Chapter 659: Palace of the Goddess
Northern Central Faraluo, Froz.
Like many other large cities, Froz is surrounded by numerous rivers, which provided the initial impetus for the city’s development, and the Harvest River is one of them.
The Harvest River flows from south to north, cutting through Froz and traversing the vast northern plains of Faraluo before emptying into the sea. For a long time, before being heavily polluted by domestic waste, it was one of the primary water sources for Froz. Of course, pollution primarily affects the downstream areas, allowing residents upstream of the Harvest River to largely disregard any contamination.
In the southern outskirts of Froz, the Harvest River makes a wide bend, inside of which lies a massive palace complex. This is the royal palace of the Bourbon Dynasty during its final days in Faraluo, known as the Palace of the Goddess. In present-day Faraluo, it remains a key venue for various important official events.
The entire Palace of the Goddess is situated within the vast river bend created by the Harvest River. At this moment, a luxurious banquet is being held inside this grand and opulent palace. Although the Bourbon family no longer governs this country, it still serves as an important social venue for Faraluo’s nobles.
During the day, the palace’s brown-gray walls and blue roof tiles shine brightly under the sunlight, making the many exquisite sculptures beneath the eaves and in the corridors even more visible. The gilded ridges glimmer in the sunlight, so bright that they can be seen glittering from several kilometers away, showcasing the wealth of the place. The nobles from various countries participating in the banquet are currently mingling throughout the palace.
In an open courtyard on the eastern edge of the Palace, countless elegantly dressed noblewomen in fluffy long skirts are gathered in what used to be the royal garden, chatting and laughing while enjoying delicious pastries. Clear spring water flows merrily from a small fountain, and a small group of skilled violinists stand in a corner of the garden, playing melodious music to enhance the ambiance.
In another corner of the garden, Adele, dressed in a pink and white fluffy long dress similar to those of other noblewomen, wears a wide-brimmed hat adorned with flowers. As she eats a small cake, her indifferent gaze sweeps over the surrounding scene, while internally, she hears the voice of Doro.
“What’s wrong, Adele? Aren’t you going to chat more with those ladies and try to fit in? You might discover some valuable information.”
Listening to Doro’s words, Adele licks the cream on her lips and silently responds within herself.
“Those… heh, never mind. I really can’t relate to the topics those officials’ wives and daughters discuss; it’s all about love gossip and trivial matters. I’d rather talk politics with the men inside than get caught up in their petty arguments.”
“Oh? So, Adele, you’re more interested in politics?”
“Not really. To me, politics is also boring, but at least it involves many things, and the conflicts are quite profound. I find it amusing when politicians or officials, or those who think they can control the country, argue passionately over differing opinions. I’m not particularly interested in the specifics of politics, but watching those who think they understand political matters argue is quite entertaining…”
With a serene expression, Adele shares her thoughts with Doro. After hearing her, Doro, sitting in a distant carriage, can’t help but raise her eyebrows in response.
“I see, that does make sense. Since we’re here feeling bored, why not walk around other parts of the palace? Perhaps we might find some clues about those so-called ‘treasures’ and ‘stages.'”
“That’s true.” Acknowledging Doro’s suggestion, Adele finishes her piece of cake, wipes her mouth, and after taking another glance at the gathering of noblewomen, she quietly leaves the scene.
After departing from the royal garden on the eastern edge of the Palace, Adele starts to leisurely explore the entire Palace of the Goddess. She first admires the views of other parts of the garden, filled with dense thickets and meticulously trimmed bushes presenting various shapes, resembling green sculptures blooming on the lawn, which captivates her with their artistic beauty. Within just a few steps, she comes across several delicate pavilions where noblewomen come to rest and enjoy the scenery.
“The royal garden is truly well done… whether in scale or in refinement, it feels far superior to the royal garden in Prit. Particularly, those bush sculptures are quite delightful,” Adele comments to herself as she enjoys the garden’s scenery, then shifts the topic toward Doro.
