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overlord_ Welcome the Birth of the King_chapter_0234
Chapter 259
Chapter 233: Leinas's Horror. Who Sent This Little Animal?
Gazef kept his head bowed, not daring to look too long. Given Renner's position and reputation, staring excessively could create a bad impression.
"Your Highness." Leinas, however, didn't have as many reservations. She bowed at the waist before raising her head again.
Renner, like a pure flower, walked over with light steps, her gentle face bearing a somewhat shy smile. "There is no need for such formality, Your Excellency, Warrior Captain."
"I hope I'm not disturbing you two?"
Her clear voice carried a faint hint of curiosity and playfulness.
Gazef, who had just been about to raise his head, lowered it once more and hastily replied, "Not at all... uh, I mean, Miss Leinas and I weren't discussing anything important."
"And here I was, hoping I might overhear something."
Renner muttered under her breath, her tone laced with a hint of gossipy disappointment.
The whisper was not loud.
But with Leinas's and Gazef's sharp senses, they could clearly hear it.
Leinas's delicate face remained expressionless. Her waist-length golden hair was tied at the ends, exuding a unique, fresh fragrance.
Standing to the side, faced with two beautiful women, Gazef looked a little awkward.
"Well then, Your Excellency, Warrior Captain, we shall take our leave," Renner said, extending a slender finger to pull on Leinas's sleeve, smiling with innocent charm.
As the two graceful figures disappeared, Gazef finally lifted his head. He scratched his nose, his awkward expression slowly fading.
On the other side.
Along a long corridor carved with exquisite patterns, Renner walked at the forefront, her white dress fluttering slightly with her steps.
Leinas followed closely behind, watching Renner's figure. Her lustrous lips were pursed. She was somewhat surprised that Renner would appear here; it seemed as if she had been waiting for her specifically.
Could it be that she wanted to ask about the purpose of Ramposa III's summons for her and Gazef?
But as they walked, Renner showed no intention of asking.
Instead, from time to time, she would discuss idle topics, like the taste of the court's pastries or which flower along the corridor was prettiest.
Another point.
Leinas also noticed that the princess seemed to be in a rather good mood recently.
"What is it, Leinas?" Renner stopped, blinking her deep blue eyes as she looked at Leinas with an air of innocent curiosity.
"It's like this, Your Highness. Considering this year's defeat on the battlefield against the Empire, His Majesty intends to form two legions."
Leinas paused in turn and spoke softly. Her current status was that of an imperial defector who had pledged allegiance to Renner, so there was naturally no need to hide such matters.
"Gazef and I will each command one, with three thousand men each."
"That's amazing, Leinas."
Renner clasped her hands before her chest, a happy look on her face.
That smile wasn't because her subordinate had gained the right to recruit a legion, but from pure happiness that Leinas herself was receiving such an important role.
At least, that was what her "smile" seemed to convey.
"That's why it's a bit troubling," Leinas said, shaking her smooth golden hair and sighing lightly.
Forming a legion sounded simple, but the recruitment of personnel alone was an extremely complicated problem. As for Gazef's recruitment situation, Leinas guessed that he would likely have the clandestine support of Ramposa III.
And her?
From the moment she chose Renner, she had essentially rejected both the Pro-Royal Faction and the Noble Faction.
And from Leinas's observations, Renner indeed had no factional support whatsoever.
"Leinas, are you troubled because of recruitment?"
Renner spoke with understanding, and after a moment of thought, she continued, "That's true. It's not easy to recruit excellent soldiers, and you have no fiefdom or connections here, Leinas."
At this, Renner lowered her head slightly, as if ashamed that she couldn't help Leinas.
"It's alright, Your Highness."
Faced with Renner's pitiable expression, even the typically cold and stoic Leinas couldn't help but soften her own expression as she quickly spoke.
Leinas was not surprised that Renner could guess the reason.
The "Golden" title didn't just describe Renner's appearance, but also her sharp mind.
During this time, besides observing Renner, Leinas had also attended many noble banquets, so she naturally managed to gather a lot of information about the princess.
The things most relished and ridiculed by the nobles were the measures she had proposed that considered the commoners at the bottom of society, as well as those aimed at strengthening the kingdom's power.
Nearly all of these proposals were rejected due to various loopholes and unrealistic circumstances.
But the kind heart that Renner displayed became known to the populace, who were deeply moved by it. This was another layer of meaning to her "Golden" title.
Analyzing it based on this information alone, Leinas couldn't help but feel a genuine fondness for Renner. But then she recalled her master's description of this very princess.
This forced Leinas to raise a sliver of vigilance.
Leinas was clearer than anyone about her master's power and mystery. For a princess to be earnestly praised by her master, and even be compared to the Blood Emperor...
Thinking of this, Leinas suppressed the thoughts and emotions rising in her heart.
