Chapter 131

Chapter 131

“Chris has been assigned to deal with the newly emerged Royal Zerg. The official transfer order has already been issued, though it hasn't been made public yet. This is a golden opportunity; with just a little manipulation, we can ensure she vanishes without a trace.”

Within the high walls surrounded by acacias, silent maids moved about. In the conservatory, two women, both with flame-red hair and subtly similar faces, sat opposite each other.

The Queen leaned forward slightly, her fingers gripping the rim of the cup holding amber tea with some force. She stared intently at the silent young woman opposite her, persuading earnestly: “—Although Anthony is nominally the Crown Prince, the military power Chris holds is real. The threat she poses to Anthony is real. Can you truly tolerate a rival sleeping at your cousin's side? Isabella, this is the chance to eliminate her!”

“But His Highness the Crown Prince…”

Isabella seemed to want to say something but was interrupted by the Queen.

“Are you still clinging to your past feelings for her?” the Queen shrieked. She had a well-maintained, beautiful face, but now that lovely face was deeply twisted by the fear and anger of betrayal.

“Your mother has already betrayed me. Will you also betray me, betray your aunt and cousin? Have you forgotten who secretly called you inside to rest when you were punished by your sister for not completing your training as a child? Have you forgotten how close you and Anthony were, like brothers from the same mother? Even now, he still respects you greatly…”

She began to immerse herself in her emotions again, chattering on about ancient history. Isabella tried to interject several times but couldn't get a word in, so she gave up and quietly endured having her childish embarrassments dredged up.

Year after year, time and again. She felt somewhat awkward. Finally, the Queen completed her emotional catharsis once more and expectantly asked her sole audience what she thought: “—So, Isabella, do you now understand our mother and son's predicament a little better? Will you still stubbornly believe that wretched Chris shouldn't be removed?”

…So one is a formally enfeoffed Crown Prince, the other is Her Highness the Queen with a powerful maternal family and a stable position. Where exactly is the difficulty in their situation?

Isabella found it baffling, but fortunately, she finally regained the right to speak. She took a deep breath of the fragrant air in the conservatory and exhaled: “This isn't about Chris, but the Empire needs her. She is a rare young talented general in the military now. The royal family's unique oath Spiritual State is highly effective against the Zerg, which is why Her Majesty is cultivating her.”

“I can assure you, Chris will never threaten Anthony's position. Her entire life will be spent serving on the front lines. Perhaps she will become the Legion Commander of a major Legion, or die gloriously in a major battle, or perhaps luckily live a meritorious life and return to the capital star, receiving a ceremonial princely title. Whatever the possibility, as long as the supreme commander of all fifty-four Legions is still a Cavendish, your and the Crown Prince's positions will not be shaken.”

Isabella's words sounded nice, but in reality, there were many reasons she was unwilling to move against Chris. For example, Chris was highly skilled—who to send was a problem. Also, as an active senior officer of the Empire, a careless move could mean charges of treason. Moreover, Isabella privately did not want to move against Chris.

But these reasons clearly couldn't be told to the Queen. She could only assure and promise the Queen over and over again.

—Yet what does any of this have to do with the Pact of the Lion and Rose?

The Pact of the Lion and Rose was never really about marital ties.

But the Queen just stared straight at her: “So, plainly speaking, you're still unwilling to help me, right?”

Isabella: “…”

So much for explaining.

Her originally solemn expression instantly fell. Sensing she wouldn't accomplish anything here today, she murmured noncommittal acknowledgments, picked up her jacket from the back of the chair, and stood up to leave: “If you insist on thinking that way, then so be it. In any case, Chris absolutely cannot be touched. At least until the Royal Zerg of the 18th Legion is dealt with, no one can target her. As for the rest, there's no need for you to worry. You should just enjoy your life as Queen.”

Not a single maid in the palace dared make a sound. As Isabella descended the steps, she saw the First Princess holding up her skirt as she walked by. Isabella greeted her: “Cousin.”

“Oh, it's Isabella,” the First Princess noticed her, somewhat surprised, and asked, “What brings you to the palace today? You're in your fourth year, you must be very busy, right?”

Isabella said: “It's alright. I had some free time, so I came to see Her Highness the Queen.”

She keenly noticed the familiar short figure missing from the First Princess's side: “Huh, you didn't bring Ling Ling today?”

