Chapter 45: Princess Pailin Akni Firegan

  At the top of the stairs is a young woman in her early 20s. She dresses in vibrant red and exudes an aura of nobility. Despite all of her status, there is no spiritual energy from her body. Only spiritual energy Nitaan can sense comes from many parts of her body. It indicates that those are spiritual energies from treasures, not her own.

  She was merely an ordinary young woman, just a Newborn. Yet, the aura surrounding her exuded a sense of greatness.

  Her face was moderately made up, not to the point of heavy makeup like nobles usually do. While not breathtakingly stunning, she exuded an air of endearing charm that contrasted sharply with the dignified aura around her. Her face, smile, and demeanor were approachable and unpretentious, unlike that of a princess destined to inherit the throne and become the future ruler of the kingdom.

  Her fiery red hair and soft pink eyes were the hallmarks of the Akni Firegan bloodline. Two small dimples added to her endearing appearance.

  Nitaan, judging from her face, estimated that the princess was not much older than him, perhaps only a few years.

  Princess Pailin greeted each guest with a humble smile, yet the reactions from the other two factions were merely polite. Even Nitaan sensed that most of the guests were simply maintaining a respectful posture. But the slightest gesture on their faces and bodies revealed contempt, and they didn't hide it in the slightest.

  To be more accurate, many people here displayed blatant unfriendliness.

  Some more polite individuals exchanged a few words, while others merely offered a haughty nod as the princess passed by.

  Is the internal politics this heated? Nitaan was sweating.

  The princess swept her gaze across the banquet, finally settling on Colonel Lalanta and Nil. Her eyes sparkled brightly, like a granddaughter returning home to see her elders after hard work.

  "Greetings, Princess Pailin Akni Firegan," Colonel Lalanta and Nil knelt again as Princess approached her side. Though respectful, their faces still wore unwavering smiles.

  "Please stand," the princess said with a smile.

  Nitaan, kneeling beside her, secretly glanced at her. The closer she got, the clearer it became. This princess lacked the qualities of royalty and a high-ranking official. Despite her impeccable demeanor and refined aura, she gave off more of a rich, lovely lady aura than a member of the royal family ruling the kingdom.

  "Your Highness, are you well?" Nil asked with a smile.

  "Totally. Just busy with many things, so I haven't had many opportunities to visit you, Grandpa Nil," Princess Pailin replied, sighing softly.

  "But I also got good news! The family of Khun Ekpith has agreed to support us," Princess beamed, holding up two fingers like a granddaughter seeking praise.

  "Ho ho, that's excellent, Your Highness. It's not easy to persuade that stubborn old woman," Nil chuckled.

  "As for me, nothing special has happened. An old person like me doesn't have much to do," Nil laughed heartily.

  "And how are things on Colonel Lalanta's side?" Princess Pailin turned to speak to Colonel Lalanta, who had a faint smile.

  "It's exhausting. Everything is hectic and chaotic. The closer it gets to the day, the more undercurrents there are," Colonel Lalanta shook her head.

  "And there are more thugs too. I haven't had much rest lately."

  "Your Highness, I often hear that you go into the city almost every day. Please be very careful. Unless absolutely necessary, it's best to avoid crowded places."

  "It's alright. I actually have to visit the city more often. Last time I promised Grandma Emily at the pastry shop that I'd try some new sweets. And I also promised the community center that I'd plant more trees there." Princess Pailin smiled.

  "Ho ho, Your Highness is still as diligent as ever. I can't help but admire you." Nil laughed.

  Nitaan has no intention to interrupt, especially in a conversation between people of such high standing. But of course, he listened attentively. After all, this was a conversation within the high-society circle he was attending.

  But the more Nitaan listened, the more surprised he became.

  Princess Pailin was completely different from the image Nitaan had in mind of Princess.

  While Princess Pailin maintained impeccable manners with important figures, with those she was close to, she was quite relaxed.

  No, not relaxed, but... It was like peeling off a thick mask, Nitaan thought.

  He suddenly saw images of himself trying to socialize when he talked to Chief Singh and P’ Phu.

  So similar… Except he did it because of his personality. He focused on making those around him feel comfortable. Princess, however, is the one who created a feeling of comfort for those around her.