"Oh, right, Leinas, I invited my brother Zanac over as a guest today. Maybe he'll have a solution," Renner said as if she had just remembered something. She raised her head again, her fair arms happily clasped behind her back as she beamed at Leinas.
Zanac?
The Second Prince?
Leinas was briefly stunned. The words her master had said to her before he left suddenly flashed through her mind.
"There's no need for any unnecessary moves. Just present the problem to that princess, and she will find a solution for us."
*Buzz!*
Her mind reeled.
Looking at the innocently smiling Renner before her, Leinas's lips parted slightly, revealing a sliver of her pearl-white teeth. An inexplicable sense of horror rose in her heart.
The matter of forming the legions was something Ramposa III had only informed some of the nobles about for discussion today before making the decision. Only after the result was set did he tell the two of them.
In other words, before today, no one should have known about the plan to form a legion!
And yet, Renner had invited the Second Prince in advance. If one thought about it more deeply, it meant that Renner had already known this outcome before today.
At that thought, Leinas's pupils couldn't help but contract.
No!
There was one other person who knew in advance: her master. Thinking about all his arrangements, it seemed he had long anticipated that the Kingdom would form legions.
"Huuu~" Leinas let out a soft breath, the taut feeling in her heart easing significantly.
If Tang Zheng knew that Leinas was comparing him to Renner, he would surely feel a bit helpless. He had deduced the result entirely by working backward from his knowledge of the plot.
She, however, had figured it out relying completely on her own wisdom.
Renner's eyes, curved into crescents, smilingly swept over the fleeting change in expression on Leinas's face, then withdrew her gaze as if she hadn't noticed a thing.
However, the small gesture of her lips quirking up slightly was as if she were teasing a cute little animal.
"Let's go. We'll head back to the palace first."
Renner turned, and her gentle voice drifted back.
"Your Highness, aren't we going to check on Climb today?" Leinas asked softly as she caught up, as if she had thought of something.
After joining Renner's service, Leinas had unexpectedly learned of his existence. He was said to be a slave boy whom Renner had found.
She heard he had only a single breath left at the time.
Renner had people take care of him for over half a year before his body was fully nursed back to health, which showed how much attention she paid him.
Leinas had seen him a few times. If she had to give an evaluation, he was just a very ordinary boy.
"Not for now, Leinas. Let's not keep my brother Zanac waiting too long," Renner said softly.
"Yes."
Leinas nodded.
What she didn't know was that ever since she had joined Renner's side, Renner's attention toward Climb had become far less frequent than before.
From an angle Leinas couldn't see, a monster-like look of excitement flashed for a moment in Renner's innocent, deep blue eyes.
"Who could it be,"
"To send such a cute little animal to my side."
"I'm so looking forward to it."
Renner's expression returned to normal as she continued down the corridor.
After finding Climb, his gaze had given Renner a sense of satisfaction, but after Leinas appeared, that sense of satisfaction had grown even stronger.
Of course!
The satisfaction didn't come from Leinas, but from the master behind Leinas.
To be able to control a powerful and proud woman like Leinas and send her to her side.
Renner felt a kind of intangible, remote confrontation, a feeling of being understood and acknowledged that sent a shiver through her entire body.
"Nn~"
Renner's white dress trembled slightly along with her body as she let out an almost inaudible moan.
Leinas glanced strangely at Renner, who was walking ahead of her.
...
Lower Earth Month.
The twentieth day of the twelfth month.
Though it was noon, the overcast sky made the entire world's light extremely dim.
Heavy raindrops pattered down, creating a watery mist that blurred the view ahead, shrouding the entire Royal Capital, Re-Estize.
A carriage emerged from the rainy mist, its wheels moving quickly along the muddy road, flinging a chain of muddy water.
A Ghoul Dog pulled the carriage toward the massive Royal Capital ahead. The dense rain dripped down its smooth, black fur but did not soak its body.
The visual obstruction caused by the heavy rain did not affect the Ghoul Dog in the slightest.
The originally open-air carriage was now enveloped by circles of vines that glowed with a faint green light, blocking the rain from getting in.
Inside the carriage.
Enri gazed through a gap in the vines at the Royal Capital, which was somewhat blurred and indistinct in the rainy mist, her eyes full of anticipation and curiosity.
As a citizen of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Enri had only ever heard of the Royal Capital but had never been there. In fact, forget the Royal Capital, she had never even been to the Border City, E-Rantel.
If it weren't for following her Lord, she might only have had a chance to visit in the future.
"After traveling for more than ten days, we've finally made it to the Royal Capital," Tang Zheng said with a light laugh, stretching his back.
He wondered how things were going for Leinas and Imina. Besides seeing the two of them and arranging the next steps, this trip to the Royal Capital was also to leave a magic mark for convenient use of teleportation magic later on.