“By the way, little detective, have you found the pattern of the Seven-Steps Bloom in this garden? I see many areas here are quite suitable for performances. Is it possible that the lavish King Charles has hidden one of the stages here?”
“That’s still uncertain. According to the riddle from Mr. F, the three hidden stages should all feature the image of the Seven-Steps Bloom. I’ve used the Zombie Puppet to observe this garden from multiple angles and found no traces of the Seven-Steps Bloom. I initially thought the grass sculptures might form the corresponding pattern when viewed from above… but I was mistaken.” Doro responds to Adele, who ponders for a moment before replying.
“I think this garden should have many flowers, but since it’s the end of winter, there aren’t many blooms. If all the flowers here were in full bloom, might there be something visible?”
“That’s possible… but if that’s the case, we wouldn’t be able to find all the stages in the near future. There’s still some time before most flowers bloom,” Doro continues answering Adele’s questions, and Adele nods in understanding.
“Indeed… then let’s check other places. The riddle says there are three stages, so we need to roam more…”
“Mm…”
Doro nods in agreement, and then she continues following Adele as they explore the Palace of the Goddess in search of clues regarding the so-called stages.
After leaving the royal garden, Adele walks eastward and soon arrives at the bank of a small river, where beautifully decorated riverbanks adorn both sides of the river. Rows of street lamps stand along the riverbank, and a wide stone bridge spans the river, connecting both shores, with exquisite stone sculptures arranged along its edges.
“This seems to be a canal specially dug out during the construction of the Palace of the Goddess, providing water for the palace’s fountains and artificial lakes while creating a picturesque river view. It appears to be quite nicely decorated.” As Adele walks on the bridge, Doro’s voice appraises her thoughts, and Adele curiously responds.
“Oh… since it’s an artificial canal… could it have been specifically excavated in the shape of the Seven-Steps Bloom?”
“Not likely. I’ve checked it from a high vantage point; although this canal’s shape is designed, it does not form the shape of a lotus flower. I’ve also looked around the riverbanks and this bridge, but didn’t find any traces of lotus patterns, perhaps it’s not here.” Doro continues to respond to Adele, who nods after hearing her explanation and continues onward, crossing the bridge.
Upon crossing the stone bridge, Adele officially enters the building area of the Palace of the Goddess. She first passes through a tall gilded fence gate, coming into a large open square. The eastern side of the square faces the canal and stone bridge, while the other three sides consist of the Palace’s exquisite halls with golden-blue roofs. Standing in the center of the square is a tall bronze statue of a horseman, mounted atop a grand bronze saddle, representing a handsome man in splendid attire, with many people visiting underneath.
“This is the Ceremonial Square, and this bronze statue is of King Charles, the builder of the Palace of the Goddess. He was the most renowned king during the last days of the Bourbon Dynasty. He won many wars and seized vast colonial lands for Faraluo, weakening noble power while strengthening the monarchy. He even openly challenged the Church, limiting its various privileges throughout Faraluo.
“Not only did Charles achieve remarkable political accomplishments, but his personal character was also flamboyant and filled with charisma. He was ambitious, constructing many grand buildings and hosting luxurious celebrations during his reign. He delighted in displaying himself in front of his subjects, often dressing in a variety of magnificent outfits for public appearances to give speeches, and even performing the hero’s roles in public shows, dancing on stage to showcase his skills. It is said he was quite good, both in acting and dance.”
Gazing at the majestic bronze statue in the square, Adele reflects on it as if she were a tour guide, while Doro responds based on her knowledge.
“What a distinctive king… though some criticize him for being flamboyant and wasteful, which drained the treasury of Faraluo, directly causing his son Robert’s excessive tax-collecting behavior, claiming Robert was trying to make up for the financial deficits caused by his father.”
“Such claims certainly exist, but most of them come from scholars associated with the Church, as it’s widely known that the Church and King Charles had a poor relationship. Charles was dedicated to consolidating all power in Faraluo into his hands, opposing the privileges that the Church held in various nations.
