Chapter 230: Entering the Palace
To observe the integration of the Divine Artifact and Mehmet’s whereabouts, Snow stayed at the Falmouth mansion.
During the day, she trained in the courtyard, sparring with Lena, and at night, she meditated, absorbing the power of the Divine Artifact.
This continued for two weeks, until Snow finally broke through to the next rank.
“Rank five?!”
Lena almost fell out of her chair when she heard the news.
“Leveling up like drinking water, aren’t you advancing a bit too fast?!”
“Is it fast?”
Snow tilted her head, having no concept of this.
“Of course, who else can break through two ranks in two weeks?”
Lena envied Snow’s protagonist’s halo, she was still stuck at the bottleneck of rank six, with no signs of progress.
Snow lowered her head, seemingly in thought.
Her hair had grown much longer, her shoulder-length silver hair now reaching her shoulder blades, incredibly alluring.
A fragrant breeze.
Snow appeared before Lena, her expressionless face tilting up, her lips gently brushing against Lena’s.
“Kiss~”
This seemed to be a reward, a reward for Lena taking her in, for being her training partner.
Who taught her this?
Lena touched her lips where she had been kissed, watching Snow run away, her shy demeanor like a young maiden.
Well, it was quite enjoyable.
During these past few days, their relationship had grown significantly, each sparring session bringing new insights.
Lena created powerful undead creatures for Snow to practice with, while Snow incorporated the power of the Divine Artifact into her fighting style, their tacit understanding reaching a new level.
And now, with just a little push, Lena could break through.
After so much accumulation, she would become the youngest rank seven Necromancer in history—Lena Falmouth.
…
Leaning against the railing, watching the snow fall.
Lena drained her cup of warm wine, her slightly intoxicated eyes filled with a seductive haze, making one want to embrace her and kiss her lips.
“The royal family has made a move, Red can’t wait any longer…” A kneeling assassin presented a coded document.
“Mm, continue.”
Lena didn’t open it immediately, pouring herself another glass of wine.
“Red is planning to eliminate all obstacles during the engagement ceremony, to usurp the throne.”
“So impatient?”
Lena was surprised.
This was completely different from the original script, the timeline had been accelerated.
The assassin continued, “We have conclusive evidence of Red colluding with foreign powers, including the movements of the Second Empire’s spies… everything is under your control, Miss, the Falmouths have the upper hand!”
“Celebrating halfway… heh~”
Lena swirled the wine in her glass, the golden liquid creating ripples, like the assassin’s anxious heart.
“What about General Euphemia?”
“Ah, I was just about to mention that.” The assassin sighed in relief. “The Northern Expeditionary Army, stationed in the snowy lands of Ilalaba, will also be returning for the winter, they’re already on their way, led by General Euphemia herself.”
“All of them?” Lena frowned.
“An estimated quarter of their forces, the Imperial City can’t accommodate the entire army, so General Euphemia is only coming for the celebration, she won’t be staying long.”
“I see, you can go now, keep an eye on Red, and report any emergencies to me or Phoenix immediately.”
After dismissing the assassin, Lena rubbed her temples, no longer in the mood for drinking.
Events were accelerating, including some unexpected situations, all due to the butterfly effect.
She could no longer rely on her memories, she had to adapt.
For example…
“Snow, can you accompany me to the palace in a few days?”
When she found Snow, she was carefully polishing [Dark Plum Blossom].
The mirror-like blade exuded a cold aura, reflecting a beautiful, delicate face. She seemed to have anticipated Lena’s arrival, everything already prepared.
“Who are we killing?” Snow asked coldly.
“No one, I just want to meet the Empress, and my fiancée.”
Lena twirled a strand of Snow’s silver hair, sniffing it. “You should have met, Diana von Tepes, a spoiled little princess.”
“I remember.”
Snow’s mind conjured an image of a purple garlic.
Vague, a smug face.
“Then I’ll call you when the time comes, don’t oversleep.” Lena released the strand of hair, ruffling Snow’s head.