(end of chapter)
Gazef kept his head bowed, not daring to look too long. Given Renner's position and reputation, staring excessively could create a bad impression.
"Your Highness." Leinas, however, didn't have as many reservations. She bowed at the waist before raising her head again.
Renner, like a pure flower, walked over with light steps, her gentle face bearing a somewhat shy smile. "There is no need for such formality, Your Excellency, Warrior Captain."
"I hope I'm not disturbing you two?"
Her clear voice carried a faint hint of curiosity and playfulness.
Gazef, who had just been about to raise his head, lowered it once more and hastily replied, "Not at all... uh, I mean, Miss Leinas and I weren't discussing anything important."
"And here I was, hoping I might overhear something."
Renner muttered under her breath, her tone laced with a hint of gossipy disappointment.
The whisper was not loud.
But with Leinas's and Gazef's sharp senses, they could clearly hear it.
Leinas's delicate face remained expressionless. Her waist-length golden hair was tied at the ends, exuding a unique, fresh fragrance.
Standing to the side, faced with two beautiful women, Gazef looked a little awkward.
"Well then, Your Excellency, Warrior Captain, we shall take our leave," Renner said, extending a slender finger to pull on Leinas's sleeve, smiling with innocent charm.
As the two graceful figures disappeared, Gazef finally lifted his head. He scratched his nose, his awkward expression slowly fading.
On the other side.
Along a long corridor carved with exquisite patterns, Renner walked at the forefront, her white dress fluttering slightly with her steps.
Leinas followed closely behind, watching Renner's figure. Her lustrous lips were pursed. She was somewhat surprised that Renner would appear here; it seemed as if she had been waiting for her specifically.
Could it be that she wanted to ask about the purpose of Ramposa III's summons for her and Gazef?
But as they walked, Renner showed no intention of asking.
Instead, from time to time, she would discuss idle topics, like the taste of the court's pastries or which flower along the corridor was prettiest.
Another point.
Leinas also noticed that the princess seemed to be in a rather good mood recently.
"What is it, Leinas?" Renner stopped, blinking her deep blue eyes as she looked at Leinas with an air of innocent curiosity.
"It's like this, Your Highness. Considering this year's defeat on the battlefield against the Empire, His Majesty intends to form two legions."
Leinas paused in turn and spoke softly. Her current status was that of an imperial defector who had pledged allegiance to Renner, so there was naturally no need to hide such matters.
"Gazef and I will each command one, with three thousand men each."
"That's amazing, Leinas."
Renner clasped her hands before her chest, a happy look on her face.
That smile wasn't because her subordinate had gained the right to recruit a legion, but from pure happiness that Leinas herself was receiving such an important role.
At least, that was what her "smile" seemed to convey.
"That's why it's a bit troubling," Leinas said, shaking her smooth golden hair and sighing lightly.
Forming a legion sounded simple, but the recruitment of personnel alone was an extremely complicated problem. As for Gazef's recruitment situation, Leinas guessed that he would likely have the clandestine support of Ramposa III.
And her?
From the moment she chose Renner, she had essentially rejected both the Pro-Royal Faction and the Noble Faction.
And from Leinas's observations, Renner indeed had no factional support whatsoever.
"Leinas, are you troubled because of recruitment?"
Renner spoke with understanding, and after a moment of thought, she continued, "That's true. It's not easy to recruit excellent soldiers, and you have no fiefdom or connections here, Leinas."
At this, Renner lowered her head slightly, as if ashamed that she couldn't help Leinas.
"It's alright, Your Highness."
Faced with Renner's pitiable expression, even the typically cold and stoic Leinas couldn't help but soften her own expression as she quickly spoke.
Leinas was not surprised that Renner could guess the reason.
The "Golden" title didn't just describe Renner's appearance, but also her sharp mind.
During this time, besides observing Renner, Leinas had also attended many noble banquets, so she naturally managed to gather a lot of information about the princess.
The things most relished and ridiculed by the nobles were the measures she had proposed that considered the commoners at the bottom of society, as well as those aimed at strengthening the kingdom's power.
Nearly all of these proposals were rejected due to various loopholes and unrealistic circumstances.
But the kind heart that Renner displayed became known to the populace, who were deeply moved by it. This was another layer of meaning to her "Golden" title.
Analyzing it based on this information alone, Leinas couldn't help but feel a genuine fondness for Renner. But then she recalled her master's description of this very princess.
This forced Leinas to raise a sliver of vigilance.
Leinas was clearer than anyone about her master's power and mystery. For a princess to be earnestly praised by her master, and even be compared to the Blood Emperor...
Thinking of this, Leinas suppressed the thoughts and emotions rising in her heart.
