“This recent assassination attempt on Her Highness the Imperial Princess can be confirmed as the work of the Demon Clan. Duke Kellal’s son has already committed suicide out of guilt, but with this, it’s unlikely we’ll find more clues.”
“As expected.”
After listening to the report from the Inner Guard, the Emperor’s expression barely changed.
The news of the assassination attempt on the Imperial Princess had spread throughout the empire.
Although it infuriated him that his precious daughter had been targeted and his sons were all agitated as well, from the Empire’s strategic perspective towards the Demon Clan, this incident actually presented an opportunity—one that could be made much of.
“Let Lisette rest well. As for the Saintess who saved her, I doubt the old fossils in Parliament will have any further objections to her receiving honor. Arrange for her admission to the academy soon and leave the rest to the young people.”
As the supreme leader, the Emperor found it easy to get to the heart of any matter he wished to know about.
However, for him, whether he cared about something depended only on whether he had the energy and interest, and whether the matter truly required his personal involvement.
Conflicts among the young should be handled by the young.
That had always been his principle.
Lisette was his daughter, the empire’s heir.
At present, she was still too immature.
She needed opportunities to grow, and Moria was the best whetstone and role model.
Despite her unfathomable thoughts, and despite being the eldest daughter of the Delan family, he felt perfectly at ease letting her and Lisette cross swords.
The Inner Guard said no more, and after receiving the order, promptly left the palace to make arrangements.
…
On the other side, Lisette, unaware of her royal father’s plans, was sitting face to face with Flora.
“How did you sleep last night? My bedchamber should be quite comfortable.”
To the newly awakened, freshly anointed Saintess, Her Highness the Imperial Princess was exceptionally easygoing, wearing a cute pink pajama set and holding a teacup in her hand, exuding an air of utter leisure.
“How could I possibly have slept well after you forcibly brought me to the capital…”
Flora truly didn’t know how to react.
At the time, she had acted on instinct, dragging Lisette out of the way of the explosion, and this princess, completely ignoring Moria’s dark expression, had clung to her tightly, refusing to let go, and simply bound her and brought her back.
Though she had escaped those three, she felt no relief—only unease.
“Well, you have a point. Still, I’d have thought you’d feel at least somewhat relieved, now that you’re far away from that damned woman Ya’er… Never mind that. Tell me, now that the thing around your neck is gone, how do you feel?”
Lisette was clearly in high spirits.
Not only had she found someone she could chat with at will, but she had also earned the Emperor’s permission for a truly unstructured rest after escaping unharmed.
Finally, she could enjoy several days of leisure.
Such a mood was hard to feign; Flora understood this well.
“It’s fine, I suppose. You already know my general situation, so I won’t hide anything. What really binds me is the magic anchored in my soul. That collar was just a way to restrict my magic.”
She glanced at her ankle.
Since the princess had forcibly brought her away, she hadn’t had any suitable clothes to wear.
Now, she was wearing a maid’s uniform from the princess’s chambers, with the bracelet still on her ankle—making her look even more the part of a servant.
Of course, Flora figured this was mostly some quirk of Lisette’s; there was no way a princess couldn’t find her proper clothes unless she was doing it on purpose.
Lisette set down her teacup, stood up, and naturally sat herself in Flora’s lap.
Flora had no idea what this was about, but bit her lip and dared not move.
“So you were a man before—then you still prefer girls, don’t you? What do you think of me? I saved your life, you proposed to me, and with so many brothers, it wouldn’t matter if the throne goes to their children. You could—”
“Please, don’t tease me like this…”
Flora said wearily, but Lisette was clearly having fun.
She turned around, straddled Flora’s legs.
She cupped Flora’s face in both hands, speaking seriously:
“This isn’t teasing. As the Imperial Princess, I have no say in whom I love—at least, not much say. With your current identity, disregarding gender, a political marriage would bring me tremendous benefits.”
“……”
“I do think I’m rather cute, you know. Sixteen and all—if you like girls, shouldn’t you be curious what that’s like?”
Lisette licked her lips.
Clearly a pure young lady, yet at this moment, she seemed strangely seductive.
She leaned in close to Flora’s ear, lowering her voice.
“I’ve had them all stay away so I won’t be disturbed. If you’d like, we can have some fun right now. The bedchamber is too big anyway—having more people around to make me happy is a good thing, you know.”
Flora didn’t push her away.
Instead, she wrapped her arms tightly around Lisette.
The previously composed princess instantly tensed, but quickly relaxed.
