Chapter 47: She’s Looking for Someone
Just as the silver glow descended, the atmosphere on the scene exploded.
Tillysha instinctively covered her ears, and sure enough, the next moment, a soundwave erupted, with the circular arena filled with cheers of adoration.
Following the crowd’s gaze, Tillysha looked toward the silver-haired elf who appeared at the audience seating area and the contestant’s passage.
Aistride today was, as always, a beauty that overshadowed all others, akin to a moon marsh gemstone embedded in a crown, surpassing the rest. She seemed to dim all other beauties’ brilliance simply by her presence.
On either side of the contestant passage, there were numerous campus security personnel maintaining order, preventing overly enthusiastic fans from overstepping.
This gave Tillysha a strange sense of déjà vu.
While it’s unfair to make the comparison, it reminded her eerily of when celebrities in her past life would make an entrance, and irrational fans would scream and shout, some even fainting with excitement.
Indeed, it wasn’t just similar; it was exactly the same.
However, the nature was quite different. The biggest distinction being, Aistride wasn’t a talentless and empty-headed figurehead. To earn the unconditional admiration of these haughty young Divine Princesses, one needed to have considerable power – an indispensable element.
The Coleman Academy was a place that gathered the heirs of nearly all renowned Divine Princess families, and every year it produced a few exceptional talents. Obviously, Aistride had already secured her spot on the list of outstanding prodigies for this particular year.
Not to mention, as the Princess of the Elf Forest, Aistride could never remain low-key in the academy.
The elf girl entered the stadium with leisurely yet graceful steps, her serene expression unaffected by the surrounding cheers and applause.
To the fanatical admirers, Aistride was a flawless celestial being; however, those who thought so had unknowingly reduced her to a mere symbol.
Tillysha knew that basking in such praise, Aistride would not feel joy. On the contrary, these compliments would only bring immense pressure. She wasn’t someone who enjoyed noise and commotion.
Aistride was not usually talkative, rarely speaking in daily life, but there were times when she wanted to express herself.
For instance, one time while walking with Aistride on the street, Dillin noticed a small trinket that suited Aistride. He suggested buying it for her. Aistride hesitated for a moment before politely refusing. Dillin didn’t think much of it and was about to leave when he suddenly felt his sleeve being lightly tugged.
Turning around, he saw Aistride quietly holding onto his sleeve, her face blushing with a hint of red.
Of course, that was when Aistride was still not yet a Divine Princess. Dillin wasn’t from a wealthy family, and the trinket he bought for Aistride was merely a cheap handkerchief embroidered with a racoon design.
Aistride often used that handkerchief. After they were forced to part ways, Tillysha coincidentally found that handkerchief in the trash…
It was during that time that Tillysha’s smoking habit worsened.
However, now, all of that was in the past.
Tillysha had come to terms with it. All she hoped now was that they could remain friends, at least able to greet each other amicably at future encounters.
But judging by the recent incident at the library, that seemed unlikely.
Aistride casually looked up and scanned the audience. This action ignited even more enthusiasm from the crowd.
“She’s looking at me! She’s deliberately looking at me! She has feelings for me! Well, at least for us!”
Yet, they were unaware that Aistride wasn’t looking at them at all. Her head lifted not in response to her fans but out of habit, searching for a familiar figure. She didn’t find what or whom she was looking for, and a faint shadow of disappointment flickered in her eyes.
Just before Aistride was about to step into the field, Tillysha caught another familiar figure – Princess Filisia, the White-Ruby Princess, who had made an appearance that morning.
The White-Ruby Princess with amber hair was dressed more formally this time, in an elegant set of female armor. She approached Aistride, saying something to her, then knelt down on one knee in a knightly salute.
It was as if she was publicly declaring her undying devotion to her beloved, seeking to win her heart in full view of the crowd.
Aistride’s lips curved with a faint smile as she slightly nodded, seemingly indicating her acceptance.
This caused an even greater frenzy in the arena.
“Oh wow! Princess Filisia publicly confessed her love?!”
“How bold!”
“Look, Princess Aistride is smiling and nodding; does that mean she accepted?!”
The audience was divided. Some were devastated, lamenting the waste of such a proposal, while others enthusiastically shouted, “Get together!”
Tillysha was also utterly shocked.
To be honest, she too had once harbored feelings for Aistride. But she was the one who had ended up empty-handed, despite being so close.
Now, she finally understood where she fell short.
This academy was truly a haven for百合 (yuri)—romantic relationships between females.
She did nothing wrong. Only one thing was amiss: her gender.
Upon further consideration, what Filisia had said might have just been words of encouragement. Aistride wasn’t one to act carelessly, and Filisia, as a princess, certainly wouldn’t make such impulsive decisions. It was just the spectators stirring up trouble, exaggerating the scene, coupled with the overactive imaginations of certain love enthusiasts.
As she tried to piece it together, Aistride had already bypassed Filisia and stepped into the arena.
It was finally about to begin.
Standing at one end of the arena, “Silver Moon of Aurelia” released her domain.
It was a shimmering silver gown that beautifully complemented the elf-girl’s moon-like pale hair, as if bathing in moonlight.
Her delicate back was exposed through a laced silk sleeveless top, and that “threatening” whiteness of her chest moved gracefully with every step. Her flowing silver moon-silk danced with her movements, crowned by a silver tiara that soaked in the moonlight. Below, the slightly draped cloth revealed sheer black stockings, which ended with a pair of silver peep-toe high heels.
Silver hair and black stockings.
Tillysha was no stranger to Aistride’s Divine Princess Domain. She had heard Aistride explain its specific effects.
Tillysha cast the Divine Analysis Technique on Aistride.
To sum it up, the bloodline of the Moon Elf Royal Family possessed a unique advantage: they were veritable “Divine Princess Killers.”
It’s common knowledge that Divine Resistance is the lowest out of the four resistances and can never be too high when dealing with divine authority. It’s akin to a rule set by the Creator.
That was also the reason why the profession of Divine Princess was so desirable.
But the Moon Elves were an exception. They had the highest Divine Resistance among all Divine Princess families, giving them an edge in combat against other Divine Princesses.
Tillysha activated her Divine Analysis Technique to analyze Aistride’s domain.
【Silver Moon Protection】 (Level 19):
Physical Resistance: 6.5 Stars
Magic Resistance: 6 Stars
Alchemy Resistance: 5 Stars
Divine Resistance: 6 Stars