"Oh, right, Leinas, I invited my brother Zanac over as a guest today. Maybe he'll have a solution," Renner said as if she had just remembered something. She raised her head again, her fair arms happily clasped behind her back as she beamed at Leinas.
Zanac?
The Second Prince?
Leinas was briefly stunned. The words her master had said to her before he left suddenly flashed through her mind.
"There's no need for any unnecessary moves. Just present the problem to that princess, and she will find a solution for us."
*Buzz!*
Her mind reeled.
Looking at the innocently smiling Renner before her, Leinas's lips parted slightly, revealing a sliver of her pearl-white teeth. An inexplicable sense of horror rose in her heart.
The matter of forming the legions was something Ramposa III had only informed some of the nobles about for discussion today before making the decision. Only after the result was set did he tell the two of them.
In other words, before today, no one should have known about the plan to form a legion!
And yet, Renner had invited the Second Prince in advance. If one thought about it more deeply, it meant that Renner had already known this outcome before today.
At that thought, Leinas's pupils couldn't help but contract.
No!
There was one other person who knew in advance: her master. Thinking about all his arrangements, it seemed he had long anticipated that the Kingdom would form legions.
"Huuu~" Leinas let out a soft breath, the taut feeling in her heart easing significantly.
If Tang Zheng knew that Leinas was comparing him to Renner, he would surely feel a bit helpless. He had deduced the result entirely by working backward from his knowledge of the plot.
She, however, had figured it out relying completely on her own wisdom.
Renner's eyes, curved into crescents, smilingly swept over the fleeting change in expression on Leinas's face, then withdrew her gaze as if she hadn't noticed a thing.
However, the small gesture of her lips quirking up slightly was as if she were teasing a cute little animal.
"Let's go. We'll head back to the palace first."
Renner turned, and her gentle voice drifted back.
"Your Highness, aren't we going to check on Climb today?" Leinas asked softly as she caught up, as if she had thought of something.
After joining Renner's service, Leinas had unexpectedly learned of his existence. He was said to be a slave boy whom Renner had found.
She heard he had only a single breath left at the time.
Renner had people take care of him for over half a year before his body was fully nursed back to health, which showed how much attention she paid him.
Leinas had seen him a few times. If she had to give an evaluation, he was just a very ordinary boy.
"Not for now, Leinas. Let's not keep my brother Zanac waiting too long," Renner said softly.
"Yes."
Leinas nodded.
What she didn't know was that ever since she had joined Renner's side, Renner's attention toward Climb had become far less frequent than before.
From an angle Leinas couldn't see, a monster-like look of excitement flashed for a moment in Renner's innocent, deep blue eyes.
"Who could it be,"
"To send such a cute little animal to my side."
"I'm so looking forward to it."
Renner's expression returned to normal as she continued down the corridor.
After finding Climb, his gaze had given Renner a sense of satisfaction, but after Leinas appeared, that sense of satisfaction had grown even stronger.
Of course!
The satisfaction didn't come from Leinas, but from the master behind Leinas.
To be able to control a powerful and proud woman like Leinas and send her to her side.
Renner felt a kind of intangible, remote confrontation, a feeling of being understood and acknowledged that sent a shiver through her entire body.
"Nn~"
Renner's white dress trembled slightly along with her body as she let out an almost inaudible moan.
Leinas glanced strangely at Renner, who was walking ahead of her.
...
Lower Earth Month.
The twentieth day of the twelfth month.
Though it was noon, the overcast sky made the entire world's light extremely dim.
Heavy raindrops pattered down, creating a watery mist that blurred the view ahead, shrouding the entire Royal Capital, Re-Estize.
A carriage emerged from the rainy mist, its wheels moving quickly along the muddy road, flinging a chain of muddy water.
A Ghoul Dog pulled the carriage toward the massive Royal Capital ahead. The dense rain dripped down its smooth, black fur but did not soak its body.
The visual obstruction caused by the heavy rain did not affect the Ghoul Dog in the slightest.
The originally open-air carriage was now enveloped by circles of vines that glowed with a faint green light, blocking the rain from getting in.
Inside the carriage.
Enri gazed through a gap in the vines at the Royal Capital, which was somewhat blurred and indistinct in the rainy mist, her eyes full of anticipation and curiosity.
As a citizen of the Re-Estize Kingdom, Enri had only ever heard of the Royal Capital but had never been there. In fact, forget the Royal Capital, she had never even been to the Border City, E-Rantel.
If it weren't for following her Lord, she might only have had a chance to visit in the future.
"After traveling for more than ten days, we've finally made it to the Royal Capital," Tang Zheng said with a light laugh, stretching his back.
He wondered how things were going for Leinas and Imina. Besides seeing the two of them and arranging the next steps, this trip to the Royal Capital was also to leave a magic mark for convenient use of teleportation magic later on.
(end of chapter)
