(Spy- For the feet fiends... )
-
Since we're already here... This classic phrase, though cliché, held a kernel of truth upon reflection.
Cerydra glanced around at her surroundings, then down at her own attire. With everything so meticulously prepared, it did seem like a waste to take only one photo.
She nodded in agreement. Seeing this, the photographer immediately brightened and exclaimed, "Exactly! Miss Cerydra, you're so adorable—it would be such a pity to take only a few photos!"
As she spoke, the photographer picked up her camera and began searching for new angles, adding, "Miss Cerydra, please hold the scepter horizontally across your chest with both hands, and adopt a serious expression!"
Click, click~
"Miss Cerydra, please sit up straight, place your hands on your thighs, and look directly at the camera!"
Click, click~
"Miss Cerydra, please smile, wink with one eye, bring your hands to your chest, extend your index fingers downward until they touch, and bend your thumbs at a ninety-degree angle so the tips of your nails gently meet!"
Just as a patient blindly trusts their doctor to prescribe the right medication without questioning its composition or purpose, Cerydra followed the photographer's instructions without hesitation. This was a fundamental act of trust: if one couldn't trust their doctor, why seek medical advice in the first place?
Similarly, if the photographer asked her to strike a certain pose, there must be a reason, so Cerydra immediately complied without thinking too much about it. Initially, the poses the photographer requested were quite normal. But for the very last one, Cerydra only realized the truth the moment she struck the pose: wasn't this a heart gesture?
Click-click~
The shutter clicked, and the photographer couldn't help but beam with satisfaction. As she reviewed the captured moment on her camera, she nodded approvingly. "Just as I thought—this is just too adorable!"
Cerydra couldn't help but protest, "What about the dignified and majestic photos we were supposed to take?"
The photographer replied, "We already shot those earlier! If the goal is merely to spread your majesty throughout the Northern Territory, those shots are more than sufficient. I'll compile the rest into a collection you can take with you and enjoy at your leisure!"
As she spoke, the photographer stepped forward to show Cerydra the heart-gesture photo. It had to be said, the photographer's skills were undeniably sharp. The angle, timing, and composition were all perfect. The blue-haired girl sitting regally on the throne looked absolutely irresistible in the picture!
When Cerydra saw the photo, her heart skipped a beat. But she quickly turned her head slightly, clenched her right fist, brought it to her mouth, and coughed softly. "I still think one isn't enough. Let's take some more dignified photos."
At her words, the photographer blinked rapidly, mentally muttering, But didn't you say you were leaving after the first shot? Are you just changing the subject? Denying your own cuteness to maintain the Empress's dignity?
Ugh~ this Empress is just too adorable!
However, despite her heart melting with affection, the photographer maintained a professional demeanor and replied, "More dignified photos?"
She furrowed her brow in thought. Given Cerydra's innate charm, the previous low-angle shot had already taken all her effort. Capturing another dignified photo with a different composition would be quite challenging.
But she shouldn't be constrained by conventional thinking. If Cerydra alone couldn't project a dignified aura, she could enhance the effect by adding props, changing the background, or creating a scene!
The photographer suggested, "We could have others kneel before you, creating a photo of subjects submitting to their Monarch. If possible, the subject could gently kiss the back of your hand..."
But as she spoke, the photographer's words suddenly faltered. Cerydra was simply too small; her arms were too short. She would undoubtedly have to remain seated on the Throne. If someone were to kiss the back of her hand, they would have to be very close.
At such close proximity, with both figures in the same frame, the height difference would be even more glaring. Just imagining it, it wouldn't look like a subject's submission to their monarch at all; it would look more like a marriage proposal!
The photographer's gaze swept over Cerydra again, and a sudden idea struck her. "If we can't kiss the back of her hand, we could kiss the back of her foot!"
The photographer was unaware of the Foot Kissing Ritual. Her suggestion stemmed purely from the fact that legs could extend further than arms, allowing the subject to maintain a respectable distance while bowing lower, thereby emphasizing their subservient posture.
The photographer adjusted the camera angle to bring Cerydra closer to the lens, reasoning that "what's near looks large, what's far looks small." This was sure to capture a stunning shot!
However, deciding who should play the "subordinate" role proved contentious. The photographer surveyed the scene, noting several ordinary staff members moving props, the Holy Maiden herself, and Hysilens, who had accompanied Cerydra.
First, the staff members were clearly unsuitable, their standard uniforms clashing with Cerydra's regal appearance and creating an inconsistent visual style. Second, it was out of the question to ask the Holy Maiden to perform such a subservient act!
Seizing the initiative, the photographer volunteered: "Why don't I do it? I'll contact my photographer friend right away, and while I'm at it, I can change into clothes that fit the setting. Then I'll just kneel at your feet, Miss Cerydra, and you can simply extend your foot—that's all there is to it!"
If Cerydra could read her mind, she would have scoffed: Then why not just have one of the staff change into the appropriate attire and let you shoot?
However, she was reluctant to let either the photographer or the staff kiss her. As the saying goes, "Don't let fertile water flow into another's field." No, wait, that's not quite right. In any case, if this had to be done, it should definitely be Hysilens!
Hysilens stepped forward and said, "Let me handle this. I don't need to change clothes either. Even the barbarians of the Northern Territory know who I am."
"Eh?" The photographer was taken aback. "But... but you're a Demigod! Is this really appropriate?"
"It's fine," Hysilens assured him.
The photographer's face immediately fell with disappointment. "Alright~"
Seeing this, Hysilens inwardly scoffed. I suspected this photographer was faking her reluctance to crawl around on the ground, and I was right.
