Chapter 472: Chapter 472: Adina 25
Schubert frowned. "We’ve done all we can by keeping up the act for the young miss here. That’s the best way we can help her. Alright, stop overthinking it. I expect someone from the Imperial City will be here before long."
Moran clutched his chest with practiced ease, instantly transforming into a frail, delicate flower. "I’ll go back to my room to rest now."
Schubert waved a hand. "Softer. What kind of sick person is so loud?"
Moran immediately lowered his voice until it was as faint as a thread of silk. "How’s... this? Ahem, ahem..."
Schubert said, "Your coughing just made me realize—the young miss rarely coughs anymore."
Sanders added, "It’s true. I remember she used to cough all the time. She just spoke with us for quite a while without coughing once. Do you think her health has improved?"
Schubert couldn’t figure it out. "Most likely. Let’s all spread out. We need to look relaxed on the outside but stay vigilant on the inside. We have to make sure no one on the outside finds out what’s happening here."
While her numerous followers remained on high alert, Tan You arrived on the outskirts of the Imperial City, riding a Griffin. Since the Imperial City was the Divine Hall of Light’s territory, it was inconvenient for the Holy Beasts to be seen. Thus, Tan You parted ways with them outside the city walls.
She was alone. She entered the Imperial City by herself. As for the Holy Beasts, they hid themselves on the city’s outskirts. Tan You had reached the outer walls of the Imperial City at night. The city gates were shut tight, so naturally, she couldn’t get in.
She wasn’t in a hurry. She simply found a spot sheltered from the wind and quietly waited for dawn.
As the first light of dawn broke, a crowd began to gather outside the city. Some carried baskets filled with freshly baked white bread. Others brought fresh fruits and vegetables. There were also people driving horse-drawn carts, each adorned with a colorful flag. Tan You knew these were mobile stalls selling daily necessities.
Without drawing anyone’s attention, Tan You silently blended into the great throng of people entering the city, and just like that, she was inside the Imperial City. Although she had been away for sixteen years, standing on the streets of the Imperial City, Tan You found that it seemed completely unchanged from her memory.
Though perhaps there were some changes. It seemed the place had grown even more decadent. Just as Tan You’s mind was wandering, commoners suddenly poured out from the streets and alleyways, converging into a massive human tide that pushed her involuntarily forward.
After being carried along for some distance, Tan You finally understood why the streets of the Imperial City were so lively today. As it turned out, the Divine Hall of Light’s annual float parade was about to begin.
The so-called float parade involved beautiful young female Mages from the Divine Hall of Light standing on giant floats decorated with flowers of all colors. They would sprinkle Holy Water in all directions and cast the Light Element Magic, "Holy Light Illumination."
This Light Element Magic had an effect nearly comparable to a Priest’s Healing Skill. It could dispel chronic illnesses and strengthen the body. And so, whenever the float parade took place, countless people would flock to the sides of the road just to get a share of the "Holy Light Illumination" and Holy Water.
The Holy Water was even more of a sham. In truth, it was just ordinary water infused with a tiny bit of healing power. Its effect was equivalent to the most basic of healing potions.
Thinking of this, Tan You couldn’t help but smirk. ’My timing couldn’t have been better.’
"Did you hear? Several of the Mages in the float parade this year are ladies from noble families."
"Ladies from noble families bestowing blessings upon us? What an honor!"
"I think there’s a young lady from the Edmonds family."
"You mean Miss Lilith, right?"
Hearing the name Lilith, Tan You couldn’t help but raise an eyebrow slightly. She glanced sideways at the people who were chatting. A middle-aged woman noticed her gaze and chuckled. "You know Miss Lilith too?"
Tan You neither confirmed nor denied it. "Is she... very famous?"
Although she knew from the Beauty System that Lilith was living well in the Imperial City, enjoying a great deal of prestige, Tan You really didn’t know what kind of standing Lilith had among the common people.
"She’s very famous, but not for her power," the woman lowered her voice. "For years, rumors about Miss Lilith and the Third Prince have been flying everywhere. Everyone is guessing whether she’ll end up becoming the Third Prince’s consort."
"Oh?" Tan You’s tone was laced with doubt. "The Third Prince is a member of the royal family. The Edmonds family, despite its deep roots, is in decline these days. Their younger generation has almost no noteworthy achievements..."
"That’s the point!" someone nearby immediately chimed in. "I heard His Highness the Third Prince is getting cozy with several noble ladies. I think he was just out with the prime minister’s daughter yesterday."
"The prime minister’s daughter?" Tan You immediately made the connection. "Karina? Aren’t she and Lilith good friends?"
"I wouldn’t say they’re good friends," another person spoke up. "Miss Lilith is a Light Element Mage, but Miss Karina is just an ordinary person with no talent for Magic. Would a noble Mage be friends with an ordinary person?"
Tan You understood. ’So, that pair of supposedly inseparable friends have long since gone their separate ways? This is... wonderful!’ A smile touched the corners of her eyes at the thought.
Knowing that Lilith’s life wasn’t as perfect as it seemed put Tan You in an excellent mood. Although the great losses she had suffered back then were partly due to her own poor planning, the trigger had been Lilith. Naturally, Tan You held Lilith accountable for it.
Now that she was back in the Imperial City, she would naturally settle these old scores, one by one.
And so, Tan You remained hidden in the crowd, listening to the surrounding chatter while she waited for the Divine Hall of Light’s float to arrive.
After waiting like this for nearly two hours, Tan You finally saw a giant carriage slowly approaching from the far end of the street. It was being pulled by six speed-type Magic Beasts, which were now docilely drawing the carriage forward.
The carriage had two levels. On the first level stood eight Light Element Mages dressed in white magic robes. Each of them cradled a crystal bottle filled with a milky white liquid.
And on the second level stood a girl who was at once familiar and yet a stranger. She was familiar because, for more than a decade, Tan You had looked at that very face day and night.
She was a stranger because Tan You knew she herself would never wear such an expression—arrogant, proud, as if looking down on the entire world. Lilith stood with her hands clasped before her. As the carriage moved forward, a "Holy Light Illumination" slowly unfurled.
Just as the "Holy Light Illumination" shone down on the people lining both sides of the road, the eight Mages on the first level moved in concert, sprinkling the Holy Water from their crystal bottles into the crowd.
Tan You watched the carriage slowly draw near. In her eyes, both the carriage and the Mages on it looked incredibly pretentious.
At this, Tan You couldn’t help but scoff. Just seeing this one scene, she knew the Divine Hall of Light was already rotten to its very core. ’If you truly wanted to bless the common people, you wouldn’t need to do it just once a year.’
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