Dahlia corolla (complete)
The candidates for the Dahlia's Melodious Voice competition have complex backgrounds and unique identities. They are self-respecting and rarely appear in public. Some are even leading performers at grand theaters, regularly accepting invitations from nobles, and thus rarely perform in theaters. The contestants for the Dahlia's Beautiful Shadow competition are entirely different. They need votes from the city of *Sun*, and maintain a high frequency of performances throughout the selection period, appearing in various venues every day.
Eliza—the star performer of Trinity College. Mi had even made a special trip to see Trinity College when she first heard of it. Not far from the restaurant, just two streets away, was a two-story building with a courtyard in the back. It looked very different from a typical theater; there was no grand entrance, no carpeted steps, and no flower baskets on either side—it was unremarkable and unlike any theater at all. Later, Mi learned that any place labeled "College" didn't put on grand operas or have a large stage. A slightly more elaborate one might set up a small stage, while a simple chair served as a stage. This wasn't a place for performances; it was mostly for singing folk songs, which were performed for whoever requested them, and primarily for other services. Eliza was just eighteen years old, also of foreign descent, with dark skin, full, round lips, even darker in color. Her entire face, except for the whites of her eyes and the large, white teeth that shone when she smiled, was as black as soot from the bottom of a pot—not only black, but also shiny. Eliza had a broad forehead and sexy lips, a long neck and curly black hair, and her particularly full breasts looked like two pots placed in front of her. Her round and firm buttocks were even more impressive than her chest. At only eighteen years old, she already had an enviable figure.
Eliza's singing is particularly distinctive, with a long, sustained breath that can completely captivate the listener, making them tense and forget to breathe. Gossip commentators describe Eliza as a singer from the soul, her voice possessing a depth unattainable by most. Her vibrato rises to the heavens without needing a breath, and she doesn't need a single lyric to resonate with your soul, transporting you back to your mother's embrace with a gentle, melodious tenderness, as if carrying the call of ancestors.
Hong Guo'er isn't her real name, but her shiny red hair and rosy skin earned her that nickname, and her real name is rarely used. Hong Guo'er is a contestant promoted by the Lantern Shadow Pavilion, and her voice is as sweet as a ripe fruit—a favorite among single men. Whenever Hong Guo'er performs, the Lantern Shadow Pavilion is packed, and even standing room seats are sold out. Single men who can't get tickets gather outside the pavilion, and if alcohol weren't prohibited from being sold to the public, the area outside would be filled with drunkards. However, business acumen is always sharp; two decent restaurants that used to be next to the pavilion have been converted into taverns, and business is booming whenever Hong Guo'er performs. Hong Guo'er is said to be from another tribe, her origins unknown. She performs at the Lantern Shadow Pavilion every night the blue moon disappears, only three days a month. Her fellow performers avoid her during these three days, demonstrating her immense charm.
Mela – from Fool's Abode. Any place labeled "Abode" emphasizes dance, and Mela is no exception. As soon as the music starts, she darts around the stage like a little swallow, her whole body trembling with energy. Her movements are swift and varied, making it seem as if she has extra arms and legs. Of course, Mela's most outstanding art is her striptease. With each sway and twist, the fabric slowly slips off. Every time Mela dances, the screams from the audience seem to pierce the roof, the waves of sound growing louder and louder.
Mela has fair skin, a slender figure, but a large frame, making her a natural clothes hanger. Her striptease is different from others; while others' cleavage is very obvious, Mela is a technique-based dancer. She never moves her fingers, relying entirely on the movement of her body to pull and tug at her clothes, creating a most alluring effect when they're half-draped and about to fall off. Mi had seen Mela's performance and was amazed by her technique; she could precisely control every muscle, and the rich expressions on her face were even more captivating than any striptease.
The most popular choices for this year's Dahlia Beauty Pageant are Flora and Laura. Flora, the star of the Maple Leaf Theatre, is stunningly beautiful, with blonde hair and blue eyes like an angel. Her deep contralto voice is particularly captivating; her acting is mesmerizing. The only drawback is that Flora lacks vocal power, making her delivery of lines far better than her singing. However, this doesn't prevent her from being one of the top contenders. Gossip suggests that Flora is King Derek III's new favorite, and Princess Denise frequently invites her to sing at her parties.
Laura is the top star at Red Studio. It's said her mother once pursued Martina, the most legendary adventurer in the Adventurers' Guild, and rumors suggest Laura also has the guild's support. Laura has a clear voice, especially her high notes; watching her perform is a true pleasure. She hits those high notes effortlessly and smoothly. Compared to many of her peers who use falsetto for high notes, Laura is an absolute powerhouse and the most popular contender for next year's "Flower Nightingale" competition.
In addition to the annual folk elections like the "Dahlia Crown," the Flower Kingdom also holds the official "Flower Nightingale" competition every five years, making the entertainment life of the residents of Sun City quite rich.
After reviewing all the candidates for the Grand Liying competition, Mi finally understood why there were so few nobles, and even fewer commoners, among the winners. Nobles were always aloof and reserved; few possessed striking beauty, and they were even less inclined to display their allure. Commoner women lacked both the elegance of nobles and the seductive charm of courtesans; they could only be described as fresh and innocent. Even if they were already great beauties, their makeup, styling, and clothing would fall short. Naturally beautiful women are rare, and placing them in a garden full of blooming flowers would only make them stand out even more.