  Like the neighbor's daughter, whom everyone adored and loved. Nitaan summarized the image of Princess Pailin in his mind.

  While they were laughing merrily, Princess unexpectedly greeted Nitaan.

  "Colonel Lalanta, who is this? A representative from a prominent family?" Princess looked Nitaan up and down.

  Nitaan's appearance at this moment certainly suggested that. He was well-dressed in polite attire, his face calm but adorned with a gentle smile, and his manners refined, reminiscent of a son of a wealthy family.

  Princess Pailin remembers all of the big shots and heirs in every noble family, so she is certain that Nitaan doesn’t come from those families.

  "No, he's not. He's the cream of the crop from the City Guard unit, his name is Nitaan," Colonel Lalanta laughed.

  Nitaan knelt down, greeting Princess Pailin in the same manner as Colonel.

  The princess nodded slightly, offering a smile and casually gesturing for him to stand up. Her eyes then lit up when she saw Kiita sitting beside him.

  "Is that your animal companion? He's so cute!" Princess Pailin's eyes sparkled, her expression showing a desire to play with him, yet she maintained her composure.

  "His name is Kiita." Nitaan’s masked demeanor swiftly vanished, and he broke into a bright smile. He loved it when people genuinely complimented Kiita. He smiled happily and held Kiita in his arms.

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  “Your Highness. Even though Kiita is big, his fur is incredibly soft! He also doesn’t bite, so you can try petting him. Oh, Kiita loves having his head and belly stroked the most,” Nitaan explained rapidly.

  Princess was different from Fang Ming and Colonel Lalanta. Fang Ming only offered polite compliments, while Colonel Lalanta loved all animals.

  Therefore, when Nitaan saw the sparkle in Princess Pailin’s eyes, he couldn’t help but feel pleased. After all, Kiita was a large black wolf, and many people feared him. Not many people will find Kiita cute at first glance.

  Princess was slightly taken aback when the usually composed young man in front of her suddenly shed his serious expression. A bright smile appeared on his face, like a kid happily receiving praise for achieving first place in an exam.

  Princess Pailin smiled, reaching out to gently stroke Kiita’s head, then reach out to stroke Kiita’s belly.

  Kiita’s tail wags happily while he plays with his new friend.

  Before they could talk more, Salika approached them again. This time she was accompanied by a tall man.

  He has a muscular build, a beard, and a mustache. Behind are a group of young men and women, some wearing symbols similar to that of the Salika, others in uniforms resembling those of the tall men.

  Princess frowned slightly upon seeing the faces of the two before quickly regaining her composure with her usual gentle and polite smile.

  "Greetings, Lady Salika Virupaksa, Lord Banphot Kodchasan," Princess bowed slightly. However, the two not only returned the bow but also offered no greeting, merely smiling with eyes that seemed to look down on someone of inferiority.

  "It is a great honor that beloved Fourth Princess has joined this banquet to celebrate Second Prince 2's ascension to the rank of Enlightened at the young age of 45," Salika smiled and bowed slightly.

  They could just taunt Princess like that? Nitaan's eyebrow twitched.

  "Achieving Third word Engraver is certainly a cause for celebration. I, of course, have come to offer my congratulations as his younger sister," Princess replied with a smile.

  "As expected of the beloved Princess. Whether it's the commoners or noble, Your Highness treats everyone equally," Banphot said.

  "I'm not surprised the citizens love Princess. Your Highness dedicates so much time to them that Your Highness barely has time to train herself," Banphot sneered.

  "When Your Highness is able to discover her first words, this old man will be there to celebrate without fail," Banphot said with a smile, though the undertone was sarcasm.

  Nitaan, who had now retreated from the heated conversation and rejoined the group with the Tamilmatsha crest behind him, suddenly looked puzzled.

  First word? Nitaan wondered. At first, he couldn't sense any spiritual energy from Princess. He thought it was because she was royalty, possessing some kind of treasure that hid her spiritual energy.

  Princess hasn't discovered a Word of Power yet? Nitaan mused. While it wasn't unusual for someone in their twenties to not have discovered even one Word of Power, her status and the presence of her genius older brothers made her seem inferior.

