A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

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In fact, even if he met these people more than three times, Curtis was too lazy to remember their names.

She was indeed her father's favorite youngest daughter and had the right to inherit the throne, but she had older brothers and sisters above her, so she didn't need to consider that aspect.

Curtis herself had no interest in becoming emperor. It wasn't that she disliked it; she simply loved to have fun. At her age, she didn't want to spend half her life in the palace like her father. She had no desire for power; at most, she was a bit domineering and unruly.

Curtis wasn't interested in these people, and she couldn't be bothered to remember their names. Anyway, if the sky fell, the tall ones would hold it up; her older siblings would take care of it.

Her eldest brother is over forty years old, which is about the same age as Curtis's father.

The old emperor was happy to produce heirs for the royal family during his youth and middle age, and had a large number of concubines.

Curtis didn't care about this. She was never punished for her mistakes, which made her too arrogant and lawless when she went out. That's why Santa Karina taught her a lesson.

"Are you interested in her?"

Curtis had experienced firsthand the terrifying nature of Saint Karina in an indescribable way. When he saw Saint Karina looking at a woman, his gaze immediately became improper.

This wicked woman is definitely not the pure love type, and Curtis, though unwilling to admit it, is indeed very beautiful, with a beauty that is no less than hers.

"No, it's not that I'm interested, I just noticed it."

Saint Karina corrected the other person's wording. And incidentally, she corrected their improper thinking.

"Tch. They dare to do it but not admit it."

Curtis scoffed dismissively, not believing Saint Karina's explanation at all.

"Go ahead and meet them if you want, I won't mind. Besides, what's our relationship anyway? Don't worry, I won't be jealous."

After Curtis finished speaking, he casually patted Santa Karina on the back, as if encouraging her to go for it.

She put on a magnanimous act, and it actually looked quite convincing.

However, Saint Karina was speechless; she genuinely didn't mean it that way. She had originally planned to avoid it, but now she had no choice but to go up and talk to her.

"Miss……"

Saint Karina had just braced herself and was about to shamelessly strike up a conversation when she saw that the other person had already noticed her, closed her book beforehand, and was looking at her with a half-smile, as if she knew she would come.

"Your Excellency, I have long admired your name. Today, I see you in person, and you are truly radiant and beautiful."

Her little mouth was sweet as honey when she spoke, and she was also very polite.

The difference between her and a certain woman who always talks like a country bumpkin is really huge.

Santa Karina resisted the urge to look at Curtis's actions. She guessed that if she looked at him now, it would be seen as a provocation, like, "What's wrong with you? What do you mean by looking at me? Am I being rude?"

The truth is that Curtis understood court etiquette and had been taught by etiquette officials and tutors, but she was used to being willful and capricious and had no desire to do so, especially when dealing with commoners.

Compared to this noble lady, Curtis was like a spoiled child, which is also the most common characteristic of noble children.

They would divide nobles and commoners into two worlds, looking down on commoners while fawning over the weak within noble circles. Curtis held the highest position in the noble circle and was highly praised. If it weren't for setbacks, betrayal by her companions, and bullying by Saint Karina, she probably would have remained in that position until 99.

“Excuse me for disturbing you. I saw you reading a book by yourself. I just arrived in the Toran Empire today with the delegation. This is the sixth princess of the Toran Empire.”

Saint Karina offered a perfunctory apology and polite greetings, and then introduced the people around her.

"As expected, it is the Sixth Princess. The princess is very famous. She showed extraordinary magical talent at the Imperial Magic Academy. Moreover, looking at her beautiful red hair like flames, I guessed that this young lady must be a member of the royal family."

The unfamiliar girl had common blonde hair, the hair color of most people on this continent.

Saint Karina was certain that, even with the same hair color, the only noble lady who could look so beautiful, dazzling, and artistic in the sunlight was probably the one in front of her.

Moreover, Saint Karina felt that the other woman must have known Curtis for a long time. Her eyes showed no emotion; she was simply responding to Saint Karina's words. There was no shock, no surprise or joy typical of a noblewoman being spoken to by a princess and a saintess. In other words, Saint Karina received neither positive nor negative emotions from this noblewoman.

This confirmed Saint Karina's suspicions; her initial feeling of danger upon seeing the girl for the first time was correct.

This blonde, artsy girl is definitely not as simple, kind, or easy to talk to as she appears on the surface.

229. The Mysterious Fortune Teller

"Your Holiness, Your Highness, do you believe in fate? This book is about fate and divination. Would you like to give it a try?"

She waved the black book in her hand, her smile like that of a little devil, luring humans into her trap.

Saint Karina was not surprised that the blonde stranger spoke as if she were a fortune teller.

"I do not need."

"I want to try."

The two completely different answers left Saint Karina speechless.

However, if it's just about fortune-telling, it wouldn't hurt to let Curtis give it a try.

She could stop it, but at the same time, she was curious about what this strange girl would say.

