Aztec Civilization: Destiny to Conquer America!
Chapter 717 - Three Hundred and Eighty-Two: The King and the Maiden, Together to...

Chapter 717: Chapter Three Hundred and Eighty-Two: The King and the Maiden, Together to...

The night dispersed, and the sun rose. Early next morning, the southern nobility hurriedly left Aotuo city heading south, each to their own fief. The king did not try to retain them, nor did he see any of the nobles. As sunset gave way to moonrise, and darkness once again descended, Aotuo city returned to its usual tranquility.

The Black Wolf’s royal banner fluttered in the night. Xiulote was still busy in the tent. He gazed at the map of the southern terrain, pondering the subsequent arrangements.

"Bertade, Zicao County is vast and the environment complex. After the southern nobility’s change of enfeoffment, I plan to form a new Zicao Legion and hand it over to the veteran Etalik."

The Head Warrior nodded respectfully.

"Your Majesty, General Etalik is calm and steady and familiar with the situation in Zicao County, indeed a suitable Legion Commander. With the general’s qualifications, he should already be commanding a legion."

"Mm, I indeed owe him that..."

Hearing this, Xiulote smiled in agreement. Etalik was a loyal samurai of the family, having followed his grandfather for many years. Whether it be loyalty, qualifications, abilities, or merits, he was more than enough to secure a region.

"Bertade, where should the manpower for the new legion come from?"

"Your Majesty, General Etalik currently has a thousand samurai at his disposal. Necali, Director of the Mining and Metallurgy Bureau, has under him not only a thousand samurai but also more than three thousand miners, and two thousand recuperating Tarasco surrendered soldiers. These surrendered soldiers have nearly been worn down by a year of mining..."

"Mm, then transfer them to the south. That makes three thousand men."

Xiulote nodded slightly. Using surrendered soldiers for mining was exceedingly dangerous; once the kingdom supplemented the workforce with miners, these men were replaced. Furthermore, the Jingji Legion’s march southward did not include Necali’s Qinganbate Personal Guard Warrior camp. In this era, large mines must have military suppression, else a rebellion could erupt any minute.

"The rest of the manpower will be supplemented from the farmland troops and the militia of Zicao County. Then continue to station locally, on a semi-production basis..."

Given the kingdom’s current situation, it’s impossible to maintain another standing legion. In fact, the new legion’s upkeep would have to fall upon the land and taxes soon to be collected from Zicao County.

The monarch and his minister continued to discuss for a while, during which Zicao County was already treated as a direct jurisdiction of the kingdom. After all, with more than thirty thousand elite troops heading southward, equipped with copper armor, longbows, and copper cannons, the southern nobility had no means to resist.

Suddenly, Shield Guard Ters lifted the tent flap and strode in. He looked towards his Highness and smiled simply.

"Your Highness!"

"Mm?"

"The girl from last night, she has come again."

Hearing this, Xiulote’s eyebrows rose as he looked at Bertade.

"It’s so late, Guramo still hasn’t gone south?"

"Your Highness, Guramo left for the south early this morning. Miss Medina... she might have snuck out, or Guramo might have left her behind, or perhaps, it could be both."

Bertade, understanding the situation, lowered his head and replied.

"Oh."

Xiulote nodded his head. He pondered for a while, roughly guessing Guramo’s intentions. The king hesitated, then glanced at Bertade again. The Head Warrior remained silent, his gaze downcast.

"Mm, then... let her in."

Ters turned and left. Soon, the tent flap opened again, and a graceful figure appeared before the king.

Tonight, Medina was different, lacking her original seduction, but rather, she was stunningly dressed. She wore a fitting pale-yellow gown, a feathered cloak draped over her shoulders, and embroidered cotton shoes on her feet. She had her hair up, with light rouge on her lips, and even her nails were dyed a pale blue. At this moment, she held onto the clay pot from last night, gathered her courage, and stood before the king.

"Your Majesty, I greet you!"

Medina set down the pot and knelt to pay her respects. Her face bore a pure smile, yet could not hide the loss and unease within.

"Mm."

The king gave a nod, his face expressionless.

"Medina, why have you come?"

"Your Majesty... "

Tears instantly welled up in the girl’s eyes. She lowered her head and whispered.

"The Clan Leader... doesn’t want me anymore. I... I had no choice but to come, to seek refuge with you..."

Xiulote’s brow rose. He fell silent for a moment, then spoke.

"Medina, I can send a samurai to escort you back to Zicao Manor."

"Your Majesty!... Wow..."

Medina could no longer hold back, and she wept openly on the ground.

"I beg you, please take me in! If I go back to the manor, the Clan Leader... the Clan Leader will... will kill me!"

"Mm?!"

Shocked by this, Xiulote asked the girl in a stern voice.

"Medina, isn’t Guramo your father?"

"Your Majesty... I am merely one among the dozens of children of the Clan Leader. To him, I am just..."

Weeping, Medina’s voice broke with sobs. Her petite nose twitched slightly, her expression filled with pain.

Seeing this, something in Xiulote’s heart seemed to be quietly pricked. He slowly stood, stepped forward, and gazed down at the pitiful figure on the ground.

"Medina, speak out... "

"Your Majesty... at Zicao Manor, I am nothing but a beautiful tool, a lovely piece of art."

Medina’s cry grew more frantic, her face revealing the loneliness that came from deep within her heart.

"Since I can remember, I have had no mother. As soon as I could walk, I was subjected to endless dance practices, singing lessons, bird rearing, and poetry recitation. And as I grew a little older, I had to learn how to attract others, to please them... Any slight misstep and I would suffer punishment, be subjected to the terrible water punishment... Your Majesty, I... I am scared..."