“She went to her father's today. Anthony was returning to campus and took her with him,” the First Princess tucked the red hair falling at her temple back, smiling, “Anthony likes Ling Ling very much, probably wanted to spend more time with her.”

“So your dad is a university trustee?”

Eve held Ling Ling with one arm, letting the girl lean on her shoulder and play with her hair. Distrusting her biological mother and uncle, Eve didn't take Ling Ling into her dormitory but found a bench outside to sit on. A Luna Butterfly rested on her shoulder. Students coming and going paid no attention to the two.

“Where's your dad? He just lets you run around like this?” She pondered for a moment, still feeling this father was too careless. “There are many bad people in the school. Your father is being very irresponsible by doing this.”

“I'm with Uncle.” Ling Ling tried to prove she wasn't wandering off alone.

Unexpectedly, Eve showed an expression of sudden understanding: “So it was your uncle who taught you to knock on my dorm door?”

“…” Anthony had instructed his niece not to sell him out before leaving, so Ling Ling very faithfully flatly denied it: “No, I came on my own.”

Her lying skills were too poor. Eve just chuckled dismissively and didn't press further, instead changing the question: “Then, Ling Ling, why did you come to find me?”

Ling Ling fell silent. After a long while, she hesitantly produced a golden, hard, round object from her person and handed it to Eve.

The round object was a gold emblem, engraved with a vivid rose and sword, a symbol of the royal family. Eve didn't take it but asked, maintaining the posture: “Why are you suddenly giving this to me?”

“Uncle told me to give it to you,” the girl said truthfully. Anthony hadn't forbidden her from saying this part. “Mom wants to find me a teacher, but I don't like any of the people she found. Uncle said if I have someone I like, I can give this to them.”

She was still young and didn't know the implications of casually giving away the family emblem. If Eve accepted it, it would mean her interests would be tied to the person who gave the emblem from then on.

But Eve was already Qin Mengde's subordinate. For the Crown Prince to send an emblem in such a roundabout way—wasn't that just trying to poach from his rival?

She held Ling Ling's hand and stuffed the emblem back into the little girl's waist pocket, saying: “I'm sorry, Ling Ling, I can't agree.”

Ling Ling's bright jade-green eyes blinked at her. But Eve tapped the child's communicator on her wrist and said: “Send a message to your uncle, tell him to come pick you up.”

Dealing with royal family members was too troublesome. The Emperor was like this, the Queen was like this. Although Ling Ling, due to her young age, was guileless, if the cost of knowing her meant inevitably having a Crown Prince attached behind her, then Eve would rather not have contact with Ling Ling at all.

Children might not be clever, but their perception is sharp. Seeing her attitude, Ling Ling blinked her eyes, didn't open the communicator, but asked: “Do you think I'm a bother?”

“No,” Eve replied, “But you can think that if you want.”

Like every cunning adult, she used ambiguous words to fob off Ling Ling's question. Sure enough, the girl was stunned, but soon, Ling Ling angrily jumped off her lap.

“Then you go,” she said, putting on a brave face, even though tears were already brimming in her eyes. “Ling Ling is not a bothersome child.”

Upon receiving the message, Anthony immediately dropped everything and rushed over. He already felt somewhat guilty about bringing Ling Ling out. When he reached the location and saw Ling Ling sitting alone on the bench poking at her communicator, his heart sank, and he quickly walked towards her.

Having rushed over in a hurry, the Empire's Crown Prince's slightly curly red hair was tousled by the wind. In contrast, the neatly dressed Ling Ling seemed much more composed. As he picked up the little girl, an invisible white-gold light cluster also quietly and with difficulty squeezed out from between them and flew away.

It was the Luna Butterfly Eve had left behind. She herself wasn't there, but she had specifically left her Spiritual State behind to watch over things.

Seeing her uncle, Ling Ling sniffled and stuffed the rose-and-sword insignia into his pocket, saying gloomily: “You lied.”

As soon as he saw the emblem that hadn't been successfully given away, Anthony knew what had happened. He wasn't surprised by Eve's attitude; after all, she was also Qin Mengde's trusted aide. If she had been so easily bought, Anthony would have suspected a trick.

