Chapter 96: Here She Comes
"Forget it, forget it. If she wants to come, just make sure to receive her properly when she arrives."
Simon let out a deep sigh.
This Princess Lisa was neither Simon’s half-sister nor his elder sister, but rather his aunt, Alaric’s biological younger sister.
Alaric doted on his young sister to an extreme degree, almost to the point of indulgence.
As a result, Princess Lisa had grown up spoiled and became utterly lawless in Eldora. Especially after her consort passed away, her reputation for beauty became well known to all.
She associated with people ranging from first-rank officials to street vendors, but with one common requirement: anyone in her circle had to be handsome.
Rumour had it that she even kept male concubines in her residence. In an era like this, Princess Lisa could be considered a pioneer among women.
It was precisely because of her influence that the women of Eldora were somewhat more open-minded compared to those elsewhere, which spoke volumes about her impact.
Despite her messy private life, Princess Lisa was extremely shrewd. It was said that she had amassed great wealth, equivalent to that of a modern-day rich woman. Utilising her renowned beauty, she manoeuvred skilfully in this male-dominated era, which in turn gave her business ventures considerable advantages. While she might not be the wealthiest person in Eldora, she could certainly rank among the top.
To Simon, this clever and somewhat modern socialite-like aunt was a difficult person to deal with; she was an expert at adapting to any situation.
Yet, he couldn’t refuse her visit, as he needed an ally in Eldora.
The imperial princes were currently at each other’s throats, and he was far away in Brambleford. If chaos erupted in Eldora, extracting Lady Isolde from there would be a major problem.
Meanwhile, this aunt of his was resourceful and had numerous admirers under her influence. She was an undeniable force in Eldora, and he might very well need her help in the future.
"In that case, I will make arrangements for the residence," Ysabeau said. "When Her Majesty sent this letter, the princess had already departed. Judging by the timeline, she should be arriving soon."
Simon waved his hand, signalling Ysabeau to prepare. He no longer had the mood to tease the young maid.
No matter whether it was Prince Gerad or Prince Aurelia, he could easily brush them off. But dealing with this particular guest? That was truly a headache.
Two days later, a magnificently luxurious carriage slowly made its way down the official road leading into Brambleford City. The escorting guards on either side of the carriage numbered over a thousand. Each wore golden armour, a golden-plumed helmet, and bore a solemn and dignified expression.
The carriage was draped in purple silk, intricately embroidered with golden vine patterns, and exquisite jade ornaments dangled from all four corners of the roof, each piece worth a fortune.
Seeing such an ostentatious display, the common folk along the road quickly stepped aside. Some merchants couldn’t help but let their greedy gazes linger on the jade and gold-thread embroidery.
But the moment they saw the fierce and imposing golden-armoured guards, they immediately lowered their heads.
As the city gates drew closer, a knight at the front rode up to the carriage and spoke. "Your Highness, we have arrived in Brambleford City."
"Is that so? Take a look at the city gate. Is anyone there to welcome me? Speaking of which, I haven’t seen Prince Simon for five years now. I wonder if that brat still gives his dear aunt any face?"
A languid, sultry voice came from within the carriage. Then, a delicate hand, smooth and fair like lotus root, lifted the curtain, revealing an exquisitely alluring face.
Upon seeing her, the knight’s eyes flashed with fervour. He replied. "I see many people gathered outside the city gate, most likely the prince himself."
Princess Lisa then leaned out for a glance. At once, she spotted Simon standing at the gate in his purple robe, accompanied by Joan and Ysabeau.
"Indeed, it’s Simon." She leaned back into the carriage and chuckled. "At least this nephew of mine still knows to show me some respect. Let’s move faster."
The knight nodded, gave a loud command, and the carriage driver cracked his whip. The horses sped up, closing the distance in the blink of an eye.
At that moment, Simon stood at the city gate, forcing a wry smile at the approaching entourage. Golden armour, such an impractical, flashy thing, was something only his aunt would have the nerve to use.
When the curtain lifted, a regal and elegant woman emerged. Simon immediately stepped forward and said, "Your nephew greets Aunt."
"Hehehe... Simon, it’s been five years, and you’ve only grown more handsome. Come, let Aunt take a good look at you."
Before she even descended from the carriage, Princess Lisa was already laughing. A fragrant breeze followed her as she approached Simon.
The scent was unmistakably that of peony perfume.
"Aunt remains as beautiful as ever." Simon said, though the overpowering fragrance made him wrinkle his nose slightly.
Princess Lisa chuckled. "Your flattery has improved as well."
Simon smiled. "Thank you for your praise, Aunt. Please, let us continue our conversation inside the castle."
Princess Lisa nodded. By now, many commoners had gathered at the city gate, watching the scene unfold. She turned back, stepped into her carriage again, and the entourage proceeded into the city, following Simon’s lead.
As they passed through the city gate, Princess Lisa lifted the curtain once more and examined the gate guards.
These soldiers wore silver armour, completely different from the armour of the Eldorian Empire. Every part of their bodies was covered, making them look like steel-clad beasts, exuding an intimidating aura.
The long spears in their hands gleamed with silver light, their tips razor-sharp, clearly top-quality weapons.
"How strange... What kind of armour is this?" Princess Lisa mused.
Back in Eldora, whenever Brambleford was mentioned, the imperial princes and ministers always scoffed at it, as if it were some forgotten backwater.
Even though Brambleford’s products had repeatedly caused a sensation in Eldora over the past six months, this perception hadn’t changed. After all, engaging in commerce was something scholars despised.
Thus, while many imperial princes secretly engaged in trade, they did so through subordinate merchants, merely providing them with connections and privileges. But Simon, a dignified vassal king, personally running businesses? This only made Eldora’s nobility look down on him even more.
As the carriage moved further into the city, Princess Lisa continued observing Brambleford. She noticed the streets bustling with merchants, many transporting goods such as soap, perfume, and Brambleford’s Finest wine.
On the roadside, she occasionally saw groups of scholars engaged in heated debates over sheets of paper covered in writing, as if they were discussing something of great importance.
What puzzled her even more was the high number of slaves in Brambleford. Every now and then, a group of people bearing slave marks would pass by, yet they did not have the usual downcast, sorrowful expressions. Instead, they chatted and laughed while transporting minerals and coal.
Scene after scene unfolded before her eyes, and suddenly, Princess Lisa felt she had made the right decision in coming here.
She had originally come for the exquisite glass, but now, it seemed Brambleford had far more to offer.