Rearing birds was intended to train one’s eyes to be captivating. At this time, the water punishment primarily involved intermittent asphyxiation as a form of punishment, excruciatingly painful but leaving no scars.

Xiulote’s heart filled once more with compassion from a future lifetime. He gently extended his hand, stroking the young girl’s hair.

"Don’t be afraid... don’t be afraid..."

"Your Majesty... do you know... my mother, she died by suicide... After her death, the Clan Leader severed her head... and when I was little, I accidentally entered the Clan Leader’s collection room..."

Medina’s face showed terror. She fearfully extended her tender hand, hugging Xiulote’s large hand, pressing it to her cheek. She gripped so tightly, as if clinging to the last straw, her blue nails pressing hard against the back of the King’s hand. Fortunately, before she could break the King’s skin, the girl regained some sense and withdrew her fingers.

"Heads... collection..."

Upon hearing this, Xiulote lowered his eyes. The nobility of this era had the macabre hobby of collecting heads, typically treated with preservative herbs, as a kind of special trophy or collectible.

The King silently felt the girl’s cheeks, warm and soft, moistened with tears. He tenderly helped the girl up, reaching out his arms to wrap around her slender waist, pulling her into his embrace.

"Medina, don’t be afraid... I am here."

Hearing this, Medina looked up at the handsome King with tears in her eyes, full of hope.

"Your Majesty... will you... shelter me?"

Xiulote gazed into the young girl’s eyes, fell silent for a while, then nodded affirmatively. Next, he looked towards the Head Warrior.

"Bertade?"

Bertade sighed silently. He replied in a low voice.

"Your Majesty, since Miss Medina has left her clan, her absence won’t have much impact. She can enter the Capital City, become a Priestess serving the Spirit at the Temple of the Goddess of Spring. As long as she doesn’t appear in public or involve herself in the politics of the Kingdom, the Alliance won’t..."

"Enter the Temple, serve the Spirit..."

Xiulote lowered his eyes, nodding. He thought of another girl and a flicker of guilt surfaced, his surging desire once again restrained. After a while, he looked calmly at the girl.

"Medina, would you be willing?"

Medina stopped crying, staring blankly at the King’s sincere eyes for a long time, speechless, her thoughts a mystery. After a while, her gaze grew flirtatious, and her words revealed hints of springtime affection.

"Your Majesty, I would like that."

As Medina spoke passionately, she strained to tip-toe, reaching for the King’s lips with a kiss. Xiulote was taken aback. He couldn’t help but lower his head to meet the girl’s lips with his own.

The girl’s lips were so tender, as beautiful as a rose, and they carried the gentle breath of spring. The King greedily savored them, feeling a softness he had never known before. Though somewhat unbelievable, this was indeed his first kiss.

"Medina..."

After a long time, the two slowly parted. The King’s eyes became tender. He had opened his heart, let down all his guards, and now accepted the charming person before him.

Medina’s face flushed with a strange red. She looked at the King seductively and giggled softly.

"So, the feeling of a kiss is so wonderful."

Then, the maiden gently stretched out her hands, caressing Xiulote’s handsome face. Her pale blue nails lightly grazed the King’s face, then brushed over his neck, soft as a cat’s paw.

"Your Majesty... do you know? I was so lonely, so longing for company, so wishing to be saved... If, if only, I could have met you when I was young, how wonderful that would have been..."

Hearing the maiden’s words, Xiulote felt a sense of foreboding. He took a deep breath, lightly inhaling the girl’s fragrance, feeling the warmth in his embrace, and asked in confusion.

"Medina, you..."

Medina withdrew her tender hand, her smile becoming more enchanting and yet more bizarre.

"Your Majesty, I am very fortunate to have met you. How I wish to go with you to the... Netherworld!"

At her words, alarm bells rang loudly in the King’s heart. He looked at Medina in astonishment, only to see her gaze suddenly turn sharp. Then, he felt a severe pain in his waist.

"Clang!"

Unknown when, the maiden’s hand had produced a small, dusky blue Short Dagger. The dagger thrust at the King’s waist, only to be blocked by the Copper Armor worn underneath.

"Medina!"

Xiulote roared in anger, like a wounded beast. His expression was one of incredulity and filled with the rage of being betrayed by someone he trusted. He had no time to think further, immediately retreating while reaching for the Bronze Sword on his waist.

"My King!"

Bertade had been keeping his distance, more than a dozen steps away, to avoid disturbing the King and the young lady. Now, seeing what was unfolding, his eyes burning with fury, he drew his Bronze Sword and rushed forward.

"Whoosh! Ziing!"

Medina, wearing a bizarre smile, danced nimbly, always staying within a step of Xiulote’s movements. She waved the dusky blue dagger, aiming for the King’s cheek, then slashing at his arms, hands, thighs... at every place not covered by Armor.

Xiulote kept retreating, relying on his unrelenting Samurai training to dodge the maiden’s attacks with difficulty. He was constrained, trying not to be sliced by the dusky blue dagger, and thus the Bronze Sword at his waist remained unsheathed. However, the girl’s movements were quicker than imagined! Before Bertade arrived, she finally cornered Xiulote, wounding the King’s arm.

"Your Highness!"

Bertade cried out in agony as dozens of Personal Guard Warriors flooded into the tent, holding Long Spears, surrounding the King and the young lady.

Xiulote leaned against the edge of the tent. He looked at the blue wound on his arm, his head spinning.

Medina stopped her actions and stood there gently, wearing a bewitching smile.

"My King, I’ve caught you. Let us go together!..."