Chapter 364

Transia was quite a peculiar place.

Perhaps it was truly due to bad feng shui. Just as Murphy was commenting on how Miss Becky had procrastination issues, the young lady of the Seville family, along with her bodyguard, childhood friend, and best friend Lady Liwen, was aggressively blocking Miriam who was about to leave work.

Because Miriam served as the Crimson Regent, her “security level” in the Crimson Citadel had already been maximized by Murphy.

Not only did she have special “bulletproof carriages” for transportation, but she also had at least three elite witch hunters protecting her at all times. During nighttime travels, “Mad Woman” Bonnie, Tris’s personal guard captain, would specially arrange vampires to protect her from the shadows.

However, Miriam didn’t really need so many measures, because the Spirit Sovereign and Blood Vulture Grand Duchess Lady Tris maintained constant spirit energy awareness over the entire city.

If something really happened, the Blood Vulture Grand Duchess teleporting over would be more effective than any other measure.

However, as the regent of a region, she still needed to maintain the proper appearance. They couldn’t always wait for Tris to take action.

After all, security measures often held more symbolic significance than practical significance. Regarding this point, a certain former prime minister who was reborn in another world due to his open-mindedness had great authority to speak on the matter.

He had personally proved with his life that no matter what security experts or hidden beautiful female bodyguards were present, nothing was more useful than maintaining alertness through regular exercise and most importantly, doing fewer unethical things and making fewer enemies.

Getting off track here, let’s get back to the interesting story happening in Transia.

Just as the Crimson Regent’s carriage had driven out of the administrative office, it was blocked by two young ladies in front. Miss Becky even stood brazenly in front of the carriage, spreading her arms in a “I won’t let you pass unless you run me over” pose.

The evening wind blew across the street at this moment, lifting Miss Becky’s golden hair and making the carriage curtains flutter, revealing Miriam who was taking a nap inside.

She was truly too tired and hadn’t immediately noticed the disturbance ahead.

But the three witch hunter guards beside the carriage were very dutiful. They immediately drew their weapons, and the last guard driving the carriage also gripped a red oak seed ready to release protective spirit energy, fully demonstrating their strong capabilities in protection.

However, everyone didn’t attack immediately, but exchanged glances with each other.

Because they all recognized the beautiful blonde young lady before them. These past few days, Becky had been walking the streets with Civilian Protection Officer Lord Kudel, and because of Lord Kudel’s extremely high reputation among the common people, this “enemy nation’s young lady” from the Anju region had become known to many people.

“Lady Becky, what are you doing here?”

Miriam’s guard captain, Norman, a veteran from Natalie’s former squad, put away his weapon and rode forward, asking in a low voice:

“If it’s official business, please come visit the regent tomorrow morning. Lady Miriam, who has been working hard for Transia, is very tired now.

She urgently needs to return to her residence to rest.”

“Precisely because it’s personal business that I had to wait until after the regent’s work hours to speak with her. I wouldn’t want to occupy her work time with my personal matters,”

Miss Becky said casually:

“I just want to talk to her about my fiance. Don’t worry, look, Liwen and I didn’t even bring weapons.”

When these words were spoken, all four witch hunters by the carriage were stunned.

Veteran Norman couldn’t show his real expression because of his mask, but in reality Norman was shocked too.

After all, in this kind of situation where a young lady blocks another noble lady and explicitly says she wants to talk about her fiance, no matter what country, what background, or what era it happened in, it was an extremely explosive and exciting topic!

Summarizing it down, wasn’t this just “fighting over a man” in short?

Holy crap!

We’d always heard these nobles played around in complicated ways, and seeing it today it’s truly extraordinary.

Of course, Norman and Miriam weren’t meeting for the first time. He didn’t believe the Crimson Regent would do such improper things. Not to mention anything else, just with her daily work intensity she barely had enough time to sleep and rest, how would she have time to play these games?

Therefore, after a brief shock, Norman immediately refused in his cold and hoarse unpleasant tone:

“You jest. As a Black Iron Knight, would you need weapons to harm an ordinary person?

We have our duties and cannot allow you to approach the regent in this situation. If you must speak with her, please go to the secretary’s office to make an appointment in advance.

Perhaps tomorrow, Lady Miriam can spare some time to talk with you.”

