“Miss Liuli, did you rest well last night? We don’t have much experience hosting foreign guests, so if there’s anything not to your liking, please be sure to tell us.”
“I’m a bit unaccustomed because it’s a new place, but that’s not your problem, Mr. Seth.”
Liuli thought for a moment but decided not to bring up her request. Raising the issue wasn’t difficult in itself; the hard part was explaining it to Seth. She couldn’t very well say she wanted it just so she could sleep with Serveyia, could she?
‘While the request itself is fine, saying it in front of so many people is a bit inappropriate. Besides, I probably won’t stay here long. If it’s only for a short while, a Scroll should be enough, right?’
And, well, if Serveyia really had similar expectations, she would probably find an opportunity to mention it to Seth herself.
“Well, if you’ve rested sufficiently, let’s head out. Although there are no major agenda items today, it will still take some time.”
Hearing Seth’s words, Liuli felt a sense of foreboding. ‘What does he mean by “take some time”? Is he really going to tour the Royal Capital on foot?’
Furthermore, Liuli felt like she hadn’t seen any actual city walls when she arrived by carriage. ‘So, what exactly is the scale of this so-called Royal Capital?’
“Mr. Seth, this might be a bit offensive, but I feel as though the Elf Race doesn’t have very strict city boundaries. Is that right?”
“Yes, the Elf Race is relatively free in this regard. Strictly speaking, the Royal Capital isn’t exactly a city, but rather a large gathering point. Even so, the Elven people have built a fairly prosperous town around it. Once you see it for yourself, Miss Liuli, you will surely understand the kind of effort we have put into maintaining peace.”
That was it. As long as the Elves also valued peace and held a long-standing desire for it in their hearts, then they were her allies.
“Mr. Seth, how do you personally view the Princess of St. Leia and the duties she performs regarding peace?”
While their general goals were the same, the specific details were bound to differ. Instead of guessing what the other was thinking based on their shared familiarity, it was better to be direct. Doing so might even make their future cooperation more effective.
“I’ve heard that the Princess of St. Leia is always chosen by the Academy Heroic Spirits. So, I’m curious: Princess Liuli, what were you thinking when you learned you were about to become a Princess?”
‘What was I thinking? What else could I think?’ To be honest, Liuli had initially thought it was all a scam. After all, who invites a boy to be a Princess? But did Seth know her previous gender? If he did, how would he view her? ‘Before I can get people to believe in my actions, will a Princess who used to be a boy need to explain my gender situation first?’
“To be honest, when I first received the news, I thought it was a lie. After all, the status of a Princess was far too removed from someone like me. I think anyone would instinctively disbelieve it.”
“Haha, true. If someone told me one day that I was going to be some kind of Princess, I’m afraid I’d also think they were joking—especially regarding a change in gender. That would make it even harder, wouldn’t it?”
This reminded Liuli that on the day of her Coronation Ceremony, St. Leia had apparently hosted a livestream. It seemed that anyone paying attention would have seen it. In that case, her true gender wasn’t exactly a secret. Furthermore, she hadn’t just appeared out of nowhere; if someone wanted to investigate, they could surely find traces of her past. Not to mention, as the Princess of St. Leia, she was a celebrity, and the history of celebrities was generally easier to dig up.
“As for duties, I actually think it’s quite natural. Everyone has their own responsibilities. Regarding peace, the vast majority of the Elf Race believes it is indispensable. So, Miss Liuli, at least here, you don’t need to be so tense.”
“Then, Mr. Seth, how do you view me?”
“You?”
“Yes. Principal Kaili told me that I am the first Princess in history to have been male, and I have never held such a high status before, so I am particularly mindful of how others see me. Since I have the chance, I’m curious: Mr. Seth, how do you view this matter?”
“I don’t have much of an opinion on it. It was the choice of the Academy Heroic Spirits. Since they chose Miss Liuli, I believe there must be a profound reason behind it. Therefore, I don’t have many thoughts on the subject. As for what others might think, I couldn’t say. However, I can tell you that the Elven elders generally hold no negative views of you. To be honest, in politics, one is often at the mercy of circumstances. The fact that you did not shy away from your duties or complain about your lot in life is enough for us to respect you.”
Liuli should have known. Even if Mr. Seth had a gentle personality, it couldn’t change his fundamental nature as a politician. And politicians were masters of empty talk and passing the buck. It was far too difficult to get an honest opinion from them.
“Miss Liuli, look. This is the most prosperous market in the Royal Capital. Every morning, many of our people come here to sell all sorts of things—ingredients gathered from the Forest, or perhaps some local specialties. Once a month, other Races also come to sell their goods. I actually like this scenery very much. I feel it has a great sense of life, and to achieve this, peace is indispensable. I wonder if seeing this for yourself, Miss Liuli, will give you a fresh perspective on your duties?”
Duties—or the so-called meaning of peace. Liuli had only ever heard of it in books or through the words of others. As someone who had grown up in a peaceful society, she couldn’t truly imagine the sight of peace being lost. But looking at the scene before her, she realized for the first time just how precious peace was.
The lively atmosphere in front of her wasn’t precious in terms of being rare, since similar scenes would exist wherever there were people. Yet, it wasn’t exactly common either. This kind of scenery was actually quite fragile; it could vanish instantly at the slightest hint of trouble.