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Valerian was shocked, but he calmed down quickly too. He waved his hands saying, ‘Thank you. For telling me this. Can you tell me your name, My lady?’

The girl smiled and said, “You are welcome. How did you know that I am a lady?”

“Your attire, your mannerism, and also, the convoy of magic beasts, especially, Blizzard Bucks.”, said the young boy.

Rectus and the princess were surprised that he was able to deduce this much by only her looks. The latter said, “I am Azula Verus, the youngest princess of the Lumen Empire.”

Valerian had read of the Lumen Empire, he bowed slightly, and with his signs he said, ‘Greetings, Your Highness.’

Azula smiled and returned the bow. Rectus asked, “Valerian, can you take me to see my sister?”

.....

Valerian suddenly turned stiff and then he nodded. The pain in his eyes was visible to the two people in front. Navigating through the woods, the convoy arrived at the stream. Valerian walked near the rock mound and knelt there.

Azula whispered something to a guard and the man quickly, with the help of his fellow officers, cleared Gloria’s husk on the side. On the way, Valerian had told them about the person responsible for all this, and how he dealt with her.

Rectus walked up close, with every step his body shivered and the calmness on his face withered. He knelt down beside Valerian. One young, and one old, two men paid respects to Diligentia’s final resting place and then they stood up.

Valerian came to Mathiyus and made a few growling sounds. Then he bowed deeply to the beast. Mathiyus returned his bow and left the place to go back into the woods. Rectus was done with paying respect to his sister. He stood up and said, “Valerian, I want to ask you, why do you have my sister’s Anima Signum rosary?”

The boy waved his hands to him, telling at it was Diligentia’s last words to him. She wanted him to find Rectus. The Mage nodded and turning to Azula, he asked, “Your highness, would it be okay if we bring him along?”

Valerian was shocked and shook his head, he weaved his signs and said, ‘Sir, I am grateful but I cannot come with you.’

Rectus asked, “Why do you say so? Where will you go? Do you have any idea what is this world like?”, his tone was very serious and it would be more correct to say that he was about to explode.

Azula waved her hand and asked, “Valerian, can you tell me why you do not want to come with us?”

Valerian nodded and said, ‘Mother Diligentia told me to go to the city library, where I can meet the librarian and take up the job she had arranged for me. I want to learn and get stronger, the library is the perfect place to learn more.’

Azula nodded with a smile and said, “Since that is the case, you can go to the library, however, I have another option for you. May I?”

Rectus was surprised when he heard the first half, but the second half got him. Valerian thought it will not be any different after hearing what she said, at the least, he will not be offending and acting rudely to the princess. He nodded and the lady continued, “If you come with us, you can study all you want in our palace’s royal library. The content is more enriching than the public library.”

Valerian asked with his hands, ‘Are you serious?’

Azula nodded and said, “It would be a lie to say that I do not have any motives here. You are blessed by Magus, just like me. You have great potential as well, however, I intend to nurture you and use your skills in return for proper and fair compensation. The outside world will kill you for your secrets.”

Valerian thought about it and asked, ‘I cannot stay with you for free, I will never owe anyone anything. If you can arrange me a job, then I will be grateful to you.’

Rectus chuckled and said, “Surely a treasure.”

Azula chuckled and said, “Sure, why not? Let us discuss this when we have reached the destination.”

...

At the noon, the convoy of dozen of armored guards and a gilded carriage approached the gates of a city. The guard at the city gate wanted to question but the captain said in a loud voice, “Acies City welcomes, Her Highness Azula.”

The guard captain had been waiting for the people to arrive since the morning, usually, he would be standing at the top of the city wall, but since he was told about the arrival of the princess, he had come down to show his goodwill.

The guard captain of the convoy said, “Open the door, Her Highness is tired, she needs to rest.”

The other party hurriedly nodded and said, “Open the gate.”

The soldiers reacted quickly and they opened the gate of the city to let the convoy enter. In front of the convoy, a soldier was riding a horse, holding the flag of the empire. There were a lot of people on the side of the roads.

It was not like they had come over to welcome the princess. The news of her arrival was not channeled for safety reasons and the purpose of this visit was kept a secret from even the city administrator.

Valerian gazed out of the carriage through the window and weaving signs he asked, ‘What are you here for, Sir Rectus?’

Rectus replied, “A trial of her highness.”

Valerian raised his head to cast a gaze at the lady who was sitting with her eyes closed. He again waved his hand and asked, ‘The trial for the throne?’

Rectus smiled and shook his head and said, “The trial of freedom.”

Valerian tilted his head and the princess spoke up at this time, “The women of the royal families have a terrible fate. They can enjoy luxury and vanity but their free will is taken away from them. To seek a better alliance for the future generation, they can be traded in the name of marital alliance.

The Verus Royal Family has a unique rule. It was established when my great-great-grandmother took the throne. She bested all the men and showed them that women were not weak. She decided to let the people have a chance at their freedom. Do you think everyone can have freedom without paying a price?”

Valerian shook his head and said, ‘There is no such thing as freedom. You need to pay for every privilege you can get. The strong have responsibilities, the weak have limitations.’

Rectus nodded and Azula asked, “Then what is the point behind my trial?”

Now that Valerian had spoken up, she wanted to test his intellect. The boy did not shrug he replied, ‘With the passing of this trial you will have the right to choose what responsibilities you want to bear. This will be your freedom.’

The two people were surprised, they did not think he will put it forward like this. Azula nodded and said, “Valerian, you wanted a job, right? How about you be an attendant beside me?”

Rectus asked, “Why the attendant? Do you not have Priscilla?”

Azula smiled and said, “Priscilla has been with me since childhood, and she has been sent here ahead of time, but this time her purpose is not to attend to me but to be on the lookout. You are aware of her skills are you not? Also, it just so happens that Valerian is young, and can learn a lot beside me. This way he will have a perfect method to access the library.”

Valerian sighed like a grown-up and then he moved his hands, ‘Your Highness, you trick me. You are obviously tempting me into accepting this task. You are cunning.’

The two elders chuckled and Rectus asked, “So, do you agree? I will teach you magic when I have time. Okay?”

Valerian nodded and things were set. The boy cursed boy now had a new identity, the attendant to the princess of the Lumen Empire. Just when Azula was telling Valerian about her purpose here, Quies, the coachman said, “Your Highness, we have arrived.”

Valerian was the first to stand up and go out of the carriage. The boy stood at a side holding the door and bowed his head. Rectus mumbled, “He picked up quickly.”

Azula smiled and then with a calm face, she stepped out of the carriage. The ice-blue gown, with her azure-colored her, everything about her had become a statement of elegance and pride at this moment.

Valerian watched her and thought if he could ever be like this. Just when he was lost in thoughts, he heard someone say, “Your Highness, welcome to the humble abode. Hahaha...”

The person was approaching Azula, who had just come out of the carriage with a cherry smile and open arms, yet his eyes were wrong. Valerian gave up on holding the door and came to stand in front of Azula. His cold gaze, made the man freeze in his steps. The two gazes clashed and the man said, “How did a trash like you get in this place?”