Sun City was engulfed in a frenzied celebration. This was the time when the most adventurers remained in Sun City; those planning to depart for the Snow Region wouldn't set off until at least the second half of the year. The Sea Kingdom had closed its borders, forcing adventurers heading to the sea to reconsider their plans. Sun City was packed with people. During the Dahlia Crown competition, tickets for these theater performances were often snapped up, and Mi frequently couldn't buy tickets. She once again thought of Fried.
Fried, along with Hualin and another girl, had already arrived at Lincheng 17. In just six months, Lincheng 17 was no longer the same as when Mi had first passed through. A section of city wall and a stone forest array, several tens of meters long, had been built five days' distance outside the western city. Lincheng 17 had expanded outwards by several hundred miles. The city lord's mansion was the first to relocate, and Qiu led half of the city lord's mansion's guards to be stationed behind the new city wall and stone forest array. Yana was in charge of the city lord's mansion in Lincheng 17.
Kennan took Fried to the population registration office to arrange for the two girls to stay in Lincheng 17. Fried couldn't find the city lord, so he stopped Yana who was coming out of the city lord's house. Fried looked at Yana, who was wearing glasses. This woman had a powerful aura. He was almost unable to move under Yana's gaze. Fried swallowed and insisted, "I have a letter that I must deliver to the city lord in person, Lord Qiu."
“Then there’s no need to pass it on.” Yana was very busy. Every day, countless people came looking for Qiu, especially the boys, who always tried to find ways to escape and move with Qiu to the new city lord’s mansion outside the city. Fried couldn’t see the city lord, nor could he stay in Lin City 17. He could only set up a tent outside the east gate of Lin City 17 and think of another way. Mi’s letter was very important, and he had to find a way to deliver it to City Lord Qiu.
Hua Lin and her friends were assigned to study law at Lincheng 17. After passing the legal exam, they could only choose one man to marry, and they wouldn't receive any job opportunities or freedom until their first child was born. Hua Lin quickly discovered it was a good place; she made new friends and brought the flamboyant corsets from Taiyangcheng to Lincheng 17. By the time Yana found out, half a month had passed. Only then did Yana realize that Hua Lin had come from Taiyangcheng, not as two little girls who had come from Maicheng.
Fried was brought before Qiu, who looked even thinner. Her skin was rough, and she had dark circles under her eyes, though she still had a slightly roguish air about her when she smiled, matching Mi's description. Fried took out Mi's letter: "Please read it now, Lord." Qiu handed the letter to Yana, but Fried stepped forward and insisted, "Please open and read it yourself, Lord."
Qiu finally looked at Fried properly. He was a thin boy of about ten years old; she could easily take him down with one hand. But Hua Lin said that Fried had escorted them all the way to Maicheng 17, and then found someone to take them to Lincheng 17 to settle down. This journey, without stopping, would take three months. Fried looked even younger than the two girls. He had arranged food and lodging along the way, although Karin said that Fried often chose to stay at farmhouses to reduce expenses. This trip would cost at least two King Deli. Now, the dark and thin Fried stood in front of Qiu without showing any fear. She opened the letter, read two lines, immediately flipped to the end to see the signature, and looked back and forth several times before handing the letter to Yana.
"Would you like to stay in Lincheng 17?" Fried hadn't expected the first thing Lord Qiu asked after reading the letter. He thought of the extra letter Mi had left him; it was that letter that had kept him going these past few days outside the East City. Mi had said that Lord Qiu might offer him another job, and she told Fried to think it over carefully. Mi had also told him that she wouldn't stay in Taiyang City for long.
“My family is in Sun City.” Fried shook his head. He wouldn’t easily give up his citizenship in Sun City. He was afraid that Lord Qiu would force him to stay in Lin City 17. He took out the marigold that Mi had given her.
After reading the letter, Yana stared at Fried and asked him, "Lord Qiu has a job for you, but I want to see your loyalty."
Fried nervously rubbed his trousers. There really was a job! He clutched the marigold, his palms sweating. Mi had said this could change his life, urging him to think carefully. He raised his head and held up two fingers: "I swear on the honor of Sun City: the citizens of Sun City never betray their employers." Fried had always wanted to be an adventurer's squire, to travel with adventurers. Loyalty was the most basic virtue of a squire, and he wouldn't allow anyone to question his character. Fried was taken away to rest.
Yana and Qiu read Mi's letter again from beginning to end. They were saddened by Petrus's plight and grateful that Mi happened to be passing by and saving her. They were also worried. The Derek Palace was not a good place. The royal family seemed high and mighty, but in reality, they were just the Acropolis's moneybags. The Derek royal family's main job was to allocate the entire country's revenue. Taxes from Mai City, Xing City, and even Taiyang City were all used to pay for the Acropolis's expenses. Even so, it wasn't enough. Lords in Taiyang City could be bought with gold because the royal family often couldn't afford the Acropolis's costs. Petrus was born in Lin City and was sent to Taiyang City at the age of six. She couldn't possibly be unaware that the Derek royal family held a bad hand. Yana didn't know what temptations Petrus had encountered in Taiyang City. As a child, she was determined to inherit Zara's position and become the 17th female city lord of Lin City. She looked at Qiu: "We gained the friendship of a shooting star."
"How could Petrus have such an idea?" Qiu said, putting down the letter with a troubled expression. "How should I reply?"
“Let’s think about what to do with Fried?” Yana didn’t answer Qiu’s question; she was more interested in Fried, whom Mi had recommended. This little boy had stayed outside the city gates alone for half a month to deliver the letter; he was clever and brave. Yana made a decision: “Qiu, I’ve decided to support Petrus. We must support Petrus.”
"good!"
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