of the Church?”

Rumors of a close friendship between Princess Elena and the Church’s Saintess seemed to be true.

At seventeen, Princess Elena was already a five-star knight, a power level that placed her at the pinnacle of her generation. Despite such formidable talent, she remained humble—truly befitting a princess. What a pity, though, that Princess Elena did not cultivate magic; otherwise, Mi Yin might have had the chance to become her junior.

As for the Saintess…

Who is that? Unfamiliar.

Ruthlessly ignoring the large-chested Saintess, Mi Yin shifted her gaze to the base of the high platform. Was that mysterious Princess about to appear?

How exciting.

Her wish was swiftly granted, as a small, golden figure materialized there.

Truly… so adorable. Mi Yin, who had specifically enhanced her vision with magic, was utterly captivated. This little golden-haired girl was simply too cute.

Her faintly flushed cheeks, her smooth golden hair, and her delicate features, like those of a doll… Oh my, how could such an adorable child exist in this world?

Huh?

Why isn’t this princess walking up?

Is something wrong?

Wait…

A small girl appeared beside the Princess.

Oh my, this one is adorable, too. With long white hair like snowflakes, bright red eyes, and dressed in a black robe, Mi Yin found herself utterly speechless to describe the girl’s beauty. Even the Princess beside her seemed overshadowed by her ethereal presence.

Eh? She seems to be looking my way.

The silver-haired girl turned her head, offering Mi Yin a warm smile. Instantly, Mi Yin felt a sense of profound healing.

Hold on… Mi Yin detected a hint of something amiss. How did that girl spot me looking at her?

The distance between them was at least a thousand meters, and Mi Yin was hidden within the crowd. How could the girl have possibly noticed?

“Jing Shui…” Immediately, she noticed the blue lines on the girl’s robe. Those lines flowed slowly, like living things. A word surfaced in Mi Yin’s mind.

A Sage… She’s actually a Sage! Mi Yin clapped a hand over her mouth. Her teacher had told her that once a mage became a Sage, the Mage Association would craft a Sage’s Robe for them. The robe, imbued with magic, would naturally convey the Sage’s honorific to any mage who saw it.

Thus, this girl was the Sage known as “Jing Shui.”

Could it be that this girl is actually an ancient monster?

Mi Yin’s teacher had mentioned that after breaking through to the Seven-Star rank and becoming a Sage, a mage’s physical development would gradually cease. Without other methods, the Sage’s appearance would remain forever as it was at the moment of their breakthrough.

This implied that this Sage had achieved her breakthrough at a very young age, certainly no older than fifteen.

How terrifying… Is this what true genius looks like?

****

“Eh? Ziyao, why are you smiling?”

Holding up her skirt, Aiya took her first step. Ziyao followed closely, gently supporting Aiya with magic.

“I saw an interesting child,” Ziyao replied, turning her head. The girl exuded an aura that felt remarkably familiar to her.

Since the girl was looking at her, a returning smile seemed appropriate.

“But, I didn’t notice anything?”

“Aiya, your strength and mine are worlds apart. When someone’s gaze focuses on me, I become aware,” Ziyao explained with a soft chuckle. “If they harbor ill intent, I can know in advance.”

“Did the person looking over just now have ill intent?”

“Of course not, which is precisely why I found her interesting. A gaze without malice that still captures my attention—isn’t that intriguing?”

However, the interesting girl could wait for now; they had more important matters to attend to.

Ascending the high platform, Ziyao’s eyes immediately found her designated seat. It was right beside Aiya.

The seating arrangement on the high platform this time, from left to right, was Raphael, Elena, the Emperor, the Queen, Aiya, and Ziyao.

The maid did not openly follow, as her status was not deemed sufficient. After all, the people seated on the platform now were all figures of great importance.

Raphael, the Saintess of the Church, despite the Church’s current decline in favor, was still a representative of the gods.

As a Saintess, her status was equivalent to that of a nation’s heir.

And Ziyao, she was a Sage. There were only seven known Sages on the continent, and as the eighth, she certainly qualified for a seat.

Of course, the Emperor and Queen harbored another intention.

“What do you think of Ziyao?” The Queen whispered, leaning close to the Emperor’s ear.

The Emperor nodded slightly, indicating his approval. He, unlike the Queen, could not soften his voice to a degree imperceptible to a Sage.

“Then, after this concludes, how about inviting her to the palace for lunch?”

“Good,” the Emperor uttered a single word.

His two daughters… their taste was truly… excellent.

His two precious cabbages had been “snatched” by another cabbage. The Emperor’s mood was rather complex at the moment.