Free Web NovelChapter 1230: Chapter 45: Knight and Princess
The next day at noon, Su Xiao, whose spirits were fully restored, left Iron Hand Mansion with Bu Bu Wang and A Mu, heading in a certain direction in the Royal Capital.
The purpose of Su Xiao’s trip was to meet a princess, that princess being Elisa Herbert, the name written down by the Old King.
Su Xiao was unsure of what was special about Elisa Herbert, but the Old King wouldn’t choose a princess without reason, so he decided to probe a bit.
According to information provided by the Second Princess, although Elisa Herbert was a descendant of the Old King, she hadn’t participated in this power struggle, partly because she was relatively young and partly because she held no real power.
Although the Second Princess failed in this power struggle, she wasn’t someone who would stay idle. Though she didn’t dare seize power for the time being, she chose to keep a low profile and started secretly developing her black forces. Originally engaging with both Black and White forces, the Second Princess began shifting entirely towards Black.
The Third Prince naturally knew what the Second Princess was doing, but he had no time to deal with it now. Compared to her, he valued royal authority more, or perhaps he had already found a way to deal with her.
Having completed the main task, Su Xiao wouldn’t get involved in the power struggle again. He put all his focus under the throne.
While walking on the streets of the Royal Capital, Su Xiao kept pondering about one thing: why the Old King chose Elisa Herbert.
After about half an hour, Su Xiao arrived at Elisa Herbert’s residence. The house wasn’t particularly luxurious but it was quite large.
The garden in front of the residence was small, filled with meticulously cared-for flowers and grass.
If there was anything different about Elisa Herbert compared to other princes or princesses, it was that at twenty years old, she didn’t have a fief and lived peacefully in the Royal Capital, by her own choice, sanctioned by the Old King.
A very peculiar floral fragrance wafted over. Following the aroma, Su Xiao saw a flower bud resembling a rose but entirely blue.
As a gentle breeze blew by, the blue pollen floated in the air.
"Woof."
Bu Bu Wang barked. ƒree𝑤ebnσvel.com
"Poisonous?"
Su Xiao understood Bu Bu Wang’s meaning. The flowers were poisonous. He stepped up, plucked a petal, and sniffed it. Indeed, it was highly toxic.
A princess who cultivates poisonous flowers at her doorstep hardly seems like a benevolent person.
"This is private land. What business do you have here?"
A male voice came from above. After a sound of clashing armor, a man clad in silver armor leapt down from above the residence.
The man landed silently, but his feet made two deep impressions upon impact. He appeared to be in his thirties, had a little moustache on his chin, and a sword hanging at his waist — not a flashy fine sword, but a knight’s heavy sword, with its weighted pommel suggesting it was at least over a hundred pounds.
Elisa Herbert, the princess, was not found, but instead a guard blocked the way. Su Xiao was not disappointed; rather, he scrutinized this guard.
"I’m here to see Elisa Herbert. Let her come to see me."
Upon seeing this guard, Su Xiao had a vague idea of the Old King’s intention. This guard... was very strong.
"Mr. Iron Hand, Her Royal Highness is currently resting."
The guard slightly bowed to Su Xiao, with nothing but hostility in his eyes, knowing full well Iron Hand’s arrival meant no good.
"Whether she is resting or not is irrelevant. She must come to see me, alive or dead."
Su Xiao wasn’t here to politely invite Elisa Herbert but to borrow her. Don’t misunderstand, he merely wanted to take her under the throne.
"Her Royal Highness... is resting and is currently unavailable to meet guests."
The guard took a deep breath, knowing the consequences of saying such words, but it was his duty to protect Princess Elisa Herbert, to block all malicious things from reaching her, even if it meant sacrificing his life. He was Elisa Herbert’s guardian, her knight, Gos.
Three pairs of eyes gazed at Knight Gos, who in that moment felt malice like never before, nearly tangible malice.
Cold sweat trickled down Gos’s forehead. He wasn’t scared, but worried about one thing: whether he could ensure Elisa Herbert’s safety.
Su Xiao looked with interest at the knight blocking his path. This guy’s aura was strong. While he was confident he could kill him, it wouldn’t be easy.
At this point, Su Xiao became curious about Elisa Herbert. A princess with no power having such a strong holy warrior as her protector made no sense.
Seeing this ’knight,’ Su Xiao seemed to recognize a powerful cannon fodder.
"A truly grand gift."
Su Xiao mumbled, and the knight named Gos furrowed his brows, sensing an ominous premonition.
"Are you intending to defy the King?"
Su Xiao’s words made Gos feel even more uneasy.
"Of course not, but here you cannot represent the King. His Majesty ordered me to protect Princess Elisa with my life."
Gos was somewhat aware of the current state in the Royal Capital. The Old King just abdicated, and the New King had not yet seized power, causing royal authority to start blurring.
If Su Xiao presented the Old King’s token or letter, Gos could use the Old King’s abdication as grounds for refusal. As for the New King’s token or letter, he could use the Old King to suppress Su Xiao.
Su Xiao took out a golden lion pendant and a letter from his pocket.
"Old King or New King, which do you choose?"
The golden lion pendant in Su Xiao’s hand represented the Old King, the letter represented the New King. It was a question with no good answers.
"This..."
Gos’s mouth opened and closed. Ultimately, he was just an enforcer of secret orders, at most daring to exploit loopholes, but never defy royal authority.
Gos’s current thought was: what on earth happened within the Royal Family, and why did Iron Hand hold such power?
The upheaval within the Royal Family was unknown to outsiders. Now the Old King had died, and the New King was swiftly consolidating royal authority. To appease Su Xiao, even sacrificing a sister wouldn’t make the Third Prince blink.
As long as Su Xiao didn’t interfere in military or financial matters, even if he were to impregnate a princess, the Third Prince wouldn’t say a word. Instead, he’d grant Su Xiao a small piece of land and take the opportunity to strip Su Xiao of his Iron Hand position, thereafter giving him a title with no real power.
The Third Prince maintained a policy of minding his own business with Su Xiao. Could a mere holy warrior stop Su Xiao? Don’t be ridiculous. Even if Su Xiao slaughtered his opponent on the spot, it wouldn’t cause a commotion; someone would even come to collect the body.
Su Xiao naturally wouldn’t make a move now because he wanted to know what Elisa Herbert’s personality was like. If she had a soft personality, then this holy warrior was just cannon fodder, a sacrificial pawn clearing the way under the throne, a grand gift from the Old King.
"Sir... inside... please."
Gos worded his invitation hesitantly, not seemingly respectful, yet Su Xiao didn’t mind in the slightest, as he wouldn’t waste his anger on the dead — that would be foolish.
