Chapter 90: What Is a Weakness?

Looking at the girl before her, still immature, Marentia fell into silence.

A cool evening breeze blew past, gently ruffling Nori’s short hair against her youthful, innocent cheeks. Her fingertips toyed with a single petals of a moon jasmine flower, slowly plucking it apart bit by bit with her nails.

“Although Nori’s mind isn’t that sharp~ there are still some things she’s given careful thought to.”

Marentia lowered her head to gaze at the girl. In Nori’s eyes, there was a faint yet unmistakable maturity beyond her years a soul lurking deep within her small frame that Marentia had never imagined, sending a chill down her spine.

“What is a person’s greatest weakness?” Nori pondered for a long, long time.

Finally, she found her answer. Her voice was calm: “It’s desire.”

“Sista is outstanding. From a young age, in both academics and abilities, she has surpassed Princess Moria by far. She is intelligent, elegant, the perfect member of the Royal Family. Yet, none of that is the most important thing,” Nori said as she gently held the shredded flower petals aloft in her palm.

“The most important thing is that she has no desires.”

Marentia’s heart trembled slightly.

“She neither craves money nor power, nor is she enticed by blood. Cold to an unimaginable degree, as if without a single flaw to exploit Moria must have been afraid of this about Sista all along.”

“Although, by the rules of succession, Princess Moria’s claim to the throne is absolute, she has always been wary of Sista, fearing that woman might eye her power.”

Nori… has been thinking about these matters so clearly all along?

Marentia found the little girl before her inscrutable, impossible to read truth or falsehood indistinguishable but she had no intention of backing away. Instead, she tightened her grip on Nori’s small hand.

“But, but, that seemingly flawless Sista, finally had a day when her weakness was revealed. Nori thought it was so much fun,” Nori said, a faint, elusive smile flickering across her face, “Nori waited a long time to find her weak point.”

“A weak point? What… is it?” Marentia asked in a small voice.

“Hmm~ Nori’s just guessing, you know,” Nori said playfully, “It’s probably that maid named Su Ling.”

“Su Ling?”

“The very maid you told me to investigate closely! At the Royal Family banquet, Sista sacrificed her own reputation to protect her appearance. Nori was truly amazed,” Nori giggled.

“Sista must have investigated her too. Why is she so fond of that Blood Slave? Why is she unwilling to be harsh toward her? That little maid must have something special about her for Sista to lower her guard.”

“Nori, like Princess Moria, is curious as well.”

Marentia said nothing. She folded her hands, holding Nori’s tiny hand in her palm as if in prayer.

What kind of person was Nori really? To be honest, Marentia didn’t truly understand her.

Sometimes she flashed a bright, radiant smile, joking about strange things.

Other times, she would erupt in a fierce tantrum, childish and destructive to everything she could break.

Her mood was unpredictable, her personality difficult to fathom, and her wisdom far beyond her years.

Yet, she loved this willful little princess just as she was.

“Nori, do you dislike Her Highness Sista?” Marentia asked.

“Dislike? Of course not. Sista is quite a pure child,” Nori tilted her head, trying once again to arrange another moon jasmine petal, “She just isn’t cunning enough, which is why she offended Princess Moria.”

“Cunning?”

“Just like~ Nori,” Nori deliberately emphasized her own name in a lively tone.

“Nori is silly, neither loves reading nor is careful with money, and has a terrible temper that has offended everyone. How could Princess Moria ever take her seriously as a threat?”

Marentia was stunned.

That was right. In this magnificent castle, she was the only one who knew Nori’s secret.

Nori’s long habit of shutting herself away from the world, annoying people everywhere with reckless mischief—these were all lies, disguises meant to confuse outsiders.

The truth was that she was like an onion, no matter how many layers were peeled back, there was no core to be found.

“Hey, Tia,” Nori suddenly stood on tiptoe, leaning close to Marentia’s ear to whisper, “Last time, I followed Moria to the Assembly Hall and heard something very interesting!”

“What is it?”

Marentia felt intuitively that this was important.

“The Human Faction seems to finally be reacting,” Nori whispered, “Perhaps soon, the Kingdom of Ansels will undergo earth-shattering changes.”

