QTMWSFC Chapter 43.1

They traveled all the way to the palace in silence.

“Sixth Princess, Freya Ramirez, has arrived!”

Lant followed half a step behind Freya as they entered the palace hall.

As far as the eye could see, the hall was magnificent and decorated with extreme luxury. Even the window eaves were crafted from pure gold. Decorative murals adorned the ceiling, adding an artistic touch. The staircase alone had dozens of steps.

Compared to this place, the side hall palace where Freya lived might as well have been heaven and earth apart. Calling it poorly decorated was not an exaggeration.

In the past, the dozens of high steps were always Freya’s biggest headache.

Her body was so weak that even climbing these steps exhausted her. But today, aside from feeling that her dress was a bit tight, she did not feel so tired that she could not breathe. In fact, her steps were lighter than before.

Freya felt secretly surprised and resolved to properly thank Lant. She needed to prepare a thoughtful gift.

Seated in the highest position, the king watched as Lant followed Freya towards him. Various emotions churned inside him. Even his feelings toward Kane suddenly became less favorable.

If Kane had not chosen him, and if Lant had not chosen Freya, then no one would be competing with him for Lant. This genius swordsman would surely have been his!

It was just so close!

The more the king thought about it, the more frustrated he became. He felt that this result was entirely Kane’s and Freya’s fault.

In the hall, the Fifth Princess Shania had already arrived. As someone who always cared the most about appearance and attire, she immediately noticed that the coat Freya was wearing today was no ordinary.

Just two days ago, she looked shabby, and now she was wearing a fine coat. It seemed she had Knight Lant Rezigon to thank for that!

Shania had to admit. She was feeling very envious now.

King Serorida was still in his prime, and the eldest prince, Cyrus, was only twenty-two years old. He was also the only prince so far who had married and had children.

Even so, factions had already begun to form among the princes, and many nobles had also chosen sides.

At the same time, the neighboring country Alterg was eyeing them with predatory intent. The current temporary peace between the two countries was obtained by the marriage of the former eldest princess, the king’s own younger sister. She had wed into the other country to secure a brief peace.

Alterg hung over the Serorida like the Sword of Damocles.

In the original plot, Lant followed the king, while Kane followed Shania. Shania supported the Fifth Prince, whose ambitions were plainly evident. He used both open and dark means. It can be said that he gave Lant a lot of trouble.

It was also because Lant was forced to get involved in the fight over the throne that he had no time for other things. In the end, he failed to notice the signs that the Otherworld Demons had been unsealed in advance, and he even fell gravely wounded and unconscious while protecting the king.

But now, all these schemes and deceptions were nothing compared to the Otherworld Demon’s unsealing four years later, which would bring catastrophe to the entire continent.

It was hard to imagine the two countries cooperating. It was already a blessing that they were not at war.

The most urgent task now was to restore Freya’s health and help her awaken her holy power as soon as possible.

Fortunately, Freya’s health was improving steadily. But what might trigger the awakening of her holy power remained unknown.

At the formal ceremony, the king personally presented each knight with a medal and a new sword. The knights then swore their vows to the person they would serve.

“Chosen knights, you have proven your perseverance and skill in swordsmanship. Now, in the name of God, I bless you to walk with God…”

“I shall remember humility, honor, sacrifice, bravery, compassion, honesty, and justice. I swear upon my life to dedicate everything to you.”

…

Freya took the epaulets offered by an attendant and fastened them onto Lant. Lant then performed the knight’s salute to her.

After the lengthy process, the formal ceremony finally came to an end.

As they left the palace hall, the moon was already high in the sky. The air after the snowfall carried a crisp and clean smell. The weather was clear. When they looked up, the sky was filled with stars.

Freya finally relaxed after being tense throughout the entire ceremony. She loosened her overly tight collar slightly and took a few shallow breaths. “Good. No mistakes.”

Lant gave a slight nod in response. “Mm.”

Freya looked at his always calm face and asked curiously, “Lant? Were you nervous just now?”

Lant shook his head.

Freya said with a hint of envy, “I really admire you. I was very nervous just now.”

“Princess, you did very well,” Lant affirmed her seriously.

Freya could not help but feel happy.

In all her years of growing up, few people had ever praised her. Most of what she heard were insults, calling her a wild seed, a child without a mother. Her identity as a princess was not an honor but a shackle. Whenever she made the slightest mistake or did not perform well enough, she was mocked by her brothers and sisters.

“Thank you for your kind words.” Even if they were just meant to comfort her, Freya still felt happy.

“I meant what I said, Princess.” Lant raised his eyes and looked at her seriously.

Freya stared into his eyes. His gaze was very serious, and his silver-gray pupils were filled with sincerity.

“Lant… how can you be so good to me…” Although two days had already passed, Freya still felt as if she were in a dream. Lant was like a ray of light in her gloomy life, bringing her into a completely different world.

“Because I am your knight,” Lant answered as if it were the most natural thing in the world.

The young man’s usually expressionless face revealed a faint smile, which was a rare display of vitality befitting his age.

Freya stopped dwelling on the matter and gave a bright smile. “That’s right. You really are my knight now. From now on, I’ll be counting on you, Sir Knight!”

“Actually, I should be the one counting on you, my Princess.”

His voice was unhurried, carrying a low, magnetic quality mixed with a youthful clarity. It made Freya blush slightly.

My… Princess…?

For some reason, she felt strange hearing it. Why did it feel so tingly and numbing?

Freya touched her chest, telling herself it was just an illusion. It must have been because she had not interacted much with other members of the opposite sex for so long. She was simply occasionally not used to the closeness.