“But I’m leaving tomorrow,”

Miss Becky sighed and said:

“These past few days in the Crimson Citadel I’ve only watched you guys fight with the northerners. It was exciting for sure, but I didn’t get any real business done. I just want to say a few words to Lady Miriam before I leave.

I know my status as a Goldflower Kingdom noble makes it hard for you to trust me. How about this? Can you help me deliver a letter to Lady Miriam?

When I find another opportunity in the future, I’ll come visit again.”

“That would be fine.”

Norman nodded, and Miss Becky was about to write a letter on the spot, but at this moment, Miriam’s puzzled voice came from inside the carriage:

“Why are we stopped here? Did something happen? Oh, isn’t this Miss Becky? What are you doing here?”

Miriam who had just been napping pulled back the window curtain to look outside, and happened to see Becky and Liwen blocking the road ahead.

She had already learned about these two young ladies’ connection to Lord Kudel from Adele and Sharon, so she naturally viewed them as “our people” and didn’t show hostility towards them just because they were from the Goldflower Kingdom.

“You want to talk to me about your fiance? Is it Senior Frayzer?”

The regent heard about what happened earlier from the female guard driving the carriage. She had never imagined this kind of plot would happen to herself.

She rubbed her brow both angrily and amusedly, saying in a tired voice:

“Get in the carriage, we can talk about this issue.”

“But won’t it affect your rest?”

Miss Becky observed Miriam’s dark circles under her eyes that were so heavy they needed noble glasses to hide them, and the undisguisable exhaustion in her eyes. She tilted her head and said:

“I thought earlier you might be making excuses, but now I confirm you truly don’t have time to waste on this kind of thing. Should we wait until next time I visit to discuss it?”

“After you return to Anju this time, wanting to come to Transia again will probably have to wait at least until the Black Plague ends.”

Miriam said in a gentle tone:

“Even without considering your family factors, just considering that the current scale of the Black Plague is still unknown, this could very possibly be our last meeting.

I don’t know what you’re thinking.

But if I were in your position facing this kind of life-changing issue, I wouldn’t leave the problem to be solved later.

Come up.

It’s still some distance from here to where I live. If it’s just about Frayzer, we won’t need too much time.”

Under Miriam’s insistent invitation, Miss Becky stepped into the carriage.

Lady Liwen, as her guard, stayed outside and sat together with the female witch hunter driving the carriage, while perking up her ears to eavesdrop on the conversation in the carriage.

This behavior was immediately discovered by the witch hunter driving.

But she didn’t stop it, because she was eavesdropping too.

Not just her, the other three witch hunter guards including Norman all inadvertently extended their perception to maximum, and even Governor Murphy who was currently pretending to be out patrolling and taking a walk in the shadows by the street was doing the same.

He had flown over the moment he learned through Revnor’s eyes in the Blood Vulture Halls that Becky and Miriam were about to start a “fight over a man”, planning to “watch the drama unfold, strongly observe from the sidelines”.

In this dramatic situation right now, he definitely stood on Miriam’s side.

But Miss Becky’s unique personality and her background of being “related by marriage” to the Blood Vulture Clan really made it impossible to dislike her. If the two young ladies really started fighting, Murphy would definitely appear immediately to stop it to avoid “hurting the harmony”, but before it developed into hair-pulling and face-slapping, Murphy would happily enjoy this drama.

Being governor in Transia was too boring, with fixed and dull daily life routines.

Besides fencing with Necessary Evil, there was only attacking and defending with Tris, wiping little players’ butts, and thinking about how to develop Transia’s future all day. The only entertainment left was watching people brag on the forum.

Finally getting such an “explosive” event, I, Lord Murphy, absolutely must eat this melon until I’m stuffed!

But to Murphy’s and the other eavesdroppers’ disappointment, after Becky sat in the carriage, there was no delightfully dramatic big fight that broke out between the two young ladies.

On the contrary, their conversation was all about “stating facts and reasoning”.

Due to Transia’s current tight supplies, even the regent’s carriage wasn’t particularly luxurious. At least in Becky’s view, even the carriages that her family’s six butlers rode when going out were better than Miriam.

But appearances don’t represent the inside.

Especially when it comes to things related to “power”!

Becky was very clear that the red-haired young lady before her, who was two years younger than herself and wore a tired expression, currently held a position in Transia’s power system equivalent to the prime minister of the Goldflower Kingdom.

