Chapter Twelve: Fate’s Connection

The two half-orc guards stared intently at the small figure wrapped entirely in a cloak before them. Covering oneself so completely in this season already seemed suspicious, and the refusal to reveal one’s name only heightened the doubts of these conscientious half-orc soldiers.

Seeing the burly, grotesque-looking half-orc soldiers with their bull-like eyes scanning her, their massive tower shields seeming insignificant in their hands, and their thick, heavy swords, though not drawn, exuding a deadly aura that made the small figure trembling in the hall, she felt even more uneasy.

After traveling thousands of miles, she was unsure if she would even meet the person she sought. The environment here was indeed very different from where she lived. From Mardan to here, it seemed like foreigners were everywhere. Although there were many of her own kind as well, races like barbarians, half-orcs, half-elves, elves, and dwarves were common in this region. Moreover, the mortals here seemed indifferent to them. Such a strange scene left her, who had no prior experience with such things, somewhat at a loss.

What shocked her even more was that those who greeted her upon entering the lord’s mansion were these ugly and terrifying half-orc warriors. The fear and pressure brought by the half-orcs, who were almost twice her height, were unimaginable. Their thick armor seemed more like decorations on them, and with each step they took, the new armor made a grating noise that was particularly harsh in her ears.

“Oh?” Komer propped herself up and raised her head, her eyebrows arching. An old acquaintance? Unable to see their faces? That was rather unusual. Coming to visit without wanting to reveal one’s identity, and covering one’s face tightly—what was the purpose? Assassins wouldn’t use such a method, would they?

Komer silently observed the small figure wrapped tightly in a black robe before her. There was a sense of familiarity, especially the aura emanating from the person, which made Komer feel as though they had left a deep impression on her in some past encounter.

“Princess Vero?” A flash of inspiration struck Komer’s mind, and intuition made her blurt it out.

The cloak suddenly fell away, revealing the girl’s smiling cheeks, her straight nose, her bright and dark eyes, her porcelain-like fair skin that seemed delicate to the touch, her beautifully shaped brows, and the statue of the Goddess of Abundance still worn around her slender neck. Her cherry-red lips curved into a smile, revealing her pearl-like teeth. That angelic smile was enough to captivate anyone, a natural smile that stemmed from the depths of her heart, free from any trace of coquetry or showiness, yet it possessed a stunning charm.

Clearly satisfied with Komer’s surprised and delighted expression, the girl glanced around and said cheerfully, “Is this really how Lord Baron treats his guests by having them stand here?”

Only then did Komer, as if waking from a dream, wave his hand to signal the two bewildered half-orc guards to leave. With a hearty laugh, he said, “It’s an honor for Princess to visit such a remote place. My humble abode here in Caucasus pales in comparison. How about you rest in the forest behind my house? Perhaps then you’ll be able to experience the unique charm of Caucasus.”

“Oh?” The girl’s curiosity was immediately piqued. Although she had traveled thousands of miles partly out of defiance toward her father, she had always dreamed of going out on her own to see the different cultures across the continent. Over the past few months, Caucasus had been frequently mentioned by her father, and the adventurers she met along the way also regarded it as a sacred place for adventures. The conquest of Damalensk Fortress was even widely boasted about, stirring her thoughts.

“Sure, I’ll follow your lead. Since I’m on Lord Baron’s land, I’ll naturally follow your arrangements,” the girl replied confidently, running her hand through her tied-back hair.

The Maple Forest indeed required a lot of effort from Komer. The vast area of maple trees had been pruned into a semi-circular shape, with neatly arranged trees forming a thick screen along the open space. Inside this green screen stood a beautifully designed small white stone colonnade. The columns were no taller than three meters, and the arched roof made clever use of vaulting techniques. The upper part of the corridor served as an aqueduct, while the fountain pool in the middle became a gallery of famous figures. This was a gift from foreign merchants to Komer. Though the marble statues, about human height, were somewhat rough, they seemed perfect in Komer’s eyes—carved with bold strokes, showing the style of a master artist. The statues depicted people in various poses—sitting, lying, pondering, or gazing—each with a distinct appearance. The fountain clearly used water supplied from the colonnade, with the abundant flow jumping around, creating a harmonious contrast with the stone statues between movement and stillness.

