At your own house?

Tiran blinked, looking around and trying to find some personal traces but found none. The furnishings inside the room, whether it was the furniture, wall decorations, or potted plants, were all in a nearly new condition.

"Ahaha, Your Highness Xiang Ling, you really know how to joke. Who would let a guest stay at their own house..."

If it was an ordinary household hosting guests, that would be normal. But this was an imperial princess, also a border fortress general of the military, with two identities combined making her higher in status than most people in a country. Even if there was enough space at home, such a thing could never happen.

Yes, it was a matter of face, but as long as there were social hierarchies, the upper-class had to maintain their authority over the lower classes and keep up appearances.

For example, those with a harem of three thousand beauties couldn't possibly... it's not like they were pile drivers... cough, cough.

In any case, the face of a big shot was very important. Even someone like Tiran, who still retained habits from their past life, would try to control themselves in important occasions in Milanía to not let themselves go completely wild.

"I'm not joking."

"Huh?"

Tiran and Shuma were dumbfounded once again.

Xiang Ling took off her crown, ran her hands behind her head to let down her hair that was tied up. As she removed her armor and let her hair down, the fierce aura belonging to a soldier on Xiang Ling softened considerably, making her look more like an ordinary girl.

However, what she said had nothing to do with an ordinary girl.

"Did you say you were a guest just now? Xiang Ling's lips curved up slightly. "Don't worry, you won't be for much longer."

The princess immediately had a foreboding feeling, and felt that Xiang Ling's gaze at her was not simple. Wait a minute, this doesn't feel right. Massaka...

"Milanía's second princess, Silver War Maiden, Dragon Slayer, Her Highness Tiran Elysian, I, Chu, the third princess of the Western Empire, the Grand General of the West, formally propose marriage to you."

She really did propose!

Seeing Tiran sitting in place with a dazed look, Xiang Ling's smile deepened. "By the way, do you Westerners use this as a token of engagement and proposal?"

As she spoke, with a flick of her wrist, she magically produced an exquisite ring. The delicate silver band was engraved with elegant eastern-style cloud patterns, and a clear diamond at the top of the ring sparkled with light.

Xiang Ling gracefully approached Tiran, bent down, and took Tiran's left hand in hers, moving the ring towards her ring finger.

"Wait a minute!"

Finally coming to her senses from this overwhelming and sudden shock, Tiran quickly pulled back her hand and threw away the ring, feeling her cheeks getting warm.

What is this all about! Back when Aya was proposed to by Guffett, another male, she had been gloating on the side. Isn't this just karma coming back around, showing that the heavens are fair to everyone?!

"What? Do you plan to refuse?"

Xiang Ling slowly lowered her hand holding the ring, a playful glint in her eyes as she looked at Tiran.

Originally, Tiran was skilled at throwing off the opponent's rhythm with unpredictable moves, but this time, she was completely caught off guard and couldn't read Xiang Ling at all.

"It's not about accepting or rejecting..."

Tiran coughed and frantically gestured at Shuma, who was also dumbfounded, "Let's not make a decision on such an important matter without any preparation. Both of us represent the royal families of our respective countries, so proposing and getting engaged rashly like this is definitely not appropriate, right?"

"Um...Yes, that's right!"

Finally catching on, Shuma hurriedly agreed, then suddenly felt something was off. Wait a minute, shouldn't the first thing that seems off in this situation be that both parties are girls?!

"...I didn't think this through."

Although she said that, Xiang Ling showed no intention of putting the ring away.

At least the first wave of attack had been dealt with. Tiran breathed a sigh of relief, adjusted her mood slightly, and put on a helpless expression. "So, Princess Xiang Ling, what exactly is the meaning behind your proposal?"

"Three reasons."

Xiang Ling sat back in her chair, extending two fingers. "First, it's for the consideration of our alliance."

Indeed, although it was Mò Yì who brought Xiang Ling's proposal, the ultimate result was an alliance between the two of them. On Milanía's side, the exceptionally strong Silver War Maiden had teamed up with Xiang Ling to help her ascend to the throne, and in return, after Xiang Ling's ascension, the Western Empire Chu would send troops to help Milanía win the war.

"A political marriage..." Tiran smirked, wondering to herself.

Back in the capital, she had messed up the arranged blind date set up by her father during a royal banquet with Aya. Now, here she was, ironically offering herself up on a silver platter.

"Secondly, I need a reason."

"A reason?"

"A reason to return to the city of Lo."

Leaning back in her chair, Xiang Ling rested her chin on her hand. "Silver War Maiden, you haven't forgotten my identity, have you? Despite being of royal blood, I am also the General of the West, in other words, an external general. Father...sigh, although he liked to mess around when he was young, he is still a good emperor who wouldn't easily violate the rule that 'external generals should not enter the capital' just because I am his daughter."