Ling Ling was naturally slow. Although it wasn't apparent in daily interactions, when it came to learning things, she seemed particularly challenged. Often, what other children could learn in one try, she needed ten tries. What other children learned in ten tries, she could only barely manage to learn with the aid of Alchemy Potions.

The First Princess was an extremely famous talented woman in her youth. Later, she went to work at the Imperial Research Institute and met her current husband, getting together due to shared ideals. No one expected that the only daughter of two geniuses would be such an unremarkable, even somewhat clumsy, child.

Therefore, when the First Princess selected a teacher for her, she not only required broad knowledge and strong capability but also valued the teacher's family background. They also had to be young, good-looking, and liked by Ling Ling—essentially, the teacher needed to be a three-in-one tutor-bodyguard-playmate. With so many requirements stacked together, those who met the criteria disdained coming to be merely the teacher of a princess's daughter. Those willing to take the job, the Princess deemed unsuitable.

Eve was unexpectedly suitable, but it was a pity she was already Qin Mengde's person.

Anthony held Ling Ling tighter. His handsome face clouded slightly. He rubbed the girl's head and said gently: “Uncle didn't lie to you… Forget it, come back with me first. Your dad will come pick you up tonight.”

“Hmph.”

Ling Ling's personality wasn't particularly rowdy. After playing at Anthony's place for a short while, her head grew heavy and she started to doze off, unconsciously leaning towards the sofa. Anthony also had a two-room suite to himself. He carried the sleeping little girl to the guest room, tucked her in with a blanket, and then closed the door as he left.

Outside the door, at some point, a young officer with a lean, capable figure had appeared. Her short chestnut-brown hair was tied up casually. She stood leaning against the wall with her hands in her pockets, wearing a pensive expression.

Seeing Anthony come out, Lin Ke grinned: “Your Highness the Crown Prince, long time no see.”

“If by 'long time no see' you mean two days, then let's skip it,” Anthony checked the door lock, making sure Ling Ling inside wouldn't be disturbed, then finally gave her his attention. “What does Her Majesty require now? You might as well speak plainly.”

This Lieutenant Lin was once the Empress's study partner and even now is someone the Empress listens to. However, Anthony and she are on nodding terms; unless it's official business, neither would actively seek out the other.

Sure enough, seeing the Crown Prince's indifferent attitude, Lin Ke wisely skipped the pleasantries and got straight to the point: “The Empress wants you to find an opportunity to get rid of Eve Medici.”

“Eve?” Anthony furrowed his brows. “Has there been any new conflict between her and Her Majesty recently?”

He was aware that the Empress had always disliked the Fourth Princess and, by extension, had it in for Eve as well. However, she had never before expressed such a direct intent to eliminate her, which left Anthony feeling perplexed.

—Just moments ago, he had been contemplating how to poach Eve from Chris’s side.

Seeing his clueless expression, Lin Ke briefly explained the whole story, including the Fourth Princess’s reassignment to handle the Zerg and the Emperor’s plan to ramp up efforts to recruit talent at the First Empire Academy.

Unlike the Empress, who had long been secluded in the palace living a life of luxury, Lin Ke, as someone currently serving in the military, immediately sensed something unusual about the Emperor’s intention to select talents.

“The Empress believes that if we can’t eliminate Princess Chris, then killing Eve to cut off the princess’s right-hand woman would suffice. Moreover, His Majesty intends to select outstanding students from the First Empire. If Eve is chosen, it would be very unfavorable for us.”

Lin Ke looked conflicted. After a moment of contemplation, she continued, “Regarding the Empress’s task, I already have an idea, but I’ll need Your Highness’s assistance.”

“I don’t kill people,” Anthony said coolly, turning to stare at Lin Ke. “And I advise you as well—the First Empire Academy is not the palace. You’re still in the military. Before joining Mother in her reckless actions, you’d better think twice about the consequences.”

Lin Ke let out a short laugh. “You really are as soft-hearted as the Empress said. Don’t worry, I won’t implicate you or your mother. All I need is for you to lend me your authority as the Academy President on the military training inspection day, so I can install a small plugin into the system.”

Anthony neither agreed nor disagreed. As he brushed past Lin Ke, he said in a low voice, “…You're on your own.”

The brown-haired officer raised an eyebrow, tilting her head as she replied sarcastically, “Understood, my high-and-mighty Crown Prince.”