Lost in thought, Hysilens brushed past the photographer and approached Cerydra. After a moment of silent mutual gaze, Cerydra slowly raised her left leg. Since her left leg was bare, without stockings, she only needed to take off her shoe, making it much easier than her right leg.
Hysilens knelt on one knee before Cerydra, gently cradling her ankle as if holding a work of art. With her other hand, she slowly removed Cerydra's shoe, revealing an adorable little foot with toes painted in blue nail polish. Slightly embarrassed by having her shoe removed in public, Cerydra curled her toes inward slightly.
Because Cerydra bathed daily without fail, she carried no unusual odors. Instead, her skin exuded a faint fragrance—whether her natural scent or the scent of her bath gel, it was impossible to tell.
Moreover, Cerydra led a remarkably sedentary life. She spent her days managing the affairs of the Northern Territory, sometimes barely leaving her chambers for an entire day. If she had a fitness tracker, her daily step count likely wouldn't exceed a thousand steps. Naturally, her feet remained odorless.
Hysilens gazed at the delicate foot in her hand, then slowly lowered her head, her lips brushing gently against its smooth instep.
In truth, whether for Hysilens or Cerydra, this act was no different from kissing the back of one's own hand. Yet from an outsider's perspective, beyond demonstrating the Monarch's dignity as the photographer had just claimed, it also carried a strange, inexplicable sensuality.
The click-click of the camera shutter rang out continuously, accompanied by the photographer's peculiar heh-heh chuckle. Though she hadn't gotten a kiss herself, witnessing this scene suddenly made her feel as though she hadn't lost out after all.
A forbidden romance between Monarch and subject, the phrase inexplicably popped into her mind.
After the kiss, Hysilens gently set Cerydra's small foot down and turned to face the photographer, who immediately rushed over with the camera to show them the photos.
Undeniably perfect, leaving no room for criticism. Hysilens' only comment was, "Beautiful."
The photographer then suggested, "How about we try the hand-kissing gesture again?"
Hysilens considered for a moment, then nodded in agreement. Before proceeding, she first bent down to help Cerydra put back on the shoe she had just taken off.
As for why Cerydra couldn't put on the shoes herself? It was simply impossible.
The shoes were placed beside the throne, beyond her reach even when she stretched her legs and tried to hook them several times, all in vain. Her only options were to jump down from the throne and put them on herself, or have someone else help her.
Afterward, they took photos of the hand-kiss ceremony. Just as the photographer had predicted, Cerydra appeared utterly lacking in majesty in the photos, while Hysilens inexplicably radiated an aura of authority, creating the bizarre impression of a domineering CEO proposing to his loli girlfriend.
While taking photos, the photographer leaned in close to Tribios and whispered, "So, Holy Maiden, are they really... like that?"
Tribios looked utterly exasperated. Asking me? she thought. That's like asking the person involved directly!
After a pause, she replied, "I don't know."
Upon hearing this, the photographer immediately adopted an "Ah, so that's it!" expression. After all, one of Tribios's nicknames was "Prophet," and the Holy Maiden herself was synonymous with omniscience. How could she possibly not know something?
So even though the Holy Maiden claimed ignorance, she undoubtedly knew the truth—she simply didn't want to reveal it, or perhaps couldn't. If there truly was nothing between Cerydra and Hysilens, would it be something she "couldn't say"?
The very fact that it couldn't be spoken of proved there must be something between Cerydra and Hysilens!
Deduction complete. Logical loop closed!
However, seeing the photographer's knowing expression, Tribios looked genuinely puzzled. Wait, what do you think you understand?
After the photoshoot concluded, Cerydra and Hysilens returned directly to the Northern Territory via the Century Gate. Okhema's efficient machinery whirred to life, producing mass quantities of the majestic and authoritative photos that very night. As for the adorable, cute-style photos of Cerydra, only a limited edition was produced.
It's worth noting that Cerydra hesitated for a long time about whether to mass-produce and distribute the photo of Hysilens performing the Foot Kissing Ritual. Sharing that image felt strangely like publicizing her own embarrassing history.
However, there were benefits too. It could introduce the Barbarians to Cerydra and also reveal Hysilens' appearance.
Ultimately, Cerydra abandoned the plan. The shame was overwhelming. If she truly wanted the Northerners to recognize Hysilens, she could simply distribute individual photos of Hysilens. Besides, Hysilens wasn't the Northern Territory Empress; whether the Barbarians knew her or not wouldn't make much difference.
So, Cerydra decided to keep the photo for herself, occasionally looking at it in private. The others didn't need to see it.
The following day, a massive batch of photographs was delivered to Cerydra. She immediately ordered Dirk to distribute them while settling the 300,000 Barbarians of the Falcon Clan, hoping to quell the bizarre rumors about the female Barbarians.
When Dirk first picked up the photograph, he couldn't help but freeze in place. He glanced down at the image in his hand, then looked up—or rather, moved his arm aside—for another glance at Boss Imperator Cerydra standing before him.
"What... what is this?"
As a local barbarian, Dirk naturally had no idea what a camera or photograph was. What amazed him was how this picture managed to portray Boss Imperator Cerydra as so... tall and majestic?
Judging solely from the photo, the Cerydra depicted appeared to be at least 1.7 meters tall, possibly even 1.8 meters—a towering Empress with a slender, commanding figure!
In Cerydra's previous life, some photographers could make battleships look like fishing boats, and vice versa. It was hardly surprising, then, that she had been captured in a photo as a 1.7- or 1.8-meter-tall, dignified Empress!
Cerydra declared, "Don't worry about what this is. Just tell everyone it's my portrait and distribute one to each person!"
Dirk immediately replied, "Right away, Boss! I'll get it done!"