**Chapter 103: Completing the World (5)**
She was watching him.
Qi An was slightly taken aback. The maid had already gently drawn the carriage's curtain closed. Noticing Qi An's gaze, the girl looked over with soft eyes. She seemed not to understand why Qi An was staring at her so intently, and naturally became flustered, asking carefully, "Your Highness, is there something wrong?"
Her current behavior was completely unlike someone who would secretly watch him.
If it weren't for the system's reminder just now, Qi An would never have suspected this girl. He had indeed felt that watchful gaze before, but he had always assumed the gaze came from that tall tower, never noticing the maid's attention on him.
Could it be that the gaze from the tower was too intense? Intense enough to conceal the maid's gaze.
"Nothing." Qi An shook his head, shifting his gaze away from the young woman. "Can you tell me about that girl from before?"
His personal maid was named Zhuli. She was the first person he saw upon arriving in this world.
She was also the only attendant who had been able to stay by the original host's side consistently. The original host's identity was very strange—he wore a veil for some unknown reason and dressed in an equally mysterious manner. Moreover, his attendants and maids were constantly being replaced.
Only this one personal maid, Zhuli, remained.
Since she'd come to serve the original host, she had stayed by his side. And during their time in the palace, no other maids or servants dared to approach him too closely. But this maid was different—his clothes were changed by her, and his makeup was applied by her.
Admittedly, these were indeed the duties of a personal maid.
However, combined with her just-discovered habit of secretly watching him, everything became rather微妙.
"Jenny is a girl with a very tragic fate. Before, she held a noble status and was doted on by her parents. I was fortunate enough to see her a few times at palace banquets—she was truly a proper noble lady, skilled in the four arts."
A note of可惜 appeared in Zhuli's voice.
"But after the Duchess passed away, everything changed. The Duke became listless and aimless, neglecting even the official duties he once cared about. Until... the current Duchess appeared. Even though the current Duchess already had two children, the Duke was completely entranced by her, like a young man head over heels in love. Ignoring all advice, he insisted on marrying this new Duchess into his estate, showering her with supreme favor."
"And with her came the two young Ladies of the Duke's estate. This is when Jenny's misfortune began." As Zhuli spoke, she thoughtfully retrieved some pastries from beside her, placing them before Qi An. Whether because of her tone or not, the matter was told as if it were a story: "The new Duchess's true nature was completely different from how she presented herself to the Duke. On the contrary, she is a woman with malicious intentions, and Miss Jenny's days grew increasingly difficult. I don't know the details after that—this young lady never came to the palace again."
"At every palace ball, it was always that Duchess and the two young Ladies who represented the Duke's estate. They say..." Zhuli's voice suddenly lowered a bit, "the reason for this is actually because that Duchess is a... witch. She used evil sorcery to make the Duke fall for her at first sight. So, to avoid bringing trouble upon themselves, although everyone sympathized with Miss Jenny's situation, no one took any real action."
"Doesn't the Priest take care of this matter?" Qi An put a pastry into his mouth.
"No, she doesn't." Zhuli suddenly showed a slight smile. Her eyes were very dark. She pointed outside with her finger, "This matter is not comparable in importance to whoever is in that tower. The Priest has been busy with that matter, so naturally she has no time for such a small thing."
"Is the matter with the tower difficult to handle?" Qi An lifted the curtain. They had already left the capital city. Under the dark night sky, the guards had to carefully advance with lanterns in hand.
This road was actually very difficult. Qi An noticed many stones of various shapes on the path. Logically, traveling in a carriage on such a road should be bumpy, but Qi An discovered the carriage was moving very smoothly.
Steadily moving forward.
"Mm." The maid looked at the elaborately dressed Qi An and nodded. Her smile became even sweeter, "But these matters have nothing to do with Your Highness, Princess. You just need to go find your prince."
"You only need to prettily go find your prince." The maid's voice became very soft and tender, "Even if that Tommy isn't your prince, you will eventually find your prince..."
"...he must have always been quietly... watching over you..."
