The nobles whispered among themselves, the conversation growing ever more heated, clearly shocked and utterly baffled by this sudden piece of news.
“How is that possible?” A young lady of the Blood Clan raised her voice in disbelief. “Humans—those scattered and disorganized troops, how could they possibly stand on equal footing with the Blood Clan knights?”
Princess Zeer fell silent for a moment, her gaze turning exceptionally cold and stern. Her beautiful face became shrouded in a chill, laced with hidden anxiety.
“Abominations and rabble could never compare to our Blood Clan!” Her voice was almost squeezed out from between clenched teeth. “But, according to the intelligence I’ve received, the Rebels have gained support from the Savage Tribe. Two ancient tribes have pledged their warriors to them.”
Her words were like a thunderclap, leaving all the Blood Clan members present dumbstruck.
The Savage Tribe, those who lived at the kingdom’s borders, a race renowned for their ferocity and fighting prowess. If they truly joined forces with the Rebels, then the scale and outcome of this uprising would far exceed anything they could have imagined.
“Even so! This is too ridiculous!” An old Blood Clan elder, leaning on a cane, jumped up and shouted angrily, his face red with fury.
“The Baron’s Territory, that’s the Duke’s land. How could the Duke possibly stand by and do nothing?”
In the splendid Grand Hall, the silence was deafening; only the gentle music continued to play, and the dazzling fire flickered in the wind. No one could answer his question.
Duke Mutz had permitted the Rebels’ slaughter, and even the matter of the Savages sending troops had not been passed on to Princess Zeer.
No one knew what that old man was thinking, nor did anyone know what kind of change had occurred on that distant, tumultuous land.
“We must act immediately!”
Princess Zeer’s voice rang out once again, her decisive tone shattering the silence, as if she wished to rally everyone’s spirits. Her voice was pitched high.
Compared to the murdered Baron, the orcish tribes’ hostility was a greater cause for unease among the Blood Clan present.
“Everyone, we should unite all our strength and quell this chaos at once! At the same time, we must uncover why the Savage Tribe has joined forces with the Rebels!”
She slammed her hand down on the long-stemmed goblet, already stained with human blood, her anger barely contained.
On a snowy Winter Festival day, the Flowerhouse nestled at the corner of the palace seemed especially warm and cozy.
Because it was deep winter, there were not many blooming flowers in the Flowerhouse, but the air was filled with a unique, mellow fragrance.
In the corner, the golden-haired Little Princess was squatting on the ground. Her hair had already grown to her shoulders, and her soft curls traced little waves down her back.
She held a long twig in her hand, lazily brushing aside the fallen leaves on the ground, as if searching for something interesting, while humming a little tune without a care.
Her childish singing voice floated sweetly through the air.
Standing behind her was a tall, slender maid, Marentia. With both hands folded in front of her chest, she quietly accompanied the Little Princess, her gentle gaze full of affection.
“Nori, you seem so happy today.” Marentia said with a smile.
Nori looked up at her, a mischievous glint flashing in her eyes. “Hehe, of course I am! Because I did something big today!”
Marentia asked curiously, “What did you do, Nori?”
Nori didn’t answer directly. Instead, she grinned slyly at Marentia, her eyes full of playful cunning.
“I’ll tell you after you give me a kiss, Marentia.”
Marentia paused in surprise, then walked forward, gently lowering herself to give Nori a kiss.
However, just as her lips were about to touch Nori, the Little Princess suddenly dodged away.
“Nori?”
Looking down, she saw Nori’s little hands deftly unfastening the buttons of Marentia’s uniform.
Marentia was startled, a faint flush rising up her neck as she looked at Nori in confusion. “Hey… Nori, what are you doing?”
“Tsk, Marentia, you really don’t get it,” Nori stuck out her tongue mischievously, her eyes brimming with delight. “I didn’t mean a normal kiss. I mean, here”
She pointed to Marentia’s chest.
Marentia seemed a bit lost, but knowing the Little Princess’s willful nature, she understood that, in this situation, she could never refuse.
So, she obediently unbuttoned the front of her uniform, revealing the soft skin beneath.
“You can… kiss me here.”
Nori nodded in satisfaction, a triumphant smile spreading across her face.
“That’s more like it. Be good and act like my lady.” With that, she spread her arms and buried her face into Marentia’s bosom.
“Ah… Mm…”
Like a little kitten, Nori deliberately made smacking noises as if she were savoring Marentia.
A blush quickly blossomed across Marentia’s chest, making her tremble with shyness.
Yet, her eyes couldn’t hide her joy and affection. She silently endured Nori’s willful behavior with unwavering devotion.
Every time her skin touched the Little Princess, Marentia felt a gentle sense of cleansing—a kind of fulfillment that swept away all her anxieties, leaving only the person in front of her in her heart.
Time trickled by. After Marentia begged several times for mercy, Nori finally lifted her head, flashing her a bright, pure smile.
“Well, is it about time you told me…?”
The maid was a little dizzy, leaning against the nearby pillar to steady herself and stand upright.
Nori raised her head from Marentia’s embrace, her gaze shimmering with a mature confidence that belied her years.
“All right, I’ll tell you everything—but this isn’t the right place. Let’s go back to our room.”
After they returned to their room, Nori was noticeably less playful than usual; her carefree manner had faded, replaced by a rare gravity.
She quietly closed the door, then, with her eyes half-shut, a faint, subtle ripple of energy—only detectable by those of the Blood Clan—began to emanate from her.
She was using her Blood Clan Ability, carefully scanning the room for any hidden intruders, making sure no one could overhear their conversation.
Only after she finished did Nori slowly open her eyes, walk to the center of the room, pull over a delicate chair, and place it softly before Marentia, motioning for her to sit.
Marentia was a little puzzled, but obediently sat down, her eyes full of anticipation and anxiety for what Nori would say next.
“Marentia, what I’m about to say is very important. You must listen carefully.”
Marentia nodded.
“You’ve already heard about the Rebels taking the Baron’s Territory, right?” Nori swung her little legs clad in white stockings.
“Yes, I heard the lady mention it before.”
“That was all Nori’s doing.”
The girl spoke with a calm, almost indifferent tone, as if recounting a story that had nothing to do with herself.
But those flat words landed on Marentia’s heart like a hammer.
“Marentia, did you know? The death of Baron Sasa was all part of Nori’s plan—”
“No… Nori, what are you saying?”
Nori let out a soft laugh, her voice full of pride.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.