"Lord of Priest."
Edith walked through a corridor and at a glance saw the former Great Priest of Ambeser holding scissors, trimming branches in the courtyard. The old man, dressed in a robe, had his back to her, bending over, his head close to the lush leaves, appearing fully absorbed.
Wood only turned around when she spoke. He smiled slightly, "Edith, you’re here."
"Yes, Lord of Priest, may I ask what business you have with us?" Edith bowed and asked.
Wood put away the scissors, turned around, and casually placed a trimmed branch on the stone table in the courtyard. Edith saw his silvery-grey eyebrows relax as he said to her, "Go fetch your master, tell him if he wants to see that person, it’s today."
The maid stood there dazed, seemingly not comprehending at first, but after a moment, a gleam of surprise appeared in her eyes, "Lord of Priest—"
"No need to thank me on behalf of your master, Edith," Wood waved his hand, "I promised you nothing, this opportunity he earned himself, but whether or not he can persuade Her Highness and that person still depends on your own efforts."
"Only you would give us a chance, Lord of Priest."
"Then go and prepare quickly," Wood replied.
Edith hurriedly nodded, sincerely bowed to the former Great Priest of Ambeser, and then retreated. Wood watched her leave the courtyard, her figure disappearing at the other end of the corridor, and the old man sighed, picking up the scissors again. Just then, footsteps rustled from the other side of the corridor.
He hesitated slightly, and stopped his actions once more.
...
The attendant led Brand, the princess, and their company through the corridor, sunlight filtering in between the neatly trimmed hedges, casting zebra-stripe light patterns on the floorboards of the corridor.
"Mr. Brand, I’ll leave Haruz to you," Her Highness said softly as she watched Brand and her younger brother walk back from behind. She glanced at the uncommunicative Haruz.
Brand also looked at the little prince.
In fact, Haruz was secretly watching his expression, those eyes, darker grey than his sister’s, full of anxiety and a touch of pleading. Brand couldn’t help but find it amusing; he didn’t actually say much, only promised to keep a secret for this little prince.
Of course, he would keep it secret, but not that. He knew the real secret was that this little prince Haruz of Erune might possess some extraordinary talent, just as an article on the forum described in the previous life; that just by glancing at those obscure Black Magic Books, he could master the spells on them, a talent even the Bujia Wizard of the Silver People would be ashamed of.
But now was not the time to make this secret public; he didn’t want Haruz to develop arrogance, and also to protect the young crown prince of Erune.
To the princess’s query, he nodded gently.
The holly tree fences had already reached the end, causing a slight brightening. The attendant led them around the corner of the corridor, and then Brand saw the former Great Priest of Ambeser.
In his eyes, Wood appeared much leaner than half a month ago but also more composed, like he had been waiting for them for a long time. Upon seeing them, he immediately smiled, "Princess Griffine, Mr. Brand, you both have arrived."
Then his gaze turned toward the back, "Miss Antitina, Miss Roman, Young Prince, greetings." Antitina nodded politely, while on her side, Little Roman waved energetically at the Lord of Priest, and only Prince Haruz stood a bit timidly behind everyone.
Princess Griffine glanced at her brother and sighed, giving a slight bow to Wood. "Lord of Priest," Her Highness raised her head, "we are here for the Northern affairs."
Wood was stunned for a moment, then reacted. Her Highness, the Princess of Erune, being so direct, showing a stance of sparing no expense, clearly wanted to tell him that she had no intention of compromising on this issue.
Princess Griffine’s attitude did not surprise him, but even so, he couldn’t help but sigh. He understood from the start the princess’s firmness, but the Flame Temple, thinking they had victory assured, unexpectedly stirred up a great trouble in the end.