It was not only Velis who sensed something unusual; even Xi’eryou, who had always only liked practicing with the sword, could see something was off from the attitude of Mark and the others.
No matter what his current position was, he was now facing the Empire’s two Princesses, and this kind of obsequious yet extremely arrogant recklessness was simply not something an ordinary civilian vice dean could do.
If Mark had always behaved this way, he could never have risen to his current position.
But in Velis’s view, even if he had not pressured her like this, she would have agreed to give the inauguration speech anyway.
The System task was still hanging there, and she certainly did not want a strange tentacle growing out of her beautiful face.
Of course, this was not because she was vain, but simply because she did not want to become an ugly monster, as that would leave her in a terrible situation afterward.
Just as the two sides were at an impasse, a loud and shrill voice suddenly came from outside.
“Emperor’s Arrival!”
In an instant, the noisy sounds outside fell silent, leaving only the echoes of “Emperor’s Arrival.”
The friction of armor, armor like stone, swords being swung, heavy footsteps…
With the rumbling sound of footsteps approaching, Velis saw a trace of smugness flash across the corner of Mark’s eyes.
So that’s how it was.
Velis glanced at Xi’eryou, who also tactfully sheathed Binglan.
Half a minute later, the guards outside, clad in heavy armor, surrounded the place so completely that not even a drop of water could pass through.
Then, a man with slightly graying hair and a crown on his head walked in.
He was handsome and stern-looking, already in his fifties, yet he still looked vigorous and his steps remained steady.
There was only a dark aura between his brows that refused to disperse, making his figure and appearance look somewhat haggard.
He wore combat boots bearing the emblem of the Sky Piercing Sword, greaves and a skirt armor, silver armor on his upper body, and a fiery red battle robe embroidered with the imperial emblem that fluttered behind him.
He did not look like the Emperor of an Empire, but rather like a great general about to lead an expedition.
Yet through her memories, Velis knew very clearly that this was her father, Lubath Egbert.
“Greetings, Your Majesty!”
In an instant, everyone in the simply furnished room, which contained only a sickbed, medicine cabinet, and desk, lowered themselves and knelt before the Emperor.
When Velis tried to get out of bed, Lubath stopped her.
“That’s enough, Velis. Just stay like that.”
“Thank you, Father!” Velis said respectfully.
Xi’eryou was quite surprised by the sudden arrival of this father, while Velis had already figured out the cause and effect.
So it was her father who did not want her to enter the Royal Academy, and Mark’s extremely obsequious yet arrogant behavior was because he had received his orders?!
Thinking about it, Velis realized it made sense. Her predecessor’s various actions had shown that she had been using every means possible to pursue that supreme position.
It would have been strange if Lubath had not intervened!
But…
These methods were a little too gentle.
The outside world had always said that the Emperor disliked his second Princess. In Velis’s view, if she were truly a hated child born into the imperial family, Lubath would definitely use thunderous methods to kill her.
Velis had always been deeply worried about this.
But what did his appearance here mean now?
Since he had already instructed the Royal Academy to send Mark and the others to stop her, there was no need for him to come personally, right?
With this doubt in her heart, Velis watched as Lubath waved his hand, and everyone in the room except Xi’eryou left.
“Father… what about my Imperial Sister…”
Xi’eryou opened her mouth but stopped herself. Lubath glanced at her before turning his gaze toward Velis.
“How are your injuries?”
“Thank you for your concern, Father. I am already fine.” Velis lowered her voice and replied while pretending to be weak.
“Do you know who attacked you, or what their origins were?” Lubath asked again.
The Emperor of the Empire now looked just like a father concerned about his child as he questioned her.
Yet when Xi’eryou and Velis looked at him, his gaze was sharper than a blade, his eyes deeper than the sea, and the overwhelming pressure he exuded made them avert their eyes.
“I do not know, Father. One of them was an elf, though, so I suspect that some hidden forces within the Empire have already allied themselves with the elves.”
Velis made her guess softly, but what she received in response was a thunderous roar from Lubath.
“Useless! If you cannot even identify your enemies, how will you know how you died in the future?!”
Velis was surprised that Lubath was so angry about this matter. She only heard him continue, “This is Monseer! The capital of the Empire, right under your nose!”
Xi’eryou wanted to stand up for her Imperial Sister at this moment. “Father…”
“Shut up! I wasn’t asking you!”
But as soon as she spoke, Lubath immediately rebuked her.
The room fell silent for a moment, and after a while, Lubath’s tone suddenly changed.
“Velis, weren’t you trying to enter the Royal Academy? Half an hour from now, Moon Hall!”
After saying this, Lubath turned and left. Xi’eryou could not help calling out, “But Father, my Imperial Sister just went through a life-or-death experience…”
“Isn’t she still alive?” Lubath’s voice drifted back faintly.
Then, the group of guards he had brought with him also departed amid the rumbling sound of footsteps.
Seeing this, Xi’eryou worriedly sat down beside Velis’s bed and held her hand.
“Imperial Sister, what are we going to do? You haven’t prepared anything yet, and it will take ten minutes just to get from here to Moon Hall!”
After her initial daze passed, Velis looked at the anxious Xi’eryou in front of her and suddenly reached out to hug her.
“Eh? What are you doing? This isn’t the time for this!” Xi’eryou was faintly annoyed.
“Thank you, Imperial Sister.” Velis smiled sincerely. “At a time like this, you’re the only one still standing on my side.”
Xi’eryou stiffened when she heard this. “Velis… Father wouldn’t be planning to personally drive you out of the Academy, would he?”
After all, with Lubath watching from the side, whether Velis’s inauguration speech passed or not would simply depend on a single word from him, wouldn’t it?
“But, Imperial Sister, it doesn’t really matter if you don’t enter the Academy. There are plenty of troublesome things here anyway.”
Xi’eryou awkwardly tried to comfort her, but she had no idea that if she failed, Velis would have to accept the System’s punishment.
“Things have come to this, so I can only take it one step at a time.”
Velis gently pushed Xi’eryou away, her expression returning to its usual calm.
“There isn’t enough time to prepare, so I’ll just improvise. Imperial Sister, I’ll have to trouble you to help me change and fix my appearance again.”
After that intense battle, Velis’s clothes were now in complete disarray, dust covered her from head to toe, and her exposed shoulder was even more improper.
“But there’s… nowhere here to wash up, is there?”
Xi’eryou looked around. These rooms were all used to accommodate patients, so there was no dressing table for women.
Not to mention that there were no women’s grooming supplies nearby. There was not even a simple wooden comb.
“Then should I comb your hair with my five fingers?” Xi’eryou tilted her head. “You should have brought a few maids with you.”
“Then you might as well tell me to bring more soldiers.” Velis rolled her eyes. Xi’eryou was always saying things after the fact.
And so, after tidying herself up simply in the hospital room, Velis changed into one of Xi’eryou’s Academy uniforms and set off toward Moon Hall.
Very soon, it would be the terrifying hell that would determine whether or not a tentacle would grow on her face.
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