Upon hearing this, Qi An turned his gaze back to the maid. Zhuli wore a well-fitted dress, her smile seemingly perfect and flawless. She spoke with a tone both respectful and eerie, "Your prince awaits you to find him, my noble... Princess."
---
"Priest, have you found any solution?"
Inside the spacious, bright Temple Hall, the King, dressed in magnificent robes, spoke to a back view with reverent tones.
"I've said it before—I have never been able to solve this matter." The person being questioned shook her head. The clothing she wore was different from everyone else's—a very strange outfit covered in densely packed bells.
Strangely, even when she moved, these bells remained fixed as if frozen, making no sound at all.
"Truly no solution at all?" The King's expression changed slightly, his tone becoming somewhat insistent.
"I... have no power to stop this." The figure standing in the center slowly turned around. The guards behind the King were surprised to discover that this legendary, mysterious priest was actually a young girl who appeared to be quite young.
Their kingdom had been merely a small state before.
It was entirely thanks to this priest that they had developed into a massive empire in such a short time. According to the kingdom's legends, this priest possessed powerful and precise prophetic abilities that no other nation's priests had, which is why no matter what happened, their nation could always turn danger into safety.
Because of this, this priest had always been deeply respected and admired by both the King and the people.
Not long ago, during the Great Priest selection, their kingdom's priest had always been the strongest contender. But for some unknown reason, at the final stage, the priest suddenly announced her withdrawal from the selection.
The young girl blinked. Her pupils' color instantly changed to silver-white, silver light flowing within them, as if peering into something mysterious.
If Qi An were here, he would recognize this girl as... Hang Man. The one he had encountered in the previous world.
"Then have you calculated who the person that one on the tower is searching for?" The King frowned and asked another question.
"I cannot calculate it. That one's power is too great—I can see nothing." Hang Man's voice was cold and detached. Seemingly thinking of something, the girl's voice shifted slightly, "But I actually do know who that person is."
"What? Who is it?" The King's voice raised several notches.
"I searched for a long time but couldn't find him in this world—no one could find him." Hang Man raised her head slightly, "Logically, if all those people are searching for him, his whereabouts should definitely be exposed. However, it is as if there is absolutely no information about him in this world."
"It is as if he never came to this world..." Hang Man suddenly shook her head, "No, he definitely came. It's just that for some unknown reason, we simply cannot find him."
"You... be careful." As she finished, the girl lightly let slip a sentence.
"Is something going to happen?" The King's voice changed slightly.
"...Many people are searching for that person, but simply because they haven't found him yet, things have only managed to remain at a stalemate. But waiting is always agonizing. If they cannot find him, they will all erupt. Now..." The girl's tone paused, "that time is almost here."
"They will do everything possible to find that person." The girl turned around, "But once they find him, another round of... bloodshed will erupt."
The King was clearly stunned by Hang Man's vague words. His eyebrows furrowed again. Looking at the priest, who seemed unwilling to say more, he considered and asked another question, "Priest, I have one more question."
"What is it?"
"Back then, what was so special about my two children that you made me treat them this way?" One was completely left to his own devices, the other was treated with extreme care.
"Because one of them is a person whom your entire nation cannot afford to offend." Hang Man's eyebrows also furrowed, "The other... seems to have nothing unusual about them. But that is precisely what makes it most strange... In any case, what you have been doing is certainly not wrong."
---
"Wait, please wait!"
As the carriage slowly traveled toward the Nuomi Kingdom, a very loud voice suddenly called out from outside the carriage.
The person's voice was very pleasant to the ear. Although he had deliberately raised his voice, it carried an undeniable gentleness within it.
The carriage driver seemed to have no intention of acknowledging this person, continuing to move forward. Just as Qi An was about to close his eyes again, the carriage suddenly stopped.
That earlier voice called out again, "I said, please wait."
His voice carried a hint of breathlessness, as if he had just been running.
"What's the matter?" The guard's cold voice rang out, filled with strong displeasure and killing intent.
This stop did not seem to be controlled by him.
"I am a warrior." That person seemed to completely ignore the guard's tone, his words still gentle, "I have come to... protect Her Highness the Princess."