Chapter 228

Chapter 228

In the afternoon of the capital city of Becklund of the Sala Empire, sunlight streamed through the gilded, carved dome windows, casting dappled shadows across the palace's most famous Glazed Glass Garden.

This garden boasted rare paths paved with colored glazed stones, surrounded by exotic flowers and herbs transplanted from all corners of the empire—hyacinths with pink-purple pompon blossoms, orchid leaves as translucent as emerald, and golden roses climbing over the white marble cloisters, their petals still bearing fine droplets left when the morning dew evaporated, refracting brilliant light in the sun.

The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers and the warm, moist scent of soil. Occasional breezes stirred the crystal wind chimes hanging under the eaves, producing a crisp, pleasant tinkling that broke the garden's tranquility.

Beside the white marble round table in the center of the garden, Sara sat upright in a carved wicker chair. He wore a perfectly tailored black robe with dark patterns, the collar and cuffs embroidered with understated silver-thread arabesque, accentuating his tall, slender figure.

His long black hair was tied back with a simple silver hairband, with a few stray strands falling beside his cheeks, outlining a clear jawline. His complexion was a striking, porcelain white, contrasting with his deep black eyes. His features were as refined as if sculpted by God himself, and even sitting still, he exuded a detached beauty.

At the other end of the table sat the current Empress of the Sala Empire—Lillian I.

The three-year-old girl wore a pink princess dress with layers of lace ruffles on the skirt, a small pearl tiara on her head, making her delicate, doll-like face even more tender.

Her eyes were pure azure blue, like the clearest lake in the outskirts of Becklund, but at the moment, they were not focused on the exquisite pastries on the table. Instead, they were fixed unblinkingly on Sara across from her, her small mouth slightly pursed, her gaze full of childlike curiosity and wonder.

On the silver tray on the table lay delicate tea treats that would tempt any noble: small cakes topped with fresh strawberries and cream, their surfaces smooth as a mirror; pudding in small white porcelain bowls, with a faint caramel color, exuding a rich milky aroma; and cut-up sandwiches with tender ham and lettuce, neatly trimmed. Beside them, a silver pot held warm milk, and a bone china teapot brewed top-grade black tea from the East, the tea rich and fragrant.

Yet none of this could capture Lillian's attention.

She had seen countless delicacies, and the maids and butlers serving her were all carefully chosen for their good looks. But this black-haired, black-eyed man still made her, even though it was not their first meeting, she still couldn't help losing focus.

She extended her chubby little hand, fingering her skirt, tilting her head slightly. Her gaze traveled from Sara's brows and eyes to his fingers resting on the edge of the table, as if studying a rare treasure.

Sara seemed oblivious. He slightly lowered his eyelids, his gaze fixed on the bone china teacup in front of him. The black tea in the cup reflected his indifferent expression.

His fingers were long and clean, lightly resting on the cup handle, his movements elegant yet subtly aloof.

His companion for afternoon tea was the most powerful person in the entire Sala Empire, a budding beauty. The court had already predicted that when Lillian came of age, countless men and women would be captivated by her power and beauty.

But to Sara, she was merely a three-year-old child. He harbored no extra emotions, let alone any sinister thoughts. If not for his identity and previous promises, he would not even want to appear at this somewhat tedious afternoon tea.

Just then, a soft sound of footsteps approached from afar.

Queen Mother Anne, dressed in a purple velvet gown with golden phoenix patterns embroidered on the skirt, walked in. As she moved, the skirt swayed like a flowing galaxy.

Her hair was styled into an elaborate bun, adorned with a gold hairpin set with a ruby. Her face bore just the right amount of makeup, her brows and eyes exuding both the nobility of royalty and the composed efficiency of a ruler.

Her steps were calm and graceful, each movement radiating elegance. Just by walking into the garden, she exuded an intangible aura of authority.

"Dear Sara, is the afternoon tea not to your taste?" Queen Mother Anne walked to the table, first gently stroking Lillian's head, her fingertips lightly brushing her pearl tiara, then turned to Sara, her tone gentle but with an unmistakable note of concern.

Her voice was like mellow red wine, pleasant to the ear, evoking involuntary respect.

Sara looked up, his eyes meeting Queen Mother Anne's. He nodded slightly, his tone flat and indifferent: "Your Majesty worries too much. The tea treats are exquisite." His response was concise, without unnecessary pleasantries, yet nothing was improper about it.

Queen Mother Anne smiled and sat down in the empty seat beside Lillian. A maid immediately stepped forward to pour her a cup of black tea.

She picked up the teacup, took a small sip, and scanned the servants standing around the garden. A hint of barely noticeable fatigue flashed in the depths of her eyes.