Even her own father would have to lower his attitude when facing such a figure, so she didn’t speak immediately, but waited for Miriam to take the initiative.

“First, I need to clarify something.”

Miriam picked up her water cup.

This was a “thermos” handcrafted and given to her by Hundred Forging Great Horse, currently one of the best blacksmiths among the little players, which always contained hot water.

Transians didn’t have the habit of drinking hot water, but Murphy thought this was simple and moreover this kind of small detail, once discovered, would best bring Miriam closer to the little players.

The regent unscrewed the thermos lid, took a sip of hot tea to disperse some fatigue, and showed an approachable smile as she said to Becky:

“There is nothing between Frayzer and me beyond friendship. In fact, I’m more wary of him than anyone else.

Because that senior of mine has grown into an outstanding intelligence gatherer during the Ten-Year War.

I’m very clear that during the period when he was ordered to come to Transia to record Salrokdar’s death story, his approach to me was all with purpose.

Under such circumstances, I don’t think you need to worry about any different sparks flying between him and me.

And from a personal perspective, I do quite admire him.

However, that’s all there is to it.”

“But he care for you”

Miss Becky said with a strange look:

“Uh, you probably can’t imagine some of his views about you that he described to me. I can only say that in this matter, you two’s perceptions of each other are truly worlds apart.

You don’t even know what he’s done for you during this time.

Also, I didn’t come to clarify this with you and demand you leave Frayzer. Lady Miriam, I’m not that petty.

Actually these past few days in the Crimson Citadel I haven’t just been running around with grandfather. I had my own plans to inquire about you from others.

I wanted to see what kind of image you had in others’ eyes.

I have to say, the information I found out was just as different from my impression of you before coming as night and day.

I never imagined that a woman even younger than me could gain such high praise in a place like Transia with its fierce folk customs.

I’ve seen more than one mother encouraging her daughter, saying she should learn from you, to become a noble and outstanding woman like you in the future.

The people under your protection seem to already view you as a symbol of this land. I even had a feeling that for the locals, their love for you might even be above their awe of Governor Murphy!

Perhaps this is because you were born in Transia, making you more ‘orthodox’ than Lord Murphy in this respect?”

“Is that so? Then it seems my hard work during this time has had some rewards, this is enough to make me feel gratified.”

Miriam smiled.

This time she smiled very happily and took another big drink of hot tea, then relaxed and stretched her body before saying to Miss Becky:

“So in your eyes, what kind of image do I have? Becky, can I call you Becky? Or should I call you Lady Seville?”

“Whatever you like, my grandfather even calls me ‘Little Peach’, truly an old person’s homophonic humor.”

Miss Becky rolled her eyes.

As a formidable princess knight who inherited the Nantes Rangers’ martial valor, she didn’t care what others called her.

However, facing Miriam’s question, she still used her rarely used smooth brain to think for a moment before frowning and saying:

“You are the kind of person that never appeared in my life plans.”

“Ah?”

This answer was distinctive enough to make Miriam’s eyes widen, then she heard Becky explain:

“Since I was little I listened to my father tell stories about grandfather’s adventures. Perhaps because I heard too many knight stories when I was young, it caused my growth to be completely different from other girls.

I don’t like dresses, don’t like jewelry, don’t like cosmetics, and don’t like those boys hovering around me.

But I’m very interested in beating them up.

I like warhorses, like collecting weapons and armor, like disguising myself to go on adventures with Liwen.

Even just listening to those down-and-out travelers in taverns tell stories they made up in a few minutes can make me happy for a whole day.

Before coming to Transia, my biggest dream was to become a valiant knight who leaves legends in history like my grandfather.

I actually don’t like Frayzer either.

I’d rather call him my good brother.”

“Pff”

Miriam couldn’t hold back and laughed out loud.

Becky laughed too.

The slight tension in her heart completely flew away at this moment. She even changed her sitting posture, from the hated lady-like pose to a more comfortable but somewhat too casual and unrefined warrior pose.

She leaned back in the carriage seat opposite Miriam, shrugging as she said:

“I’m not joking~

In Nantes City, Frayzer and I already agreed that if fate pushes us to that step, I wouldn’t mind bearing him a child.

After all, this concerns the marriage alliance between two families. Although I don’t like it, I have to make necessary sacrifices and contributions for my family.

Who made me a girl?

