Exploring Technology in a Wizard World
Chapter 460 - 459: Fiancé Number Thirty-Eight

Chapter 460: Chapter 459: Fiancé Number Thirty-Eight

North of the woods, on an open ground at the border of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom.

Border patrol teams clad in black armor, and Guard Cavalry in silver, stood to the left and right, safeguarding a carriage in the center.

The guarded carriage looked exceedingly luxurious. The coach’s exterior was engraved with golden patterns, and silver wind chimes dangled from its four corners, tinkling incessantly in the breeze, producing a delightful sound. Seated within was the so-called Princess of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom.

The members of the Merchant Group were all brought over, and, as instructed, each walked up to the coach, bowing to express their gratitude to the Princess inside.

From time to time, the Princess in the coach would respond with a few words like "You’re welcome" or "It’s nothing," or simply say, "Go on."

Those who received a response felt as if they had been pardoned, quickly running off, relieved not to lose their lives.

Soon, the merchants expressed their gratitude, and then Harvey stepped forward in front of the carriage, took a deep breath, and began to voice his thanks.

By this time, the Princess inside the carriage seemed a bit weary and interrupted without listening to the end, "Alright, I get it, go on."

But Harvey did not leave. He stared straight at the carriage as if trying to see through it and raised his voice, "That respected Princess, I... I have something to tell you. Do you know, I’m actually very powerful, I killed over a dozen Thieves by myself just now.

And I’ve heard that your country seems to be losing battles recently. Why not give me a chance to show what I’m made of? Let me join your country’s army, a regular officer’s position will do. I promise I’ll help you drive away those... those Luobu people..."

"Franklin!" the Princess in the carriage couldn’t help but cry out, "What is this madness? Get rid of him!"

"Yes, Princess," Guard Cavalry Captain Franklin hurriedly led two Soldiers forward, grabbing Harvey and dragging him aside.

Harvey struggled, pleading, "Respected Princess, Princess! I’m telling the truth! I’m not crazy, I really am powerful, I... really want to help your country. Ah, ow, ow..."

Harvey fell silent, because he was kicked several times, and Franklin held a dagger to his neck, giving him a choice: continue boasting here and be killed, or leave quietly?

Following the principle that a wise man does not eat the loss before his eyes, Harvey chose the latter begrudgingly—he left.

Before leaving, he did not forget to make a fierce vow: I really have skills, don’t you doubt it, one day I will prove it to all of you! Just wait!

"Tat tat tat..."

After sending Harvey away, Franklin walked back with a dark face. If not for the fact that the Princess had said "get rid" earlier, he would definitely have taken action, teaching this Harvey—who seemed utterly ignorant of the world—a harsh lesson.

Returning, Franklin first took a long breath to calm some of his emotions, then looked towards the last person still awaiting their turn. Too lazy to speak, he tilted his head to indicate for the person to step forward and thank the Princess.

Richard blinked and, without saying much, stepped forward, approaching the ornate carriage. Previously, he had speculated about the identity of the person inside the coach, but now, by the sound of the voice, he was completely certain of the identity of the one inside the carriage—it was undoubtedly Princess Rose, known to have many suitors at the White Stone Tower Academy.

However, after confirmation, he couldn’t help but wonder: why would she be here?

He had witnessed the destruction of White Stone City by a meteor firsthand. In that disaster, at least half of White Stone City would be directly annihilated, and the other half nearly destroyed by the shockwave. The chances of survival for those inside White Stone City were less than one in ten. How on earth did she...

As Richard stood pondering in front of the carriage, Princess Rose inside the carriage, hearing his footsteps but no voice, urged, "Hey, is there still someone who wishes to express gratitude? How many are left?

Forget it, I don’t know who came up with the idea of you all coming over to thank me one by one, but let’s just leave it be. Although I initially felt quite good about it, thinking I had done a good deed, hearing it over and over is just the same and uninteresting. So, for the rest of you, just keep your thanks in your hearts, let’s go, everyone go!"

Richard’s eyebrows arched slightly as he spoke out, "Noble Princess Rose of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom, don’t rush to send people away. I have a few questions I’d like to ask you."

"Hmm?" Princess Rose in the carriage sounded puzzled after hearing the voice, "Wait, you called me Princess Rose? You... how do you know my name? Do you know me?"

"Swoosh!"

The next moment, the carriage curtain was lifted, and a face with furrowed brows appeared, looking confused. Then, their gazes met.

Princess Rose from inside the carriage and Richard from the outside looked at each other, with Princess Rose’s expression going from puzzled to astonished, and then her eyes gradually widened.

Franklin, standing nearby, felt something was amiss and was about to approach.

Just then, Princess Rose suddenly cried out at a high volume, "You! You deserve to die; what are you doing here? You... to hell with it, where are the Soldiers, get moving, capture him! Ah, no, don’t move, you might not be his match, he knows Spells. I’ll do it myself, no, I can’t beat him either, then... to hell with it... really, to hell with it..."

"Squeak," the ornate carriage door opened, and the Princess, in a panic, jumped down from the carriage, lifted her pink gown with her hands, and ran wildly to one side without any concern for her image.

