Tes?
I didn’t expect her to have done so much before seeing me in the afternoon.
No wonder she only arrived at my apartment at night.
I wonder what she’s up to now.
That young lady is probably bossing around the maids at the consulate again.
Livyat thought to herself.
“Pour me a glass of water.”
“Yes, Your Highness.”
At this moment, Tesvelan was wearing pajamas, reading the letters her mother had sent her, as well as the Queen’s Imperial Seal placed on the table.
Her mother had abdicated, officially passing the throne to Liv, who was now respectfully addressed as Her Majesty Livyat, the Exalted Queen of Elindria.
But there would be no coronation ceremony.
At the same time, the Council of Elders granted her mother the position of Regent.
Tesvelan wasn’t sure if she still counted as a Princess.
Come to think of it, if she kept the title, wouldn’t Liv be getting some undeserved advantage?
Speaking of which, her mother was able to abdicate so quickly and decisively for her own reasons, too.
The first few times her mother asked in her letters whether Liv was fit for the throne, Tesvelan always replied no.
Until that night.
That night, even though Liv was so fragile, even timid, she said she was more suitable to bear this burden.
It sounded laughable.
But after Tesvelan recovered from her illness, in her reply to her mother, she took the initiative for the first time to say that Liv was not forever unfit for the role.
From then on, her mother stopped asking.
I really was so childish.
Tesvelan gave a wry smile.
But if we’re talking about childishness, in the end, wasn’t the Book of Queenship and the Ancient Tree just as childish?
How could they so easily accept such a prophecy?
Moreover, why did her mother and the Council of Elders simply agree to this prophecy?
Tesvelan knew—over the past tens of thousands of years, the elves first followed the Book of Queenship, and after it was lost, they followed the guidance of the Ancient Tree to select their queen.
Except for the period of over ten thousand years in between—Queen Shaerelan Valenlia did not follow any mystical guidance, but passed the throne to her daughter, Seladia Valenlia.
And so the mother continued to pass it to her daughter, tyrant to tyrant, giving rise to the bloodiest and darkest ten-thousand-year dynasty.
Anyway, it’s time to congratulate Liv.
At the same time, she could see that Julia seemed to have tacitly accepted being bound to the elves’ chariot, never opposing from beginning to end.
That was even better.
Tesvelan decided to let Julia know, in a way she could understand, that the Elven Congress would support the Republic in its hardline stance against the Frostweave Kingdom, and would cooperate.
It would also establish the new queen’s authority.
With this in mind, Tesvelan changed out of her pajamas and called for the consulate’s carriage to head straight to the Shipbuilding Office.
When she arrived, Tesvelan walked directly into the Shipbuilding Office; no one stopped her.
She walked straight into the General Affairs Officer’s office.
The moment she entered, she saw Livyat massaging Julia’s shoulders.
The documents in her hand fell to the floor.
Julia looked at Tesvelan in surprise, and after a moment’s pause, said, “I complained that my shoulders hurt, so Liv said she’d give me a massage.”
Tesvelan picked up the documents with a darkened face and said, “You don’t need to explain. Liv, you explain.”
But I really was just massaging Sister Julia’s shoulders!
Livyat braced herself and answered, “Sister Julia complained her shoulders were sore, so I was just helping her out.”
Tesvelan’s face twitched non-stop.
It took her a long time to calm down.
She would still carry out her original plan—she could settle this account with Julia later.
She respectfully handed the document to Livyat: “Exalted Queen of Elindria, you have received the authority of the gods from Larorelvia, ruling all beings east of the Great River.”
Due to the circumstances, a grand coronation cannot be held for now, but the honor bestowed by the scepter and the crown will all be yours.
Although my mother will continue to assist you as Regent, any movement of the Elven Army must have your final confirmation.
“The Council of Elders has decided to increase troops at the Frostweave Kingdom border, and the Dawngold Guards will cross the river directly to be stationed west of the Great River. Please sign here.”
The golden ink on this document shimmered brilliantly.
Anyone familiar with elven official documents would know this was the elves’ most formal kind, only used externally for state correspondence.
Livyat accepted the document.
The elven script on it seemed to contain magical power, the traces of ink flowing faintly, like vines winding around her silver eyes.
She rubbed her eyes and looked again—everything returned to normal.
“Fulfill your duty as Queen, Your Majesty. Tesvelan… Your Highness, is still waiting.”
Julia naturally understood Tesvelan’s meaning.
Livyat picked up her quill and signed her name in elven script—a skill she had only just begun to learn.
It was just like the first time she signed “Livyat” in human script.
Then she said, “It wasn’t as scary as I imagined. Sister Julia, Tess, you don’t have to use honorifics with me. I still prefer being called ‘Liv.’ My favorite is when people call me ‘Liv, Liv.'”
Tesvelan took the document and said, “Liv. Now that you’re Her Majesty the Queen, you must set an example in all things. I’m glad you allow me and Lady Julia to call you intimately, but when your identity is made public, you cannot allow others to call you by your name directly—especially nobles and officials. They must use all the etiquette they’ve learned in their lives on you. Next, you should move into the consulate; that’s a duty the consulate must fulfill.”
Julia nodded and chimed in, “That’s right. Her Highness Tesvelan is absolutely right. You have to pay attention to your status now; you can’t let those high officials and nobles of Hobrick insult you just because you’re a royal in name only. Still, since you can’t reveal your identity for now, I can give you a position. For example, Deputy Chief of the Shipbuilding Office.”
Deputy Chief?
Livyat was shocked.
The previous Director had needed a direct appointment from the Governor’s Office.
How could Julia just appoint a Deputy Chief now?
And what about the former Deputy Chief, Antonroni?
Shocked, she voiced her concerns.
“My father has further gained the Governor’s trust and has officially become a member of the Council of Ten. This allows me to arrange things directly through the Governor’s Office.”
“Of course, there is a price to pay, but the Laguans family is never short of things for equivalent exchange. As for Antonroni, he’s a diligent man. Coincidentally, the General Affairs Officer of the Foreign Trade Office is retiring, so I’ll have him act as interim there for two years. If he does well, he’ll have a chance at a permanent position.”
Only then did Livyat feel at ease.
“Then thank you, Lady Julia. For me, my current task is to devote myself entirely to assisting Her Majesty the Queen.”
Tesvelan performed a rather formal curtsy, expressing her gratitude.