"Don't worry, there's no need to be too nervous. This fortune telling is free."

She smiled slightly, a mysterious smile.

As magical power was poured in, the text on the black book disappeared, turning into a mirror-like surface with ripples.

Saint Karina wanted to see, but was stopped by a strange girl.

"Destiny belongs to Her Highness the Princess. If Your Excellency wishes to see it, it will become a paid service."

These words made Saint Karina's lips twitch.

She took a step back, not intending to look again.

Although she could force herself to look, she ultimately didn't. The sudden appearance of this strange girl, coupled with a sharp, piercing pain that stung her skin, warned Saint Karina that this person was dangerous. She didn't want to pay an unnecessary price to play a fortune-telling game with her.

The book opened, and the images shown to Curtis were not so much about fate and the future, but rather like a doomsday prophecy.

The scene depicts a desolate wasteland, with ruins, countless dead civilians, and the smoke of war. The demonic invasion and internal strife have devastated the Toran Empire, leaving its buildings unrecognizable. The faces of the people are numb, lost, and filled with despair; the smiles of yesteryear are long gone.

This unfortunate country is less a matter of fate than a curse.

Curtis couldn't believe this was her country; she was still in shock, her eyes fixed on the screen without blinking.

"What? Your Highness, aren't you curious about what the princess saw?"

"Forget it. I'm not that curious, and I don't want to pay the price."

Saint Karina shrugged, showing no interest in looking.

Just kidding, she doesn't need to watch now. She can just ask Curtis what he saw later. Paying to watch just means getting early access. As long as she suppresses her curiosity and waits a while, she can get the information for free.

"I know what you're thinking, Your Grace. So, before I leave, I've left you a small gift. If you decide to help this princess and fight against the oppression with your own strength, why not accept my gift and use it?"

Of course, this isn't free; there are conditions. If you resolve the matter of the Toran Empire and use my little gift, you must go to the depths of the Sea of ​​Despair to help me rescue the Head Dragon, the former mount of the Demon King, the imprisoned Demon God Dragon…”

Before Saint Karina could speak, she felt a chill in her palm. There lay her stolen relics, the very relics she had been searching for, relics that contained the power she possessed in her lifetime.

This is an item that can restore her strength, so that Saint Karina can reach the tenth rank and regain her previous strength.

This power was more reliable than the power bestowed upon her by the evil god, because it was Saint Karina's own power. However, releasing the Demon Dragon... Saint Karina really chickened out.

The Demon King is at the level of a true god, and the previous Demon King's mount was at least a demigod, or of the same level, otherwise it would have been impossible for it to have lived for so long.

Saint Karina survived through a special method, essentially a resurrection after death. During this period, she was in a state of hibernation, and her body underwent almost no changes, much like a Sleeping Beauty frozen in ice.

The Sea of ​​Despair... There are many legends about that place. Even at the tenth level, in her prime, she wouldn't dare to step into it rashly.

Therefore, Saint Karina carefully kept the sacred object close to her body. She dared not use it for the time being; compared to the danger, she was still considering her desire to regain her former power.

Now that I have the item, I'm not afraid of losing it this time.

As for using the relic without doing anything, Saint Karina had no such intention. Firstly, this strange young girl was far too dangerous; she dared not gamble that if she didn't pay the price, the other party might force her to pay, such as by killing her or leaving a way to control her. Secondly, even bad women value promises, especially promises made to unbelievably beautiful women.

The woman disappeared quickly, her figure becoming transparent, along with the black book, as if she had never existed.

A green leaf, blown by the wind, fell and landed right where the woman had been sitting.

The place was deserted. The last thing Saint Karina could recall was the strange girl's amused smile.

It was as if the other party was anticipating, savoring Saint Karina's inner turmoil, and observing the final choice Saint Karina would make.

She was confident of victory, as if she already knew the answer and was simply enjoying the process. Her deep eyes, looking at Saint Karina, seemed to be seeing the future through Saint Karina's persona.

Saint Karina dislikes riddle-makers the most because they usually speak in a way that is difficult to understand and requires a lot of brainpower.

"What...what am I seeing...?"

Curtis was pale; it seemed that the images she had just witnessed were so shocking that she was having difficulty recovering from the shock.

Her lips trembled so much that even as the enigmatic, unfamiliar girl vanished along with the book, she was still pondering the scene she had just witnessed, muttering to herself.

The Toran Empire borders the demonic territory. Previously, several human nations stood on their front lines, but now those nations have vanished from the map. The reason, of course, is the demonic forces' movements. Aside from those who fled their homelands, those who remained in their original countries—now demonic territory—were likely eaten and used as bait.

The Toran Empire, on the surface, is at peace, just like the Lorian Empire, which was almost destroyed before.

The current emperor of the Toran Empire is already very old, yet he has yet to decide on a successor. Coupled with Curtis having many siblings, and the simultaneous outbreak of internal strife and the invasion of the demon race, it's not surprising that the country ultimately ended up in that state.

