Once inside the royal palace, Elira slowly made her way to the royal court, where Prince Aranthor would preside over the award ceremony.
At first, she had been indignant about the beauty pill. She had not liked that her worth would be measured by something as trivial as appearance, but she had pushed it aside. This was not the time for pride; it was the time for pragmatism.
And now she saw that Eldrin had been right.
As Elira walked through the hall, she could see the change in the eyes that looked her way—admiration replacing scrutiny, intrigue replacing dismissal.
In her entire life, Elira had never once thought that she would be stepping inside here. She was a slave, a nobody but now she was going to be dealing with the most powerful noble family in their lands, the royal family.
"I can do it." She mumbled to herself, trying to calm her nerves. She was not afraid of the consequences. Rather she was afraid of failing in her mission, which was not an option.
"I can do it." She repeated again as she took a deep breath and finally arrived at the chamber where the ceremony was to be held.
She looked up to see Prince Aranthor sitting on a throne-like chair at the far end of the room. A wave of nobles and other figures of significance filled the chamber, whispering among themselves.
The prince was an ethereal figure, with golden hair and eyes like polished emeralds. Even though he was described as a pervert several times by Eldrin, just from the looks of it that didn't seem to be the case.
He gave a very lofty and noble aura and as she entered, those eyes met hers, and for a moment, the room seemed to fall silent.
Elira gulped. She was very nervous. Did they figure everything out? To stand amidst total strangers, each one of them several folds more powerful than her was nerve-wracking, to say the least.
She was only able to relax a little when Prince Aranthor smiled casually at her and waved his hand. Immediately, another elf stepped forward and announced the ceremony's commencement.
"Ladies and gentlemen, esteemed guests, we are gathered here to honor those who have demonstrated exemplary skill and valor in the recent recruitment tournament."
"This is a momentous occasion, as it speaks not only to individual excellence but also to the strength and vitality of our kingdom."
He continued with more ceremonial words, but Elira found her thoughts drifting back to Liam. Would everything really work out?
Please. She prayed in her heart. She was not a believer as the gods had never answered her prayers before but now she once again desperately wanted them to.
Finally, the time came for her to be awarded.
Prince Aranthor announced her name, and as she stepped forward, she couldn't help but feel a surge of anticipation. It was one thing to gain a prince's attention and quite another to maintain it.
The prince looked at her, then to the crowd. "Elira," he spoke, his voice rich and mellifluous, "You have shown exceptional skill and courage, and it is my honor to bestow upon you the title of the royal guard as well as the associated privileges and responsibilities that come with it."
Elira bowed gracefully, accepting the finely crafted medal and the ornate scroll that detailed her new status and privileges. "May your bravery continue to inspire us all," Prince Aranthor concluded, offering her a gracious nod.
The applause that followed was both enthusiastic and genuine. Right now Elira was no longer covering herself up in any cloaks. She was wearing an elegant robe that accentuated her beauty and simple ornaments that complimented her.
She could feel the numerous stares that dragged on her. She tried to be as confident as possible matching how she looked. However, was all of this enough? Was the award ceremony already over? Perhaps something more detailed is given in that scroll?
She did not know. She could only go outside and check. And if there was nothing, then she could only blame her incompetence for failing the mission.
Elira knew that she couldn't stay here any longer without making it weird so she bowed and excused herself. She walked out of the royal court, her trembling hands starting to open the scroll in her hand when suddenly there was a tap on her shoulder.
She turned to find the prince's advisor, a tall, enigmatic elf with steel-gray eyes. "His Highness would like to speak with you, privately," the advisor said, his voice carrying an untraceable note of curiosity.
"Of course," Elira replied, maintaining her poise. She followed him through a side door that led to a small, ornate chamber. She waited there for a while and soon the Prince himself arrived.
Elira quickly stood up and bowed, her heart growing more hopeful. Did it work after all?
"Ah, Elira, please, have a seat," the prince gestured to a chair opposite him, his emerald eyes observing her every move.
She sat, doing her best to keep her emotions in check.
"I must admit, you are full of surprises," the prince began. "Your performance in the tournament was remarkable. You have caught the attention of many, not just myself."
Elira bowed her head slightly. "I'm honored, Your Highness."
"Don't be so modest," Prince Aranthor continued, his tone becoming more serious. "I have an eye for talent, and you, Elira, have an untapped potential that I think could greatly explode under the right tutelage and the right resources."
The prince then extended his hand towards her as he held a golden medal in his palm. "This is my emblem, take it."
Smiling, he added. "Go to the blessed space and take whatever you want. When you come back, I want you to become stronger, strong enough to be in my personal army. Do you accept the position?"
Elira couldn't help but widen her eyes in surprise. Her shocked expression was so natural that it very much pleased the prince.
"Yes. Yes, your highness." She quickly excused herself after receiving the emblem and made her way out of the royal palace.
Watching her scurry away like a rodent, the advisor with steely eyes addressed the prince again. "Your highness…" He began.
"Hmmm. I know what you are going to say. Don't worry. Even though I gave her my emblem, I doubt she would purchase anything in the system shop without meeting with you again. At that time, you should guide her appropriately."
"What if she what? Purchases something? What could she purchase? With her level and her background, at most she would have access to D-Rank or C-Rank skills."
"Even if she purchases a dozen of those, it won't amount to that much. However, she won't. How will she dare to?"
"Instead, by doing this, I have not only gained her trust but also created a situation where she would forever be at my feet. I have many plans for someone like her."
Aranthor licked his lips finally revealing his true desire.
"When she comes back to meet you, send her to my private chambers first. I cannot wait to taste her. She is more beautiful than all of my wives."