Chapter 29: Eve of the Siege
“Oh my, Teleportation is truly convenient!”
“It’s just… isn’t teleporting within the city a bit too extravagant?”
Recalling the Legendary battles that would occur in the next few years, none of which involved half-elves, Shelley relaxed.
“After all, she’s a Legend. How many Legends can this small kingdom have? And they have to be hostile to threaten Nadia.”
Riding on his horse, Shelley led the family guards to the Temple District and walked into the Temple of Justice alone.
He first bowed respectfully to the divine statue, then bowed to the Bishop and Elena, stood straight, and said:
“Reporting, My Lady. The personnel from Duke Bell’s mansion have all arrived. Please instruct!”
Elena stared at Shelley’s face with a strange look for a long time before slowly nodding and saying:
“Mm, let them follow the knights’ instructions. You come back and act separately with us.”
“Yes!”
Without any hesitation, Shelley turned around and went out to notify the guards immediately after receiving the instruction.
Shelley couldn’t quite figure out why Elena looked at him so strangely.
“About me and Nadia? No, she hasn’t even met Nadia…”
“Then it’s Lydia? That can’t be either; I turned off the lights…”
“Then it’s about when we were young…”
“How long ago was that?”
The more he thought about it, the weirder it felt, so Shelley simply gave up thinking.
“Forget it, I’ll deal with whatever comes!”
“I don’t believe that having conquered a Queen, I can’t deal with a mere Princess?”
Pausing his steps, Shelley looked left and right uneasily, only continuing forward after finding no one noticing.
“Hiss… I fucking might really not be able to deal with her, in the physical sense.”
Analyzing the hints given by the Incubus System, Elena was at least a high-level Warrior. Just based on level, she could crush him.
Of course, as a class with nearly comprehensive development, Paladins were very strong.
As an extremely special branch among semi-melee and semi-spellcasting classes, Paladins could heal, tank, and deal damage, regarded by many as walking bugs.
But developing in two aspects also meant that they couldn’t compare to purebred classes in either aspect.
Strength couldn’t compare to top-tier Warriors, and divine spells and healing couldn’t catch up with purebred Clerics.
Moreover, Elena couldn’t be summarized simply as a high-level Warrior!
Royal family, Captain of the Temple Knights, possibly even a Favored Soul!
With these identities stacked together, she naturally wouldn’t lack abilities and magic items.
“Fighting is definitely out of the question. Must be careful of direct conflict!”
“This thing needs to be outsmarted! Can’t use brute force!”
Gradually clarifying the situation, Shelley didn’t stay outside for long and hurried back inside the temple.
Putting on his helmet, he stood silently behind Elena like an ordinary Temple Knight.
“Bishop William, are the people from other temples ready?”
The Bishop, who looked middle-aged with a goatee, shook his head silently and said:
“Only the Temple of the Morning Lord is willing to participate in the frontal siege. Other temples are only willing to deal with those who slip through the net on the periphery.”
Thinking of Shelley standing behind her, Elena suppressed the urge to smack her lips and nodded in understanding:
“Normal. After all, no divine oracle was issued, and they have… connections with many nobles.”
“Only when the Evil God believers cause chaos will they regret it too late!”
“Ignore them. We set off now.”
Everyone stopped what they were doing and shouted in unison:
“As you command!”
“For justice in the world!”
“Fight for justice!!!”
With the impassioned slogans, the atmosphere of the entire temple changed from peaceful to active. Everyone moved, except for the two people still standing in front of the divine statue.
With her back to Shelley, looking up at the statue, Elena asked without turning her head:
“You seem to have something to ask me.”
No, I have nothing to ask!
Please don’t talk to me; I’m just a pillar in the temple.
“…Yes, I don’t understand, Lady Elena. We clearly could have acted during the day…”
Are we fishing?
This explanation was the answer Shelley could think of at the moment. He pretended to be puzzled and asked softly:
“But why choose to act at nightfall? And with such fanfare.”
Very satisfied with Shelley’s question, Elena shook her hair and raised her hand to untie the thin veil on her head.
Turning back to look into the eyes within the slit of Shelley’s helmet, Elena chuckled somewhat arrogantly and wantonly:
“Of course, it’s to lure those rats who only dare to go out late at night out of their holes.”
“This city, this country has been decaying for too long.”
“An opportunity is needed to clear out those rotting roots, even if it shakes the foundation of the country!”
Her deep black eyes shone with confidence, echoing the faint glow emitted by the statue behind her.
Elena’s height of around 175cm was similar to Nadia’s. Both were nearly 10cm shorter than Shelley, but their aura far exceeded the current Shelley.
“Truly a beautiful woman…”
Perhaps the temperament of ambition was out of place for others, but it suited her very well.
“Really, it’s been many years…”
“The little girl back then has also become different.”
Kneeling on one knee and taking off his helmet, Shelley quietly looked at this Princess who had given him many surprises.
Elena admired Shelley’s elegant posture and impeccable appearance with great satisfaction and said:
“Shelley, are you willing to fight for… for justice?”
Perhaps Shelley’s gaze was too intense. Halfway through speaking, Elena’s eyes drifted a bit, and her words changed unconsciously.
“As you wish, fight for justice!”
Don’t blush. Although even like this, I think you’re very cute.
Waving her hand somewhat annoyed, Elena bit her lip and said:
“Let’s go, execute those evil people.”
“Yes!”
…
In a high tower in the center of the Royal City, a majestic figure stood on the balcony, looking towards the pitch-black slums in the distance.
Without warning, a figure completely hidden in darkness appeared silently behind him, knelt on one knee, and said in a deep voice:
“My Lord, that Shelley has set off with Eldest Princess Elena.”
“The hounds are ready, ready to hunt at any time.”
Without turning around, the figure placed his hand on the railing and said, his deep voice revealing no joy or anger:
“Separate them. Someone needs to pay the price for that matter.”
“The Church has extended its hand too far. They need to understand that some things cannot be touched.”
“Go.”
Without answering, the figure bowed slightly and disappeared directly into the dark room.
“…Elena.”
“My poor…”
Clouds blocking the moon drifted by, and hazy moonlight sprinkled on him.
Illuminating his long hair, which was red mixed with withered gray.
