Loviki raised her head to look at him.
“Why are you looking at me?” His tone returned to its usual flatness. “I’m not helping you break off the engagement. I just don’t want the Lawrence Family’s reputation tied to a foolish matter.”
The corners of Loviki’s mouth curved up slightly before quickly flattening. “What did the Second Prince’s messenger say?”
“He wants you to enter the palace within three days to discuss the engagement.”
“I’ll go in three days,” Loviki nodded and said softly.
“I will handle this matter. Take your companions and leave the Royal Capital. Herman will quietly escort you out of the city.”
“No, if I wanted to run, I wouldn’t have come back,” Loviki said, shaking her head.
“What do you plan to do?” Loren’s gaze fell upon her face, and he only spoke after a brief pause.
“I’ll make sure his engagement is invalidated.” Loviki found a chair in the study and sat down.
“He’ll never agree to that.”
“It doesn’t matter whether he agrees or not,” Loviki said, her lips curving upward. “Besides, haven’t you already spread those rumors? Even if I enter the palace, he won't be able to do anything to me. And I’m a Diamond Rank adventurer, after all.”
The study fell silent for a moment.
“How do you plan to go about it?”
“Cooperate first,” Loviki said seriously. “At least on the surface. If things really don't work out, I’ll stall him and then run away. After all, once I’m gone, he wouldn’t dare recklessly make a move on the Lawrence Family.”
“Don’t force it.”
“I’m not that foolish.”
“Fine. Herman and I will wait for you outside the palace.” Having said that, Loren’s expression softened slightly. Finally, his gaze lingered on the silver hairpin in her hair. “A gift from a friend?”
“Why are you asking about that?” Loviki turned her head away.
“You’ve never worn a hairpin on formal occasions before.”
...
In the secret chamber on the third basement floor of the palace, the light from an oil lamp cast flickering shadows against the stone walls.
“Uncle Norgue, did you think your guardianship over Father was a secret?” The Second Prince, Alan, looked smugly at the weakened middle-aged man in the cage. “Father trusted you too much, foolishly agreeing to let the Court Mage Leader head to the Forest of Death.”
“Alan, I can’t believe you’ve colluded with the Shadow Cult. Those madmen are not someone you can control,” Norgue said, his eyes cold as he stared at him.
“The Shadow Cult wants the eldest miss of the Lawrence Family, and I want the throne of the Hella Kingdom. This is mutually beneficial. If I don’t do this, am I supposed to just watch my elder brother become the next King of Hella?” Alan looked at Norgue, his voice carrying a trace of morbid madness. “Uncle Norgue, will you choose to sign a magic contract and submit to me... or will you wait for the envoy to arrive in three days and turn you into a mindless puppet?”
“You are playing with fire. When has the King ever been partial? He entrusted you with something as important as the Wigtan reform decree, and your execution of it only proved that you have no political talent,” Norgue scolded, frustrated by his lack of wisdom.
“I have no political talent? Father was clearly favoring my elder brother! It must be because my mother was a commoner! Didn’t the nobles of the Hella Kingdom benefit after the reforms? Only Father was so foolish, constantly worrying about those lowly commoners! Because he abolished the slave trade over a decade ago, the upper class suffered immense losses! What the royal family needs is the support of the nobility! What can commoners even do??”
Norgue’s words seemed to strike a sore spot, and Alan became somewhat hysterical. “Uncle Norgue, I think you’re better suited to be a puppet. Father won’t last more than a few days anyway. It’ll be nice for you to go down and keep him company when the time comes. As for the puppet made from your body, it can shine its light for the brand-new Hella Kingdom.”
“That old fool Aler should still be wandering around in the Forest of Death after receiving my reply... It’d be best if he died in there. If he dares to return, he’ll share your fate!” Alan said with a gloomy face. “As for my elder brother, once I take control of the Hella Kingdom, I will naturally summon him back to catch up.”
...
In the evening, when Loviki returned to the house, her movements as she pushed open the door were much lighter than she had expected.
As soon as she stepped over the threshold, she saw Flora, Louise, and Velyan sitting side-by-side on the sofa, three pairs of eyes turning to look at her in unison.
“How did it go?” Flora asked, setting down her teacup.
“It was fine.” Loviki bent over to change her shoes, her tone deliberately casual. “At least my father didn’t tie me up and send me straight to the palace.”
She then briefly recounted her conversation with her father in the study. When she reached the part about Duke Lawrence spreading rumors, a smile appeared on Flora’s face. “Your father actually cares about you quite a bit, doesn’t he?”
“He’s not as good as you make him out to be,” Loviki pouted. She picked up the kettle to pour a cup of water, her lips curving up slightly. “He’s just afraid the Lawrence Family will be dragged down with him.”
“Yeah, just like Chen Mian said—to be on the safe side,” Louise said slowly, leaning back against the sofa cushion.
Loviki’s ears flushed slightly. She turned to walk toward the kitchen. “I’m going to pour a cup of water.”
“Aren’t you already holding a cup of water in your hand?” Chen Mian’s voice drifted in from the doorway, laced with clear amusement.
Loviki looked down. Indeed, she was already holding a full cup of water. She paused for a moment, then raised it and took a sip, pretending nothing was out of the ordinary. “I’m thirsty. I want to drink another cup.”
“Alright.” Chen Mian walked over and took the kettle. “Let me refill it for you.”
Loviki’s movements paused.
Her hand holding the cup froze in midair. Her gaze fell upon Chen Mian’s face. Ultimately, her eyes darted away slightly as she pushed the cup a little further forward. “...Just a bit more then.”
Chen Mian took the cup, poured a generous half-cup of warm water, and placed it back in her hand.
“Did you just go out?” Loviki asked him in a low voice.
“Yeah, I went to look for Aler.” Chen Mian found a spot to sit by the sofa, watching her cradle her cup.
“Oh,” Loviki mumbled, lowering her head to take another sip.
“What do you plan to do next?” Chen Mian asked calmly.
“Enter the palace and beat up the Second Prince,” Loviki pouted.
“Just like that?” Chen Mian’s lips curved upward.
“That is indeed a very Loviki idea,” Louise laughed. “Simple, direct, and full of endless trouble.”
“Someone clearly said he wouldn’t interfere, yet he’s practically laid out all of the Shadow Cult’s intentions on the table.” Loviki placed her hands on her hips and pouted at Chen Mian. “Their intentions are easy to guess. They’re just afraid of what might happen if they delay, so they’ll lay an ambush in the palace to control me the moment I enter, right? By then, even if I come back out, I won’t be the original Loviki anymore.”
“Which is why it is necessary for me to step in,” Chen Mian said with a nod.
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