  "Once I attain enlightenment, I will definitely visit the Virupaksha and Kodchasan Families to discuss future governance of the kingdom," Princess Pailin said with a smiling face, yet devoid of any weakness.

  “As a Throne Holder” The princess's gentle smile and strong eyes showed no fear. She simply stared back, declaring that she would be the winner of the election.

  "Unfortunately, that time is still far away. People would not be pleased if one of the heirs to the throne were merely a Newborn," Salika sneered back.

  "The election will be held in three years. The future is difficult to predict," Princess Pailin stated.

  Nitaan is secretly impressed. The pressure Princess bore was immense, yet she showed no weakness. She remained steadfast and continued on her path. A small sense of acceptance arose in his heart.

  This was something Nitaan lacked. He would easily bow his head if it meant withdrawing from the problem.

  Somehow she is very similar to him. Yet, very different from him at the same time.

  "Banphot, how is your Kodchasan Family? Do you guys still only have a bunch of useless younger generations?" Nil, standing behind Princess Pailin, suddenly spoke up with a smile.

  "Hmph. The methods of training for the younger generation are our family secret. It's none of your business," Banphot snorted.

  The more the two sides argued, the more onlookers turned to peek. the three representatives from the Great Families and Princess. They are truly the center of attention for all of the banquet.

  "Is that so? It seems there are still only incompetent ones. If my memory serves me right, this year the most talented member of the Kodchasan Family should be turning 40. Yet he only discovered 3 Words of Power. Truly unfortunate." Nil spoke in a calm voice, but his eyes showed undisguised mockery.

  So it is Kodchasan Family. Nitaan suddenly recalled the conversation between Injan and him.

  3-word Learner he had encountered were quite numerous, but that doesn’t mean there are plenty. The Emerald adventurers he encountered were specifically selected by Injan. The City Guard was a collection of the best from across the kingdom.

  In normal society, a 3-word Learner wasn't that common.

  Even though they are rare, it is still quite a disappointment for a Great Family to only have a 3-word Learner as the strongest younger generation.

  It's no wonder this was brought up to belittle him, Nitaan thought.

  "What extraordinary talent! A kid in your family will perform Engraving Ceremony with 3 words! Have you prepared the treasures for the second, third, and fourth Engraving Ceremony, Lord Banphot?" Colonel Lalanta said sarcastically.

  "Hmph, still as nosy as ever. How's your City Guard unit doing, Lalanta? Is it still full of old people who can't advance and young people who are all talk and no bite?" Salika remarked.

  Nitaan suddenly thought about the situation of the City Guard members. The unit leaders were all Engravers with only one or two Words of Power, and their numbers were small. Even though the number of 3-word Learners was high, their ages are mostly in their 50s and 60s, clearly showing that they were stagnant in their comprehension, unable to become Engraver in a short time.

  The barrier called ‘comprehending the words’ was the first and most formidable hurdle preventing promising young people from advancing.

  "There's no need to worry. City Guard is still full of geniuses. In the blink of an eye, a whole new generation of Engravers will emerge," Colonel Lalanta smiled.

  "Genius, huh? That's good. My friend in the Qianbao Trading Group just recommended a talented youngster to me," Banphot laughed.

  A man stepped out from the back of the crowd. He appeared to be in his mid-30s, close to Napha's age, yet the power he exuded was no less than Leader Mei's.

  "Qianbao Yue pays respects to Princess Pailin, Enlightened Sun Avatar, and Enlightened Deep." Qianbao Yue knelt.

  "Qianbao Yue faced a dead end when he discovered his third Word of Power at the age of 34 and decided to perform Engraving Ceremony. Currently, he's a First word Engraver at only 37. Although he's faced a dead end quite early in word discovery, his chances of becoming Enlightened are very high," Banphot said with a triumphant expression.

  "Although his genius is still far behind First Prince and Second Prince, he's still an outstanding genius of his generation," Salika smiled, glancing at Princess Pailin.

  "If you wish, I can transfer Qianbao Yue to the City Guard unit. I'm confident that Qianbao Yue can fill many gaps in the City Guard unit, even if the City Guard unit might be too small for him," Banphot said sarcastically.

  Princess Pailin's face remained expressionless, but Nitaan noticed her tightly clenched fists.

