Chapter 154: 154 Arrival of the Princess

Chapter 154: Her Highness Arrives

Standing in such close proximity to the griffin, Ronin felt the true, overwhelming might of the aerial beast.

Though trained from birth to appear docile, none would dare question its lethal prowess.

It was said that a mature griffin was a fourth-tier magical beast, with exceptional specimens reaching the fifth or even sixth tier.

Recalling how the wounded Storm Magic Wolf had utterly confounded Elrond and his men, one could easily grasp the sheer difficulty of contending with such an avian monster.

As Ronin approached the creature, the knight atop the griffin leapt down from the two-meter-high saddle, landing with practiced grace upon the earth.

Clad in a suit of silver-white armor, the knight’s face was completely concealed beneath a polished visor.

Yet the contours of the custom-forged plate unmistakably traced the elegant silhouette of a woman, leaving Ronin momentarily astonished—could a griffin knight truly be a woman?

Pushing the thought aside, he stepped forward and offered a formal salute. "Greetings, noble griffin knight. I am Ronin, eldest grandson of Marquis Rulance, awaiting the arrival of Her Highness."

The knight returned a proper martial salute, her voice crisp and concise. "Mishi Cox, of the Royal Griffin Knights, escort to Princess Blanche. The pleasure is mine, Lord Ronin."

The sharp, clear feminine tone confirmed his suspicion.

Ronin felt a flicker of surprise; rumor dictated that the lowest rank within the Royal Griffin Knights was that of a Bronze Knight—did this woman truly possess such formidable strength?

"The pleasure is entirely mine, fair knight," Ronin replied smoothly. "Do you happen to know when Her Highness might arrive?"

Knight Mishi glanced toward the heavens, calculating the hour. "Her Highness should arrive within ten minutes. Please ensure you are prepared, Lord Ronin."

"Rest assured, everything is in order."

Though tasked with her reception, Ronin was merely required to serve as the official companion and welcoming party; the tedious logistics were handled by others.

Under the meticulous direction of Diane, the housekeeper, and Commander Toru, the guards of the First Knights Group had already secured the perimeter of the plaza, while servants had unfurled a grand red carpet stretching deep into the heart of Castle Wushan.

The nobles who had gathered to witness the spectacle lingered at a distance, murmuring among themselves on either side of the path as they waited.

Ten minutes passed in a flash, and soon, a cluster of black specks materialized against the distant horizon.

"They are here," Mishi murmured in warning, and Ronin tensed, ready.

The dark specks grew rapidly, soon looming directly over Castle Wushan.

Looking up, Ronin counted eleven griffins in total; all carried a single rider, save for the central beast which bore two.

Moreover, Ronin noticed a faint, pale green aura of energy enveloping each rider, acting as a protective shield against the biting chill and fierce winds of the high altitude.

Whether this barrier was cast by the griffins themselves or drawn from the inner strength of their riders remained unclear.

With a resonant, piercing cry, the squadron dove in perfect unison as if obeying a silent command, plunging downward with a tremendous rush of air that caused the faces of the perimeter guards to pale.

Standing at the epicenter, Ronin felt his own breath hitch; he could easily envision the sheer devastation should this squadron and its knights choose to unleash an assault.

The royal family, he conceded silently, truly commanded a magnificent and terrifying stage.

Had he lacked his natural composure, the sheer pressure might have sent him sprawling to the ground in disgrace.

Beside him, Knight Mishi cast an appreciative glance his way; she had heard the rumors surrounding Ronin, but had not expected him to possess such unflinching resolve.

When she had first been selected for the Griffin Knights, she had faced a similar display—a traditional test of mettle from her superiors.

Though she hadn't collapsed, she had recoiled two paces, completely lacking the absolute steadiness Ronin now displayed.

The eleven griffins touched down in flawless alignment, their riders leaping down one after another, save for the lady upon the central beast, who descended gracefully via a makeshift white ladder provided by her companion.

With a single glance, Ronin knew this was the famously controversial Princess Blanche, and he stepped forward with measured haste.

Though her reputation abroad was somewhat stained, there was no denying that as a daughter of the Alduin bloodline, her beauty was flawless.

She was, without a doubt, the most striking woman Ronin had ever beheld.

Blanche possessed the signature golden-brown hair of the Alduin family and striking, pale violet eyes.

Those lively eyes, rather than appearing eerie, served to enhance the delicate porcelain of her fair skin.

The sole imperfection, visible only upon closer inspection, was a light dusting of freckles across her slender nose, though they were so faint they did nothing to diminish her beauty.

This political match, it seemed, was certainly no hardship to look upon.

Admiring her silently, Ronin stepped forward with practiced warmth, placing his left hand over his heart in a respectful bow.

"Noble Princess Blanche, I am Ronin, eldest grandson of the Marquis of Wushan. On behalf of the entire castle, I welcome you."

Blanche was well aware of her father’s intentions in sending her to Wushan, but discovering that her host was Ronin himself caused a fleeting panic to flash deep within her eyes.

Yet, bred to the court, she quickly regained her composure, dipping into a slight curtsy while gently lifting the sides of her gown, offering a polite nod.

"I am equally pleased to meet you, Ronin."

Her voice was soft and melodic, carrying a gentle, approachable warmth.

The princess then proceeded to introduce her entourage.

In short, her escort was led by Sir Broll Geller, Vice Commander of the Royal Griffin Knights, flanked by eleven distinguished members of the order.

Without exception, every single one of them was a knight of immense power and noble standing.

Ronin greeted and shook hands with each of them in turn.

"Your Highness, please allow me to escort you into the castle."

Ronin straightened, raising his right arm to offer his elbow.

"Thank you."

Blanche slipped her hand smoothly through his arm, and together they began their slow march along the red carpet toward the keep.

Behind them followed only Knight Mishi and Vice Commander Broll, while the remaining knights stayed behind to lead their mounts to the stables.

The waiting nobles lined the path, erupting into enthusiastic cheers and shouting warm greetings to the princess.

Ronin noted that the princess was entirely unphased by the grandeur of the moment; she kept her arm woven through his while gracefully nodding and waving to the surrounding nobility.

Yet, before they could cross the threshold of Castle Wushan, a resonant, piercing cry drowned out the cheers of the crowd, shattering the festive atmosphere.

Ronin, along with everyone else, turned instinctively toward the heavens, only to witness three more griffins soaring in from the distance.

According to Broll, their squadron consisted of only twelve beasts—where had these others come from?

"What is the meaning of this?" Ronin asked, turning to Blanche in surprise.

The princess knit her delicate brows, shaking her head imperceptibly to signal her own ignorance of the matter.

It was Broll who squinted up at the sky. "White griffins. That should be Count Jesus and his personal knights."

Jesus?

The name clicked instantly in Ronin's memory.

Jesus Alduin, brother to King Bruno and Count of Moonlight Valley, whose domain bordered the southeastern corner of the Wushan territory—a detail his predecessor's memory readily supplied.

Ronin narrowed his eyes slightly, watching the three griffins dive rapidly and touch down firmly upon the plaza.

Had a Count of the Kingdom also arrived to celebrate Rulance’s birthday?

He had never heard of it before.

(End of chapter)