Curtis was just a bit arrogant, the kind of arrogance typical of nobles and royalty, directed at those of lower status. She wasn't stupid; though she couldn't believe it, she felt that the future, like a doomsday prophecy, was actually quite likely to happen.

"Who are you..."

Just as Curtis finally came to his senses, he realized that the blonde girl was nowhere to be seen, only Saint Karina, the little white-haired girl.

"she left."

Santa Karina did not press Curtis about what he had seen, but instead informed him that the strange girl had left.

"Would you like to continue strolling around? This time, I'll accompany you. We don't need to stay in the palace; I'll take you outside into the neighborhood."

"Ah."

Curtis was still a little dazed and didn't know what to do, so he just nodded.

She had already taken Saint Karina to most of the open areas of the palace, and she wasn't in the mood to show her the rest. So, she decided to let Saint Karina take care of her.

She didn't mention the guards; with Saint Karina around, she found it hard to imagine anyone being able to do anything to her.

230. A date in Faroe Islands

So, Saint Karina and Curtis started by exploring the industrial area. Recently, human magical engineering has developed rapidly, and the steam industry is no exception.

Besides traditional magical energy-driven power, the Lorian Empire also has steam engines for productivity. In this respect, the Lorian Empire lags behind; its corrupt nobles only know how to plunder the people's money and do nothing else. The Toran Empire, however, has a real emperor, unlike the puppet emperors of Brenda before it. Therefore, the Toran Empire's capital, Faro, is functioning well in this regard.

People on the streets saw a scene of joy and harmony, with most citizens wearing smiles.

Curtis wanted to visit the Magic Workshop, which was somewhat similar to a magic item shop. In addition to selling items, it also sold special items made by masters and their private disciples.

In fact, the Magic Workshop not only sells props, but also armor, enchanted products, and potions.

The scope of products covered is quite broad. If you are buying apprentice products, most of these entry-level products are of similar quality to the same products on the market, but the price is cheaper. Therefore, some buyers will choose to purchase these apprentice products.

Unlike other princesses, Curtis, besides her sparkling jewels, beautiful clothes, and expensive jewelry, also loved adventure. She had to beg her father, the emperor, for a long time before she was allowed to attend the magic academy.

Originally, her father planned to hire a court magician to teach her, as were her siblings in the palace. The emperor of the Toran Empire believed that it was a waste of the talents of royal family members to not attend school and receive a standardized education. He thought it would be better for the princes and princesses to recruit excellent magicians and teach them according to their aptitude.

This idea was an elite education, but Curtis preferred to go out rather than stay in the dull palace all day long.

From a young age, Curtis loved reading adventure stories and grew up listening to those exciting tales. Rather than being confined to a magnificent, walled palace—a giant birdcage—Curtis would much rather fly out of that cage and venture out into the world.

That's why Curtis was the one who joined the captain's team to go to the Black Forest to find fire.

According to Curtis herself, she knew about the Magic Workshop, especially its price advantage, which was reportedly provided by her classmates at the magic academy.

Almost all students at the magic academy are nobles, though there are a few commoners with exceptional talent.

Some students come from families that are not well-off. Noble families are divided into great nobles, lesser nobles, and even those who have fallen on hard times. Most of those who go to the magic academy are lesser nobles or those who have fallen on hard times. The latter are families whose circumstances have plummeted, whose ancestors' glory has faded, and who want their children to study magic to improve their skills, hoping to restore their former glory.

The former are minor nobles with limited family assets and many children. Some students have ordinary or even insignificant status in their families and are outshone by their older brothers and sisters. If they want to learn magic, they will work in the magic workshop to earn money to buy magic books and materials.

More often than not, these disciples are like apprentices. How much they learn depends entirely on how much the master craftsman in the workshop is willing to teach.

Most of them do odd jobs, assisting their masters. In other words, they only learn the basics because the masters usually don't teach them.

However, those who are lucky and talented may occasionally be noticed by a master and taken on as apprentices. Such apprentices' work will often be of much higher quality than those sold in the market.

Being accepted as a disciple by a master of the Magic Academy is similar to Curtis being taught by a court magician, but these are all cases of incredible luck, much like winning the lottery jackpot.

"I didn't actually plan to buy anything, I just wanted to browse around. You should understand what I'm thinking..."

As Curtis toured the area, he whispered to Santa Karina.

She certainly couldn't speak loudly; the people in these workshops were very shrewd, much like most merchants selling magical artifacts were quite mercenary. If these employees sensed that Curtis wasn't interested in buying, they wouldn't just refuse to serve her, they'd also give her a cold shoulder.

Such as completely ignoring it and not moving.

They usually judge the quality of service by the customer's attire. Curtis and Santa Karina were both dressed in aristocratic style, so their service was naturally much more attentive.