Chapter 199: Hand

Lucia toyed with the silver fork in her hand.

“So… you adopted Mia just because you are the Empress?”

Helena just smiled faintly, her smile carrying the emptiness after a prank succeeded.

“At first… I really did adopt her out of spite against Ian. I planned to tell Ian when Mia grew up. If Ian found it troublesome, then I wouldn’t make it public and let Mia live a peaceful life.”

Helena sighed helplessly.

Lucia looked at these two people.

“But later, your relationship with the Emperor seemed to get even worse.”

“Even if you say that, I don’t recall.”

“Yes… it mainly started from my mistake.”

Lucia coldly interrupted her. She stomped her foot, wearing white silk high heels, heavily onto the carpet, producing a dull thud.

“To be honest, I don’t really care about those old grudges. What I care more about is—after that, you just abandoned me so cleanly.”

“I’m sorry.”

“Me and the Cowardly Saint… have nothing to say. Even if I knew, I wouldn’t forgive you.”

“I don’t seek your forgiveness either. After all, the harm I caused you is a fact. Let’s just get along as ordinary people.”

Mia, who had been sitting quietly on the chair during the stalemate, suddenly spoke. Perhaps wanting to comfort Lucia, she said softly:

“I told you… I’m only half an adopted daughter of Her Highness Helena. We’re more like a cooperative relationship. Helena’s daughter has always been only Lucia.”

Helena turned to look at Mia.

“You don’t have to say that.”

“But that’s how it is… isn’t it? In the conditions you discussed with me, didn’t you hit exactly what I wanted?” A faint, beautiful smile curled at the corner of Mia’s lips. Her small feet, wrapped in black silk, unconsciously curled on the floor. “But at first, I simply wanted to save you. I know… thank you. But the conditions you proposed, I truly couldn’t refuse. For her, I can do anything.”

Lucia looked at Mia’s face, innocent yet tinged with allure. At this moment, those eyes were filled with a thick, unshakable sadness.

“Is it someone you love?”

“Yes… the person I love most. I have nothing to hide. Everything I do… is just to see her again, or to stay by her side like this.”

Lucia tilted her head, silver hair slipping over her shoulder.

“Can the dead be resurrected?”

Mia smiled.

“No, but… the dead are not truly dead.”

“Hmm…”

“The Elven Forest… is that kind of place.”

Lucia stroked her chin, looking pensive.

“So those fairy tales passed down by word of mouth, some of them are true.”

“After all, in the distant past, without recording methods, they had to rely on oral tradition. And the elves rarely leave the Elven Forest, speaking little of secrets.”

“So?”

Mia took a deep breath, a flame igniting in her eyes—a flame of obsession.

“I want… to see the one I love once more, and preferably live with her again…”

Lucia looked at Mia, whose eyes revealed a resolute gaze.

“That… isn’t that also a legend?”

“I agreed to Her Highness Helena at that time. Perhaps the Elven Forest has what I want, after all, the World Tree of the Elven Forest is the core of the Moon Goddess. But if I can find evidence, then it’s not entirely a legend.” She lowered her head, looking at her feet that were not wearing shoes. The black stockings wrapped around her delicate soles, stepping on the cold reality.

“Do you really want to see her that much?” Lucia said softly.

“Yes… even if it means death, I want to see her again. So, I am willing to pay any price. As for more things, let’s talk after you make your decision.”

“Decision?”

Lucia frowned.

“Really dangerous… Clearly the World Tree is the core connecting the Moon Goddess to this world. Even from this angle, the Elven Forest is the Holy Kingdom, isn’t it?”

Mia turned her head away, pursing her lips tightly.

“What if, in the future, the core is no longer the Elven Forest?”

“I don’t know what you and Helena plan to do, but it sounds dangerous. I originally thought it was only related to the Empire, but it seems it’s more than that.”

She looked at the two people before him. They appeared to be mother and daughter, barely counting as mother and daughter, but not simply that—more like partners.

Lucia wanted to back out. But she had already missed the chance to retreat. It was all Helena’s fault. Ever since she learned Mia’s true background, all her internal alarms were blaring.

The warm atmosphere suddenly shifted. Helena and Mia both sat upright.

Helena looked at her own daughter.

“Lucia… I know you hate me. I also know you never see me as a mother. And I think I deserve that. So let’s make a deal. Not as mother and daughter, without draining family affection. I won’t hide anything anymore. What do you want?”

Lucia crossed her arms.

“If you just wanted a deal, you could have said so from the start.”

Helena looked at Lucia’s displeased face.

“Because I thought this was necessary. Whether it’s your past, or you being caught in the crossfire between me and Ian. And if you could understand a bit more of my thoughts, I was also betting that you might feel a little pity for me. Consider it a small emotional card.”

Lucia wanted to say something more, then remembered the topic Helena had interrupted earlier.

“Do you want to inherit Bulaien’s hatred?”

Helena answered quickly.

“I still cannot forgive Ian… He killed so many people who had been with me for over a decade without even a reason. So I want to retaliate. After so many years of conflict… maybe hatred has surpassed love.”

“From my perspective, what you’ve done might be even worse than Bulaien.” Lucia looked at this adoptive mother and daughter, their eyes equally resolute.

“Even so, I will do it.”

“I… I don’t have anything I want to do. I just don’t want to be dragged into this by you.”

Lucia didn’t fully trust the Emperor in the first place. After hearing Helena’s story, she became even more uneasy. Moreover, his health had been deteriorating recently. It wouldn’t be surprising if he did something extreme under these circumstances.

“Since you’ve said so much tonight, I can speak too. It’s not like there’s anything to hide. Actually, the Emperor and the Second Prince didn’t promise me anything. Did I join the Emperor just to avoid trouble? I haven’t… fully agreed yet. I only announced that I gave up my right of inheritance. Besides, after hearing tonight’s story, I only think it’s best to choose neither side. If you push me too far, I’ll leave this country and live elsewhere. It’s no big deal.”

Helena looked at her daughter like this.

“Because I hate this golden cage. I hate the disputes and cold wars between you and the Emperor. You may have your reasons, but being dragged into it since I was young hasn’t been pleasant at all. I just want to leave this place.”

Helena lowered her head.

“I see… If I can keep you from siding with anyone, that’s enough for me. If you want a peaceful life, and if I win, I will also promise not to interfere with you. You don’t need to do anything for me. Whether as a mother or as a partner.”

“Whatever the Emperor promised you… I can do it too, even if it’s not something I originally agreed to. Just promise not to interfere with me after it’s done, and not to drag her into any struggles.”

Lucia recalled Mia’s obsessive expression.

“I have a feeling what you’re doing is very dangerous. If there’s nothing else, I’m leaving.”