Early the next morning, the late autumn sunlight pierced through the sparse woods of Hyacinth Manor, casting dappled shadows upon the frost-white marble ground.
Under Willow's attendance, Sophia changed into a sharply tailored, deep purple daily outfit.
To suppress the slightly cloying scent of stale pine resin within the manor, Willow specially sprayed Sophia's collar and cuffs with the Wild Mint Supreme Essence that Irene had newly developed.
It contained a hint of rose essential oil and was a unique version Irene had made specifically for Sophia.
This cold, biting, yet vital herbal fragrance instantly rendered Sophia's 'Tyrant' aura—which usually kept people a thousand miles away—with a sense of holy and unattainable distance.
However, since perfume bottles hadn't been researched yet, it was simply sprayed lightly onto her person.
Just as Sophia was sitting under the manor's corridor, bored to death and counting the jumping water droplets in the fountain while pondering when that old thing from the Royal City of the Kingdom of Orr would be ready to formally receive everyone, a set of light and slightly hurried footsteps broke the morning silence.
"Heavens... the rumors are actually true? The Queen of Mason is really just a young girl younger than me?"
A female voice filled with amazement rang out.
Sophia turned her head sideways, her pale golden pupils refracting a cold and translucent luster under the sunlight.
The newcomer was a young girl wearing a goose-yellow fluffy long dress, possessing a head of thick, dark chestnut curly hair.
Although her skin was not as crystal clear as Sophia's, it radiated a healthy complexion. She was the Grand Princess of the Kingdom of Orr, Vasha-Orr.
As the eldest daughter of the Royal House of Orr, Vasha had originally come with the political task of sounding out the situation for her Royal Father. At the same time, she also wanted to meet the people from these countries.
After all, her future husband for the political alliance would very likely be among these people, or perhaps some outstanding children of the kings.
However, she had not expected that the King of Mason would truly be a young girl.
In her preconceived notions, that Sophia who had killed a crowd of nobles and could control high-end alchemy, even if not full of cross-grained muscle, should have been the kind of gloomy, haggard, scheming old woman.
But now, appearing before her eyes was a young girl so beautiful she seemed almost illusory, appearing to be even a year or two younger than herself.
Sophia just sat there quietly, silver hair sliding down her shoulders, that face as exquisite as a divine statue bearing no expression whatsoever.
This kind of coldness, brought about by her essential nature as a slacker, became a sort of ultimate imperial majesty in Vasha's eyes.
"You... Are you really that Your Majesty Sophia?"
Subconsciously, Vasha lifted her skirt, even forgetting her own stance as the host princess, her tone filled with disbelief.
Sophia nodded slightly, her cool voice like crushed ice hitting a wall:
"Princess of Orr."
She recognized the identity of the person before her at a single glance.
Dressed so luxuriously, with tender skin; one look and it was clear she wasn't someone who did any work.
Although the kings of other countries were also staying in this manor, according to what she knew, no one had brought a princess to the banquet.
Then the person before her was extremely likely to be the eldest daughter of the King of Orr, Vasha-Orr.
Is this the princess who is choosing a husband?
She looks quite lively. I wonder if that top-tier set of Irene's can pry some good things out of her hands.
Vasha blushed slightly under Sophia's profound gaze. she had wanted to retort with a few words, but upon getting within three steps of Sophia, she suddenly smelled a clear fragrance she had never smelled before.
It was not the stifling scent commonly used by the noblewomen of Orr, mixed with grease and rich floral aromas, but a freshness that instantly cleared the brain, as if one were standing in a forest during the first snow.
"So fragrant..."
Vasha couldn't help but sniff, her eyes instantly shining with astonishing brightness.
"Your Majesty, is this scent on your body also that kind of Divine Miracle product known as 'shampoo'?"
As the favored princess of the Kingdom of Orr, Vasha prided herself on having seen all the luxury goods in this world.
But in front of Sophia, she suddenly felt that her own heavy gold ornaments and strong perfumes were simply dirt-cheap and tacky.
"This is a blend exclusive to This Queen."
Sophia began to advertise Irene's products without changing her expression.
"Extracted from the soul of wild mint personally by the Great Inventor of Mason. Only the orthodox Royal House can command this aura."
Sophia was as steady as Mount Tai internally.
Vasha was not discouraged by Sophia's coldness; instead, she revealed a look bordering on worship.
She was seventeen this year, a year older than Sophia.
But looking at this girl monarch before her who had already personally killed her way back to the throne and deterred three surrounding kingdoms, the hero complex belonging to a young girl within Vasha's heart was thoroughly ignited.
"Your Majesty of Mason, that..."
Vasha twisted her handkerchief somewhat nervously and asked in a low voice.
"Could that Inventor blend a portion for me as well?
It doesn't need to be exactly the same. As long as it can have this fresh feeling, I am willing to pay... pay ten times the price as remuneration!"
This refreshing aroma truly made one feel completely renewed.
Vasha did not want to let this good opportunity slip by; not only could she buy what she wanted, but she could even speak more with this mysterious Queen.
Sitting to the side, Willow opportunely revealed an elegant professional smile, stepping forward and speaking softly:
"Princess Highness, my family's Majesty has delicate thoughts and long ago anticipated that the Royal House of the Kingdom of Orr would like it.
In the convoy this time, we specially brought a few portions of the 'Queen's Special Edition' as souvenirs.
Although it is not the same scent as the one Your Majesty uses personally, it is surprisingly suitable for the Princess Highness's gentle temperament."
As Willow spoke, she took out a transparent soap wrapped in silk from the wooden box she carried, which emitted a faint scent of mint and lily of the valley.
Vasha accepted that thing which was as crystal clear as a gemstone, simply unable to put it down.
"It's too beautiful. Your Majesty Sophia, you not only possess powerful weapons, but even this aesthetic of life is walking ahead of everyone else."
Vasha looked at Sophia, her eyes completely turning into the fanaticism of a later-generation small fan looking at an idol.
Standing in the shadows, Delilah witnessed the process of her own Majesty making the enemy country's Grand Princess almost defect immediately with just a few sentences and a bar of soap, and monstrous waves were once again set off in her heart.
I knew it...
Delilah pressed on her longsword, her azure eyes filled with reverence.
Have Her Majesty's methods in gaming the system already reached this realm of 'moistening things silently'?
She utilized a woman's pursuit of beauty to effortlessly drive a nail into the internal circle of the Royal House of Orr.
Princess Vasha looks like she has already somewhat fallen; this means the back garden of the Orr Palace will henceforth become Her Majesty's eyes and ears.
Is the cold calculation behind this beauty diplomacy truly something this age can possess?
Delilah took a deep breath, once again feeling ashamed of her own shallowness.
How was Her Majesty chatting idly? She was using a bar of soap to exchange for a kingdom's internal affairs immunity!
"Since the Princess likes it, Willow, send two more bars over later."
Sophia slowly stood up, her silver hair drifting lightly in the wind.
She looked at Vasha, her tone remaining cold, yet carrying a trace of extremely hidden mercy.
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