Chapter 4063: Lack of Talent and Backing
Chapter 4063: Lack of Talent and Backing
The next was Princess Werxia, who was actually also from the Zentian Empire. However, she was the daughter of a king of one of the countries in the Zentian Continent. Her father was a vassal of the Zentian Empire to start with.
Why was she here? Because of her talents. Zanbril mentioned at the start of the tests that some of the princesses were from his own Zentian Empire, and Wexia was one of those. She was chosen for this role and even given two Semi-Celestials as her advisors, though she had to replace one with a Divinity because of the first test.
Werxia was the first to really say what you would want from a candidate. "I want to help the Zentian Empire, as I’m someone born here. The more I grow, the better for both of us, and being your wife is a shortcut for that. As my husband, I expect you to help achieve this goal. If you lack the resolve, I will find a way to replace you."
Zanbril was slightly surprised. Her resolve was well within his own ideals. He might never become emperor, but that didn’t mean he didn’t care about the Zentian Empire. Much the opposite, he considered himself lucky to be part of the Imperial Family, and always made the most of that privilege. His ideal wife was exactly what he said at the start, someone who would stand by his side and do well by the Zentian family name, just like himself. "That’s a very good answer, and the fact that you aren’t lying is even better."
Werxia smiled sweetly. If Zanbril is true about his speech at the start of the gathering, then she also considered them a good match.
The other three princesses sighed. It was pretty obvious the formation would never select them when there was someone like Werxia there.
Finally, it was Xixie’s time, and truth be told, she thought the same thing as the others. Her real reasons had nothing to do with the well-being of the Zentian Empire.
"Now... do you think you can do better?" Zanbril looked at her, pretty much certain Werxia was the best choice too.
Xixie shook her head in response. She can not lie in this place. "I don’t. Werxia is definitely the best choice. Can we leave now?"
Werxia’s smile increased. The formation didn’t act on Xixie, so she definitely thought what she said.
However, Zanbril refused. "You can’t. This test requires everyone to answer my two questions."
Xixie could only do so.
"Well, I have no intentions towards the empire. I don’t want anything from either."
Zanbril was confused. "This... what’s the point in coming here then?"
Xixie looked at Hoblio and Derfiu outside the formation. They had sad expressions, but they nodded at her in the end. So, Xixie continued.
"Back home, there is a rule for people like me. If you’re born without talent and especially without backing, you are given to a sect. Not to cultivate freely, but to be used as a presence of the Empire. You refine pills, tend fields, fuel formations, fight battles you can’t win. You don’t die in one glorious moment."
"You just... fade."
The formation stayed silent.
"They call it duty, not sacrifice. You live long, but every year takes something away. Your dreams. Your name. Your right to choose. In the end, you’re still alive, but there’s nothing left that belongs to you."
She looked at Zanbril.
"That is the death I was running from. Not a blade. Not an explosion. A life where I’m slowly consumed until I become a resource."
"So why am I here?"
"Because staying where I was means disappearing for sure."
"So, yes, the only good thing going for me is that I don’t want anything from you or your empire. I just want to have my chance to grow without chains, and the Zentian Empire’s name just so happens to be convenient."
"At least, as far as I’m concerned, I carry no risks. Well, you could also say I’m boring, and I won’t complain. I’m aware of that myself."
Rean and Kentucky looked at Hoblio. What she said was different from what they heard before they left Riquicious. So, Hoblio could only explain to them. ’We told you that we would use Xixie’s status as Zanbril’s wife to make the Riquicious Empire a vassal of the Zentian Empire, didn’t we?’
Rean and Kentucky nodded, waiting for Hoblio to continue. ’Well, that was a lie. Such a thing would be far from enough to convince the Zentian Empire to take us as a Vassal Empire. We are too small, not worth bothering with at all for an Empire like Zentian.’
’Those involved in this were those who knew Xixie since birth. When Derfiu thought he killed Xixie and said he would talk to our father about it, that meant he would tell about even the fact that we left. Truth be told, our father probably doesn’t even know about all of this yet. Man... I can already see the rage on our father’s face when he hears about it.’
But then, he looked at Xixie, and his expression showed no regret. ’This was a chance, a chance where father and the traditions of the Riquicious Empire would not be able to intervene.’
Rean and Kentucky sighed. Those involved in this conspiracy were probably the ones tasked with helping Xixie in her first years. After all, a talent check is only done at the age of five. The fact that Xixie was still a princess in the Riquicious Empire was likely because Hoblio and the others kept intervening. Still, it was reaching a point where they could hold on any longer.
’Can’t you just send her away, to live somewhere without carrying the name of the empire?’ Kentucky couldn’t help but ask.
’Run where?’ Hoblio asked them. ’If the empire makes a formal request, they can use the network to find out where Xixie is. She can’t possibly live the rest of her life without using the Werdlem Network. Even worse would be if the Riquicious Empire requested the full blockage of her access to cultivation energies. Then, she would be done for sure.’
Sure enough, the Werdlem Network was as good as it was bad.
Their Divine Sense talk lasted a moment, so the events continued.
"Well, that’s an unexpected answer. Nonetheless, there can be only one wife, and the choice is not mine," Zanbril said. "The formation will now select the best princess to stand with me."