As the Empress's mother, before Lillian came of age and ruled in her own right, she was the most powerful woman in the entire Sala Empire, the burden on her shoulders as heavy as a mountain.

Although Sara, with his formidable abilities, had helped her eliminate those lurking inside and outside the court who threatened their mother and daughter's position—those covetous collateral nobles, disloyal former court officials, and traitors secretly colluding with foreign enemies—they had all quietly disappeared from the map of Becklund.

But this was only the beginning. Winning over neutral aristocratic families, placing her trusted allies in key government departments, consolidating imperial power, stabilizing the court—every matter required her personal attention, draining much of her energy and time.

She set down the teacup, her fingertips lightly tapping the table. Her gaze fell on Sara again: "I've put you through a lot during this time. If not for you, Lillian and I would still be in deep water."

Her tone carried genuine gratitude, along with a subtle hint of dependence. In this treacherous court, Sara was the only person she could fully trust, and also the sharpest blade in her hand.

Lillian seemed to understand her mother's words. She looked up at Queen Mother Anne, then at Sara, extending her small hand to gently tug at her mother's sleeve.

Queen Mother Anne felt her daughter's movement, her expression instantly softening. She took Lillian's chubby little hand in hers, gently stroking her delicate skin, and some of her fatigue dissipated.

Sara remained indifferent. He shook his head slightly: "It is my duty."

To him, helping Anne and Lillian secure their positions was merely fulfilling a previous promise, nothing more. His gaze returned to his teacup, as if he had no interest in the power struggles of the court or the riches and honor of the palace.

The garden once again fell silent, with only the tinkling of crystal wind chimes and the rustling of leaves in the breeze.

The breeze of the Glazed Glass Garden, carrying the sweet scent of roses, gently brushed Queen Mother Anne's purple velvet skirt. The golden phoenix embroidery shimmered in the sunlight. Her fingertips holding Lillian's hand tightened slightly. Her gaze fell calmly on Sara, her tone shifting from gratitude to a more serious invitation: "Sara, you should know that the empire appears stable on the surface, but there are undercurrents. Those neutral nobles, though temporarily lying low, are still waiting to see which way the wind blows. In the government departments, many of the remaining former court officials are feigning compliance. I need someone truly reliable to stand by Lillian and me and help us stabilize this hard-won situation."

She paused, gesturing for a servant in the distance to pour more black tea, and lowered her voice further, with a heartfelt plea: "You are different from those Supernaturals who cling to old conventions. I've seen too many Supernaturals; they only regard the imperial succession as a 'rule,' refusing to intervene in worldly disputes unless the imperial family is down to its last member, caring nothing for the lives of ordinary people. But you are different. You personally eliminated the vermin threatening us. You understand the importance of secular power and are willing to dirty your hands to stabilize the court—that makes you someone I can truly trust."

Queen Mother Anne's words were not empty rhetoric.

The supernatural community of the Sala Empire had always maintained a subtle distance from secular imperial power. Most of them followed ancient contracts, only responsible for suppressing 'anomalies' that threatened the empire's foundation, such as cultists of evil gods or powerful monsters. They looked the other way at internal power struggles within the imperial family or conflicts of interest among nobles. Even if nobles secretly colluded with foreign enemies, as long as it didn't cross the 'empire's downfall' line, those Supernaturals would only stand by coldly. But Sara was different. He not only possessed formidable supernatural power but was also willing to directly engage in the game of secular power—that was precisely the quality Anne needed most.

Lillian seemed to sense the seriousness in her mother's tone. She stopped staring at Sara and obediently leaned into Anne's arms, playing with the tassels on her mother's skirt, her big eyes blinking curiously, occasionally looking up at the expressions of both.

Anne gently patted her daughter's back and continued, addressing Sara: "I know asking a supernatural like you to take a secular official position might be somewhat demeaning. But I can promise you this: you can choose any core power position in the empire. The Minister of Finance controls the empire's economic lifeline; the Minister of Foreign Affairs holds the power of diplomatic discourse; even the Minister of Military Affairs—if you are willing, I can secure it for you. These positions will give you the power to influence the empire's direction and allow you to obtain continuous resources to enhance your strength."

Her words were full of temptation. Whether finance, foreign affairs, or military, they were the highest authorities in the imperial court, coveted by countless nobles.

As long as Sara nodded, he could immediately become one of the most powerful people in the empire, standing at the top of the power pyramid, enjoying the veneration of thousands.

The servants standing in the garden's corner couldn't help stealing glances at Sara, their eyes filled with awe and envy—no one expected the Queen Mother to offer such generous offers to a young man.