With one foot off the carriage, Todd looked up at the "Liliel" signs everywhere on the street and asked his servant with some confusion, "Why are there so many signs like this on this street? Which one is the real one?"
“Your Majesty, every shop you see belongs to ‘Liliel’s’. Lady Mary has rented almost half of the shops on this street.”
"They've rented out half the street?" Todd exclaimed in surprise.
“That’s right. The Liliel brand has spread to many countries, whether it’s the northern barbarian kingdoms, the southern empires, or the eastern holy city. Every year, a large number of customers come here by carriage or ship to purchase clothing.”
Todd shook his head and laughed. Who would have thought that the queen who fell on hard times a few years ago would now be able to amass such a huge fortune in Twilight City?
Without prior notice, Todd, accompanied by royal attendants and royal knights, found a three-story building in the center of the neighborhood.
This was originally the shop where 'Liliel' started, and it has now been transformed into the brand's office building.
In the lobby on the first floor, a group of young women who were busy checking warehouse receipts and goods suddenly saw a large number of fully armed men walk in. Those who were timid were immediately frightened and screamed.
The attendant found the shop staff member in charge of reception and asked about Lady Mary's whereabouts.
Before he could get an answer, Mary, dressed in an art studio uniform, came down the stairs surrounded by shop assistants, looking at the newcomer with a puzzled expression.
"Lady Mary, His Majesty is waiting for you in the gallery in the front hall."
Mary paused, looking down at her clothes still damp with paint, then touching her unkempt hair, and hurriedly said, "Your Majesty, please wait ten minutes, no, five minutes will do! I need to go upstairs and freshen up!"
“Lady Mary, His Majesty specifically instructed that there is no need for much trouble; he only needs to talk to you for a few minutes.”
Mary reluctantly agreed to the invitation, only managing to find a clean handkerchief to wrap her unkempt hair before following the servants out.
The knights guarded the gate of the small building firmly, and any visitors who wanted to enter were told to wait outside for a moment.
Todd, walking through the front gallery, stopped in front of a painting titled "Redemption".
The deity in the painting carries a cross symbolizing human sin, and his body is gradually consumed by flames as he walks step by step into the depths of hell.
"Your Majesty, Lady Mary has arrived."
Todd turned around, looked at the woman who seemed to have just stepped out of a pile of paint, and said with a smile, "Did I disturb your creation?"
Mary gently shook her head.
In another world, although they could meet almost every day, after being separated for half a year, Mary could sense that something was changing in the other person.
Are all the paintings here your work?
“Some of them are, and some come from painters influenced by the Renaissance.” Mary looked around and said sincerely, “Speaking of which, Your Majesty, you are the leader of the Renaissance. Most of the inspiration in these paintings actually comes from your world.”
Todd found a chair and sat down, showing no sign of pride at the woman's praise: "I'm not a leader. Everything you see belongs to this era. Strictly speaking, I'm just a porter."
Mary opened her eyes wide, but could only vaguely understand half of what she was hearing.
Todd looked at Mary's radiant face and said softly, "You must have heard about the banquet that hosted the Holy Guard delegation."
Mary frowned, then finally nodded slightly.
Would you like to come?
Mary was taken aback, and asked in an incredulous tone, "Are you asking for my permission?"
Todd was a little confused as to why the other party had reacted so strongly: "That's right, but there's one thing I must remind you. If you're willing to show up, your identity will only be related to Muxi City, and will have absolutely nothing to do with the past..."
Todd's words were meant to remind Mary that Twilight City had given her a happy and independent new life, and was her only true home. Silver Ring City and Holy Guard City, however, were merely her past. At this banquet, she should remember this and identify herself as a Twilight person.
But Mary misunderstood that statement...
"Your Majesty, you are an incredible person."
"Unbelievable?"
"You are completely different from any ruler I have ever met... My father once told me that this world is full of danger and death. Deception, hypocrisy, indifference, and cruelty are the souls a king should possess. But look at his country: the advisors are afraid to speak the truth for fear of being killed, so they remain silent; the generals are afraid that too much power will arouse suspicion, so they would rather watch the defeat unfold; the princes are anxious that their fathers will kill them, so they have to secretly build up armies and plot for power. The entire kingdom has fallen into endless internal strife because of the king's ruthless political maneuvering and reckless actions..."
Mary walked up to Todd, knelt quietly on the ground, and gently took his hands in hers, tears glistening in her eyes: "The past has felt like a nightmare to me, but with you, I feel peace and tranquility for the first time. As long as you don't ask me to leave, I want to stay by your side forever..."
The guards exchanged glances, and without a word, they all turned around, facing the wall and leaving their backs to the two people in the room.
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