“A landmark event of Charles’s resistance against the Church was a public performance he gave of a classic play depicting the victory in the Black Forest. While everyone expected Charles to portray his ancestor, the Duke of Bourbon, he unexpectedly donned women’s attire to play the Forest Dancer, causing quite a stir in the audience.
“The Forest Dancer he played not only broke traditional gender roles but also saw changes in the dialogue. In the original script, the Forest Dancer referred to themselves as a messenger of the Three Saints, while Charles’s version identified as a messenger of Faraluo, the goddess embodying life for Faraluo, infuriating the Church and triggering a serious diplomatic crisis.”
With her gaze fixed on the bronze statue, Adele’s eyes shimmer as she shares her thoughts. After examining the statue and surrounding environment, she continues her conversation with Doro.
“Well? Did you find the lotus marking in this Ceremonial Square?”
“No… This square, although large, shows no traces that match the criteria…” Doro immediately responds, sharing her findings from her investigation using the Zombie Puppet. Adele sighs lightly upon hearing this.
“Ah… since that’s the case, let’s keep looking.”
With that, Adele continues forward, reaching the eastern end of the Ceremonial Square, where a huge fountain comes into view.
While there are many fountains within the Palace of the Goddess, this is undoubtedly the largest one. It is located in the Ceremonial Square, behind the grand bronze statue of King Charles and before the main building of the Palace.
The fountain is circular, adorned with various stone sculptures atop it. The fountain head circulates around the circumference, spraying high jets of water into the inner part of the fountain, drenching the surrounding stone figures.
“This is the Dawn Fountain, the largest fountain in the Palace of the Goddess. To be honest, the styles of the fountains here are indeed quite beautiful; there are far more variations compared to those in Tivyán. If I were to build my own courtyard in the future, I would definitely invite craftspeople from Faraluo to construct a fountain… no, not just a fountain…” As she gazes at the fountain, Adele muses internally, while Doro instantly responds.
“Indeed beautiful, but unfortunately, there’s still no sign of the lotus.”
“Exactly… so let’s keep going.”
With that, Adele moves forward again. Behind the Dawn Fountain stands a massive iron door, nearly ten meters high and resembling a castle gate. At this moment, the intricately carved door is wide open, revealing a passage leading into the building.
Once inside the high palace architecture, Adele is met with an enormous hall. The floor is inlaid with marble in a star pattern, edged with thick stone pillars having delicate bases, while the ceiling is adorned with countless stained-glass windows. Sunlight streams through the semicircular glass dome, casting a chaotic yet vibrant pattern of seven colors upon the floor.
“This is the Colored Dome Hall, the largest main hall in the Palace of the Goddess. It connects various buildings in the southern wing, northern wing, and the eastern main line, and is likely the most vital transit point here.”
“That’s true… there seem to be quite a lot of people here.” While appreciating the grandeur of the hall from various angles, Doro responds to Adele, although she still finds no signs of lotus patterns.
Adele continues along the central axis of the Palace, heading deeper into the main building towards the west. After the Colored Dome Hall, separated by a more than ten-meter high archway with no door, another large hall appears.
This hall is directly connected to the Colored Dome Hall, featuring a large raised circular platform in the center, with floor tiles distinct from the surroundings embedded on it.
The patterns of these tiles resemble flowing water, with irregular lines swirling on the surface of each individual tile, stopping abruptly at the edges, creating a sense of disharmony in the entire circular platform.
On the northeast, southeast, and southwest sides of this circular platform, there are layers of overlapping balcony seating; at least four layers of seats edged with wooden railings, behind which lie tiered seating and special boxes typical of theaters. A giant chandelier resembling a crystal flower hangs from the top of the hall, giving it a theatrical ambiance.
“This is the Performance Hall, specifically used for theatrical and musical performances in the Palace of the Goddess. That circular platform serves as the stage, and it is said that Charles often performed here himself.
