Chapter 96: Chapter 96: A Gift from The Eastern Long Dynasty


    Winter finally came around, marked by the first snowfall that Swan witnessed from the window. She often saw the snow from the Holy Achate Pce as well, but it was a different feeling because she used to stare at the snowfall from the kitchen on the ground floor.


    In this castle, she gazed at the beautiful snowfall from the tower with a nket and a firece at the corner of the room, which made the snowfall look beautiful rather than frightening for her.


    Gale had been busy with kingdom matters these days, and for some reason, he didn''t ask for sex anymore, probably because he was too busy.


    "I hope he keeps getting busy, so he doesn''t ask for that. He needs to get used to


    it."


    Of course, Swan was sad knowing that she couldn''t have sex with Gale as often as she wanted. But she shouldn''t be selfish.


    Gale wasn''t meant for her, and though it hurt her, she had to let him go once the time was right.


    The cat maids knocked on the door, before entering with lunch for her. They served the food on the table and started gossiping with their Princess as they wanted her to know what was happening around the castle while she was stuck inside her room due to the cold temperature.


    "Princess, do you know that Lady Jade will arrive at the castle today?" Maya started the topic.


    "Lady Jade?" Swan frowned. It had been about six months ever since Lady Jade left the kingdom to the East. Gale told her that she was leaving for trade because the Kingdom of Beastman and the Eastern Long Dynasty had a fairly good rtionship after they opened a trade route.


    Normally, Swan would be happy with Lady Jade''s arrival, as she had a good impression of her before. She was smart and was the one running the castle when Gale wasn''t around.


    However, after what Rock told him before about Lady Jade poisoning his drink, she became wary.


    ''I can''t tell Gale about it because I have no evidence. The least I can do is not to be stupid and fall into her trap,'' Swan thought.


    Maya and Myra looked at each other and said, "We don''t think you should meet with her, Princess. She doesn''t have a good impression of you, and Lady Jade is a cunning woman."


    "Besides, she has been with His Majesty for so long. They are childhood best friends. So, even if she did something to you, His Majesty would probably believe her more than you."


    Swan nodded.


    Though Swan and Gale were very close these days, Jade had been with him for so long. It''d be difficult to let go of the past feelings, whether it was romantic or not.


    "I will make sure to stay on my line," Swan reassured. "Is there any information about her time of arrival?"


    "Yes, Princess. Lady Jade should arrive in two or three hours from now, and the scouts said there is a big eastern royal carriage following hers. It''s probably a gift from the Emperor of the Long Dynasty, but we don''t know what it is."


    "Do we always exchange gifts like this?" Swan asked. A royal carriage meant it was a huge gift that needed to be protected, so she guessed the rtionship between the Kingdom of Beastmen and the EasternLong Dynasty must''ve been very good. Cóntent


    "Well, this is the first time, Princess. Usually, we are only trading with them. Perhaps His Majesty has finally agreed to have a better rtionship with them!" Maya said optimistically.


    "Yes, oh, maybe you can visit the Eastern Long Dynasty with His Majestyter. I heard from the guards who followed Lady Jade that the easternnd and culture are very different from ours!" Myra added.


    Swan smiled, "Well, since we have been given a special gift by the Eastern Long Dynasty, then I shoulde to see it by myself, right? You two should prepare a thicker nket for me because I''m going to the castle ground today."


    "Ah, are you sure you''re okay, Princess? It will be very cold," Myra asked.


    "It''s okay. As long as I sit in this wheelchair with a thick nket, my leg wouldn''t


    ache that badly," Swan said. "Besides, I want to show my gratitude to the


    beastmen soldiers and merchants who traveled through the continent."


    *


    Meanwhile, Gale was in a bad mood in the throne room after he heard the scouts'' report.


    He had a bad feeling about what Jade brought with her back to the Kingdom, especially since it was the first time the Long Eastern Dynasty would send a royal carriage for a ''gift.''


    It was suspicious, but he couldn''t just stop the royal carriage from entering the kingdom, especially when it was already entering the city wall.


    ''I hope it''s not what I think it is,'' Gale thought. ''Well, even if Jade dares to bring me ''that'', I will just send her back to the Eastern Long Dynasty. I just have to make sure that Swan wouldn''t know about-"


    Before he could finish his line of thought, the door leading to the throne room was opened, and Swan entered with her wheelchair, pushed by the cat maids behind


    her.


    "You seem concerned, Gale. Is there something wrong?" Swan asked casually.


    "Why are you here, sweetheart?"


    Gale asked back as he quickly


    rushed to his beloved and told the cat maids to leave. Gale pushed the wheelchair to the warmest spot inside the throne room before saying worriedly, "It''s very cold outside. You should stay in your room?


    "I need to see what the Eastern Long Dynasty has for us. I heard a royal carriage ising, so I think it''s only right if Ie to see it myself," Swan Smiled. "I also want to pay my


    respect to our soldiers and


    merchants. They went through a


    difficult road in such a cold season."


    "But your leg..."


    "Don''t worry. I have a thicker nket, I will do just fine as long as I''m in this


    wheelchair," Swan replied.