Extraordinary Voyage-Chapter 717 - 617 Crown Prince’s Thoughts

The "Campaign against the Ilya Republic" has already been over for half a month.

The war began and ended so swiftly that it was as if it struck like lightning, leaving no time for any reaction.

Even those hostile forces outside the Alliance didn’t have enough time to stir before they had to accept the fact that the Tulip Alliance’s internal turmoil had concluded.

Upon realizing the inside story of the war, they have become highly cautious of the current military might the Alliance possesses, completely giving up any ideas of taking advantage of the situation.

On the other side.

As the army gradually moved into Ilya, starting a two-month-long martial law campaign, the main forces of the Alliance Navy had already withdrawn. Aiven also gave his crew a long holiday, and along with his sister and Olivia, came to the Royal Capital Bekele.

Aiven intended to discuss the plans for his new territory with Crown Prince Liweina in advance, while Olivia took his sister, who was visiting the Royal Capital for the first time, out shopping.

He was proud and relieved that even if the two girls were to shop endlessly today, as long as they didn’t intend to buy the whole of Bekele, he didn’t have to worry about the safety of his wallet at all.

However,

It was unknown what the Princess had been busy with the entire day, as he sat alone in the small hall for a while without seeing her. Fortunately, the housemaids were very considerate and had already provided Aiven with a table of tea treats of the highest standard without needing any instruction from him.

"Ha!"

Sipping a mouthful of the royal family’s exclusive tea, he slowly placed the teacup, rimmed with gold lines and pure white as jade, back down, letting out a sincere sigh of praise. Yet, his praise wasn’t for the tea but for the exquisite teacup.

"Ordinary tea leaves simply do not match with this bone china cup; it should be used for drinking the royal family’s exclusive brews to be truly fitting. I certainly am a ’genius’ standing on the shoulders of giants!"

This exquisite set of teaware, although not as colorful as products of the Peacock Islands, with gold-lined edges exuding a subtle sense of luxury, was a specialty from the "Ceramic Town" that Aiven had gifted to Liweina—bone china.

By adding over 40% of high-quality cattle bone powder into regular clay, one could craft exceptional bone china of miraculous quality.

This new type of ceramic presented a milky white hue throughout, was thin as paper, had a gentle sheen, and was smooth as jade, with a spotless, translucent glaze surface. Ordinary daily tableware imported from the Peacock Islands couldn’t even compare.

To high-end consumers, bone china, as thin and light as an eggshell yet noble, was indeed an extraordinary priceless treasure!

With this gem-like bone china as the signature piece, ceramics under the "Hephaestus Ceramics Company" brand have become a craze in the Royal Capital Bekele and are rapidly taking the Alliance market by storm.

The new ceramic craze will soon sweep through all Old Continent countries, and Aiven will be able to use this powerful tool to legally "loot" the world with dignity! 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝚠𝕖𝐛𝗻𝗼𝐯𝕖𝚕.𝚌𝗼𝗺

Though pirates plundering merchant ships and nations plundering in war make money fast, how could these compare to long-term, stable monetary gains made through trade and financial means? Moreover, there would be no consequences.

Just as Aiven the Big Boss was envisioning the future.

Suddenly, crisp footsteps sounded from the entrance of the small hall behind him.

Tap... tap... tap...

The high heels clacking on the smooth mirror-like marble floor, from the sound alone, it was clear that the person approaching was an elegantly poised and lovely woman.

Aiven turned to look and was instantly captivated.

The Second Princess, having usually dressed in a more masculine, strong fashion, now wore a gorgeous and intricate court long dress, with shimmering high heels designed like rosebuds.

Liweina, wearing light makeup, added a touch of enchanting grace to her usual spirited demeanor, even her golden-red hair tips seemed to glow with youthful brilliance.

Moreover, having ascended to Tier 3, her lifespan greatly increased, and a Great Knight’s appearance was far more youthful than their actual age. If not for the unmistakable aura of a high-ranking figure, someone might even believe she’s a girl under twenty.

Seeing Aiven’s surprised expression, Liweina was very pleased, covering her mouth with a small ivory fan as she giggled.

Swaying gracefully to him, she extended her hand confidently in an equal gesture, allowing Aiven, who stood up, to lightly kiss the back of her fair hand.

"Your Highness, good day! You truly look radiant today."

"Thank you!"

After expressing her gratitude, Liweina playfully blinked her beautiful lake-green eyes, lightly lifting the corners of her fluffy skirt with both hands, and returned the courtesy with a lovely smile:

"Saint Aiven, good day!"

She gazed unblinkingly at his strikingly spirited yet refined face, filled with many reflections.

When Aiven was still a fifteen-year-old boy, she was his deputy headmaster. After recognizing the boy’s potential, she recruited him as her Guardian Knight, witnessing his growth step by step to where he is today.

In five years, through scattered Seagull and Spirit Realm communications, Liweina was sure she had witnessed the most comprehensive process of his development.

Recalling the past felt like a dream.

It was somewhat unbelievable that this once tender young man, having just turned twenty, had already risen to a status that allowed him to stand alongside her as an equal.

Now, the slightly shy image of the young man etched in Liweina’s heart began to gradually fade, replaced by the powerful Extraordinary who has become a stronghold the Kingdom could depend on today!

Bestowed a title of nobility for his outstanding deeds in protecting the homeland and expanding its territories!

