The King seemed to have merely ordered them to display their strength to the people from the surrounding small nations; it didn't seem like he intended to directly give these outsiders a blatant show of intimidation.
He turned his head and saw those sixty Musketeers with icy eyes, their pitch-black muzzles flashing with the light of death in the twilight.
If he dared to move even a little, this border pass would instantly turn into a slaughterhouse.
"Open, open the gate."
The border official's voice was hoarse as he shouted to his subordinates almost immediately.
"Quickly open the gate for Her Majesty the Queen of Mason! Stop the inspection!"
The heavy gates of the pass slowly opened amidst the trembling.
The carriage started moving smoothly again, slowly entering the territory of the Kingdom of Orr.
Inside the carriage, the tension brought about by the release of killing intent gradually dissipated.
Sophia felt the surroundings quiet down again.
Inside the carriage, the originally stagnant warm fragrance was broken by a soft sound of breathing.
Sophia's eyelashes trembled a few times, and her pale golden pupils opened with a slight confusion. What entered her vision was Delilah's heroic face, close at hand and flushed somewhat excessively red.
She froze for two seconds, feeling the solid and warm support coming from her waist and back, as her memory slowly retraced itself in her brain.
Did I just sleep the whole way treating Delilah as a long body pillow?
A row of exclamation marks instantly flashed through Sophia's heart, and her originally cold, poker face nearly crumbled.
But she was a Tyrant after all. Upon feeling the heat source in her arms becoming even stiffer due to her awakening, she released the hands wrapped around the other's waist extremely naturally. She slowly sat up straight and tidied her somewhat messy lapels.
"It seemed very noisy just now; why is it so quiet now?"
Sophia's voice remained cold, betraying not a hint of awkwardness, as if the person who had been hugging and nuzzling against someone just now wasn't her.
Delilah snapped back to reality and knelt on one knee on the narrow carriage carpet, her voice carrying a lingering solemnity.
"Your Majesty, we just arrived at Falcon Pass of the Kingdom of Orr.
Those reckless border officials actually dared to demand Your Majesty alight for inspection, and even wanted to search Your Majesty's private carriage.
Your subordinate has already handled it. They have opened the gates and let us pass in fear and trepidation."
At this point, a trace of disgust dyed Delilah's brow, and she couldn't help but curse in a low voice:
"The monarch of the Kingdom of Orr has truly become an old fool; the dogs he teaches are also so ignorant of the rules.
Setting up a checkpoint at a time like this is simply an insult to the Black Rose banner. If I weren't afraid of disturbing Your Majesty's meditation, your subordinate would have really wanted to dismantle their checkpoint."
Sophia picked up the slightly cool tea with milk and took a sip, her pale golden eyes gazing at the autumn scenery flashing past the window.
Meditation? I was dreaming of a bumper harvest of potatoes.
However, Delilah was right to curse.
Since the Kingdom of Orr sent an invitation, yet allowed this kind of petty harassment at the border, this was definitely not a simple routine procedure.
This was a probe. They wanted to see if I, a Tyrant who hasn't been on the throne for long, truly possess thunderous methods, or if I am just a soft persimmon who only kills a few nobles in the Palace to vent anger.
Sitting on the throne was not her original intention, but since she was sitting here, these wild dogs shouldn't think about causing trouble in front of her.
Sophia spoke coldly, her gaze profound.
"Delilah, you did well just now.
The dignity of Mason does not allow for bowing before any checkpoint."
Delilah's expression instantly became extremely fanatical, and she bowed her head heavily:
"I vow to follow Your Majesty to the death!"
The carriage had already traveled into the territory of the Kingdom of Orr.
Compared to the barren desolation of the Kingdom of Mason, the plains here were more vast. Although the few villages and towns that occasionally flashed by weren't considered wealthy, the granaries in the fields looked sturdier than those in Mason.
Willow was already kneeling behind Sophia, holding an exquisite ivory comb in her hand, gently tidying Sophia's long silver hair that had become somewhat messy from rubbing against the 'body pillow'.
"Your Majesty, please lower your head slightly."
Willow smiled beautifully, her slender fingers weaving through the silver hair, deftly rebraiding those strands into a complex and majestic royal bun.
Outside the lowered side curtains of the carriage, Chancellor Valery was riding a horse, maintaining a position parallel to the carriage window. He reported the latest summary of intelligence in a low and powerful voice.
"Your Majesty, although the Kingdom of Orr does not have a large territory, they possess the most complete leather trade hub in this area.
The current King of Orr is an extremely mediocre but suspicious man. What he values most is the glory of the royal bloodline.
According to this old minister's inquiries, his invitation to the various kings this time is actually because his only daughter, the Princess of Orr, is about to choose a husband.
But his truer purpose is likely to establish a soap agreement targeting our Kingdom of Mason through this gathering."
Valery paused, a trace of mockery in his tone:
"They have set their eyes on Your Majesty's alchemy products, yet they fear Your Majesty will control their economic lifeline through trade, so they want to join hands to apply pressure."
Sophia closed her eyes, feeling the temperature of Willow's fingertips, but her heart was rapidly outlining a new blueprint.
Join hands to apply pressure?
Perfect. What I lack is exactly an opportunity for all of them to gather together and pay tuition.
The Kingdom of Orr has many plains and sufficient grain.
The Kingdom of Qubi has much raw iron and abundant minerals.
They want to join hands to mess with my soap?
No, I actually want to target their agricultural technology and mining rights even more.
If I can display those high-tech inventions Irene just developed at this banquet, these old fossils will probably kneel on the spot begging to buy authorization, right?
"Valery."
Sophia slowly opened her eyes. Willow had already helped her put on that golden crown.
In that instant, the young girl who was murmuring confusedly in Delilah's arms completely disappeared, replaced by the Mason Tyrant with eyes like knives and a temperament like ice.
"Tell those caravans still on the road to add another clause to the trade conditions with the Kingdom of Qubi: we want to know their mining maps.
As for the Kingdom of Orr..."
The corners of Sophia's mouth hooked up into an extremely cold and dangerous arc.
"Since the King of Orr likes to talk about bloodline and glory, then let him see at the dinner party exactly how many gold coins his glory is worth in front of Mason's muskets and order."
Willow finished arranging the last strand of hair and stepped aside, looking at Sophia with eyes full of amazement.
"Your Majesty, your appearance right now is simply like a Valkyrie in charge of fate."
Sophia did not respond to this praise but turned to look at Delilah outside the carriage window.
Delilah gazed firmly at Sophia, seemingly using her eyes to tell her beautiful Queen that even if she knew Her Majesty's plans, she would still obey and guard her to the very end.
Delilah had attended many such "Hongmen Banquets" in her past life, so she naturally knew that nothing was simple.
But it didn't matter. Soldiers block the enemy, earth blocks the water; no matter what, she would guard by Her Majesty's side.
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