Hearing this, Marentia felt a tickle in her heart.

“When that time comes, our opportunity will have arrived~ Nori wants to create a world of happiness just for Tia and me~ and get rid of those high-and-mighty people who’ve never looked down on Nori!”

She naturally understood the meaning behind Nori’s words, but could not wear the relaxed expression that Nori did.

“No matter what, I only hope Nori stays safe,” she said, kissing Nori’s small hand. “Whatever you do, I will support you.”

“Aw, you’re so sweet. Of course, Nori loves you the most too.” Nori smiled, her eyes sparkling with a faint glow.

The scent of the evening meal drifted faintly in from afar.

Marentia remembered the work she had yet to finish and released Nori’s hand.

“Nori, it’s time for dinner. We have to go back. If we’re late again, the Head Maid will probably come bother me.”

But her skirt was suddenly caught by a small hand.

“Wait.”

She turned around in confusion and saw Nori’s displeased eyes, her small face puffed with stubbornness.

“What’s wrong?”

“You haven’t spent time with me today yet.”

Marentia’s face flushed instantly. She stood awkwardly, unable to meet Nori’s gaze.

The bronze and gold chandelier cast a bright glow, filling the ornate room with a layer of golden light.

Sista wore a strapless deep purple gown, embroidered with intricate, delicate patterns. The lace skirt was adorned with tassels, cascading near her crimson high-heeled shoes.

She sat upright at her dressing table, her unusually red eyes reflected in the mirror.

Su Ling stood behind her, skillfully brushing her soft hair, woven into a three-strand braid.

Sista… didn’t look well today, Su Ling thought.

Today, she accompanied Sista to a noble ladies’ ball.

Sista had never liked balls; she loathed the tedious social formalities and the endless polite small talk she had heard one too many times.

Even so, she maintained the princess’s grace, being courteous and attentive, replying to everyone with a formal yet distant tone.

Recalling Sista’s return earlier, the normally indifferent expression had briefly flickered with a barely perceptible shadow.

Although the flames of war had already erupted on the Human Faction’s side, the men and women at the ball were immersed in laughter and chatter, as if unaware of the conflict. The gemstones and pearls decorating their attire dazzled so brightly that Su Ling felt dizzy.

Was the nobles’ negligence of the war the cause of Sista’s deep worry?

Su Ling’s fingers gently moved through Sista’s hair, her actions soft and careful.

Finally, she lightly pulled the braid loose, releasing the girl’s raven-black hair to flow down, gleaming like silk.

“Do you want more coffee?” Su Ling asked.

“No, I don’t feel like it,” Sista wrapped a strand of hair around her finger absentmindedly. “I’ll change my clothes myself. Put out the lights. I want to rest.”

Su Ling nodded, stepped back, and turned toward the elaborately carved glass lamp.

However, just as she was about to touch the lamp’s base, a sudden, sharp pain surged through her lower abdomen like an icy dagger, spreading quickly.

She immediately lost her balance, stumbled, and fell heavily to the floor.

“Ugh!”

Instinctively, Su Ling braced herself with her hands on the ground, trying to ease the pain.

Her face turned pale in an instant; beads of sweat appeared on her forehead. Her eyes were filled with agony.

So painful… what’s happening? Could I be sick?

This is terrible! Why must I fall ill at a time like this?

Her eyes were full of confusion.

“What’s wrong?” Sista was clearly alarmed.

“I… I’m fine. It’s just…”

Su Ling stammered, unable to explain. She gritted her teeth against the pain in her abdomen, her eyes pleading as she looked at Sista.

Sista frowned, displeasure gathering quietly between her brows. She bit her lips, lifted her magnificent gown, and knelt down beside Su Ling.

“Are you in pain?”

Su Ling didn’t respond, remaining on the ground, her thoughts muddled by the stabbing pain.

“Tsk, hands away.”

Sista suddenly grabbed Su Ling’s wrists, forcibly pulling her hands away from her abdomen, giving no room for refusal.

Then, without warning, she lifted Su Ling’s black skirt beneath the pale, smooth skin of her lower abdomen, a pool of bright red blood was starkly visible.