Nightfall City was gripped by an unprecedented frenzy. The entire empire was busy preparing for the royal family’s upcoming “friendly visit.”
Upon receiving the orders, the heads of the great clans were so excited they couldn’t sleep.
This was the perfect opportunity to showcase the strength of the Eternal Night Empire to the entire continent!
Grand Duke Lorenzo Giovanni, the Minister of Finance, sat in his office. In front of him lay a list nearly three meters long.
“One hundred thousand gold coins, one million silver coins.” He marked the list with a quill pen.
“That’s just the appetizer.”
“We still need to prepare rare gems, ancient artifacts, magical items…”
“Grand Duke, isn’t this too much?” his adjutant asked cautiously.
Lorenzo suddenly looked up.
His eyes burned with a fanatical fire. “Too much?” He stood and paced excitedly around the room. “I want to drown their human perceptions in a flood of wealth!”
“Let them know what true riches mean!”
“Every piece of the little princess’s jewelry must be worth more than their entire treasury!”
“Every single button should make their nobles feel ashamed!”
Lorenzo grew more and more enthusiastic. He even started circling the office.
“I want those humans to understand.”
“The pocket change we casually pull out could buy half their kingdoms!”
Meanwhile, Grand Duke Grak Bruch, Minister of Military Affairs, was selecting guards on the training ground.
Three thousand elite soldiers stood in perfect formation. Each one was a pure Meteor-class powerhouse.
“Listen up!” Grak’s voice echoed across the training field.
“You are about to escort Her Majesty the Queen and the two princesses into human territory!” “This is no ordinary mission!” “This is our chance to demonstrate the empire’s dignity to the world!”
The soldiers answered in unison, their voices shaking the ground.
Grak raised his warhammer and shouted: “Anyone who dares disrespect the royal family—kill on sight!” “Let those humans taste the wrath of the Eternal Night Empire!”
On the other side of the palace, Avira was selecting the accompanying personnel.
“Corvus, you lead the team.” She pointed at the head of the Asamai Clan.
A lean man with a cold, sinister gaze.
“At your command, Your Highness.” Corvus bowed respectfully.
“Remember, this unit is called the ‘Sylvia Royal Guard.’” A dangerous light flickered in Avira’s eyes.
“Anyone who dares cast a disrespectful look at my sister…” She licked her lips.
“Rip out their eyeballs.”
“Understood.”
“Also, prepare some small gifts.” Avira’s smile turned even more dangerous.
“If anyone fails to behave, we’ll send them off in style.”
Corvus understood perfectly.
In their dictionary, “small gifts” usually meant deadly hidden weapons and poisons.
The whole Nightfall City was bustling with activity.
At the same time, Sylvia faced the greatest crisis of her life. Getting dressed.
“Your Highness, how do you feel about this one?”
The head lady-in-waiting carefully held up a dazzlingly ornate gown.
The dress was studded with countless jewels, sparkling painfully under the candlelight.
Sylvia glanced at it and wanted to run away. “Too bright.” She weakly shook her head.
“I want something simpler.” The head lady’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“You want simple?”
“Yes, the simpler the better.” Sylvia thought she had finally found a lifeline.
“Preferably black, something unobtrusive.”
The lady trembled with excitement.
“I understand!”
“You seek a supreme nobility that returns to purity!”
“A transcendence over worldly luxury!”
Sylvia’s head buzzed. Why was the interpretation going sideways again?
“No, no, no, I just want something ordinary…”
“Your Highness is too modest!”
The lady-in-waiting was fully immersed in her own understanding.
“Only those at the pinnacle of power pursue such profound simplicity!”
“It’s a realm! An attitude!”
“I’ll arrange the finest simplicity immediately!”
With that, she rushed out excitedly.
Sylvia stood dumbfounded. She felt things were heading toward an even scarier direction.
***
Half an hour later, the empire’s chief tailor hurried in.
“Your Highness, I heard you want a simple black gown?”
The old tailor’s eyes burned with professional zeal. “This is the ultimate challenge!” “To make it look simple, yet embody supreme dignity!”
“So fascinating!” Sylvia tried to stop him. “It really doesn’t need to be so complicated…”
“No! It must be complicated to the extreme!” The old tailor waved his hands excitedly.
“I’ll use Void Silk! The legendary material that absorbs all light!” “Looks simple, but worth a fortune!”
“Every thread contains the secrets of spatial law!” “This alone suits your supreme status!”
Sylvia was desperate. She only wanted an ordinary black robe. Why make it so complicated?
“Um… could it be made from regular fabric?” Her last attempt.
“Regular fabric?” The tailor’s eyes widened, utterly shocked.
“Your Highness, you’re insulting my professional integrity!”
“I absolutely refuse to let you wear ordinary cloth!”
“This is about the face of the entire empire!” Sylvia surrendered completely.
She lay on the bed, staring at the ceiling, utterly despondent.
Outside, the sounds of busy preparation echoed. The maids were readying accessories, jewelry, shoes. Every single item was so complex it made her want to cry.
“The little princess’s boots must use scales from the Ancient Black Dragon!”
“The headdress must be inlaid with pure Moonstones!”
“The gloves require the fur of the Unicorn King!”
Sylvia grew more hopeless by the minute. She just wanted to be invisible, but instead was becoming a walking treasure exhibition.
Three days later, the “simple” black gown was finished. The moment Sylvia put it on, the room darkened.
The gown was indeed black, but the darkness was profound. Though it looked plain,that bottomless blackness attracted more attention than any ornate decoration.
“Perfect! It’s a masterpiece!” The head lady wept with excitement.
“Your Highness, your attire defines what true nobility means!”
“Simplicity exudes supreme dignity!”
“Minimalism contains the highest divinity!”
Sylvia looked at herself in the mirror and wanted to cry. She was now ten times more conspicuous than when wearing a lavish dress.
This was not simple at all—she might as well have “I’m special” written across her face.
“Her Majesty the Queen and the Crown Princess will inspect you soon.”
The head lady continued excitedly. Sylvia felt a strong sense of foreboding rise.
Soon, the door was pushed open. Ophelia and Avira entered.
Seeing Sylvia’s outfit, their eyes lit up. “Excellent.”
Ophelia nodded approvingly. “This dress perfectly blocks outside intrusion.”
“Any prophecy or divination magic will be absorbed.”
“You will feel very safe.”
Avira jumped with excitement.
“Sis, you look amazing!”
“Absolutely worthy of the supreme status of the Bloodline Royalty!”
“When those humans see you, they’ll be so shocked they’ll kneel and beg for mercy!”
Sylvia’s mind screamed. I don’t want to shock anyone! I just want to quietly be invisible! Why did wanting simple make me even more eye-catching? What kind of divine logic is this?
“In half a month, we depart.” Ophelia continued.
“Rest well these days and adjust your mindset.”
“Then, we’ll show those humans what true noble style is.” Avira nodded furiously beside her. “Yes, yes! Let them know just how amazing my sister is!”
“Better if they faint on the spot!”
Sylvia closed her eyes in despair. She could already imagine the disaster half a month from now.
Wearing this “low-key” outfit, blinding everyone before the humans. Then being worshipped as some terrifying existence. My salty, lazy life is completely over…
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Very… “simple” maybe?