Bradlick

"Is that so?" Leon looked at Lance with a hint of surprise. "My youngest son is quite free-spirited and tends to follow his whims. Just a few days ago, I was worried he might run into trouble in Acacia, but it turns out he even received praise from both of you?" His tone clearly suggested a certain disbelief. With a sweet smile, So-and-so chimed in, "Lord Bud does conduct himself rather differently from most officials. He is courteous yet not aloof, witty and humorous, and especially respectful towards women. As for those who follow him, he manages them with such skill that they are all completely obedient—truly a rare talent."

"Thank you for your kind words. It seems I really have been worrying too much," the Grand Chancellor Leon responded with a generous smile, at least outwardly dispelling his doubts.

So-and-so and Lance exchanged a few more pleasantries with Leon before excusing themselves to the other side of the banquet hall to catch their breath.

"Courteous yet not aloof, witty and humorous, especially respectful towards women?" Lance raised an eyebrow at So-and-so.

"To cute girls, he’s always especially polite at first, his silly remarks and thoughts are quite humorous, and in the end, he showed ultimate respect to girls—even at the cost of his life. Truly a man to love~" So-and-so pressed their hands together, gazing out the window at a forty-five degree angle.

"...That is indeed something," Lance, for once, fully agreed without his usual sarcasm.

After eating, drinking, and dancing their fill, and receiving news that they could meet the king the following morning, So-and-so and Lance returned to their temporary quarters.

The night passed uneventfully.

Early the next morning, So-and-so and Lance washed and dressed, then took the carriage sent by the Chancellor to the palace.

The palace of the White Tower Kingdom stood beneath its iconic landmark, the Great White Tower. So-and-so lifted the carriage curtain and gazed intently at this symbolically significant tower.

There is a historical reason the White Tower Kingdom bears its name. In ancient times, wars between magical beasts and humans raged for thousands of years. Primitive tribes and clans rose and fell, constantly replaced according to the principle of survival of the fittest.

Those who lived near the White Tower were among the lucky ones whom nature allowed to survive. Relying on their robust physiques, honed by the harshness of their environment, and their own handmade weapons, they carved out a home for themselves in these forested lands.

Of course, the tower itself did not yet exist then. To guide their adventurers and to establish a symbol of their centralized power, the tribal leaders decided to build a tower reaching towards the sky, a testament to their legacy. The land around them was rich in a sturdy, white stone, which naturally became the material of choice for construction.

History proved their foresight. This magnificent White Tower, built over an unknown span of years, has survived intact to this day, becoming the namesake of the White Tower Kingdom, a nation that reveres strength.

So-and-so sat motionless, gazing up at the towering structure. Though the tower was indeed tall, in a land famed for its grand architecture, it was still half-hidden behind clusters of houses; she had only ever glimpsed its spire before. Today, she intended to fully satisfy her curiosity. As she gazed, she couldn't help but wonder aloud, "This truly is the power of the people. How did they manage to haul such heavy stones up there, one by one?" As she spoke, images of simple tools and devices appeared in her mind.

"The stones are big, yes, but anyone who can’t carry a few of them doesn't deserve to stand on White Tower soil," Leon replied casually, and with a grin, he flexed the muscles hidden beneath his loose ceremonial robe for her to see, as if to prove his point to her skeptical face.

So-and-so was so astonished by the Chancellor’s hidden strength that she was rendered speechless. Clearly, her thinking was still limited by her years in the twenty-first century...

The carriage rolled on, the faint scent of incense inside lulling So-and-so into a drowsy stupor. Excited as she was, she obediently lowered the curtain and closed her eyes to rest.

Time always passes quickly with eyes closed. By the time Lance shook her awake, they had already arrived inside the palace of the White Tower Kingdom.

Stepping out of the carriage, So-and-so and Lance found themselves before the legendary audience chamber—the Hall of Radiant Justice. As its name suggested, it was a hall symbolizing fairness and brilliance, and the place where one could meet the fabled king.

Whatever Lance might have felt within, on the surface So-and-so did her best to appear calm, though inside her heart fluttered like a hundred restless kittens. Kings were the stuff of legends—she had only ever seen them in novels, on television, or at the movies. This was her first time seeing one in person. She sincerely hoped he wouldn’t disappoint her.

The Chancellor sent word to the king, and soon they were granted an audience. So-and-so and Lance followed the palace attendants inside, while the Chancellor remained behind, standing to the side as if waiting for their return. So-and-so paid it little mind.

In this world, an audience with the king was not the elaborate, drawn-out affair she’d seen in television dramas—no kneeling for ages or keeping their eyes down, forbidden to see the king’s face. So-and-so and Lance merely bowed their heads in a simple greeting before the king interrupted and invited them to be seated.

"It is an honor to have you both travel so far to visit my kingdom," said King Bradric, whose short hair gleamed dark green, and whose eyes sparkled with the brilliance of obsidian. His refined brows, high-bridged nose, bronzed skin, and the upward curve of his lips left So-and-so thoroughly dazzled.

"May I ask if your journey here was to your satisfaction?" Bradric did not withhold his smile; seeing So-and-so so obviously enraptured, he only intensified its charm.

Out of sight, Lance gave the dazed So-and-so a sharp pinch. Regaining her senses, he responded with perfect composure, "Thank you, Your Majesty, for your generous hospitality. We have greatly enjoyed the warmth of the White Tower Kingdom and its rich cultural experiences."

So-and-so, startled by Lance’s pinch, hurried to echo, "Yes, very satisfied!"

"Upon our return, we will use the finest words to introduce the wonders of the White Tower Kingdom to Cyrenia."

"Yes, we’ll introduce it, introduce it!"

"The progress of our two nations’ cultures depends on constant exchange."

"Yes, progress, progress!"

...

After a lengthy round of polite conversation, Lance couldn’t help but feel he’d brought a parrot with him to play the role of ‘cultural ambassador.’

Yet So-and-so seemed completely unaware, happily following Bradric’s lead in conversation, looking every bit the besotted admirer, even forgetting the secret messages she was meant to convey.

Seeing how animated Bradric and So-and-so had become, Lance realized nothing substantial would be discussed today. As the two grew more engrossed in their exchange, all he could do was maintain his polite smile and silently pray for the speedy end of this fruitless, distracting encounter—hoping it would not happen again.