A row of half-human-height evergreen shrubs lined the colonnade, separating the central fountain from the stone tables and benches beneath it. Of course, stone paths connected them as well. The lush greenery shaded the colonnade, creating a pleasant atmosphere for sitting at the stone tables and benches to relax. What a delightful way to live!

The girl who entered the back garden was immediately captivated by this complex of buildings that combined the kingdom’s mainstream architectural style with local Caucasian features. What was most remarkable was how compact these buildings appeared, yet the stone statues were rugged and untamed. The breezy trees brought cool air, and the girl fell in love with this garden at first sight.

Seeing the undisguised joy on the girl’s face, Komer knew he had guessed right. He didn’t know how she had suddenly ended up in his land. Although his invitation at the banquet had been sincere, given the kingdom’s current situation, it seemed unlikely that Zelin, that old fox, would allow such an innocent and naive girl to travel around freely. Moreover, judging by her appearance, she didn’t even seem to have any servants with her—it was hard to imagine how she had gotten to Ugru.

“Princess, how did you come to Ugru? Where are your attendants?” As soon as she sat down, Komer hurriedly asked this question. He really needed to understand why this seemingly timid and shy girl suddenly had the courage to sneak away, though he was glad to see it happen.

“What? Does Baron Komer not welcome Vero?” The girl replied casually, her gaze still wandering around the colonnade.

“On the contrary, Komer is honored by your visit, Princess. If Princess Vero is interested, even staying in the Caucasus for a year or two would be welcome to Komer.” Expressing his joy carefully, Komer felt it necessary to talk to this girl properly. With no female confidante in the Caucasus at the moment, the sudden arrival of such an angelically pure beauty couldn’t help but fill him with delight. Besides, this girl had once made his heart flutter—only the unsuitable timing had forced him to leave sadly. Now that he had this chance, why not seize it?

“Well, I think it’s more convenient for me to call you Komer. You can just call me by my name too. Wouldn’t it get boring to keep switching between ‘princess’ and ‘baron’?” A joyful smile appeared on the girl’s face. “I’m traveling alone this time. I heard that Caucasus has undergone tremendous changes since you arrived. I was worried about having to go through the Greenland Forest and Leon, but now it’s much simpler—just take a ship from Gutenberg to Odessa, then transfer to a sea ship from Odessa to Middelburg. Though the law and order in Middelburg seems a bit chaotic. With so many foreigners, I was a bit scared at first.”

“Hehe, has Vero made any new discoveries from Middelburg to Ugru? Maybe things aren’t as bad as Vero imagines. Most of these foreigners are people from Caucasus; they have no criminal records. A small number are outsiders who entered Caucasus through legal channels. All races are treated equally in Caucasus. If anyone commits a crime, they’re punished severely. Please rest assured, Vero. My few hundred half-ork guards conduct patrols every day, so I believe no one will dare provoke them.” Komer waved for the servant to leave and personally poured coffee for her. Even though he was in Caucasus, Komer still tried to maintain his old habits, which helped bridge the distance between him and Vero.

“Hmm, it seems to be just as you described. I’m also surprised that these races can live in harmony in such an environment—it’s truly a miracle. At least none of the cities in our Calais region could achieve that.” Vero didn’t hide her admiration for what she saw in Caucasus. “I wonder why, compared to your territory, the neighboring Leon has turned out that way.”

