The Cornflower Witch

Book 2: Chapter 157: Gratitude in the Twilight

Vol 2 Chapter 157: Gratitude in the Twilight

White Cliff City · Royal Palace

In this city built against the mountain, the palace occupied the highest level. The air here was slightly cooler, and one could overlook the entire city from the circular window railings.

The fine white gauze curtains fluttered gently, casting shifting patterns of light and shadow on the polished floor. This was the high tower within the palace, quiet and spacious.

With a creaking sound, someone pushed open the door to this room in the high tower. Then, Princess Mursa, dressed in a black formal gown, led Sylutia inside. Perhaps she shouldn't be called Princess Mursa now, but Queen Mursa. Today, her black dress was supported by a wide hoop skirt, the hem layered with pleated floral ornaments, interspersed with dangling golden threads, making it exceptionally beautiful.

"Tia, this is where I used to live," she said, walking ahead and introducing the place to Sylutia.

"Many countries have this tradition, keeping unmarried princesses in towers to minimize their contact with the outside world."

"High towers are easily set up with isolating magic arrays. Compared to the bustling palace, they also avoid disturbance and prying eyes from others."

"Living here doesn't seem so bad, does it?" Sylutia wore a wide-sleeved robe of star-blue and pure white, its style reminiscent of a wise scholar. The collar was layered, revealing the white inner garment and a glimpse of her neck.

"Some princesses might not like it, like my older sister Matisha. She preferred livelier places, the kind of life where everyone is often together.""I didn't have many requirements about it, whether it was a high tower or inside the palace," Mursa said, pulling back the curtains so both could stand by the window and look down.

"You said you wanted to find a relatively quiet place to stay, Tia, so I thought of here," she turned her head to look at the young woman behind her.

The two were about the same height. Sylutia's features were slightly more youthful; a stranger meeting her for the first time would probably think she was around seventeen. Mursa, however, had a more mature posture and aura, appearing to be in her early twenties. The black dress accentuated the curves of this young queen's figure, revealing a faint yet alluring mature charm.

The still-unmarried young Queen Mursa was currently the object of admiration and dreams for many of Regas's youth.

"The view here is very nice," Sylutia walked to the window, tilting her head to look up at the clear, azure sky. A refreshing breeze slowly drifted in along the window.

"I'm glad Tia likes it~" Mursa covered her mouth with a light laugh.

"Later, I'll have someone prepare a bed and the furniture you'll need. Don't worry, it can all be arranged in a day or two."

"From now on, this room will be reserved specifically for you. You can come back to stay anytime."

"Wouldn't that be a bit troublesome?" Sylutia turned her head. Under the bright sky, the curves of her face were soft, and one could even see the faint, youthful down on the side of her cheek.

"It's no trouble at all. Tia should just stay here with peace of mind," Mursa gently shook her head adorned with an exquisite crown, her golden hair swaying like tassels.

"Right now, I'm the only one left in the Regas royal family. Many places in the palace are empty, even too desolate."

"How about I accompany you on a special tour of the palace today to familiarize you with the surroundings?" Mursa proactively invited.

"Then I'll trouble you," Sylutia nodded in agreement. She was indeed somewhat interested in the royal palace of White Cliff City, wanting to know how the royalty and nobility of this era lived.

"Then follow me, Tia," Princess Mursa took the initiative to take Sylutia's hand, and the two walked slowly out of the room and descended the high tower.

Walking through the long white palace corridors, Sylutia listened as Mursa introduced the various buildings and their purposes.

"This is the Guard Hall. Usually, the commander of the palace guard lives here. Senior knights can also reside in the adjacent side rooms," Mursa explained not long after descending the tower.

"Father trusted Uncle Moran very much, appointing him as the guard commander. He was Father's younger brother and also the swordsmanship instructor for my older brothers. He was very good to all of us," Mursa reminisced about the past.

"Uncle Moran also never left White Cliff City in the end, staying with Father until the very end."

Afterwards, Mursa led Sylutia further ahead.

"This area is the 'Snowball Flower' garden. Auntie Blin used to take care of it here. She was an old-timer in the palace, said to have even witnessed my grandfather's coronation ceremony when she was young."

"Snowball flowers are very cold-resistant, suitable for White Cliff City's climate. Every day, she would pick a bunch and place it in Mother's room as decoration."

Passing this small corner garden, the two arrived at another side of the palace corner.

"This is the Tailoring Hall. In the past, about six or seven tailors lived here, specializing in making clothes for the royal family and palace personnel. When we were young, my older sister Matisha really loved being here, discussing new clothing styles with the tailors."

Now it was empty, with only rows of vacant clothing racks left. The tailors from before had also gone who-knows-where.

"Opposite is the Shoemaking Workshop. In the past, two shoemakers lived there. One was specifically responsible for court dancing shoes, the other for hunting and outdoor boots."

"I used to come here often as a child because my shoes would become too small every so often," Mursa recalled.

Sylutia followed behind Mursa, continuing forward until they reached a spacious stone chamber. It had multiple ovens and wide tables, and now several chefs were busy there.

"This is the Baking Room. The bread and staple foods eaten in the palace every day are all baked here," she introduced to Sylutia.

"And ahead is the actual Kitchen Hall, where grand meals and side dishes are prepared. Many people work there, so we'll just look from the outside."

Afterwards, Mursa also took Sylutia to the Candle Hall, which the royal family used to entertain distinguished guests, the Golden Rotunda for hosting banquets, the Performance Hall for enjoying music, the large garden for picnics and walks, and the White Stone Swimming Pool with its roofed eaves and transparent crystal canopy.

The palace buildings covered every aspect of life, allowing the royal nobility to enjoy a comfortable life without leaving the premises. These places were also the result of generations of royal family continuously improving and renovating them.

"It is said that when the earliest ancestor, the 'Knight King' Raygard, built White Cliff City, the palace here only had one large stone hall and stone-built houses for sleeping."

"At that time, the whole of Regas was still in a rather wild state. Later, when the situation stabilized, things slowly improved," Princess Mursa stood before a mural, introducing her family's origins and the history of Regas to Sylutia.

Walking side by side, the two arrived at a viewing platform high up in the palace. Mursa had attendants bring two chairs, and she and Sylutia sat there, narrating past events.

From scenes of her own childhood, she recounted until she slowly grew up, and finally, the fall of White Cliff City and her escape from here with her younger brother.

Finally, the sky gradually darkened, the distant sunset slowly sinking, its dark golden afterglow bathing the city and the white palace.

"Unknowingly, it's already this late," Mursa stood up. Her off-shoulder black formal gown was bathed in the afterglow, her body also gilded with a faint gold.

"Although I've already said it many times," she slowly turned around, her pale golden eyes looking at the young woman seated in the chair.

"But let me say it once more," she leaned down, one hand lightly resting on the armrest, her fair collarbone and soft bosom drawing near this young woman.

"Thank you, Tia, for saving me and Regas from the turmoil."

Mursa gently kissed the side of Sylutia's ear. The approaching body warmth and breath's heat made this young woman slightly shy, her ears turning red.