At this, all the Soldiers and Franklin froze in place, wearing strange expressions as they watched the Princess run farther away, then looked at Richard, completely unsure of what to do.

It seemed the Princess had just issued an order to "capture someone", but then she revoked it, and afterward, she left directly.

What was this supposed to mean?

Likely, it was to let the Princess escape from danger, or perhaps, did she suddenly feel some physical discomfort and needed to find a place to relieve herself?

While all the Soldiers and Franklin hesitated whether to chase after the Princess, Princess Rose herself came walking back, limping, with a deeply furrowed brow and a very unpleasant expression.

The reason for this was that Princess Rose had jumped down from the carriage "in escape" without taking the time to wear shoes. She had run barefoot on the ground in the cold Moon weather of November, and the feeling was indescribable—it was freezing to death, numbing after just a short run. And the worst part was that not far after running, she stepped on a pebble, and although it did not cut the sole of her foot, it hurt atrociously.

The intense pain did help her clear her mind, making her think: Why was I running?

Yes, why run?

Indeed, she had come across a formidable enemy who, in order to obtain some information, had wickedly locked her up in her dorm room at the White Stone Tower Academy. And then he had used some method to make her so desperately need to use the restroom that she eventually couldn’t control herself...

This was the greatest psychological trauma of her life, he was her eternal Nightmare.

But then again, what did it matter? After all, she was now at the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom Border, and the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom was her country!

Yes, her country!

With this thought, Princess Rose came limping back, bold and determined, despite her injury.

Returning near the carriage, the soldiers all gave her puzzled looks. Princess Rose spoke naturally yet seriously, "Um... I’m fine, everyone. No need for alarm. Pretend you didn’t see anything just now, got it?"

"Yes."

"Good." Rose nodded, climbed onto the carriage, pulled ornate shoes out of a wooden box, and began to fit them onto her dusty feet. She then turned to Richard with a fierce tone, "And as for you! I’m telling you, I’m not afraid of you, yes, I’m not afraid!

Do you know where you’re standing right now? You’re at the border of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom, my turf! If you dare do anything to me, even if I can’t beat you, and maybe all these people here can’t beat you either, but the entire Black Holy Mountain Kingdom will not let you off easily!"

The soldiers and Franklin couldn’t help but show odd expressions upon hearing this, glancing at Richard, puzzled about what kind of person he was to make Princess Her Highness act as if facing a great enemy.

Richard looked at Princess Rose and offered a slight smile, "Noble Princess Rose of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom, as I was saying..."

"Don’t address me like that!" Princess Rose loudly protested, "Don’t use the words ’Noble Princess Rose of the Black Holy Mountain Kingdom’. The last time you called me that, you locked me in that room to do that thing. It traumatized me!"

Listening to her words, the expressions on the soldiers’ and Franklin’s faces grew even stranger.

Locked in a room to do that thing? Which thing? Could it possibly be that thing?!

Their thoughts couldn’t help but wander, though they dared not show it. They struggled to control themselves, their facial muscles twisting in awkwardness.

Richard shrugged in response to Rose’s words, "Alright then, I’ll just address you as Princess Rose."

"Princess Rose," Richard said, "Speaking of which, I don’t think I actually did anything excessive to you, you don’t have to view me so hostilely or be so guarded against me. Even in that room at the academy, whatever I did was merely to extract some information from you. You knew something but didn’t want to tell me, so I had to resort to special measures.

To be honest, I believe my methods were quite humane and did not cause any permanent physical harm to you—just a bit of special physical stimulation.

You yourself said that you’re not some delicate princess who can’t handle a bit of stimulation. If in the end you couldn’t handle it, that’s not entirely my fault, right..."

Stimulation? Physical stimulation? A delicate princess who couldn’t handle it? Could it possibly be... could it really be that?

The soldiers and Franklin could hardly keep their expressions in check.

Princess Rose sensed the odd atmosphere and glared at Richard, "Don’t speak! Don’t mention it again! If you dare to say another word, I... I’m not done with you!"

"Alright then, I won’t mention it," Richard held up his hands, conceding, "But there are other things I’d like to discuss with you, mainly some questions related to the White Stone Tower, how about that?"

"Fine," Rose said through clenched teeth, but then she glanced at the soldiers around her and spoke up, "However, this isn’t the place for that conversation, let’s change the location."

"Where?"

"I won’t tell you."

Richard: "..."

Rose: "Just follow me, that will do."

Richard: "Okay then."

Moments later, Richard climbed into the opulent carriage with Princess Rose and they set off into the distance.

The soldiers followed closely behind the carriage, chatting in hushed tones as they moved.

"Hey, the things Princess Her Highness was talking to that guy about just now, wasn’t it that kind of thing?"

"Obviously, what else could it be?"

"Then this guy must be the Princess’s new fiancé, right?"

"Possibly. But even without this guy, Princess Her Highness already has what, thirty-seven fiancés?"

"Thirty-seven? That doesn’t sound right; it should be thirty-five, remember one got sick and died last month?"

"Of course, I haven’t forgotten, but you need to update your information. Two more Great Nobles have taken out loans this month and put their sons up as collateral."

"Is that so. In that case, if this guy is also a fiancé, that makes thirty-eight. My goodness... Fiancé number thirty-eight..."