Chapter 442

Chapter Sixty-Five Farewell Feast

Tap tap, tap tap, tap tap… Whoa—

The towering white beast halted before me, its exhaled breath stirring my long hair at the nape of my neck.

Victoria dismounted from the creature.

Her crystal-embedded high heels clicked on the ground with a crisp sound, revealing her slender legs like snow-covered lotus roots.

It was then that I noticed the fish-tail dress she wore, a mix of green and white, had a long tear running from the right hem up to her thigh. The torn luxurious silk fluttered in the wind, destroying the elegant design of the expensive gown instantly.

Yet, even in this state, Victoria looked stunning as she slowly walked towards me. Her slightly messy hair and the fluttering torn dress added to her ethereal beauty. Her golden eyes shone with clarity like a clear spring, and her serene face struck everyone witnessing her with a unique charm.

In that moment, I recalled every detail of her arrival.

It might have been a light and graceful banquet. On the red tablecloth, people were well-mannered and articulate. Amidst the clinking of glasses, Queen Isambelle was surrounded by nobles, laughing and chatting gracefully. But when the stern maid whispered something in her ear, her exquisite face paused momentarily. Without hesitation, she put down her glass, nodded to everyone, and left the hall under countless gazes. She tore open the fish-tail dress, disregarding the guards’ warnings, and insisted on riding the beast alone, rushing out of the palace.

And now, she stood before me.

“Are you leaving without telling me?”

She reached out, smoothing the few strands of hair that fell over my forehead. Her voice was like a clear stream, calm yet hinting at a subtle complaint.

“I…”

I looked at her panting, unsure what to say.

“Don’t want to tell me?”

“No, no, it’s not that. I… I didn’t want to disturb you. You must be very busy… There are many things to handle—”

“More important than this?”

“Mmm…”

I scratched my nose, feeling uneasy under the bustling noise around us, and avoided looking directly into Victoria’s eyes.

She wasn’t afraid of being overheard…

“Charman told me you’re going to Silgayya?”

“Yeah… I am…”

I murmured softly.

The queen was silent for a moment after hearing this.

I waited, but Victoria remained quiet. I took the chance to sneak a glance at her, only to find her staring straight at me. I quickly turned my head away, clasped my hands behind my back, and rocked on my toes, kicking a pebble aside.

Why…

Why do I suddenly feel such an inexplicable sense of guilt…

This guilt… feels strange, like when I used to secretly do something bad behind my mother’s back and got caught?

Why do I feel this way…

“The place isn’t peaceful,” Victoria suddenly spoke again.

“…I know.”

“Grandma Claire lives near Woodward Forest, are you worried about her?”

“Yeah…”

She still remembers…

I only mentioned it once…

“Then go.”

“Huh…”

I looked up, somewhat surprised.

So decisive…

I thought she would say something like Angel did… Wait, what does she want to do…

I looked at Victoria with some confusion as she turned towards the unicorn. From the saddlebag, she pulled out a square brocade box, opened it, and took out the item inside… It seemed to be a short sword.

“When my teacher left the palace, he left me this protective short sword before he departed.”

Victoria said, her fingers dancing as she spun the sword with its scabbard in her palm a few times, then firmly grasped the hilt with a snap. As she did so, she walked back to me and handed me the short sword.

“I don’t need it, so I give it to you.”

I instinctively accepted it.

The short sword was about forty centimeters long, with a wooden hilt wrapped in cloth.

The black leather of the scabbard was unevenly curved, ingeniously protecting the grip. The pommel was carved in the shape of a snake-like head, with its open mouth embedded with a blue gemstone, making the entire design very delicate.

I held the short sword in my hand and examined it from all angles, then gripped the hilt and pulled out the blade with a “swish.” The sharp, slender blade was drawn halfway out, as white and translucent as jade, flashing a cold gleam under the sunlight.

“This short sword is called ‘Dragon Claw.’ Its blade was forged from the claw of a dragon, and both the handle and the scabbard are made from the belly skin of a dragon. Although it does not match the hardness of Moon Crystal, it is far more resilient than ordinary steel. Dragon bones will not easily be melted by the fire of sin. My teacher once used it to cut down countless heretics. You should be able to use it for self-defense in emergencies.”

Dragon bone…

Dragon Claw.

I sheathed the short sword back into the black dragon skin scabbard. Before I could say “thank you,” I saw Victoria stretching her hands towards her snow-white neck, unclasping a beautiful silver necklace studded with blue gems.

“This necklace was a gift from my father on my thirteenth birthday at the banquet. There are nine blue sapphires on the necklace, each one unique and of the highest purity Haidarweil blue sapphire. Each one has its own history and story. Blue sapphires symbolize truth and sincerity. When my father gave me this necklace, he hoped that I would pass it on to an unwaveringly loyal lover in the future.”

As she spoke, she placed the necklace around my neck.

“Now, I give it to you as a farewell gift.”

“I…”

“If you dare to refuse or find excuses to take it off, don’t even think about leaving smoothly.”

“Mmm…”

My lips puffed up slightly.

What…

Trying to threaten me… how tasteless…

Thinking such thoughts, I couldn’t help but lower my head, gently holding the necklace already around my neck, smelling the lingering fragrance, my cheeks warming up, a warm and sticky emotion spreading in my heart.

“Um…”

I dared not look into her eyes and nodded lightly.

“Put your hands down, let me see.” Victoria said softly.

I pouted.

If you tell me to put them down, I’ll put them down…

But by the time I reacted, both hands were already behind my back, tightly gripping the short sword, my fingers tracing the uneven patterns on the dragon skin scabbard, my heart trembling, “thump, thump, thump.”

After a moment, I couldn’t help but lift my eyes to look at her face, just a glance.

I saw Victoria’s bright smile.

“It suits you.”

This smile was like flowers blooming across the fields, clear streams flowing through the flower beds, pure and captivating, even the knights observing secretly blushed and turned their heads away uncomfortably.

“Let’s go.” She stroked my head and said softly, “I also need to return.”

After these words, at the end of the street, faint sounds of hooves and beasts’ neighing could be heard.

I looked up and saw, far behind Victoria, Reckert riding a tall horned horse, leading several members of the Sword of Caneli, galloping over.

They came looking for the suddenly absent queen.

“Then I’ll go.” I looked into her eyes and said.

“Be careful.”

“Mm.”

“When you come back, make the same dinner as that day.”

“Okay.”

Victoria didn’t say anything more, turned decisively, mounted the beast, and galloped down the street.

Under the blazing sun, Reckert waved goodbye to me from afar.

I stood there, watching Queen Isebel’s silhouette, seeing her leave with her loyal warriors, feeling an indescribable sense of loss. I couldn’t help but touch the cold short sword in my hand, carefully fastening it to the left side of my waist belt.

The blue sapphire necklace hanging in front swayed, glittering.

Soon after, the horned horse convoy moved again, rumbling through the dust, passing through the long street, turning at the main square, galloping out through the open city gate, disappearing at the edge of the vast wilderness.

“Caw—”

In the azure sky, a black raven spread its wings, circling and flying over the towering city walls, leaving this ancient majestic green city, chasing the speeding convoy, flying toward the distant south.

The knights, including those who had been observing, turned and followed the queen, leaving the bustling city behind.