Freeloading

If one were to use an idiom to describe the internal situation of the Imperial Palace, that idiom would surely be ‘resplendent and magnificent.’

What is resplendent and magnificent?

Along the way, the floor beneath her feet was paved with pure gold. Every inch of the palace walls was inlaid with priceless Heaven-Fragrance Jade. The entire blocks of stairs were made of agate, and the ceilings, when looked up at, hung with colorful lanterns crafted from deep-sea crystals.

It could be said that if any thief could infiltrate the Imperial Palace and casually pry off a piece of the floor with a shovel to sell, they would never have to worry about expenses for the rest of their life.

After entering the palace, Aurelia was handed over to two Wind Dragon maidservants.

The two maidservants led her through this enormous, labyrinthine structure. Along the way, the girl held her breath, her gaze always fixed forward.

Even though her attire was merely an ordinary black robe, her elegant posture and aura somehow gave the cheap black linen the refined feel of a princess dress.

Her footsteps were crisp, moving from distant to near, until they arrived at a room. The golden-jade gate was tightly shut. The two maidservants stood on either side of the gate, bowing and explaining.

“Your Highness the Saintess, the Dragon King is currently conversing with Lady Elizabeth. Please wait patiently.”

“Heh, wait?”

The girl’s face showed mockery, a cold sneer on her lips.

“I fail to understand what matter in this Great Dragon Divine Dynasty could be more important than a divine oracle!”

“Move aside,” she commanded, disregarding the two Wind Dragon maidservants’ pleas. Aurelia lifted her foot and simultaneously hitched up her skirt. With a “bang,” the gate was mercilessly kicked open, and the girl walked in with a normal expression.

The Wind Dragon maidservants guarding the sides exchanged glances but showed no great surprise.

After all, everyone in the Imperial Palace knew that the relationship between Her Highness the Saintess and His Majesty the Dragon King was very poor.

Although there was a blood relation between them, it was precisely this blood relation that sowed the seeds of hatred.

Inside the room, Elizabeth, clad in a magnificent white robe, turned her head towards the kicked-open door. Upon clearly seeing the figure, her expression instantly shifted from surprise to fury.

She stood up, utterly enraged, extending her hand and pointing directly at the girl’s figure.

“This is utter rebellion! You dare to directly kick open the door to the Dragon King’s study?! Do you know what you’re doing?!”

Aurelia glanced sideways at the beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman pointing at her, her eyes holding an indifference akin to a stranger.

“What am I doing? Haven’t you seen? Do you need to point at my nose and ask again, or do you have a problem with your eyes?”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman’s face flushed crimson from Aurelia’s sudden venomous words. She slammed a hand on the tabletop, about to step forward and teach the girl before her a lesson.

However, before she could take a few steps, another loud table-slamming sound startled her. Turning her head, she saw that the expensive golden-wood table was now split into four or five cracks.

“Everyone calm down! Always bickering and making a ruckus like fishwives, do you even have any self-awareness as Imperial family members?!”

The heroic middle-aged man, who had maintained a defensive posture this whole time, finally spoke. His deep, resonant voice exploded in their ears like thunder. His chiseled face and extremely bright golden eyes exuded an oppressive might like a mountain.

This was the Dragon King, the actual ruler of the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty, Dragon King Haxus.

“Hmph, then I’d like to see what urgent matter the dignified Saintess has, to kick open the door to the Dragon King’s study!”

Elizabeth snorted coldly, crossed her arms, and sat down again.

However, Aurelia, standing at the doorway, was not at all appreciative. She merely cast a cold glance at the beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman who had returned to her seat, then mercilessly pointed to the door behind her.

“I have urgent matters to discuss with the Dragon King. Unnecessary personnel, leave!”

That imperious tone made Elizabeth, who had just suppressed her anger, erupt like a volcano. The rage in her heart could no longer be contained.

“What did you say? You call me unnecessary personnel, then what are you?!”

It was because those golden eyes beside her, capable of burning people’s souls, had coldly turned towards her.

Elizabeth’s face stiffened as she turned her head to look at the Dragon King.

“Elizabeth!”

Her voice was almost pleading and incredulous.

“Didn’t you hear what Her Highness the Saintess said? Leave!”

The Dragon King’s icy words made her tremble all over. Then, Elizabeth stiffly rose from her seat and walked towards the door. As she passed Aurelia, her eyes held endless malice.

That gaze, those eyes, seemed to curse one into the ninth layer of purgatory, but Aurelia didn’t indulge her. As that gaze shot towards her, she also turned her head and met it.

Her cold golden eyes held an indifferent aloofness. Then, she spoke.

“Don’t think I don’t know about the things you do in secret. They’re just petty, underhanded tricks, too trivial for me to even mention. All you do is play insidious and cunning games. You truly have disgraced the琉璃 family!”

“You!”

Elizabeth’s steps halted. The fury in her eyes seemed about to gush out like tears. But feeling the icy, bone-chilling gaze behind her, in utter helplessness, she could only swallow her shattered teeth.

“You just wait for me!”

In the very end, she only left those words, then completely turned away and left the study.

The study door closed again. Only then did Aurelia turn her head, her gaze fixed on the Dragon King, who had remained seated.

Perhaps it was Elizabeth’s departure, but the atmosphere in the study eased considerably. Unlike the way he looked at Elizabeth, the Dragon King’s gaze towards Aurelia softened significantly, but also became much more complex.

“Aurelia, you’re here for…”

The Dragon King spoke hesitantly.

“Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal. Give it to me.”

The girl extended her hand, palm open, asking for it directly.

‘Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal, give it to me!’

“This, what do you need Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal for?”

The Dragon King clearly hadn’t expected Aurelia’s opening remarks to be like this. He paused, then asked, perplexed.