“You don’t have to test or tempt me like this. You know it won’t work, and with how stubborn you are, if I ever did think that way, you’d be in real danger.”
“Fine… But if you’re going to hold me, don’t let go.”
Lisette whispered, clearly a bit vexed.
“Do you know how comfortable your hugs are? Since you’re holding me now, if you let go I won’t talk to you anymore.”
Such odd behavior didn’t surprise Flora.
There might not be much difference between Lisette and Moria—only that, at certain moments, they made different choices, resulting in a stark contrast between them.
A sense of safety, trust, or some feeling she couldn’t name.
Unable to be sure, Flora decided to respond with obedient acceptance.
If Lisette wanted to act like a little sister and be spoiled, then she was willing to play along.
“Your Highness has given me the privilege to come and go from the palace as I please; I certainly won’t waste it. Still, Your Highness knows you never intended for me to enjoy this much freedom. What kind of return do you want from me for this?”
To Flora, being in this situation felt like a dream.
Her goal had always been to escape Moria’s control, and she had achieved this through relying on Lisette.
While it wasn’t perfect, it was good enough to satisfy her.
Yet the profound sense of unreality made it hard to remain calm.
“Return? I don’t want anything from you…”
Lisette muttered softly.
Flora smiled helplessly.
“Not asking for anything in return is the hardest thing to trust. You must know by now, Your Highness, that it’s difficult for me to have any fondness for nobles.”
“If you don’t like the Imperial Princess, that’s fine. As long as you like Lisette.”
Where had that deep, dangerous aura of the Imperial Princess gone?
Now, the only person facing Flora was an unpredictable, willful child.
With such an answer, what reason did she have to question Lisette’s intentions further?
Flora hugged her a little tighter.
“I know your concerns, and I understand your feelings. After all, I can read minds. Even if I don’t know your thoughts, I can sense your emotions.”
You hate her—hate her enough to want to kill her.
She’s done countless terrible things to you.
“The worst was turning you into what you are now.”
Lisette spoke, taking a deep breath, sighing softly and a little dazed: “Still, it’s actually not so bad. It makes me want to hold you tighter, want you to be my big sister.”
Flora didn’t reply, only gently stroked Lisette’s long hair.
It was easy to sense the pressure weighing on the princess.
Wanting a big sister probably wasn’t Lisette’s true wish; it was more likely that the burden from her father and brothers was too much, and she had nowhere to vent.
Flora’s appearance just happened to give her an outlet.
She understood this.
“If you don’t trust me, then just treat my actions as childish whims. I simply want to oppose Moria and make her unhappy.”
She treats you as her toy—so I’ll steal you away from her.
“She wants to do those things with you… then I’ll get there first… though you probably wouldn’t want that, hmph…”
Lisette grumbled as she nuzzled into Flora’s neck, “Looks like neither of us are your type. I don’t get it. Maybe I should introduce you to one of my brothers—let you be my sister-in-law, that’d drive Moria mad.”
“I’d kill myself before that.”
Flora replied with a blank expression.
“Did you really think I’d do that? Hah, trust between people really is so fragile. You, such a beauty, are a calamity to nations. Once I ascend the throne, I’ll enjoy you first, then—”
“Your Highness, you’re being indecent.”
“Che.”
Lisette pouted disdainfully, then withdrew a hand, gave Flora a squeeze on the chest, and only when a crack finally appeared in Flora’s calm expression did she nod with satisfaction.
“The privilege of a princess—how does that feel, Lord Flora?”
“The privilege of a brat…”
“I’ll have your whole clan executed!”
After huffing enough at the newly anointed Lord, Her Highness resumed hugging her, nestling her face into Flora’s neck and shoulder.
“I understand your unease. I can make it clear—even I can’t openly oppose that damned woman.Sister Flora, I can’t help you exact revenge on her. Bringing you here is the most willful thing I can do.”
Flora wasn’t surprised.
As the heir, Lisette had to take into account the Delan family’s influence.
Even if she was opposing Moria, it was likely only to figure out her unusual motives and maintain royal authority.
She had known this for a while, and was already deeply grateful for Lisette’s willingness to help.
“The freedom and justice you desire—I can’t promise you that. No noble in this country can help you. Because she is Moria.”
Lisette’s tone changed as well, becoming much more serious, full of the dignity of a princess.
Flora nodded, indicating her understanding.
“Still, the privileges I’ve given you—you can make full use of them now. Starting tomorrow, you’ll be enrolled at the Imperial Academy, living on campus. You’ll have plenty of time when they won’t be able to bother you.”