Once I'd pocketed the Divine Fruit, we entered the luxurious, silk-lined carriage. The Empress gave a subtle glance and gestured for me to sit beside her. I hesitated for a moment—the dark mana radiating from her body was intensifying, almost wrapping around me like invisible chains—but I ignored it. Reluctantly, I took the seat next to her as requested.
At first, I was confused. She was quiet. Her posture elegant, relaxed, and radiating both power and an odd sense of intimacy. But then she leaned in and reached out, gently taking my ears between her fingers.
I blinked. My cheeks flushed bright red.
Her touch was unexpectedly soft, almost... affectionate. Her scent hit me next—rosy, nostalgic, like the vague memory of a long-forgotten spring. It made my heart race, tension creeping into my shoulders despite my best efforts to maintain composure.
"You're quite something," she said, her voice honeyed with an undercurrent of something sharper—like velvet concealing a dagger. "You're the only one who's earned my trust so quickly. Most of my servants don't last long."
That didn't sound encouraging.
"My lady, aren't you a bit too close?" I asked, my usual playful tone now replaced with the cautious tremble of a rabbit staring down a very hungry fox.
She didn't move away. In fact, she leaned even closer.
"And for standing up for your Empress," she continued, smiling with such warmth that it almost made me forget her terrifying reputation. Her fiery red hair danced slightly in the wind leaking through the open carriage window, and for a fleeting moment, she looked... human. Vulnerable, even.
It was the first time I'd seen her genuinely smile, and against my better judgment, my heart skipped a beat.
Damn the gods! If she weren't strong enough to crush me with a sneeze, I might've said something bolder—done something reckless.
Instead, I muttered under my breath, "Beautiful…"
Then, like the fool I am, I passed out right there, head falling gently onto her shoulder. The dark mana had drained me more than I realized. My mental defenses were already weakened, and now sleep took me without resistance.
The Empress blinked, clearly surprised. A hint of pink crept onto her cheeks. Her cold, calculating heart—which had seen kingdoms rise and fall—fluttered for the first time in who knows how long. She let out a soft sigh and slowly withdrew the dark mana clouding the space around us. It took time, but she was patient. Carefully, she cradled my head, letting me rest on her shoulder as the carriage rocked gently along the road.
For the entire two-day journey, I only awoke once. She wasn't there. She'd left early that morning to attend a meeting with important dignitaries and council elders.
Yawning, I sat up and stretched. "What a successful start," I muttered, a small grin forming on my lips. "Difficult, but not excessively so. Could've gone worse. I could've died."
Returning to my room, I finally took a proper look at the Divine Apple. It gleamed faintly, almost humming with power. This thing wasn't just valuable—it was a miracle in physical form. Enough to push me straight to Foundation Establishment if used properly.
Divine Fruits were rare, produced only a few hundred times every ten years. They could be consumed by knights, mages, or cultivators alike. Known for treating chronic illnesses, accelerating growth, and more than doubling strength in early stages, they were normally only accessible to those with immense wealth or powerful backers.
One bite alone could permanently double strength and bone density, and temporarily double cultivation speed for a full 24 hours. I had intended to consume it during the carriage ride, but between the dark mana and exhaustion, that plan was thoroughly derailed. The Empress' unexpected... kindness?—that also threw me off.
Never did I think I'd glimpse that side of her. Even now, I could hardly believe it.
Elsewhere in the palace, the Empress had finished her meeting with the elders and now lay on her velvet bed, dressed in an elegant blue gown that accentuated her mature, regal form. Her expression was thoughtful, her eyes distant as she stared out the moonlit window. A sigh escaped her lips.
"Marquel," she whispered to the wind, "I'll be watching you closely from now on."
Back in my room, I sat cross-legged and took a bite of the Divine Fruit.
Sweet, juicy, and filled with profound mana energy—just one bite sent a surge of warmth through every cell in my body. I felt my bones strengthen, my muscles tighten, my skin tingle. Power flooded in like a divine waterfall.
Without hesitation, I started cultivating using my old technique. Normally, I'd progress at a decent pace, but this time... it was different. My speed doubled again. With the Divine Fruit's effect and my enhanced state, my cultivation rate had quadrupled.
A breakthrough would take a day at most.
"Excusable," I muttered, glancing at my bandaged injuries. "Injured hero deserves a cheat or two."
As I focused, time seemed to melt away. Day and night passed like the turning of a page. Peaceful, calming, like I was wrapped in warm silk and flowing water.
By the end, I had reached the fourth stage of Qi Gathering. But it wasn't a normal fourth stage. My Qi was denser, more refined—easily twice as powerful as others at the same level, maybe even triple.
I had chosen to perfect each stage rather than rush through them. If I'd taken shortcuts, I'd be at the eighth stage by now, sure—but with brittle foundations. This path, though slower, was solid. It was the path of someone destined for greatness.
Smiling, I retrieved a scroll from my pack: the Grabbing Shallow Technique. A minor, useful technique—good for surprise attacks and stealing food off tables without anyone noticing.