"So, it goes both ways?"

Tiran pondered, "Because you are the daughter of His Majesty, the Emperor, of the imperial bloodline, and naturally, His Majesty wouldn't allow his daughter to marry a princess from another country on a whim...especially a...lily. It was inevitable that as a princess, you were summoned back to clarify this matter."

By the end, Tiran felt her face flush slightly. Damn it! Normally, she was teasing AyaCoco and Little Angel without batting an eye. Why was she feeling shy now? Was it because this person was too...provocative?

Tiran stole a glance at Xiang Ling and quickly averted her gaze.

Realistically speaking, this girl kind of matched her aesthetic...quite different from the feeling of being easily bullied that AyaCoco exuded. Over the years, with her military experience and extraordinary strength, Tiran rarely encountered someone as forceful as herself, to some extent, she found a bit of similarity...

When two powers collide, there is always a weaker one cough cough cough...

But as Tiran listened to Xiang Ling's response, her eyes sparkled a bit brighter, showing more appreciation. "You're right. The news I received earlier was that Father's health is deteriorating. Now that my two elder brothers have returned to Lo, it's because in case of any unforeseen circumstances, being in Lo City gives us the upper hand."

"That's true."

In case the old emperor croaked, being in Lo City would give them an advantage. Locking down the news, declaring herself Emperor by following her father's decree, at least she would have the upper hand in terms of legitimacy.

Hmm, indeed, she was a woman comparable to a protagonist in a Dragon Proud Sky novel, always thinking things through clearly. Tiran also sighed in relief; at least it was only an engagement being used as an excuse.

"By the way, didn't you mention three reasons earlier? What's the third one?"

"The third reason? It's because I truly admire you, Silver War Maiden. Dragon slayers in the Western Continent are top-notch warriors, you have a sharp mind, not a foolish woman, and..."

Standing up and walking around the sofa to Tiran's back, Xiang Ling suddenly reached out and gently smelled a strand of Tiran's silver-white long hair. "I don't dislike beautiful women... very pretty hair."

Huh... ?!!!'

At this moment, if someone were to cast a mind-reading spell on the princess, they would probably only read the words "Holy ****".

Is he still eyeing me up?!

Meanwhile, to the north of Yanmen Pass, there was a commotion in the depths of the grassland palace.

As a nomadic people, the Grassland inhabitants had not advanced their productivity to the point of forming the concept of a "nation." Instead, they were composed of tribes of various sizes, with the most powerful tribes' leaders entering the Golden Tent to form the Grassland Court, responsible for ruling the entire grassland.

Such rule was evidently fragile, as even if the Court tribe was the most powerful, there were still numerous conflicts among the tribes due to extreme scarcity of resources on the grassland, resulting in casualties of hundreds or even thousands and the collapse of tribes. Turmoil caused the Court to undergo a turnover every five to ten years.

The only thing that could unite the Grassland people and direct their blades outward was plundering. To the east and south lay the Western Empire Chu, with rich land and people. Bypassing that mountain pass to reap countless wealth with their curved knives was a great temptation for the Grassland inhabitants.

"But they will only end up with their heads bloodied at the gates of that fortress. The general won't let them pass."

On a gentle slope outside the Golden Tent, a spirit, folding its wings, gazed at the assembled cavalry of the Grassland Court and said expressionlessly, "It's impressive that you've incited them."

"Haha, that's too much praise. The Grassland people would always try to bypass the Yanmen Pass and raid the heartland of Sichu every once in a while. I just nudged them to gather more people," the youth named Yuan, sitting on the grass with his knees hugged, listened to the rough cries, the chaotic sounds of horseshoes, and the neighing brought by the wind.

"But does this make sense? After all, they are just a bunch of barbarians on horseback. They can't break through that mountain pass."

"Indeed, they can't, but we don't need them to break through Yanmen Pass. All we need is to have border conflicts to delay Princess Xiang Ling. After all, it's a hundred thousand men, right? Isn't there a saying that goes like that? Something about not being able to catch all the pigs with just fifty thousand soldiers in three days. Compared to that, Saint... oh, is it Ural? You're actually interested in the affairs of us mortals?"

"God helps those who help themselves. As a messenger of the divine, it's not a big deal for me to pay attention to human affairs," said the spirit dominated by the personality of the Angel named Ural. "But did you say 'us mortals'? Are you really calling yourself a mortal?"

"Of course, just an ordinary person," Yuan chuckled.

"...Very well," Ural shook his head. "Buying time? There's no Holy Rank here. Even if you have more numbers, it won't matter when facing the general inside the fortress."

"Yes, that's why I specifically sent you there."

Yuan stood up, brushed off the grass stuck to his buttocks, and pointed to the distant silhouette of the mountains.