“This is the official venue for performances in the Palace of the Goddess. If one of those so-called ‘stages’ is likely to be here, at a glance, there are no visible patterns of lotus flowers.”
As she strolls around the circular stage in the Performance Hall, a glint of wonder appears in Adele’s eyes as she shares this with Doro, who quickly responds.
“From the looks of it, Adele, you seem a bit eager to perform on this stage?”
“Of course! As a dancer, every noble and shimmering stage is what I yearn for. Although the stage here in the Palace of the Goddess isn’t very large, its intricacy surpasses any I have seen. If possible, I hope to have a formal public performance in Froz one day, dancing on this stage, after all, it’s a place my ancestors have performed in.”
While responding in this manner, Adele slowly continues her exploration, and after leaving the Performance Hall, she continues along the central axis of the Palace.
Along the central axis, Adele, accompanied by Doro’s perspective, explores many splendid halls, also glancing at important places like the king and queen’s bedrooms. After about an hour of exploration, Adele finally arrives at the far western end of the main building of the Palace of the Goddess, where a large hall lies at the end of the axis.
Within this massive hall, an array of military weapons and armor are displayed, lined up along the walls. The walls and ceiling feature giant colorful murals, all depicting various ethnic epics of Faraluo throughout history.
“This is the Hall of Glory, the trophy collection room within the Palace of the Goddess, where the king boasts about his military achievements. These murals primarily depict important battles that Faraluo has encountered throughout history, with the most striking one being the victory in the Black Forest.”
Standing in the center of the Hall of Glory, Adele continues her introduction to Doro, who gazes at the mural depicting the victory in the Black Forest. She notices that the sunlight from outside is shining down through the skylight onto the face of the Forest Dancer in the mural. At first glance, it seems like a beautiful woman, but upon closer examination, there is an androgynous quality to the face, similar to about seventy to eighty percent of the images and statues of King Charles throughout the Palace of the Goddess.
“Heh… what a unique king. Too bad there isn’t a single lotus painted among these murals…”
After touring the Hall of Glory, Adele exits the main building of the Palace and arrives at the eastern end, where she meets a large artificial lake. Small boats bob gently on the lake’s surface, and a small church can be seen in the distance across the shore.
As Adele strolls along the clear lakeside, she enjoys the view with Doro. Along one side of the lake, they even spot a few patches of farmland, with farmhouse-style buildings scattered nearby, and a waterwheel running along the canal.
“This lake is called Flowerwater Lake, the largest artificial structure within the Palace of the Goddess. That church over there is the Divine Grace Church, which serves as the worship venue for this palace. And here… um… the farmhouse was reportedly built by the queen princesses living here to experience so-called peasant life. In reality, the cost of constructing this courtyard could buy several hundred or even a thousand actual peasant houses…”
Standing by the lake, Adele surveys her surroundings while continuing to explain to Doro. After listening, Doro comments on the immaculate and elegantly adorned farmhouse.
“It seems the royal family’s understanding of farmhouses differs quite a bit from what farmers think of as farmhouses…”
“About right, after all, farmers don’t have the time to enjoy cakes in their yards,” Adele replies, and then turns to gaze at the calm lake beneath the dusk, speaking internally.
“Well, now we have more or less explored the entire Palace of the Goddess. So, my clever little detective, have you found those so-called three stages?”
“Based on the current investigation results, although this Palace of the Goddess is vast, I haven’t found a single trace of lotus flowers. It might be pretty challenging to confirm the exact locations of the three stages…”
“Oh, it seems our little detective has encountered a dilemma this time…” Adele remarks with curiosity, while Doro silently continues.
“Not exactly a dilemma, but I do have a tiny lead now. However, I need to find someone to confirm some crucial information.”
“Find someone? Who do you want to find?” Adele inquires curiously, and Doro immediately responds.
“Naturally, it’s that… Mr. F…”
