Eason began to inspect the scripts the moment the test rounded up.
"Who wrote this?" He turned the front page of a script he had just inspected.
"I did." Xinger took two steps forward to make her figure known.
"Great." Eason nodded in acknowledgment before praising, "You did pretty well. You wrote down five pages, and all characters are perfectly right. That's truly aspiring."
"Thank you for your compliment, my lord." Xinger lowered her body in a slight bow.
"What's your name?" Eason couldn't help but ask.
"Xinger."
"You passed the second round, Xinger. Congratulations." In a smile, Eason reached out for the next paper.
However, his expression soon undergoes a huge transformation the moment he sees the content written inside. "And who wrote this?" He turned around the front page of the paper.
Everyone could see the big writing on the paper that said, 'I DON'T KNOW IT.'
Some ladies even let out a burst of laughter, seeing the ugly calligraphy skills of the writer. They also want to know who had such ugly handwriting.
"It was me." Although feeling a bit embarrassed, I lifted my hand in answer.
Eason's brow furrowed as he set his eyes on the young girl before him. "Why did you write these words on it?"
"Because I don't know it." My gaze wavered in shame as I answered.
"That's not an excuse." Eason became angry at the girl's answer. "You were given an hour to memorize the book. Tell me, isn't that enough for you to memorize them all."
"Enough?" I didn't know where I found the burst of courage to retort back at him. "Did you just say enough? You people are immortal, while I'm just a normal mortal being. Tell me, how can a mortal comprehend stuff only immortals can? How do you expect me to memorize a language I haven't seen in my entire life within an hour? Do you take me as a superhuman being? Don't you think that you're being harsh on us by giving us such an impossible task to do?"
Eason was surprised by the girl's outburst. Still, he calmly said. "If the task I gave you was impossible to do, then the others should have voiced out their complaints like you've done. No one forced you to participate in this round. It's already an arduous task to oversee the affairs of the seven realms. If this bit of bottleneck can make you give up without even trying your best, then you shouldn't have come here in the first place, young lady. This round was meant to test your courage, and you've already failed it woefully."
"I… I did try my best. At least I was being honest about my answer." I didn't want to give up the chance to explain myself.
"If the whole realms were in danger, and let's say, you're the ruler, would you give up without trying to protect it?" Eason puts forward.
"Of course not." I shook my head. "However, if the enemy's strength is greater than mine, it's better to run than die trying to fight an already lost battle."
"You--." Eason's face went livid in anger. He flung the paper in his hands onto the ground. "I'm going to--."
"Okay. Calm down, Eason." One of the lords cut in, trying to calm Eason's anger.
"Did you listen to what she just said? She is going to give up the whole realms if she were to be in place of the ruler." Eason turned to look at the man who had just spoken.
"Okay. Just calm down for a moment." The man got up to his feet, his long robe sprawling across the ground in the process.
As he turned in my direction, I was sucked in by those ethereal, beautiful eyes of his.
His mouth began to move. "I think you have gone too far, young lady. The bride selection competition isn't something to make a joke of. Moreover, the matter of the safety of the realm isn't something you can sputter out in light regard. If we are to go by the rules, you ought to be beheaded right away."
"What!" My whole body shook in fear at the mention of being executed.
Damn. What a big mouth of mine. I almost got myself killed due to it.
The man continued. "However, there's something that makes you different from the others. And that is your honesty."
"What are you doing?" Eason was quite surprised at the man's words. "Are you also agreeing with her?"
"No, and yes." The man answered. "Honesty is one of the characteristics a good leader should have. Likewise, it's a good idea that one should retreat backward rather than die trying to fight a lost battle. As long as you can live for another day, you can build back up your defeated army and fight back your enemy to regain your lost victory. I think the young lady definitely has a point right there."
Hearing this, my eyes lit up in joy. Does this mean that I won't be disqualified?
But in the next moment, the second lord Eason's sentence poured down cold water into my wandering thoughts.
"The passing votes would determine whether she's qualified to stay or not." Eason's expression was currently unpleasant. He didn't expect his brother to side up with this young girl instead of him. This was the highest level of betrayal one could get. But instead of taking his anger on his brother, he decided to lay it on the girl.
…
~Some minutes after ~
"Here are the names of candidates who passed this round. Number one, Xinger. Number two, Natasi. Xiao Wu. Ava. Janice. Lia. Matilda. Dia. Callie. And… Zanillia." Eason's gaze settled on me as he uttered the last name on the list.
"Count yourself lucky this round, young lady." His gaze only lingered on me for a slight second before it was shifted away.
"The next round of the competition would be focused on your combat skill. To make it fair, you'll be given a three-month interval to practice your martial arts skills. Or do you think the time frame given is too short for you, young lady?" Eason darted his question at me.
By this time, the courage in me was already waning. Hence, my voice trembled as I answered, "No- not at all."
Seeing my reaction, Eason's mouth hooked up into a sneer.
"Good to hear that. As to those who fail to pass through to this stage, you will be sent back to your home along with the previous departing group. Instructor Mu would oversee the gifts that will be rewarded to each one of you. And that will be all. You can all disperse." He waved his hand, ordering us to leave.
Everyone began to move. The moment I took a step outside the hall, I felt as if I had just been released from an intense court session.
"That was terrifying." I let out the big sigh that had been lodging up in my throat.
"You…" Janice sneakily ran over to my side and held my hand. "Why are you so brash? You could have lost your life back in there, do you know that?" She seemed more worried about my outcome than I was. "It's due to luck that you were able to pass through this round. Don't be so forward next time. This is the immortal realm. Our lives aren't even worth as the grass growing up in their gardens."
"I know. I'll be careful next time." I assured her.
Indeed, Janice was right. If it weren't for the other lord who stepped in time, perhaps I would have been turned into a fertilizer for the soil.
===
Once the hall was empty, Eason turned back in anger at the six men seated behind him.
"What do you all mean by this? Why did you cast your votes for her? And you, San. How dare you stand up for her?"
San's brow furrowed upon facing Eason's harsh word. "She is a mortal, Eason. She probably doesn't know the rules here."
"Yeah. I do agree with San's statement." Kris spoke out. "And also, among the characteristics of a good leader, honesty is one of them. Her candid reasoning stood out from the others, so why can't we decide to cast our votes for her?"
"Honesty?" Eason felt as if he had just heard a joke. "Don't tell me you've fallen in love with her, Kris?"
"You!"
"Enough of your gibberish nonsense, Eason!" Frand expression became cold.
"How could you have such a licentious thought in your head? Besides, weren't you the one blatantly flirting with the princess in front of our faces." Gia also opts in.
"I wasn't flirting with her." Eason tried to defend himself. "I was just complimenting her looks."
"And so was San defending the girl's opinion." Gia retorts back.
"You all…" Eason didn't expect everyone to gang up on him, all just for a girl. "Fine! I guess I'm not needed here anymore." Saying that, he stormed out of the hall.
"I think I'm starting to develop some interest in that young lady." Sean burst into a grin. "I can't believe she could make the second brother lose his composure. Ha-ha. She's definitely an interesting one."