“King? Me?”
Trinis looked up in a daze, crumbs still lingering at the corner of her mouth, staring at Ailaira in shock. She immediately shook her head so hard it almost left afterimages.
“No, no, no, someone as weak as me could never sit on the throne! That would only bring misfortune to the people!”
Tsk, the first thing you think of is the people’s happiness index? Trinis, maybe you really do have the makings of a King.
Ailaira was already scheming in her mind about how to get Trinis on the throne.
With the Verlendel Kingdom’s current King possessing power beyond the ninth rank, a straightforward, violent coup was likely impossible—let alone with the Pope, who was on par with him, also residing in the Royal Capital’s Sanctuary. If those two joined forces, she wouldn’t last long.
If simple and forceful methods wouldn’t work, she’d have to resort to something more roundabout and troublesome.
For instance, taking care of the two Princes and the Princess ahead of Trinis in the line of succession… Ailaira hadn’t even sorted her thoughts when a pair of soft, white hands broke her train of thought.
Just as Ailaira understood Trinis’s character, Trinis also knew her beloved quite well.
So, just seeing Ailaira’s pensive look, she immediately realized she was plotting another rebellious scheme. In her anxiety, Trinis summoned her courage, half-knelt on the table, reached across, and cupped Ailaira’s cheeks, forcibly pulling her attention back to herself.
Only after she calmed down did Trinis realize how improper her actions were.
Her swan-like neck instantly flushed red, her arms trembled as she drew them back, and her head lowered so far it almost buried itself in her chest.
“Um… Miss Ailaira, I really don’t want to be King. My dream is to leave the Royal Capital and see more of the world with you, Miss Ailaira.”
“I know, but I want to.”
Trinis tilted her head in confusion, her fingers mimicking the shape of a crown atop her head. “Miss Ailaira, do you want to be King?”
Ailaira leaned back in her chair, spinning the sapphire paperweight on the table, her voice soft. “I’m only interested in your family’s Treasure Vault.”
“Knew it.”
A sharp glint flashed in Trinis’s eyes. “Then… if Miss Ailaira comes to play with me often, I can take you to my Private Vault.”
“Didn’t I empty out that little storeroom of yours a long time ago?”
After all, when I played that love game with you, it was all for the Treasure Vault.
“Ugh…”
Trinis dropped her head in frustration, regretting not saving up more of her family’s assets. If she had, maybe Ailaira wouldn’t have left her.
Ailaira adjusted her loose sleeves and said with sudden understanding, “If I’d asked your father for a breakup fee when I left, I bet he would’ve showered me with money, right?”
“He might’ve even thrown me a farewell party.”
At those words, Trinis’s bright eyes widened, her pink lips quivered, and crystalline tears threatened to spill over.
Ailaira paused for a moment and sighed helplessly. “Just kidding.”
“We’re done eating, so let’s go.”
Ailaira turned and walked toward the door, while Trinis wiped the tears from her eyes, quickly brightened up with a smile, and followed close behind.
When the two of them left, they didn’t see a single attendant or guard—an arrangement Xidi had made with them in mind.
When Ailaira reached the main doors, Xidi stood beside them, head bowed respectfully, and spoke in a polite tone. “Wishing you and Miss a safe journey.”
“Mm. I’ve already checked and taken my things. Thank you for your trouble.”
“Not at all. Meeting you has been the greatest fortune of my life.”
Jody had long since prepared the carriage and waited for quite some time. When Ailaira brought Trinis over, she waved her arms happily. “Miss! I’ve come to pick you up!”
“How did Andrea do after going back?”
“She got into another fight with those Knights and smashed a bunch of stuff at home.” Jody pouted in grievance—the furniture that got wrecked were things she’d painstakingly crafted to save money.
Having her hard work destroyed made Jody furious. She immediately forced everyone to clean the house from top to bottom, and even made them tidy up the garden as well.
So when Ailaira arrived home, she was greeted by the sight of the Knights—usually charging valiantly and looking indomitable—now all bent over, tending the flowerbeds.
Andrea, meanwhile, stood there with an air of authority, directing them. “Yes, right there! Good grief, are you all useless?”
She even smacked the Knight Captain’s head with a shovel. The Knight Captain, infuriated, jumped up and waved her shovel, about to start a sacred Knight’s duel with Andrea.
And just then, they saw Trinis following behind the wicked witch, cheerfully coming their way.
The moment the Knights saw the Princess return, they dropped their tools and rushed over with joy. The Knight Captain half-knelt before Trinis, hand pressed to her chest, as if offering up her heart:
“My deepest apologies, Your Highness. I failed to protect you. No matter what punishment you decide, I will accept it willingly.”
Trinis smiled gently, holding the Knight Captain’s arm in both hands and helping her up. The Princess softly patted the Knight’s helmet, her voice filled with boundless tolerance.
“Kadessi Knight, it’s I who should apologize to everyone in the Guard Squad. It was my willfulness in running away that made you all work so hard to find me.”
Trinis bowed deeply to the Knights. For a moment, they were so overwhelmed by the honor that they hurriedly urged her not to do so.
While this scene of harmony between ruler and vassals played out, Andrea quietly sidled up to Ailaira, tugging on her sleeve.
Ailaira lowered her head and looked into Andrea’s blinking eyes, puzzled. “What’s the matter?”
“Are you leaving? It looks like you and Trinis made up…”
Andrea’s hands, hidden behind her back, clenched tightly. There was an indescribable anxiety in her heart. In her eyes, the relationship between Trinis and Ailaira was unusually close, so maybe Ailaira would be convinced to go back to the more prosperous Royal Capital with Trinis.
Suddenly, she realized she was afraid to hear Ailaira give a definite answer.
After a brief moment of thought, Ailaira noticed the dark circles beneath Andrea’s eyes and teased, “Were you up all night worrying?”
She thought Andrea would bristle as usual, but this time, she actually admitted it!
Andrea nodded, her hand letting go of Ailaira’s sleeve and instead slowly but firmly gripping her hand, the tightness as if she were trying to hold onto something slipping away. “I owe you so much money—I can’t just not pay you back, can I?”
“But the Royal Capital is too far. I’ll never be able to find you…”
She instinctively thought that if Ailaira left, she wouldn’t take her along. After all, Jody had told her how, during Ailaira’s time in the Royal Capital, she’d always been alone at home. Andrea was afraid she’d meet the same fate.
So, why was she so afraid of losing her? Maybe it was all because of one simple phrase from Ailaira—
Let’s go home.