The Vastness of Magical Destiny
Chapter 391: Volume 7, Spring Thunder Awakens - 12: Gathering Destiny_2

Chapter 391: Volume 7, Spring Thunder Awakens Chapter 12: Gathering Destiny_2

Seeing the unguarded joy on the girl’s face, Komer knew he had guessed correctly. He didn’t know why she had suddenly come to his land, and although the invitation at the banquet had indeed come from the heart, given the current situation in the kingdom, it seemed unlikely that Duke Zellin would let this naive and carefree girl travel about. Besides, by the looks of it, she didn’t even seem to have brought a single servant with her; it was simply unimaginable how she had made it to Ugru.

"Commandery Princess, how did you come to Ugru? Where are your attendants?" Having just settled down, Komer hastened to ask this question, as he really needed to understand why this seemingly timid and shy girl had suddenly mustered the courage to run away, though he was very pleased to see it.

"What? Does it seem like Your baron doesn’t welcome Vero?" The girl’s gaze was still wandering around the colonnade as she responded offhandedly.

"Far from it, Komer feels supremely honored by the county master’s visit, and if Princess Vero is interested, he would be more than pleased to have you stay in Caucasus for a year or even longer." He expressed his pleasure cautiously, feeling it necessary to have a good talk with this young lady. With no female confidantes in Caucasus at present, the sudden appearance of such a pure and angelic beauty couldn’t help but delight Komer. After all, this girl had once captivated him, but the immaturity of the timing had forced him to leave with a heavy heart. Now, with this opportunity, why not seize it firmly?

"Um, I think it’s easier for me just to call you Komer, and you can call me by name too. Doesn’t it get tiring with all this ’county master’ and ’Your baron’?" The girl’s face revealed a joyful smile, "I am traveling alone this time. I heard that Caucasus has undergone earth-shaking changes because of you. I was originally worried about passing through Greenland Great Forest and Leon, but now it’s much simpler. I just need to take a ship from Gutenberg to Odessa, and then change to a sea vessel to Mattdam. However, the social order in Mattdam seems a bit chaotic, with so many foreigners. At first, I was a bit scared when I saw them."

"Heh, Vero, did you discover anything new on your way from Mattdam to Ugru? Perhaps the situation isn’t as bad as you imagined. Most of these foreigners are in fact citizens of Caucasus. They have no criminal records, and the few who are from other regions entered Caucasus through legal means. In Caucasus, all races are treated equally. If someone commits a crime, they are punished severely, so please rest assured on that count. My hundreds of Half-beastman Guards participate in maintaining public order every day, and I believe no one would dare to provoke them." Komer signaled the servants to leave and personally took up the coffee pot to pour coffee for her. Although in Caucasus, he still maintained his usual habits as much as possible, which also brought him closer to Vero.

"Hmm, it seems the situation is much as you described. I’m also amazed to see such harmony among the different races in this environment. It’s truly a miracle. At least in our Galle Region, no city could achieve this." Vero made no attempt to hide her admiration for what she had seen in Caucasus, "I wonder why the neighboring Leon has turned out the way it has, compared to your territory?"

"Oh, Vero, you also know about the unrest in Leon? This might be because the situations vary from place to place. Most of us here are Free Citizens. Although we have many residents from other races such as Barbarians, Half-Beastmen, and Elves, they all have citizens’ rights. Slaves exist in our region, but are few in number, and personally, I’m inclined to abolish this barbaric status and system. I hope my Caucasus can become a role model for peaceful coexistence among the various races of the kingdom. It would be even better if we could eliminate the existence of the slavery system, although that’s still somewhat unrealistic." Komer was gradually understanding the kind-hearted Commandery Princess’s mentality. In Gutenberg, she couldn’t accept how her father and suitors suppressed the protesting public, and now her words revealed even more of that sentiment. Perhaps the peace and tranquility relayed by his diverse and chaotic land had touched her heart.

"Oh, by the way, Vero, isn’t Duke Zellin worried about you traveling alone like this? With things being so chaotic outside, your actions are undoubtedly a risk. If someone were to harbor ill intentions, given your appearance, it would be difficult for you to escape the clutches of criminals." It was only now that Komer remembered she was traveling alone. Her delicate demeanor alone was enough to catch even someone with his strong self-control off guard, so if she encountered some unscrupulous person, should anything happen, not only Duke Zellin but he, too, would feel terribly aggrieved.

"Hee hee, of course I know how to protect myself. I disguised myself when I left home. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have even made it out of Galle. I took a direct ship to Odessa, and the scenery of the Nether Sea is truly intoxicating. If I could have an island there, I would willingly stay for a lifetime!" Seeing Komer’s expression shift slightly, the silver-haired girl smiled and added, "But Caucasus is nice too. I’ve heard your Continental Castle is famous. When will you take me to see it?"

"Vero, aren’t you afraid of encountering storms and pirates when you go sailing so casually? You’re incredibly bold," Komer couldn’t help but shake his head with a wry smile, feeling a subtle pleasure flowing in his heart, an indescribable ease and naturalness. Chatting with such a beautiful and playful girl was truly a delightful experience.

"Hehe, there don’t seem to be any storms in the Nether Sea this season, right? As for pirates, my father said that since Mattdam dares to open its port, they’re not afraid of pirates, don’t you think?" She winked mischievously at Komer, her eyes gleaming like black gems veiled in mist, her words popping from her cherry-red lips, leaving Komer parched and completely forgetting how to respond.

Seemingly accustomed to such reactions, the girl smiled sweetly. Her melting gaze and the charming shyness of her every move momentarily made Komer forget where he was. Was this the same shy and reserved girl from a few months ago? Could girls really change this fast?

"What’s that?" The girl’s attention quickly shifted to a hammock woven from vines between trees, her curiosity clearly written on her face.

Coughing awkwardly, Komer didn’t quite know how to explain this camping method from the barbarians in the woods to her, "Uh, this is a hammock, maybe it’s a bit different from the traditional kind, but it’s very handy in the forest. I learned how to make it from the Barbarians. Here, where there’s no one else, it’s nice to lie on it and read a book or just rest. It’s a pleasant way to live."

Komer’s words obviously resonated with the girl. She walked over to the hammock, where the vine-made rope ladder provided easy access, and beside it, a pocket woven from fine vines even held a few books. The girl casually picked one up and flipped it open, "’Among the multitude, dare you to be alone in your thoughts? Let others roar, while you remain indifferent; cold, lonely, like a flower in a barren desert, unwilling to confide in the breeze.’

The melancholic lines instantly unlocked the trembling gates of the girl’s heart. Taking a deep breath, the girl managed to calm the surge of emotions within her and asked, "Komer, do you also like Shelley’s poetry?"

"Gentle girl, I fear your kiss, yet you need not fear mine; my heart is laden with enough gloom, without adding to your sorrow. I fear your grace, your demeanor, your voice, yet you need not fear mine; this heart, with all its sincerity, adores you purely," Komer replied with a faint smile, gazing off into the distant sky. His voice, tinged with sadness, seemed to carry the weight of endless vicissitudes, soaking into the girl’s tender heart.

The collection of poems, originally meant to alleviate loneliness, had unexpectedly become a magic formula for winning the girl’s favor—a turn of events Komer had never anticipated. Maybe all it would take would be to grab a handful of selected poems by Shelley, Byron, Whitman, and Heine and hum a few verses. If the girl ever discovered how little he truly knew, she might just leave in a huff.