Canonized for his enlightening and illuminating thoughts that expelled ignorance!

Although Saints are not permanent positions within the Church, each Saint is deliberately or unintentionally a steadfast True Believer walking the path of the gods, holding a status equivalent to an Archbishop within the Church.

The Archbishops of the Church, already Tier 4 Holy Professionals, are often candidates for the next Pope. Strictly speaking, they are similar to the Crown Prince’s position in the Kingdom, though not inherited by bloodline.

Among the countries, High-tier Clerics enjoy diplomatic immunity, judicial immunity, religious privileges... and other rights, surpassing the treatment of Royal Family members by several degrees.

Incidentally, the current situation with names on the continent is: surnames are rarely repeated, but the repetition rate of first names is extremely high.

This is because the admiration for famous people has existed since ancient times. In many countries on the continent, children’s names are often taken from Saints’ names in their religion, along with the beautiful blessings bestowed upon them.

The most extreme example is the Sak Empire, which worships the "Dawn". For a period of time, all citizens’ names were taken from the "Dawn Scripture", which records ten Saints.

This means that all males in the country share seven male names, and all females share three female names. To distinguish them, it also indirectly promoted the countless variations of surnames.

In some countries, there are only a few dozen first names, yet there are tens of millions of surnames—such phenomena are common.

Even in the current era of open civilization, it’s imaginable that within the Tulip Alliance, which worships the "Queen and Goddess of Navigation", countless children named "Aiven" will emerge in the future.

"Hehe..."

It was hard to discern whether this newly styled, exceptionally feminine lord was praising or mocking herself today.

But everyone was so familiar already, Aiven could only chuckle a bit, feeling too embarrassed to perform a blessing gesture (where a Holy Professional communicates with the gods by lightly touching a believer’s forehead with their palm).

However, after exchanging greetings about their new identities, the two evidently were no longer in the pure vassal and lord relationship as before, becoming more independent and equal.

Liweina knew the purpose of Aiven’s visit to her, and without teasing him, she swayed gracefully to personally fetch the special map for his upcoming conferment.

However.

Whether intentionally or accidentally, as they sat down again face-to-face across a small table, the snow-white instep in Liweina’s exquisite high heels gently brushed against Aiven’s calf.

"Uh..."

The hand receiving the map from Aiven stiffened slightly, glancing at Liweina’s charming and radiant face without discerning any peculiarity, he could only let it go.

’I feel like you want... to take advantage of me, but I have no evidence.’

Seated opposite him, though Liweina appeared composed, her heart was pounding quite fiercely.

’Liweina, you are doomed...’

Perhaps witnessing Aiven’s rapid growth firsthand, both in strength, influence, and status, increasingly enabling him to become autonomous from the Kingdom, had prevented Liweina from treating him with the usual calmness.

Subconsciously wishing to deepen Aiven’s ties to the Kingdom, she even went out of her way to dress up meticulously to meet him, which was unlike her.

Compared to her sister, Eldest Princess Stephanie, who eloped for love, Second Princess Liweina is undoubtedly a self-disciplined, emotionally stable Crown Prince, bearing the future hope of the Kingdom.

Her sister’s past precedent made her regard things like "love" as dangerous and uncontrollable.

While her sister was still around, she barely had an unrestrained childhood. But after that, almost no personal life of her own remained, leaving her unclear on personal interests.

Everything revolved around how to become an excellent Crown Prince! Keep working hard! Even harder!

While other noblewomen enjoyed operas, she trained in swordsmanship; while they went on picnics, she crawled through the dirt in the army camps; while they played in the seaside waters, she sailed out with the Kingdom Navy to brave storms...

Though of different gender, she put in more than other countries’ typical male Crown Princes.

Continually learning the tedious geography, politics, economy, military, literature, art, and practicing swordsmanship in her path to Knighthood... supporting her journey till now—with just two words: "responsibility"!

It’s the very thing her sister Stephanie discarded like old shoes.

It led her to thirty-three, having never experienced what love is; enabled her to accept sacrifices of a few innocent soldiers and civilians for the plan to seize demigod divinity; even let her put aside dignity as Vice Principal and Lord, trying to please with beauty that young boy she watched growing step by step...

Liweina did not want to resort to despicable means or devious schemes.

But she was determined to use all her efforts as Crown Prince and future Queen to keep the rapidly growing beyond everyone’s expectation Aiven aligned with the Kingdom, standing by her side.

Because unlike her freedom-and-love-seeking sister, outside of this country, she had no clues what else her life’s meaning could hold.

At this moment, Liweina felt a stab of envy towards her sister, not knowing whether what she felt was admiration or pragmatic utility... Of course, she couldn’t deny being deeply drawn to the extraordinary charm, appearance, and abilities of this Guardian Knight in front of her as a woman.

This was her first time breaking free from norms and etiquette, doing something bold. To a Princess always growing up to meet expectations, that nudge was recklessly bold!

Liweina sipped her tea, trying to calm her emotions, stared at Aiven’s handsome profile, pretended to speak "casually": "Aiven, would you like an overview of Ilya’s territorial situation? I aced all my Alliance geography classes!"

But Aiven simply pointed gently on the map:

"Your Highness, I have already made my choice."

The Princess leaned in to take a look, slightly surprised:

"New Continent... Buffalo?"