  She represented her faction, yet she couldn't say anything. The matter of talent was something she couldn't voice. She could only let others speak for her.

  She is still a newborn who hasn’t discovered any words!

  "Thank you for your kind intentions, but our City Guard unit is not lacking in individuals of that caliber," Colonel Lalanta smiled.

  Salika raised an eyebrow slightly. Of course, she didn't expect Lalanta to accept. She had only brought Qianbao Yue to taunt the other side. But Colonel Lalanta's response was strange. From her investigation, no one in the City Guard unit could compare to Qianbao Yue. He was a First word Engraver from 3-word Learner.

  Then why was she so confident?

  "Oh, I never knew the City Guard unit had such an outstanding youngster as Qianbao Yue," Banphot said with a smile, then turned to look at Nitaan amidst the crowd. His strong gaze fixed on Nitaan's figure.

  Nitaan, sensing the powerful aura emanating from Banphot, felt his hair stand on end. A powerful force pressed down heavily on Nitaan's body.

  He broke out in a sweat but managed to withstand the first wave of pressure with a smile. His trembling mind was supported by the mental energy of Kiita.

  This was the same level of mental pressure as the attack on Silalai town in the pass—an Enlightened-level pressure!

  "Ho, it's no wonder Lalanta brought him along. A mere Learner who can withstand my mental pressure?" Banphot raised an eyebrow.

  "I happened to overhear your conversation earlier. This kid is the genius of the City Guard, isn't he?" Banphot said, looking at Nitaan, his strong hand beckoning slightly. Nitaan's figure suddenly pulled to beside Colonel Lalanta, leaving him no way to resist.

  "Judging by his aura, he shouldn't be older than 25, yet his power is at the level of a Learner. Performed Engraving Ceremony at such a young age? Hmph, no future," Salika said, sweeping her power towards Nitaan.

  "Just a broken good who already wasted all their future." Salika laughed, scrutinizing Nitaan from head to toe.

  Nitaan didn't answer, simply standing still, kneeling to greet the two Enlightened as a youngster should.

  "Nitaan pays his respects, Enlightened Mountain-Moving, Enlightened Feather Hand," Nitaan greeted respectfully, his face showing no fear.

  The two unleashed their oppressive power upon Nitaan once again, hoping to force him into a humiliating situation. However, another energy barrier swept in front of Nitaan, blocking both barriers. Though his face remained calm, Nitaan knew that the one who had intervened was Nil.

  "Are you planning to lay a hand on a junior, Banphot?" Colonel Lalanta frowned.

  "Hmph, I was just testing their power." Banphot sneers.

  "Then it's most appropriate for the minors to test each other," Salika, who seemed to have been waiting for this, quickly interrupted.

  Princess Pailin suddenly frowned.

  "I will seal the power for Qianbao Yue so that he can only use the power at the Learner level. How about it? Would you like to see a friendly duel between geniuses?" Banphot said with a mocking smile.

  The surrounding temperature rose slightly. The pressure from Colonel Lalanta began to radiate. Nitaan sensed that Colonel Lalanta was becoming angry.

  "What? I only proposed a friendly duel between Kodchasan Family and City Guard unit. Aren’t you saying that he is a genius? Or are you saying that the follower of Fourth Princess is so cowardly? You praised him so much earlier." Banphot began to taunt, his face full of a mischievous smile.

  Nil's face remained expressionless. He raised one hand to stop Colonel Lalanta, then turned to look at Nitaan, secretly sending him a telepathic message:

  ‘You don't need to get this deeply involved. Just refuse. We'll handle it ourselves.’

  Nitaan didn't respond, only pondering silently.

  Princess Pailin turned to look at Nitaan, her face filled with worry. But Nitaan sensed that Princess only wanted him to refuse. She wasn’t concerned about her reputation at all.

  If Nitaan refused, it would be tantamount to admitting that the Princess's faction was inferior, but she didn't care. She simply didn't want him, an outsider, to get in trouble because of her.

  Nitaan secretly thanked Princess. If she were to order him to duel now, he would have no choice but to accept.

  Colonel Lalanta didn't retaliate or provoke Banphot back in any way, simply watching Nitaan calmly, as if allowing him to make his own decision.