“Mm.”
Snow obediently submitted to Lena’s touch.
She didn’t mind these intimate interactions, in fact, Lena’s touch was quite comfortable, making her want more.
Perhaps…
This was what it meant to be friends?
“Alright, I’m leaving now, don’t forget dinner, Angel made a big pot of beef stew, everyone is waiting.”
Lena said, walking towards the door.
Snow watched her leave, then returned to polishing her scabbard, then paused.
She turned, looking out the window.
A few snowflakes drifted down, covering the windowsill in a thin layer of frost.
Snow’s back was to Lena’s graceful figure.
A beautiful picture.
Lena, her name.
So beautiful.
…
A few days later, at the palace.
Diana’s room.
“What’s the big deal? Why is she restricting my movements, cutting my allowance, why, why! Just because she’s my mother?!”
The furious princess pounded her pillow, rolling around on the bed, wrinkling the sheets.
Her personal maid stood by, not daring to breathe, afraid of Diana’s wrath.
After all, this little devil had a notorious reputation, and she, a new maid, wouldn’t dare provoke her.
“Laura, I’m hungry!”
Diana rubbed her stomach, her anger having depleted her energy.
“Get me some snacks, the sweet kind, quickly!”
Her tone was commanding, her words unquestionable.
Laura was about to leave, but then she remembered something and reluctantly returned.
Diana looked at her suspiciously. “Go on, what is it?”
“Her Majesty has ordered me to control Your Highness’s sugar intake… I… I…”
Laura was on the verge of tears.
How could she say this without angering Diana, without getting herself into trouble?
They said being a personal maid was a good job, but this was a nightmare!
“Her again! Her again! Aaaaaah, I want to eat, I want to eat, I want to eat!!”
As expected, Diana threw a tantrum, her shrill voice echoing through the palace.
I’m sorry, Your Highness, I can’t disobey Her Majesty’s orders…
Between losing her job and being hated, Laura chose the latter.
Although she felt a pang of guilt, like a villain depriving the imprisoned princess of her only pleasure, she had to prioritize her own future.
Thump!
Her head hit a soft cushion.
The force of the impact sent her sprawling on the floor.
“S-sorry… ah!”
Seeing who it was, Laura’s apologetic expression turned to terror. “Your Majesty, I… I… I didn’t mean it!!”
Kneel first, think later!
Her mind blank, Laura’s knees automatically hit the floor, tears streaming down her face.
She was just a powerless maid, now she had offended both the princess and the Empress, a death sentence was probably too lenient…
Hopefully, they would leave her a whole corpse…
Virginia frowned, ignoring Laura, not even telling her to get up.
She simply walked past Laura, heading towards Diana’s room, her steps hurried, as if on an urgent mission.
Laura, still on the floor, didn’t dare move, even after hearing the footsteps fade.
It seemed…
She was saved?
Laura’s heart pounded with anxiety.
“Can you get up by yourself?”
A gentle voice, and Laura looked up, her eyes meeting a pair of gray ones.
“It seems you’re speechless, why aren’t you talking?” Lena chuckled, flicking Laura’s forehead. “It’s fine, get up, if that old woman comes back, I can’t protect you…”
“…Oh! Oh, oh, oh, thank you! Um…”
“Lena.”
“Miss Lena, thank you so much!”
Laura dusted off her maid uniform, bowing respectfully.
“It’s fine, no need for formalities.”
Lena disliked such formalities, waving her hand and following Virginia. “Be careful next time, maybe we’ll meet again.”
Her graceful figure disappeared around the corner, leaving Laura stunned.
Such a gentle and elegant woman, and so approachable…
In this palace filled with power struggles and schemes, such a person was a breath of fresh air!
Laura was incredibly envious, if only she could serve someone like that…
Sigh…
Well, she should go make some sweets for the princess, maybe she could salvage the situation, she couldn’t afford to offend both of them…
Her face grim, Laura looked in the direction Lena had disappeared.
