Royal… Sister???
These two words exploded like a thunderclap.
The entire tent was instantly plunged into a strange, deathly silence.
Even the faint crackling of the swaying candle flames became piercingly clear.
Everyone’s eyes focused on the small figure who had thrown herself into Astreia’s arms, sobbing like a pear blossom in the rain.
Queen?
The current Queen of the Valoran Kingdom, Yekaterina Valoran?!
Why is she here?!
The wariness in General Sera’s single eye slowly faded, and the sword she had drawn half an inch silently slid back into its sheath.
Wendy’s heart even stopped.
He instinctively retracted the short sword he had also drawn half an inch, cold sweat already breaking out on his back.
What kind of joke is this!
If he’d reacted a bit faster just now and stabbed the Queen as an assassin, the fun would have been on a whole different level!
“Lina…”
Astreia hugged the frail body in her arms tightly, her voice trembling with emotion.
Even her always resolute emerald eyes couldn’t hold back the scorching tears any longer.
“Sorry, sister… Sister came too late…”
“No!”
Yekaterina shook her head desperately in her embrace, her delicate face streaked with tears and self-blame.
Her childish voice, choked with sobs, made every word a condemnation of her own incompetence.
“It’s because I failed as Queen that the Veid Family grew powerful, withheld military supplies and provisions in the Northern Region, and forced Sister to face hundreds of thousands of Orcs in such dangerous circumstances…”
“I’m sorry, Sister… I’m useless…”
The two sisters wept in each other’s arms—one filled with the joy of reunion, the other with bone-deep guilt.
For a moment, no one in the tent spoke.
Even the always irreverent Laxana put away her look of amusement, simply waiting quietly, her eyes swirling with complex emotions no one could fathom.
After a while, it was Yekaterina who first broke free from her emotions.
The Queen drew a handkerchief, gently wiped the tears from her face, took a deep breath, and stepped half a pace back from Astreia’s embrace.
She turned, facing everyone in the tent, lifted her skirt with solemn dignity, and performed a standard court curtsey.
“I am Yekaterina Valoran, Queen of the Valoran Kingdom.”
Her voice still carried the rasp of recent tears, but her tone had regained the steadiness and majesty befitting her status.
“Here, on behalf of the Royal Family of Valoran, I thank you all for your care and loyalty to my Royal Sister, ensuring she remained unharmed.”
General Sera and the others immediately dropped to one knee, returning the gesture with deep voices.
“To serve Her Highness to the death is our honor!”
Wendy also bowed slightly, though inwardly he was screaming.
Good grief, this sisterly love drama is more intense than anything the opera house’s top stars could put on.
Then, Yekaterina’s gaze passed over the crowd and landed on the tent’s only male.
Those emerald eyes, so like Astreia’s, held open curiosity and scrutiny.
“Hello.”
She curtseyed again.
“You must be Prince Wendy Black, the one who developed new gunpowder and cement and aided my sister time and again.”
“I don’t deserve such credit, Your Majesty.”
Wendy immediately put on a modest, gentle expression, returning a flawless noble salute.
“Those were just insignificant tricks. It’s my honor to assist Princess Astreia.”
“Your Highness is too humble.”
Yekaterina smiled faintly, her dimples pure as first snow atop a mountain.
“I’ve already heard of your achievements from the Reports of Victory. If not for you, the situation in the Northern Region would never have turned out so well. This favor is one the entire Valoran Kingdom will never forget.”
The courteous conversation was flawless, exuding royal grace.
On the surface, Wendy responded politely, but his mind raced.
Something’s wrong.
This Queen is terrifyingly calm.
In such a desperate situation, to infiltrate an enemy camp alone and converse so calmly—such composure isn’t something an ordinary girl could possess.
She must be tested.
“Your Majesty.”
Wendy feigned puzzlement, asking a pointed question.
“Why did you take such a risk, sneaking out of the city at night?”
He paused, his gaze flickering toward Astreia, his tone turning meaningful.
“Aren’t you afraid… that Princess Royal might be blinded by power, secretly detain or assassinate you, and seize the throne that should be yours?”
As soon as the words left his mouth, the temperature in the tent plummeted.
General Sera’s single eye shot toward Wendy.
Even Astreia frowned, unable to fathom why Wendy would say something so divisive now.
Yet, against all expectations—
Yekaterina didn’t get angry. Instead, she smiled slightly.
“Prince Wendy, please don’t use the eyes of calculation to judge the relationship between me and my Royal Sister.”
Her smile was polite and restrained, but her crescent-shaped eyes seemed to mock the other’s presumption.
“This throne was given to me by Sister in the first place.”
“As long as she wants it, as long as she says the word, I can hand it over at any time.”
Wendy looked at the Queen’s face, filled with ‘sincerity,’ and felt a chill rise up his spine.
What a powerful counterattack!
On the surface, she professed infinite loyalty to her sister, yet in a near-holy manner, she made Wendy’s probe seem utterly filthy and despicable.
“Absurd!”
Astreia could finally bear it no longer.
She yanked her little sister behind her, adopting a protective stance as she sternly reprimanded:
“That’s not allowed! What if something had happened to you on the way? The Veid Family would do anything!”
“I’m sorry, Sister…”
Facing Astreia’s anger, Her Majesty the Queen immediately reverted to an obedient little sister, stuck out her tongue, and hugged her sister’s arm, pouting in apology.
“I promise, I’ll never be so reckless again.”
The sight of such sweet and practiced gestures made both Wendy and Laxana’s eyes twitch.
Yet, just as Astreia’s expression softened slightly, Her Majesty the Queen threw out another bombshell.
“Also, I didn’t sneak out by climbing walls or slipping through the city gates.”
“There’s a secret passage beneath the Royal Palace leading directly outside the city. Only successive Kings have ever known of it.”
She suddenly raised her head, emerald eyes shining in the candlelight like twin ghostly flames.
“Sister…”
“And Prince Wendy.”
“If you wish, tonight I can personally lead the way, letting the Northern Army bypass all the useless obstacles on the walls and reach the Royal Palace without a sound.”
“Then…”
The Queen’s gaze drifted between Wendy and Astreia, finally settling on Wendy’s face, her smile innocent yet cruel.
“Help me kill all the disobedient ministers!”
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