Chapter 218 – Good News from Kamos

“Who cares what he’s here for? How much worse can things get anyway?”

Trelinka thought with a hint of resignation as she stepped barefoot from her bed.

Her fair jade-like feet touched the cold floor, the chill instantly sharpening her senses. She slowly walked to the dressing table, staring blankly at the stunning face reflected in the mirror.

The pale complexion showed no trace of color, while the deep eyes held only despondence and gloom. She no longer resembled the formidable young princess who once commanded respect, but rather someone who merely looked like “Trelinka.”

Slap! Slap!

Trelinka vigorously patted her cheeks.

“This won’t do. You are the Princess of Dillon Kingdom, the Leader of the Glory Army, the only hope of this nation!”

She spoke these words to her reflection, continuing until a flicker of vitality returned to her face. Only then did she step away from the dressing table. She still had to receive that meaningless envoy and continue striving to find a path to survival for the hundred thousand soldiers of the “Glory Army.”

Knock, knock, knock. “Your Highness Princess Trelinka, are you ready?”

“I’m ready, coming now!”

——————————————

In the opulent hall, intricate reliefs and priceless paintings adorned the walls. Every brick composing the hall was coated in dazzling gold powder. Though these decorations bore traces of age, they still exuded an air of grandeur and luxury.

At the center of the hall, a young man adorned with gold leaf and gemstones on his robe performed a formal greeting toward a gracefully approaching maiden. Though his noble etiquette was precise and meticulous, every movement from the youth seemed imbued with frivolity and exaggeration.

This young man was naturally the envoy of Kamos Kingdom—Kulun Lailar. The maiden he was greeting was Princess Trelinka, who had just donned her formal attire.

“Your esteemed Highness, I convey the most sincere greetings on behalf of His Majesty William, the one true King of Kamos!”

As Trelinka approached, Kulun smirked mischievously, then took her delicate, gloved hand—clad in pale lavender—and performed a kiss. Typically, a kiss on the hand was merely a symbolic gesture of respect between members of the opposite sex, requiring only a light touch of the lips. However, Kulun pressed his lips firmly against Trelinka’s glove for a full three seconds. It was only when Trelinka forcefully withdrew her right hand that Kulun rose, feigning a nauseating expression of lingering desire.

“My apologies, my apologies! Your Highness’s beauty is so overwhelming that I lost my composure!”

Noticing Princess Trelinka’s displeased expression, Kulun offered a leisurely apology, though his words carried not a hint of genuine remorse. Instead, they were laced with vulgar self-satisfaction.The envoy’s continuous disrespectful behavior and roving eyes from the very beginning made Princess Trelinka extremely uncomfortable. Particularly, the undisguised disgusting gaze in those eyes that scanned her up and down made Trelinka feel as if her garments were being stripped away one by one, an unbearable sensation.

Had this been the Trelinka before the “Glory Army” uprising, she would have long since slapped such a lecherous scoundrel across the face. But now, Trelinka had to suppress the chill in her heart and say:

“It’s alright, Lord Kulun. Let’s get straight to the point. Does His Majesty William have any messages to convey?”

On the surface, Trelinka could only maintain her smile while receiving this envoy. She understood she already had enough troubles – the Kamos Kingdom was not someone she could afford to offend.

Seeing Trelinka visibly restraining her anger yet unable to speak out, Kulun felt immensely satisfied and grew even more arrogant. He practically used a commanding tone when addressing Princess Trelinka:

“Our time is precious, so I’ll make myself clear right here!

As I understand, your Glory Army’s defeat is inevitable, and the Church of Dawn won’t accept any so-called surrender. In other words, you’ve reached a dead end. Am I right?”

Kulun wore an expression of smug confidence as he spoke triumphantly.

“What do you mean? Our Dillon Kingdom’s affairs don’t require concern from other nations.”

Trelinka responded sharply to Kulun, finding it hard to endure this inexplicable outsider’s sarcastic remarks. From childhood to adulthood, this was the first time Trelinka had encountered such an insolent envoy – both genuine respect and superficial courtesy had been completely discarded within mere seconds.

Not wanting to hear another word from this disgusting individual, Princess Trelinka raised her voice and declared loudly:

“If you’ve come merely to mock my failure, then please leave. The success or failure of the ‘Glory Army’ never requires others’ judgment. Brave warriors will prove their honor through action…”

“Action? Honor? Being chopped into mincemeat by the Noble Alliance? Or being burned to ashes by the Church of Dawn? I must say, your concept of honor is quite unique indeed.”

Kulun unceremoniously interrupted Trelinka, smugly questioning the princess who had lowered her head in silent submission, while mercilessly continuing his sarcastic remarks.

Though Kulun was arrogant, this didn’t mean the noble-born man knew nothing about negotiation. He had already identified Trelinka’s weakness.

“Though the situation has deteriorated beyond redemption, and though your stubbornness continues to bury the ‘honor’ you speak of, beautiful Her Highness Princess Trelinka, I have brought good news for you and your people!”

“What good news…”

The refuteless Trelinka asked instinctively.

Watching Princess Trelinka’s somewhat dazed expression, Kulun chuckled coldly with the confidence of certain victory.”The great and merciful King William could not bear to witness so many lives being slaughtered, thus he has specially permitted one hundred and fifty thousand soldiers of the Glory Army to seek political asylum in the Kamos Kingdom. As long as these soldiers comply with the military assignments of the Kamos Kingdom, they may reside within its borders as the ‘Foreign Legion’ of Kamos. Even the Church of Dawn would have no justification to pursue a group of soldiers who are no longer part of the Dillon Kingdom and are now legally recognized.”

Before Trelinka could process this, Kulun swiftly added another statement. This time, however, not a trace of even feigned respect remained in his tone; instead, his words were saturated with a raw, unadulterated possessiveness:

“Oh, and to demonstrate the friendship and mutual support between our two kingdoms, and to further solidify the Kamos Kingdom’s assistance to the ‘Glory Army,’ the Kamos Kingdom earnestly invites the esteemed Princess Trelinka and the eldest legitimate son of the Laila Family—Kulun Laila, that is, myself—to enter into a marital alliance. I implore the beautiful Princess Trelinka not to refuse.”

“Of course, the wise Her Highness the Princess would not refuse, would she?”

(End of Chapter)