Chapter 488: Ceremony and the Young Girl
The thick silk curtains in front of the tall windows were deliberately drawn. Compared to the enthusiastic and celebratory mood of students from all levels of Aris Academy elsewhere, the corner where the young girl sat was exceptionally cold and clear.
Soft crystal lamplight poured down like a thin layer of moonlight, adorning her flawless skin that surpassed frosted snow. She tilted her head slightly, and the smooth, lustrous surface of the glass and crystal wall tiles reflected her image. She was a young girl with exquisite beauty.
Her golden hair, brighter than sunlight, was simply tied with a silver-white hairpin. A few soft strands of hair touched her slender waist, which was as thin as a grasp. Thick black stockings covered her long, slender legs.
Even though it was just a pleated skirt of the academy uniform, under her adornment, it appeared like a magnificent and perfect evening gown.
As if seeing the girl in the mirror, she gently raised her cheek. A pair of gorgeously colored golden eyes opened and gazed slightly. In the soft lamplight, amidst the gentleness, a hint of sadness emerged.
“Sad, unhappy… this shouldn’t be.”
Gently pursing her cherry lips, Verafia gave a self-deprecating smile. She picked up the chilled drink from the table with her slender hand and brought it to her lips, taking a strong sip. The cold sensation caused Verafia to frown slightly, but she quickly relaxed her brow.
It had been over two months since arriving in Lichen. The autumn, which still held the lingering fire of summer, had gradually entered deep autumn, barely a stone’s throw away from the moon of winter where snow would fall like frost.
However, the gradually chilling air naturally could not dampen the fiery passion of the kingdom’s citizens.
— Especially today, commemorating the victory of the Demon Race War a hundred years ago, it was more grand than ever before. Even the most ordinary commoners, and even hired workers, were all immersed in a passionate and fervent atmosphere.
In addition to the solemn commemoration of that great war a hundred years ago, many had vaguely heard that at this grand feast, in front of envoys from the Empire, the Church, and even Elves and Dwarves, the King would officially announce the next Hero, who was also his heir!
Especially, this young man named Ig, who, upon first picking up the Sacred Sword, defeated the revived Starry Sky Evil God, his name had become increasingly renowned in these days.
Moreover, the seemingly fairy-tale romance rumored between the “Candidate Hero” and the “White Iris Princess” Misaela was sincerely admired and blessed by the people.
“Hmph, is it just a commemoration of the victory in the Demon Race War?”
Verafia snorted softly, her expression looking very displeased.
Although there was no basis for it, Verafia naturally believed that there was a conspiracy in Lancaster’s choice of Ig as the heir to the Hero.
If it weren’t for the Sacred Sword, and Misaela…
The girl suddenly bit her lip forcefully, a clear hint of annoyance appearing between her slightly furrowed brows.
Verafia did not actually dislike Misaela, the daughter of Filir.
Sometimes, Verafia tried to think from another perspective.
If she were still Lothel back then, or standing in Ig’s position, facing a girl like Misaela, who was gentle and elegant, yet not without strength, perhaps even she herself would find it difficult to refuse.
Although she thought so in her heart… Verafia knew clearly that she could not be as open-minded as she wished.
Even though she had tolerated the girl’s presence on the surface these past few months, every time she saw Misaela and Ig staying intimately together, Verafia couldn’t help but feel filled with anger.
“An annoyed mood…”
Verafia said softly, her golden eyes cast down to her wrist, where a faint, charming rosy glow was subtly revealed beneath the cool, white skin, like a blooming rose.
Like a beautiful flame. She gently shook her head.
It was unclear if it was due to the accelerated integration of divine power towards fire, but Herafir’s influence on her was gradually becoming apparent. In these days, Verafia’s mood had also become increasingly agitated.
More than once, Verafia had been impatiently wanting to completely ignite a raging fire and burn down the entire Lichen.
Therefore, to avoid her own annoyance, she did not accompany Ig to the Victory Day commemoration ceremony, but hid alone in the tavern in Aris Academy that provided drinks and fruit tea, trying to calm herself down.
However…
Suddenly, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted. Verafia’s delicate eyebrows knitted tightly again. Even without looking, she knew it was the students gathered at Aris Academy cheering once again for the Victory Day commemoration ceremony.
Magic Crystal Projection—to cast such a spell is equivalent to taking a cross-section of the entire space and projecting it onto a magic crystal screen. It not only requires extremely high magical attainment but also precious instruments for preparation.
However, even if their own magical attainments were far from sufficient, as the highest-level academy in the entire kingdom, quite a few academy teachers would naturally be willing to share the ceremony of the King’s majesty with these future pillars of the kingdom.
Verafia was unwilling. But the light from the magic crystal screen still touched her eyes.
Among the first embraces of the powerful knights and mage corps clad in white robes, the blue-bottomed royal banner with the iris pattern fluttered high. As the King stepped forward, raising the radiant Sacred Sword high, it stirred waves of Aura of Light like the sea.
Even the Cardinal envoy, the Pope of the Holy See, holding the Holy Staff of the God Of Light, was overshadowed.
“Long live the King!”
“Long live the Sacred Sword!”
The entire ceremony had entered its climax. The people in the tavern, separated by the magic crystal screen, also felt the influence of the atmosphere and cheered at the top of their lungs.
“Lancaster, are you preparing to use the Sacred Sword as your personal heirloom?”
Verafia, out of sync with the general atmosphere, snorted softly with a displeased expression. She suddenly frowned slightly.
According to all known information, without a doubt, Lancaster was preparing to pass the Sacred Sword to Ig.
This should have been helpful for Verafia’s plan to obtain the Sacred Sword through Ig… but for some reason, the girl had an uneasy feeling.
It was as if she didn’t want Ig to accept it.
Just then, another cheer erupted from the academy students in the tavern.
“His Majesty the King is truly preparing to hand over the Sacred Sword to Ig! By the Holy Lord, the future Hero even taught me Sword Technique! This is an honor that even the grandfather of His Majesty’s personal guards never had!”
But, soon, everyone’s attention was drawn to the beautiful silver-haired maiden accompanying Ig.
“Look… isn’t that Princess Misaela beside Ig?”
“And, their relationship seems so intimate… Could the rumors that Ig and the Princess are lovers actually be true?”
“Of course, I’ve seen Princess Misaela with Ig several times. Moreover, Miss Milisa from the Champagne Grand Duke’s family secretly told me that Ig and the Princess’s relationship is more than just lovers~”
Amidst a sigh of amazement and envy, Verafia opened her eyelashes, suddenly smiled softly, and shifted her gaze.
In the screen, pure, snow-white petals were rendered in the soft golden radiance. The black-haired young man in a white dress adorned with gold thread raised the radiant Sacred Sword high with his right hand. Amidst everyone’s cheers, his other hand gently held the slender, delicate white hand of the exquisite young girl.
—
Well, the academy part in the middle… it’s probably about Veer being jealous and colluding with dark forces while preparing her own plan.
I feel like everyone won’t like it very much, and it probably can’t be finished without twenty chapters, so I’ll just skip it.