From the moment I was born, I was destined to be unable to choose my own fate. But during these days in Transia my thoughts have wavered, and the reason for the wavering is you, Miss Miriam.

In you I saw another possibility of being a woman!

That’s another possibility even more amazing than becoming a female knight who leaves her name in history. I can’t help but think, if I had your background, if I were in your position would I do better than you.

But every time the thinking ends in disappointment.

My brain and my heart and my friend Liwen’s contemptuous eyes are all telling me that I’m not cut out for this.”

She paused, seriously saying to Miriam:

“Miriam can become a better Becky, but Becky would find it hard to become an outstanding Miriam. I have to admit, Frayzer’s pursuit of you isn’t just from a man’s desire for a woman.

You truly are a very charming lady.

This isn’t just because of your excellent appearance. Your story has just begun, but it’s already more exciting than my past 20-plus years of life.

We’re not opponents on the same level at all.

I lost.

This is the first time in my life that I’ve so willingly admitted defeat to another woman in something. If you want, I will gracefully withdraw.”

“Withdraw from what? Raise your head and look into my eyes!”

Miriam took a sip of tea.

Putting on the regent’s dignity, she stared severely at Becky, her gaze sharp as a knife.

Under the gaze of this person in power who had already accumulated presence, Miss Becky uncomfortably shifted her body and even slightly changed her posture to make herself tense up again.

“Do you plan to treat yourself and me as commodities that can be freely chosen by Senior Frayzer? Becky, is your value of existence only as decoration and trophy in some man’s life?

I heard you also studied history at Shaldor Academy, but if Professor Malcolm heard what you just said, he would surely be very disappointed.

I told you from the start, Becky, I don’t like Frayzer.

Even if I did like him, I wouldn’t ask you to withdraw to let us be together. One person’s happiness shouldn’t be built on destroying another’s happiness, and right now you are his fiancee!

So, show some spirit, don’t be like a defeated kitten.

This style doesn’t suit you.”

She put down her water cup and took Becky’s hand.

She said very seriously:

“You are not anyone’s accompaniment and definitely not a cake for anyone to take. Moreover, you were wrong earlier, no matter how amazing Miriam is, she cannot become the valiant Becky.

In my eyes you are also something I would never dare imagine becoming in my life.

Also, perhaps you’ve underestimated my intelligence network as Crimson Regent a bit. Actually when you were ambushed at Transia’s border, I already knew you and I would definitely have this conversation.

But your honesty exceeded my expectations.

Even a bit adorably foolish.

I’ve confirmed now, they will definitely like you!

You might even replace Lady Tris’s position in their hearts and become Transia’s most popular ‘Knight Queen’.”

“They?”

Becky asked puzzledly:

“Who?”

“Transia’s warriors.”

Miriam narrowed her eyes, looking Becky up and down as if appraising an outstanding work of art, she said:

“Your grandfather once led them to defeat the gnolls entrenched across all of Transia, and now he has just retired as warrior commander, but I think you might become the most suitable successor.

Therefore, I hereby formally invite you, Becky, in my capacity as Transia’s Crimson Regent, to stay here, stay in the Crimson Citadel.

Didn’t you want to become a great knight like the Nantes Ranger?

Trust me!

You absolutely won’t find such a dreamy starting point like ours anywhere else on the continent. The most magnificent and fearless warriors you can imagine are yearning for a true knight leader.

I also believe that one day, you will become an outstanding woman that men like Frayzer have to look up to. I’m absolutely certain of this!

Stay, Becky.

Transia, full of darkness and crisis but destined to rise, is the most suitable stage for you.”

To Miriam’s sincere invitation, Becky’s response was

“Huh?”

“Huh? That’s it? That’s all?”

Murphy, who was eavesdropping in the shadows beside the carriage, also had a disappointed face.

Really came excitedly but only heard such dispiriting things. Before the now grown-up Miriam, Becky’s level was truly too low, simply getting steamrolled all the way.

The rhythm of the conversation had been secretly controlled by the cunning regent from the very beginning, and there was even a reversal of roles with a divine twist at the end.

Although Miriam’s proposal made Murphy quite moved, although this orthodox story of “blonde beauty voluntarily becoming a knight idol to save the world” was also very touching, this was absolutely not the “fight over a man” that Murphy had hoped to hear tonight!

Hey!

Give me my money back!