There were no other rooms there, only one, Diana’s room.
So they were both here for Diana.
The princess, so young, yet facing so much pressure, how tragic.
This was probably the burden of the wealthy.
Laura shook her head, turning to the kitchen…
…
“How long are you going to act like this, Diana?”
Virginia’s eyes were cold, a strange light flickering within them.
Her ample bosom heaved beneath her robes, and she let out a haughty scoff. “Get up and clean up this mess, and your disgraceful appearance.”
“Oh…”
Diana was dejected.
Although she was annoyed, she couldn’t defy Virginia’s words yet, she had to act like an obedient daughter.
“What are you pretending for, hmph…”
“…”
Virginia’s hand, holding the scepter, trembled slightly, she was trying to suppress her anger.
She couldn’t believe such words would come from her own daughter, how rebellious!
If it weren’t for the political marriage, she would have married this disobedient daughter off to another country long ago.
“You should be grateful to your fiancée, Diana,” Virginia sneered.
“Lena?”
Diana’s eyes lit up. “She’s here? Where?”
She rushed out of her room in her white lolita dress, and Lena was standing at the door, the two colliding.
“Ah! That hurts…”
“Where does it hurt? Let me see.”
Lena lifted Diana’s chin, her fingers tracing her delicate lips, smiling. “You’ve become more beautiful, Diana, have you been thinking of me every night?~”
Ignoring her mother-in-law in the room, Lena scooped Diana up into her arms, and the little princess’s face flushed crimson.
“Hehehe~”
“Put me down, don’t.”
Diana didn’t want to be so intimate in front of Virginia.
Besides, her last vestiges of affection for Virginia had been shattered by the circus incident.
Everyone was just a pawn in Virginia’s game, to be discarded when no longer useful.
Emotions were useless, and tragic.
Their only connection was blood, but Virginia no longer treated her as a daughter, but as a pig, or even worse.
“What are you doing here?”
Diana took Lena’s hand, stepping forward.
This single, brave step symbolized her defiance against the crown, her protective instincts towards her wife.
Who said she would always stand behind Lena, a silent, purple-haired lolita?
Only she could bully Lena, no one else!
Thinking of this, Diana held her head high, facing the woman she had once feared the most, the ruler of the empire.
“Oh?”
Virginia, seeing Diana shielding Lena, was slightly surprised.
“The little chick protecting the mother hen, have you reversed your roles, or was this how it was always meant to be?”
Absurd.
Love was truly absurd, it could change a person.
Such useless courage, Virginia understood.
“Let’s talk about the engagement, it’s scheduled for spring, a grand celebration, and you and Diana will be married, a wedding watched by the world.”
Virginia’s eyes narrowed, a disdainful smile on her face.
“What do the Falmouths need to do?”
Lena also got straight to the point.
Virginia was clearly trying to gain some advantage, after all, Diana was still under her control, and the dowry hadn’t been paid yet.
“Hehe, it’s good that you understand.”
Virginia liked talking to smart people, it saved her a lot of trouble.
“Let’s change the scenery, Diana can show you around the palace, enjoy the snow.”
…
She ran into Laura again on her way out.
Laura, holding a plate of tiramisu, hesitated outside the door, shrinking back upon seeing Virginia. Then Lena appeared, and Laura was about to approach her, but Diana intercepted her.
“What are you doing?! Senior Weakling is mine!”
Diana snatched the tiramisu, glaring at Laura, who had wanted to follow.
“You have no business here, get lost, if you don’t want to die, stay away, you have no say here… you weakling maid.”
“Y-yes, Your Highness.”
Laura bowed fearfully and left.
Not being allowed to follow meant the following conversation was not for her ears, in other words, the princess had been trying to protect her…
Laura sighed, unsure if she should feel sad for herself, or for something else.
This was probably the closest she had ever gotten to her white moonlight.
Yes, a fleeting ten minutes of white moonlight.
Lena’s figure grew smaller in her eyes, eventually disappearing.
