Chapter 20: Variables, Born in Suspicion
"Master, that person..."
At the corner of the street, a pile of torn clothes was soaked in blood, accompanied only by a notebook stained red with blood.
It seed the owner of the notebook had already been killed.
"No need to look. Whatever happened to him has nothing to do with us anymore. We fell into a trap."
Loka turned to gaze at the towering flas.
The entire house was engulfed by roaring fire.
Even in the secluded alley, it was still eye-catching.
Scattered fragnts of paper mixed with charred marks floated in the sky.
Looking at the house, now reduced to a blackened wooden fra, Loka waved her hand and led Lycan slowly out of the street.
On the other side, atop a rooftop, masked figures silently watched the scene until the flas gradually dimd.
"Master, it’s been burned clean. No traces were left. The other side was very cautious."
"I understand. You said the person you fought had a golden badge at their waist?"
"Yes, with a griffin emblem."
A golden griffin, a symbol even commoners could recognize at a glance—the royal griffin sacred beast revered by the Kelake royal family.
The golden griffin badge was permitted only to the Emperor and his heirs... and, of course, the Empress.
Loka silently raised the Empress’s threat level by one notch, unsure whether her people were targeting Weber himself and his achievents or simply tracking her own movents.
This ti, despite having all the information, she had been outmaneuvered by the other side.
This forced Loka to seriously reconsider her future plans and those unknown enemies.
"Let’s call it a day. Take back."
"Yes."
Back in the bedroom, Loka tossed and turned, unable to sleep.
Since her rebirth, she had never experienced insomnia like tonight.
Suddenly, a soft knock ca at the window, and an unbelievable figure appeared before her.
"Open the window."
Yiwen climbed through the window with ease, closed it, and drew the curtains as if it were routine.
She lazily lay on the bed as if it were her own ho.
Loka sat by the bed, unsure whether to move or stay, frozen in place.
"What are you staring at? You’re allowed to ambush , but I’m not allowed to sneak in on you at night?"
Upon closer inspection, Yiwen had deliberately changed into pajamas, though she wore a fluffy cloak for the journey.
After signaling to a figure outside the window, it vanished.
"Your Highness, is there sothing you need, coming to see so late?"
Yiwen ignored Loka’s cautious tone, slipped into the covers, and even snatched Loka’s pillow to prop under her head, lazily watching her.
"My bed is too hard. Yours is comfortable."
What a flimsy excuse.
A princess’s bed is probably bigger than my entire room and when has she ever slept in my bed to know if it’s soft or not?
Yiwen forcibly pulled Loka into the covers.
Staring into her faint, teasing eyes, Loka couldn’t sleep, and her face felt inexplicably warm.
The two lay there, gazing at each other.
"There’s a royal ball tomorrow. All the princes and princesses must attend."
Yiwen spoke slowly, lying on her side and lazily patting Loka’s cheek.
Loka calculated the timing.
A ball at this ti was likely for so important festival or commorative occasion.
But based on her mories, no major ball had been held during this period in her previous life.
Could her rebirth have altered the course of the world?
"Tomorrow is my twelfth birthday."
Oh, so the change in the world’s course wasn’t because of —it was because of the princess.
In her previous life, despite the poison gas attack case, the sixth princess Yiwen had only briefly caught the Emperor’s attention, nothing more.
Compared to the other princes with closer ties and powerful family backgrounds, she was insignificant.
But now, Yiwen was the savior of several princes and noble children, discussed not only among the nobles but also the commoners.
Not to ntion the praise the Emperor had bestowed upon her in front of the court.
"So... what does that an?"
Yiwen suddenly pinched Loka’s cheek in dissatisfaction, glaring at her confused expression.
She crossed her arms and turned away, ignoring Loka’s innocent pokes.
"Tomorrow, as the center of the ball, you will be my dance partner. Understood?"
So that’s why she ca to see so late.
I thought she’d found out I was secretly eting soone behind her back—though that person was intercepted and silenced.
"Your Highness? Princess?"
After saying this, Yiwen turned her back and went to sleep.
Loka poked her back innocently, but Yiwen wouldn’t even spare her a glance.
How did I upset her again.
For so reason, though she had been sleepless, Loka’s eyelids grew heavy, and a drowsy haze settled over her.
"Birthday gift, hmph..."
Late at night, both drifted into a hazy sleep.
Yiwen mumbled softly, but the other person was completely unaware, only knowing she slept soundly that night.
"Lina, how does this one look?"
"Miss, you’ve been standing in front of the mirror for ages."
Lina smiled helplessly as Loka tried on one outfit after another.
It was the first ti her mistress seed so particular about clothing.
Was it for the sixth princess?
Though Lina had only glimpsed the princess once, the girl, close in age to her mistress, had a lovely, refined appearance—gentle, elegant, and kind.
But our mistakes aren't inferior!
"Lina, why are you getting so excited? Co here and teach how to do my hair."
Since the princess had specifically insisted, she couldn’t appear too ordinary.
As the daughter of the Duke’s household, she couldn’t be underestimated.
On the other side, Kafu, dressed in a black servant’s uniform, stood quietly outside the room.
Yiwen sat by the bed, leisurely brushing her golden hair, showing no trace of nervousness or panic about the upcoming event.
Looking at the neatly organized docunts in her hand, Yiwen set them down with satisfaction and called out to the figure outside.
A soft knock on the door signaled a response.
"Kafu, are you sure you’re alright? If not, I can go alone this ti."
"Your Highness, please don’t worry about this old man. It’s just a minor fatal wound."
Seeing the stubborn old man, Yiwen didn’t press further.
She slowly pushed open the door.
Under Kafu’s respectful bow, Yiwen stepped into the sunlight, her golden hair shimring brilliantly.
Since she was to present herself before everyone, there was no need to feign insignificance.
She would make everyone marvel at her entrance.
Reviews
All reviews (0)