Chapter Thirty-Six: Olina

At dawn, as the sun barely crested the horizon, the palace had prepared a temporary residence for Olina and Xuanlu. In the beautiful courtyard, Olina wore her worn-out armor, relentlessly swinging her longsword. Each stroke was accompanied by a fierce wind, forcing the flowers and grass around her to bow down.

Invisible currents of life energy gathered ceaselessly, and the more profound her power became, the more transcendent it felt.

Suddenly, Olina paused mid-swing. The surrounding energy gradually faded, and she turned to her right, where Aimeya was approaching.

Wiping sweat from her brow, Olina greeted her with a bright smile, "Aimeya, where did you just go? Why didn't you come for dinner last night?"

Noticing her friend's icy expression, Olina tilted her head in confusion. "What happened? Why do you look so frightening?"

Aimeya didn't reply. She grabbed Olina's hand and pulled her out of the courtyard. "Come on, we're not taking part in this royal selection anymore."

"Huh?" Olina was momentarily stunned, then planted her feet firmly and pulled her friend back. "What happened, exactly?"

Aimeya spoke solemnly, "Rumors about you are everywhere in the capital lately. I went to a tavern and saw those fools slandering you."

"So that's what it is—I thought it was something serious," Olina said with a helpless smile.

Aimeya stared at her in astonishment. She’d always called Olina a fool, but hadn’t expected her to be so oblivious. Those kinds of rumors, to Olina, were merely trivial? Anyone else would have long since taken up arms to defend themselves.

Olina said, "There's no need to care about those people. I know exactly what they're thinking."

"Then why do you keep handing out food to them? This ungrateful lot doesn't deserve your help!" Aimeya’s face was filled with anger. The rumors of the past few days and what she’d witnessed today had left her thoroughly disgusted.

Olina shook her head with a gentle smile. "Aimeya, not everyone is like that. There is good and evil in people. And I help them not for respect or gratitude, but because some good people truly need help. Like parents worried about food for their children, or orphans with no one to care for them."

"And those who take your food and then slander you? Do they need help too?" Aimeya demanded.

Olina’s kindness unsettled her. She would have left long ago, indifferent to who needed help or what the royal selection meant. The world was vast; surely there was some place to settle. If not, she’d wander the world, go wherever the wind led her, so long as she was happy.

"Perhaps they do," Olina said softly, placing both hands on Aimeya's shoulders. "You call me foolish every day, but I know it well. I can't feed myself; I shouldn't worry about the lives of the people. My lands are barren, food scarce, and I have no money—so I shouldn’t have taken in so many refugees."

"If I yielded to my father, stopped helping commoners, acknowledged my royal status, I could live quite well. I could learn noble etiquette, scorn and oppress commoners, and fit right in with the aristocracy. I have exceptional talent—at seventeen, I’m already a third-rank knight, with noble blood. I could abandon my humble past and become a princess, lofty and never hungry."

"But why should I become the kind of person I once despised? What right do they have to dictate my thoughts?" Olina’s face radiated a brilliant smile, her tone brimming with confidence and pride.

"In Qinle’s words, they’re monsters with blood stained by evil, hands drenched in the blood of innocents, their faces hideous. Why should I become a monster? What right do monsters have to command me? They are not worthy."

"I will always be Olina, not Olina of Dawn."

The first rays of light rose from the horizon, banishing the night, shining upon the girl’s back. She smiled, radiant as a flower, confident and proud.

Aimeya was stunned. The same absurd, disgusting reality, but why could Olina smile through it all?

"Aimeya, why aren’t you saying anything?" Olina waved her hand before her friend’s eyes.

"Hmph! Why is it your turn to comfort me?" Aimeya shook off Olina’s hand. "Do as you wish, you fool. Just don’t regret it later—I'll just accept my own blessings."

With that, she turned away. Olina hurried after her, golden hair gleaming, laughing, "Aimeya, were you stunned by me? Were you? Were you?"

"Go away! Who could be moved by a fool’s words like yours?" Aimeya turned her head, refusing to look at the golden-haired girl.

"But I saw you freeze up!"

"I did not! And stay away, you smell like sweat!"

"Hahaha, Aimeya, you’re blushing!"

...

On the streets of the capital at dawn, most people were still asleep.

Suddenly, the loud pounding of hooves and strange roaring noises filled the air. Some people woke abruptly, peering out their windows to see steel monsters, led by kingdom knights, quickly passing along the main avenue.

Extraordinary beings lurking in the shadows each used their own powers to focus their sights on the procession.

The convoy made its way to the central palace.

Qinle stepped down from the armored vehicle. Marquis, captain of the kingdom knights, who had been waiting at the palace gate for some time, rushed forward and bowed slightly. "Sir, please follow me. His Majesty has been waiting."

"Very well," Qinle nodded.

Surrounded by his vanguard squad and the kingdom knights, Qinle entered the palace. The extraordinary beings who had been secretly watching withdrew their gaze.

A figure suspected to be a high-ranking human had entered the capital.

News of this quickly reached the ears of the major nobles, many still lying in bed.

...

Within the palace, in a pavilion surrounded by flowing water and filled with blooming flowers, Qinle and the King of Dawn sat at a stone table.

Qinle was the first to speak. "Your Majesty, isn’t the Kingdom of Dawn becoming a bit too chaotic lately?"

Now, the entire kingdom seemed resigned to the king’s imminent death, with all factions acting increasingly brazenly. They even let the Green Ghost Disaster slip by, simply to hinder each other.

Qinle had thought that was the worst it could get, but recent reports showed things were even more dire. The kingdom teetered on the edge of division, dark currents swirling beneath the surface, everyone waiting for the king’s fall.

The so-called royal selection was just the beginning of fracture and collapse, for the royal family of Dawn lacked a champion strong enough to command all. This was the weakness of a world built on the might of powerful individuals—when the king was weak, the kingdom immediately threatened to fall apart.

"Indeed, it is far too chaotic. Most people can no longer recognize their place," the King of Dawn replied, his gaunt face betraying no concern, as though the kingdom’s safety no longer mattered and he had succumbed to despair.

"Sir, if you are willing to marry Olina, I will grant you the entire eastern domain of the kingdom, making you its second duke. What do you think?" the king suddenly proposed, startling Qinle.

The eastern domain comprised nearly half the kingdom’s territory. The land was barren, with the Dead Swamp covering much of it, leaving little usable farmland and teeming with dangerous creatures.

Yet it was undeniably vast, enough for a duchy.

Qinle did not immediately accept, but instead asked, "Your Majesty, do you wish for me to help Olina ascend the throne?"

Such a lavish dowry was clearly meant for a queen.

The king’s sudden proposal was unexpected, but made sense. With the kingdom in turmoil, a smooth succession and the preservation of Dawn’s legitimacy required powerful outside intervention.

Xuanlu had demonstrated extraordinary military strength and had a good relationship with Olina—making him the perfect candidate.

Add to that the political tradition of marriage alliances, and a union with Olina would be the strongest, safest guarantee.

Qinle took a few seconds to figure out why the king had made this offer.

As expected, the King of Dawn nodded. "Yes, Olina may lack pure noble blood, but her talent is remarkable—at seventeen, she is a great knight, and has hope of reaching the sixth rank. Noble blood matters, but ultimately, the world values strength and talent."

"As long as you agree to marry Olina, you will be the next King of Dawn, ruling the kingdom alongside her."