Chapter 209: Women And Tease
"Your Highness, this humble girl is of limited talent and dares not casually offer any commentary."
Elin spoke softly, her voice clear and melodious.
Princess Lisa smiled. "Among the women of Eldora, if even you claim to be of limited talent, then others might as well be illiterate. You rarely step out; this time, don’t be as modest as the Grand Secretary."
A white veil covered half of Elin’s face, her exposed eyes curving into crescent moons as she replied. "As you wish, Your Highness."
At that moment, the golden-armoured guard entered again, holding a piece of paper. "Your Highness, there’s only one person left outside."
A maidservant stepped forward to retrieve the poem. Princess Lisa said. "Very well. Those who arrive late shall not be admitted. It’s time to begin the poetry gathering."
The maidservant handed the poem to Princess Lisa, who skimmed it and revealed a faint look of surprise. She signalled to the maidservant, who then presented the poem to Elin.
"Elin, what do you think of this poem?" Princess Lisa asked. "Golden Rebellion."
"Golden Rebellion"
Wait for the Double Ninth, when autumn bites,
I’ll rise alone, the boldest bloom in sight.
While others fade in frost’s cruel embrace,
My petals burn, a crown of fire and grace.
My scent will storm the skies of old Eldora,
Drowning the city in a sea of gold.
No fragile rose, no trembling orchid’s plea,
I wear my armour bright for all to see.
Let kings and seasons bow before my throne:
The chrysanthemum claims the field alone."
Elin recited slowly, then paused in thought. "This poem appears to praise chrysanthemums, yet its words carry an overwhelming aura of slaughter."
Princess Lisa nodded. "Indeed, I thought the same. The author must surely be someone accustomed to the brutality of the battlefield."
Princess Elowen suddenly laughed. "This poem reminds me of Simon’s ’Frontier Song.’ Both are steeped in the air of slaughter."
"Exactly." Princess Elowen said.
Princess Lisa chuckled. "Could it be that Prince Simon has come to this poetry gathering? When he was in Eldora before, he never missed a single one. Now that he’s finally returned this year, perhaps he couldn’t resist joining in the fun."
Princess Elowen’s eyes sparkled. "If he were here, this gathering would be far more interesting."
"More interesting than the gathering, or more interesting than your brother?" Princess Lisa teased, her lips curling into a smile.
Princess Elowen laughed. "Of course, Simon is more interesting. I’ve been meaning to ask him for some of his glass bottles of perfume!"
"That’s true. Since Prince Simon has come to Eldora so rarely, he ought to leave something behind before he goes."
After a pause, Princess Lisa continued playfully. "But if Prince Simon were here, there’s someone here who should be worried."
With that, she glanced at Elin and giggled.
Elin immediately lowered her head, her cheeks flushing like rosy clouds. Softly, she said. "Your Highness jests."
"Giggle, I won’t tease you anymore. Don’t worry, even if Prince Simon were here, I’d protect you. Besides, he’s quite busy these days and may not even come."
Then she announced. "Now that everyone is here, let the poetry gathering begin. You talented ladies must help me decide on the theme."
"Today is the Autumn Outing Festival; naturally, we should compose poems about chrysanthemums." One woman suggested.
"We write about chrysanthemums every year, how dull! Let’s choose something else."
"..."
The women below immediately began debating.
Princess Lisa nodded slightly. "The Autumn Outing Festival need not be limited to chrysanthemums. Elin, Elowen, what do you think?"
Elin looked at Princess Elowen. Aside from Princess Lisa, she held the highest status here. "Princess Elowen is multi-talented; let her decide."
"No, Elin should choose. Who knows, I might soon have to call you sister-in-law!" Princess Elowen teased.
Elin blushed even harder, her tone turning slightly indignant. "If Your Highness continues jesting like this, I shall take my leave."
Princess Lisa shot Princess Elowen a reproachful look. Princess Elowen was one of Emperor Alaric’s three daughters and his most beloved. At just thirteen years old, she was rather mischievous.
"Enough of your nonsense." Princess Lisa chided.
Princess Elowen stuck out her tongue. "Fine, Elin, I apologise. You choose the theme."
Elin, having lived a sheltered life, was naturally shy about matters between men and women. But with two princesses present, she couldn’t act too willfully and storm off.
"Very well. Since the great victory at Dunmere has brought glory to our nation, why not compose poems about war?"
"War poems?"
Princess Lisa looked at Elin in surprise, thinking to herself: Outwardly delicate, yet inwardly strong-willed, any prince who marries her would gain a truly capable partner.
In her view, the notion that ’a woman’s lack of talent is a virtue’ was nonsense. A woman’s intellect could equally assist her husband in managing affairs.
Moreover, as a daughter of the Baker family, if Prince Simon married her, he would only flourish further.
"What does Your Highness think?" Elin asked.
Snapping out of her thoughts, Princess Lisa replied. "An excellent idea. Then let the theme be ’war poems,’ to celebrate the victory at Dunmere."
With that, Princess Lisa took a brush and paper, wrote down the theme, and had a maidservant deliver it to the guards for transmission to the other side of the curtain.
Meanwhile, Simon and Maxwell were mingling at the gathering.
The moment he entered, Simon was recognised by many, who eagerly sought his company.
He couldn’t help but feel frustrated; it seemed his cover was blown. There’d be no chance to catch a glimpse of Elin now.
Knowing he was here, Princess Lisa would never allow him to join her on the lake tour. Otherwise, her year-long effort to recruit talent would be ruined.
While socialising with the scholars, the guards brought in the theme. "Her Highness declares that today’s theme is ’war poems.’ You may begin writing. The time limit is one incense stick’s worth. Her Highness will judge the poems."
At once, the scholars ceased their idle chatter. Even the noble youths who had been crowding around Simon scattered, muttering to themselves as they racked their brains.
Maxwell and the other two looked at Simon, their eyes conveying a clear message.
Simon had no choice but to give each of them a poem, keeping the best one for himself.
The time limit of one incense stick, roughly half an hour, passed quickly. The guards came to collect the compositions.
With Simon’s poems in hand, Maxwell and the others chatted leisurely at the back, confident that his work would secure their selection.
Sure enough, the guards soon announced the results: "The winning poems are..."
"Hahaha! We humbly accept!" Reece burst into laughter; these were their four poems. With that, he prepared to follow the guards to the other side of the curtain.
"Wait! Prince Simon, how dare you cheat at Her Highness’s poetry gathering? Do you even deserve to cross the curtain?" A scholar in white robes sneered sarcastically.