Only God

The four-day hunt soon came to an end, and it was clear that the envoys from Ausenco were not satisfied with the results of the tournament.

At many feasts, the earl who came to receive the princess mentioned more than once in front of others that the results of the competition were unfair, that the warriors of Ausenco did not receive the rewards they deserved, and repeatedly insinuated that the princess should allow the knights led by Buzi to swear allegiance.

However, most of the earl's requests were ignored or dismissed.

This royal relative named Karassen was very dissatisfied but could do nothing about it. He could only write everything into a letter and report back to His Majesty, accusing the people of Danschel of hypocrisy and injustice.

Although Bright was worried about this and tried to persuade Arsia to allow that group of Ausenco knights to pledge their loyalty, he was met with a clear opposition from the princess.

"Since I have no say in my marriage, am I supposed to be a servant in this matter too?"

Arsia replied indifferently.

This left Bright somewhat at a loss for words. The loyalty of a group of knights, no matter how greatly contested, ultimately did not affect relations between the two countries. Compared to diplomatic matters, this seemed more like a personal issue. As a servant of the emperor, how could he force the emperor's daughter to meddle in her personal affairs? This would be an overstep.

Therefore, Earl Karassen's request for the knighting ceremony came to nothing. In fact, even if the princess had allowed those Ausenco knights to swear loyalty, the people of Danschel in the convoy would not have recognized it. In their eyes, the Night Watchman who protected the princess was the true knight.

"The caravan is departing tomorrow. Any thoughts?"

Arsia summoned Eden to her tent with a bell, and asked this while writing something with a feather pen.

"Are we going to meet the army of the Ausenco King in the next town?"

Eden asked.

Arsia gave a slight nod,

"By that time, the barbarian king will personally receive us, while his heir will greet the empire's caravan in the Royal City.

God, although I despise this barbarian kingdom, the king himself is not a bad man. I've met him when I was younger. He was polite, amiable, quite the Danschel noble. I don't dislike this uncle; It's just that I don't like his son or this marriage."

The complaints of Her Highness about the kingdom and this marriage never ceased.

Did Arsia truly despise this country? To some extent. She desperately wanted to return to Danschel, but would she really be able to live the life she wanted upon returning? Unlikely. If this marriage fell through, the Emperor would still arrange another marriage for her; she would still have to say goodbye to a carefree life, dying entangled in a political marriage. She didn't wholly despise this country, nor did she feel such an urgent need to return to Danschel; she just disliked the many restrictions. Eden could see that.

"Hey, what are you thinking about?"

Arsia turned her face and asked.

"No, nothing."

Eden replied.

"Anyway, I'm going to find a way to get out of this marriage, regardless of what my father plans."

Arsia said to herself.

After a while, she thought of something and asked,

"How are things going with the Fahela Sect?"

"According to Timian, Fahela himself should be in the Royal City. Once we get there, I should be able to find more clues."

"You must find evidence to confirm that they are heretics."

Arsia waved her fist,

"Once we get to the Royal City, I will do my utmost to assist you, believe me, navigating among those nobles has always been my forte."

Eden thought about it and realized that Arsia was right.

The influence of the Fahela Sect had already deeply infiltrated the upper echelons of this kingdom, and with his identity, it might be challenging to swim among those high levels.

...............

The caravan began to break camp and set off, heading towards the next city where they were to meet the King of Ausenco.

The princess was being given away in marriage, personally received and escorted by the King of Ausenco, making his intentions clear and brooking no offense from anyone.

Thus, along this small stretch of road, the caravan encountered fewer challenges and obstructions, enjoying a smooth and unobstructed journey.

Yet as the caravan was about to arrive, an accident occurred once again.

This time, the challenges did not come from the nobles.

In front of the long caravan, a group of farmers wielding pitchforks and scythes unexpectedly surged out from the fields on both sides, clamoring and blocking the path of the caravan.

"What's the situation?"

Arsia was startled and curiously poked her head out of the carriage window.

She saw a dense crowd of peasants standing on the road, blocking the convoy's path. Their faces were stern and their brows furrowed, unmoved even as Danschel's soldiers with spears tried to drive them away.

"Your Highness, they're just a group of ignorant Ausenco people."

An officer dutifully reported,

"It'll be cleared away soon."

Arsia did not pull her head back into the carriage; instead, she leaned out a bit further, intently watching the scene unfolding before the convoy.

Facing the relentless advance of Danschel's soldiers, the peasants did not retreat an inch. They raised their hands high, wielding various weapons, their eyes seeming to shoot flames as they shouted, "We will not leave without our demands met!"

"What demands?"

Arsia asked.

"Some superstitious demands, Your Highness. You know, they are heathens who worship other divine beings, like the Agricultural God and the Pasture God."

The officer vaguely answered.

Seeing this, Arsia threatened,

"Are you trying to dismiss me, dismiss the daughter of the Emperor? Why not speak clearly?

They are peasants, but not fools. They risk their lives to block our convoy for a reason, yet you seek to deceive me, to blind my eyes from penetrating the dark clouds and seeing their pain. If all under my father's command are like you, then the Empire is doomed—it would lose its dominion and never rule the Mortal World again!"

Arsia's words were severe, causing the officer to shudder, who quickly bowed deeply and said,

"Your Highness, how dare I deceive you! They— they are protesting your marriage. They demand you return to the Empire because... because their fields are haunted!"

Arsia listened, puzzled.

What does a haunted field have to do with my marriage?

The officer continued to explain,

"They say that several people have died this month in their fields, attributing it to the divine wrath provoked by your marriage, which displeased the divine beings."

"I see."

Arsia pondered and then spoke,

"Tell Bright to placate them, treat them well,

and then have my knight look into it, as he understands the matters between the divine beings best."

............

"They stopped the convoy because of haunted fields?"

Called to Arsia's carriage, Eden asked in confusion.

"Yes, you need to visit, good Priest... no, good Knight."

Arsia briefly instructed and then persuasively said,

"They all lead arduous lives and are now being tormented by ghosts. I sympathize with them."

Eden stared dubiously at Arsia.

"Really,

I truly sympathize with them..."

Arsia said so.

Seeing Eden still staring, Arsia averted his gaze and altered her statement,

"I am learning to sympathize with their pain, to pity them."

Eden nodded, recognizing the Arsia he knew.

"Well... I'll go with Priest Veldor."