With the person gone, Xi’eryou naturally couldn’t pursue the matter further, and no one would think that the Lyons Family’s daughter had spent a day and a night in her quarters.
Of course, unless Ophelia herself said something, or someone else had seen them and recognized them.
But for now, seeing that Velis’s room was empty, Xi’eryou let out a sigh of relief.
“I really was afraid you’d pull something like that again, Velis. Your situation is dangerous right now, and you can’t afford to provoke the Lyons Family. Even if they’re gradually declining, a dying camel is still bigger than a horse.”
Xi’eryou’s words of concern came out, and Velis nodded in acceptance.
“I understand, Royal Sister. By the way, when you went to see our younger sister, was there any situation?”
Sitting at the edge of Velis’s bed, Xi’eryou recalled and let out a sigh.
“Kelis caught a terrible cold from somewhere. She has a headache and dizziness, with runny nose and tears flowing nonstop. When I went to see her, she was barely even coherent.”
Hearing this, Velis asked in surprise: “Huh? That serious? Didn’t they call a Healer or a priest to treat her?”
“We tried that already. It heals for a while, but it relapses after a short time. The physicians said she needs herbal medicine for slow recovery…”
What a convenient time to fall Sick.
For no particular reason, Velis sighed inwardly at that thought.
If she were the one bedridden right now, she probably wouldn’t be recuperating in a safe place—she’d be receiving countless assassination attempts.
Why were people’s fates so different?
“Velis, you really didn’t do anything to her, did you?” Xi’eryou suddenly asked again.
Velis gave a wry smile: “Really, I didn’t.”
One could say Velis’s expression was quite well-acted, but her thoughts were something else entirely.
I just slept… that shouldn’t count as doing something, right?
Besides, a young girl like Ophelia, in the bloom of her youth, having to sacrifice herself for her family, marrying someone she didn’t love—not to mention the other party being an old man decades older than her…
Had the Lyons Family really fallen to such a state?
Or… did they harbor even greater ambitions?
“Come to think of it, that Ophelia is also someone to Pity…”
“When her mother came looking for her, her words suggested she intended to marry her daughter off to a major family or someone in a high position of power…”
Xi’eryou also let out a sympathetic sigh.
“Major families… I heard she’s not even 17 yet. Oh, right, she was that little girl who made trouble during your Inaugural Speech yesterday. Do you still remember her?”
Velis naturally remembered—quite vividly, in fact—but others, including Xi’eryou, didn’t yet know about her secret relationship with Ophelia.
Xi’eryou didn’t wait for Velis to respond, continuing on her own.
“It’s just a Regret. I heard her magical aptitude is very high, but unfortunately she was born into a major family… Though their eagerness is truly shameless.”
As they talked, the atmosphere in the room fell into Silence.
With Xi’eryou not speaking, Velis naturally didn’t know what to say either.
It wasn’t just those in major families who couldn’t control their own destinies—they, as Princesses, were even more unable to do as they pleased.
If one day it served the Empire’s interests, being married off to a foreign nation was entirely possible.
Though no such situation existed now, who could say what the future held?
Even if not married abroad, there had been cases of Princesses being married down to appease ministers and the powerful.
Even now, there were no fewer than a handful of Princesses in the Empire who had been married off to nobles.
Velis, this is the fate you want to escape, isn’t it? Xi’eryou stared blankly at her younger royal sister.
Her red hair flowed, translucent and bright, her delicate features carrying an unconscious trace of sorrow.
Even after venting on Ophelia, which made Velis look even more charming and alluring…
Upon those small shoulders, she still bore the weight that someone her age shouldn’t have to carry.
This was also one of the reasons Xi’eryou was so close to her.
Meanwhile, in some unknown secret room…
“Worthless! Worthless! A bunch of worthless trash!”
Clatter, clatter—the sounds rang incessantly as countless valuable vases and artworks were mercilessly smashed to the ground by their master in frustration.
“Velis merely bears the name of the Bloody Princess—she herself poses no threat whatsoever, yet you lot can’t even handle this simple task!?”
“Forgive—your subordinate, ah!!”
Inside the room, before another trembling, kneeling figure could finish speaking, a gleaming sword stabbed directly through his throat.
“Worthless! No value in living in this world!”
“If you fail again next time, I won’t need this broken tool anymore!”
===
Inside the Douque Imperial Palace…
It was Velis who broke the Silence first.
“Royal Sister, are you free the day after tomorrow?” Velis asked.
“The day after tomorrow?” Xi’eryou thought for a moment. “I don’t have classes the day after tomorrow. I’m free, but what do you want to do?”
“I want to go to Ushi City. I might be there for quite a while.”
Velis lifted her eyes, her gaze drifting toward the window.
“Before the academy officially notifies me to take up my post, I’ll probably be in Ushi City.”
Hearing this, Xi’eryou nodded.
“Going to Ushi City is fine too. It’s your territory. As long as you manage it well, it’ll be safe, and you can develop your own power there.”
Xi’eryou’s bluntness caught Velis slightly off guard. Such words shouldn’t be spoken so openly, Royal Sister.
But this was her room, and speaking privately here was fine.
“You want me to escort you there? Sure, I can do that…” Before Velis could even extend the invitation, she had already agreed on her own.
“Your Guardian Knight is coming along, right?”
“Yes, she’ll naturally be following along.”
At that moment, a maid knocked and entered, carrying steaming tea and refreshments. She nervously placed them on the wooden table before hurriedly retreating.
Velis glanced at the steaming cup and laughed bitterly: “Right now, besides you, Royal Sister, I feel like I have nothing at all?”
“Nonsense!” Xi’eryou shot her a glare.
Still, because of Velis’s words, a trace of smug satisfaction appeared on her face.
“Alright, I’ll accompany you. You rest well. I’ll leave five hundred soldiers behind to help guard every blade of grass and tree in this imperial palace.”
With that said, Xi’eryou stood up and directly cut off the refusal that Velis was about to voice.
“Don’t say no. I’ve already had them waiting outside the gates, and I don’t care—you handle their meals yourself!”
Xi’eryou dashed out of the room in a few quick steps. When Velis chased after her, sure enough, just as Xi’eryou had said, she had left five hundred soldiers waiting outside the Douque Imperial Palace.
Neatly arranged, awaiting orders.
Looking at these soldiers clad in armor, standing solemn and upright, Velis could only lead them into her palace.
The times were not peaceful, so Velis rarely allowed these male soldiers to patrol outside her residence—though she simply forbade them from approaching her private chambers.
As for the meals, it just meant a bit more work for the kitchen. A Princess’s food supplies were provided by the Empire, so there was no need to worry.
“Continue…”
Back in her room, Velis resumed practicing the manipulation of the Sakura Death Word’s magical petals.
Within this resplendent palace, only the spacious courtyard was suitable for practicing magic, but Velis’s focus had now shifted entirely to this Magic Weapon.
Before long, a maid approached the door to announce.
“Your Highness, an Inquisition Official from the Inquisition Office requests an audience outside the palace.”
“Rodmenlin? What does he want now?”
They had exchanged pleasantries and parted ways outside the imperial palace yesterday. If he didn’t say it then, could there be something that must be said in private?
“Show him to the main hall. I’ll be there shortly.” Velis gave the order.
“Yes!” The maid acknowledged and left.