Chapter 184: Hopeless Love

“What’s wrong, Lian? Why aren’t you saying anything? Could it be that my proposal surprised you too much?”

Her expression darkened. Her infatuated gaze was fixed unwaveringly on Lian—even the blooming flowers paled in comparison to Senia at this moment.

But Lian avoided her gaze.

She understood that Senia had liked her before… perhaps she still did. But she didn’t think Senia would be so unreasonable.

Senia was the strongest and most important person.

She was the one who, after her father’s death, single-handedly unified the leaderless Sea of Trees; the strong princess who resisted the Demon Spirit Duke when Fenglin City was attacked.

She was a born leader, also wounded by the demon race’s invasion.

She led the army when they were besieged, holding out until reinforcements from Yilansiya and the Holy Nation arrived.

But her current behavior was as if she would put her daughter’s personal feelings above the threats facing the nation.

And she had twisted the meaning of the oath like that… this was not the Senia she knew.

“Senia.” Lian said slowly. “Do you really understand what you’re saying? The oath I made to your father on his deathbed is as sacred as my vow to my wife—I cannot betray her.”

Senia’s expression dimmed for a moment… but the infatuated and fanatical light in her eyes did not fade.

“I said, all of that doesn’t matter. You’re hiding your identity because of this? And even if you confessed to that child, she still wouldn’t accept you because she misunderstood… so you’re in pain, right? Why else would you hide it? Why are you so persistent? None of this is your fault. After going through such terrible things, the world should no longer have any ethics or morals to bind you or accuse you. I will accept you. I am different from humans…”

“Senia. No matter what my appearance becomes, I am still me.” Lian interrupted her. She looked into Senia’s eyes. “Please don’t bring up such ‘suggestions’ anymore.”

Senia didn’t speak. She picked up her teacup and took another sip. Her movements were still elegant and composed, as if everything Lian had just said was not enough to disturb her mood.

“Then what about the demon race?” After a while, she asked.

“I’ll join up with Iyue and deal with the demon race’s remnants, just like before.” Lian said seriously. “If you don’t want to help me, I’ll think of something myself. I’ll send people to the Nelf Family to obtain that ‘relic’ that can undo your seal, and I’ll take care of the demon remnants too. You don’t need to worry about anything.”

Senia approached her, reached out to gently straighten her collar. “All the matters I will handle for you. But until then, please stay in the palace.” She said, then stood up.

Before Lian could speak, Senia put down her teacup and stood up. “So this time, let me protect you… just like you once protected me without regard for your own life.”

“Senia, this matter is urgent. I need to discuss countermeasures with her, and I also need to protect my daughter—”

“You don’t need to leave the palace in a hurry… after all, the audience ceremony is in two days. I have already summoned her to attend in the name of the royal court. If you want to see her, wait until the ceremony. I will also catch the pests that have infiltrated our territory. I am not someone who doesn’t understand priorities. Even if you don’t accept my proposal…”

The pressure she was emitting continued… Lian could feel it. This was a clear refusal. Faced with the unwavering Lian, Senia’s expression and voice returned to calm. But that eager pressure continued… Lian could feel it.

“I understand your thoughts. You really are still the same as before, unchanged.”

“Senia, I never abandoned you. My oath is to protect you and protect peace… I cannot let your country suffer the same fate as the Northland. Iyue and I came for this.”

After hearing the name “Iyue,” Senia’s smile disappeared.

Leaving these words, Senia left the balcony. Moments later, Lian was escorted by the entering Guard Knights back to her bedchamber.

She soon noticed that the guards near her bedchamber had increased significantly… and the maids serving her had become more enthusiastic.

She confirmed from memory the corridors leading to the lower levels of the palace and found that at every intersection there were two additional Guard Knights on duty.

Their gazes were hidden beneath their helmets… but Lian understood that they were watching her every move.

“…It seems I’ve been placed under house arrest by her.”

In the afternoon after Lian was sent back to her bedchamber.

The Fairy Prince Alvin, guided by servants and Guard Knights, walked through the corridors and arrived at the Council Chamber where the Queen usually handled state affairs.

The Council Chamber seemed to have just ended a meeting. The attending elders and ministers were slowly exiting the hall. They all bowed to Alvin.

“Your Highness.”

“Thank you for your hard work. Is my sister inside?”

“Her Majesty is inside. But her state seems a bit… how to say it, you’d better go see for yourself.”

The ministers’ hesitant manner made Alvin somewhat puzzled. After the ministers left, he walked into the chamber alone.

“Oh, isn’t this Alvin?” Seeing her brother arrive, Senia, who had been sitting in her chair muttering to herself, suddenly lit up with joy.

She jumped up to hug him. “Long time no see! I heard you arrived in Fenglin City yesterday… but why didn’t you come see me?”

“Sister, you seem very happy today.”

But this intimate gesture made Alvin frown deeply.

“I went to my fiancée’s dance party… I am indeed happy… because I encountered something good. The New Hero Miss you are about to summon, she attended that dance and caught a Shadow Demon disguised as a guest… The Nelf Family’s dance party had an incident.” H

e gently pushed her away by the shoulders.

“I am indeed happy… because I met… The thing I’m about to tell you might spoil your mood?”

“The Baron of the Forest Domain… they have sent people to verify his identity… they received some reports about that Shadow Demon’s identity. They said that Shadow Demon had been imitating an elf for seven hundred years, living in the western Sea of Trees… the Nelf Family had restrained that Shadow Demon, and they also passed…”

“Was anyone hurt?”

“No.”

“I see. Leave this to the Nelf Family.”

Faced with such a serious situation, Alvin thought she would ask for more details or order an investigation… but she just sat back at the council table, picked up a document, and studied it carefully.

“Sister?”

“Sister, did you hear clearly?” Alvin couldn’t help asking. “The demon race has infiltrated the Sea of Trees, and at the Nelf Family, at a dance full of nobles.”

“The Nelf Family will handle it, won’t they? They have always been the sword and shield of our royal family.” Senia’s voice was calm and light. But her gaze still did not move from the document before her.

Alvin quickly walked over and glanced at the heading of the document in her hand—”Audience Ceremony Gown Design Drawing”?!

“Yes. Quickly help me decide, what do you think of this dress?” Senia finally looked up and excitedly placed the design drawing before him.

“Sister…!”

Alvin took two steps back—because he saw a terrifying emotion flickering in Senia’s eyes. That emotion was like a flame, blazing and unending.

Alvin was very familiar with this emotion… perhaps ’emotion’ was no longer enough to describe it… it was a curse. A sad curse binding the royal family, binding his sister.

“Sister, who are you dressing for?” He asked tentatively.

“Who am I dressing for? For everyone at the audience ceremony, of course. The Hero’s daughter, the Hero’s former companion… and the Hero herself. Perhaps my attire today wasn’t enough to move her? It wasn’t grand enough… no, she definitely wouldn’t like this style. So it should be modified to be more plain. Alvin. Can you please pass the order to the housekeeper? Have her invite the designer immediately.”

“…Sister.”

“Didn’t you hear me? My dear brother.” Senia repeated again.

“I understand. Please rest and don’t push yourself too hard.”

Sister did not look at him.

Because she was holding a pen and continuously revising the design drawing… and from the turbid light shining in her eyes, Alvin understood one thing—that was hopeless love… also a curse entangling the royal family, entangling her endlessly.

And this curse had become deeper and more intense than ever before.