“Oh, does Vero also know that things aren’t peaceful for Leon right now? Perhaps the situation varies from place to place. Here, the vast majority are free people. Although there are many residents of other races, such as barbarians, half-orcs, or elves, they all enjoy civil rights. Slaves do exist in our region, but in small numbers. Personally, I prefer to abolish this barbaric status and system. I hope my Caucasus can become a model of peaceful coexistence among all races in the kingdom. It would be even better if slavery could be eliminated, though that’s still a bit unrealistic.” Komer had gradually understood the kind-hearted princess’s mindset. Back in Gutenberg, she had already shown disapproval of her father and his suppression of protesting people, and this sentiment was even more evident in her words now. Perhaps it was the peace and tranquility of her chaotic land that moved her heart.

“Oh, by the way, Vero, doesn’t Duke Zelin worry at all about you going out alone? Things are so chaotic outside—your behavior is undoubtedly risky. If anyone has malicious intentions, it would be hard for you, in such a delicate appearance, to escape their grasp.” It was only then that Komer remembered she was going out alone. A delicate girl like her could even make someone with strong self-control like herself feel flustered. If she encountered some unscrupulous person and something went wrong, not to mention Zelin, even Komer herself would be filled with regret.

“Hehe, of course I know how to protect myself. I put on makeup before going out. Otherwise, I might not even be able to leave Galay. I took a ship straight to Odessa. The scenery of the Abyssal Sea is truly enchanting. If I could have an island there, I’d prefer to stay there for a lifetime!” Seeing Komer’s expression change slightly, the silver-haired girl smiled again and said, “But Caucasus isn’t bad either. I heard your castle is famous across the continent. When will you take me to see it?”

“Vero, aren’t you afraid of storms and pirates when you just go sailing casually? You’re really too bold.” Komer didn’t know whether to laugh or cry and could only shake her head. A gentle joy flowed in her heart—a sense of ease and naturalness she couldn’t describe. Talking with such a beautiful and playful girl was truly wonderful.

“Hehe, it seems there aren’t any storms over the Abyssal Sea this season, right? As for pirates, my father said that since Matdam dares to open its ports, it’s not afraid of pirates coming. What do you think?” She winked playfully at Komer, her eyes like black gems glistening with a misty sheen. Her words came out from her rosy lips, leaving Komer so parched that he forgot how to respond.

Used to such reactions, the girl smiled sweetly. Her gentle gaze, charming smile, and shy demeanor made Komer momentarily forget where he was. Was this really the same shy girl from just a few months ago? Could a girl change so quickly?

“What’s that?” Her eyes quickly settled on the hammock made of vines in the forest, her curiosity evident.

Coughing lightly, Komer didn’t know how to explain this barbaric way of camping in the forest to her. “Uh, it’s a hammock. It might be different from traditional ones, but it’s very useful in the forest. I learned this from the barbarians. Well, since there’s no one else here, lying on it, reading a book, and taking a rest can be a nice way to spend time.”

Komer’s words clearly pleased the girl. She walked over to the hammock. A rope ladder made of vines allowed her to climb up easily. There were even a few books in a bag woven from thin vines beside it. She picked up one and flipped through it. “Amidst the sea of people, do you dare to isolate yourself and cultivate your own peace? Let others around you make a fuss while you remain indifferent; neglected and lonely, like a flower in a desolate desert, unwilling to sway in the breeze.”

The lines, filled with gentle sorrow, stirred her trembling heart. After taking a deep breath, she gradually calmed down and asked, “Komer, do you like Shelley’s poems too?”

“Gentle girl, I fear your kiss, but you needn’t fear mine. My heart is already heavy enough with gloom to burden you with more sorrow. I fear your grace, manner, and voice, but you needn’t fear me. This heart worships yours with sincerity, purely and devotedly.” Komer also smiled slightly beneath the tree, gazing at the distant sky. His slightly sad voice seemed to carry endless vicissitudes, slowly touching her heart.

What was originally meant to be a collection of poems to ease loneliness turned into a magic trick to win over girls’ affection. Koemer never expected such a thing. If he had just recited a few poems selected from Shelley, Byron, Whitman, Heine, and others, it might have worked. But if the girls had known the little he actually knew, they would likely have walked away.