“Sigh.”

The girl sighed as if annoyed, withdrew her hand. Then, the black robe she wore began to billow as if filled with wind. The unstable aura around her was thus released. The Dragon King was startled, his eyes filled with incredible joy.

“You, you’re going to advance to Transcendent-tier?!”

“Mhm.”

The girl nodded, expressionless, speaking sparingly.

“But if it’s Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal, the church should have it too. Why are you coming to me this time for it?”

Joy had not completely overwhelmed the ruler’s mind. He quickly noticed something amiss. His relationship with this niece could be described as very poor. To what extent?

So poor that at the Saintess’s enthronement ceremony, he lowered himself, wishing to reconcile with her, but this niece wouldn’t even give him a pleasant look.

That was under the gaze of tens of thousands of Dragon Tribe citizens, and she dared to be so disrespectful to the Dragon King’s face. Why, now, instead of taking it from the church, did she specifically come to him for it?

“The church is not safe. There’s no choice. With advancement approaching, I can only come to you.”

The girl’s face was calm. Her tone, though clearly indicating annoyance, was so self-evident.

“So, are you giving it or not?”

“If you are, give it to me now.”

“If not, I’m leaving now.”

In the cold, rainy season, there was no room for negotiation.

And facing such threatening words, the Dragon King, usually ill-tempered, did not rage in response. He merely stared silently at the girl.

After a long while, he broke the silence.

“Alright.”

If one were to use an idiom to describe the internal situation of the Imperial Palace, that idiom would surely be ‘resplendent and magnificent.’

What is resplendent and magnificent?

Along the way, the floor beneath her feet was paved with pure gold. Every inch of the palace walls was inlaid with priceless Heaven-Fragrance Jade. The entire blocks of stairs were made of agate, and the ceilings, when looked up at, hung with colorful lanterns crafted from deep-sea crystals.

It could be said that if any thief could infiltrate the Imperial Palace and casually pry off a piece of the floor with a shovel to sell, they would never have to worry about expenses for the rest of their life.

After entering the palace, Aurelia was handed over to two Wind Dragon maidservants.

The two maidservants led her through this enormous, labyrinthine structure. Along the way, the girl held her breath, her gaze always fixed forward.

Even though her attire was merely an ordinary black robe, her elegant posture and aura somehow gave the cheap black linen the refined feel of a princess dress.

Her footsteps were crisp, moving from distant to near, until they arrived at a room.

The golden-jade gate was tightly shut. The two maidservants stood on either side of the gate, bowing and explaining.

“Your Highness the Saintess, the Dragon King is currently conversing with Lady Elizabeth. Please wait patiently.”

“Heh, wait?”

The girl’s face showed mockery, a cold sneer on her lips.

“I fail to understand what matter in this Great Dragon Divine Dynasty could be more important than a divine oracle!”

“Move aside,” she commanded, disregarding the two Wind Dragon maidservants’ pleas. Aurelia lifted her foot and simultaneously hitched up her skirt. With a “bang,” the gate was mercilessly kicked open, and the girl walked in with a normal expression.

The Wind Dragon maidservants guarding the sides exchanged glances but showed no great surprise.

After all, everyone in the Imperial Palace knew that the relationship between Her Highness the Saintess and His Majesty the Dragon King was very poor.

Although there was a blood relation between them, it was precisely this blood relation that sowed the seeds of hatred.

Inside the room, Elizabeth, clad in a magnificent white robe, turned her head towards the kicked-open door. Upon clearly seeing the figure, her expression instantly shifted from surprise to fury.

She stood up, utterly enraged, extending her hand and pointing directly at the girl’s figure.

“This is utter rebellion! You dare to directly kick open the door to the Dragon King’s study?! Do you know what you’re doing?!”

Aurelia glanced sideways at the beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman pointing at her, her eyes holding an indifference akin to a stranger.

“What am I doing? Haven’t you seen? Do you need to point at my nose and ask again, or do you have a problem with your eyes?”

The beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman’s face flushed crimson from Aurelia’s sudden venomous words. She slammed a hand on the tabletop, about to step forward and teach the girl before her a lesson.

However, before she could take a few steps, another loud table-slamming sound startled her. Turning her head, she saw that the expensive golden-wood table was now split into four or five cracks.

“Everyone calm down! Always bickering and making a ruckus like fishwives, do you even have any self-awareness as Imperial family members?!”

The heroic middle-aged man, who had maintained a defensive posture this whole time, finally spoke.

His deep, resonant voice exploded in their ears like thunder. His chiseled face and extremely bright golden eyes exuded an oppressive might like a mountain.

This was the Dragon King, the actual ruler of the Great Dragon Divine Dynasty, Dragon King Haxus.

“Hmph, then I’d like to see what urgent matter the dignified Saintess has, to kick open the door to the Dragon King’s study!”

Elizabeth snorted coldly, crossed her arms, and sat down again.

However, Aurelia, standing at the doorway, was not at all appreciative. She merely cast a cold glance at the beautiful white Dragon Tribe woman who had returned to her seat, then mercilessly pointed to the door behind her.

“I have urgent matters to discuss with the Dragon King. Unnecessary personnel, leave!”

That imperious tone made Elizabeth, who had just suppressed her anger, erupt like a volcano. The rage in her heart could no longer be contained.

“What did you say? You call me unnecessary personnel, then what are you?!”

It was because those golden eyes beside her, capable of burning people’s souls, had coldly turned towards her.

Elizabeth’s face stiffened as she turned her head to look at the Dragon King.

“Elizabeth!”

Her voice was almost pleading and incredulous.

“Didn’t you hear what Her Highness the Saintess said? Leave!”

The Dragon King’s icy words made her tremble all over. Then, Elizabeth stiffly rose from her seat and walked towards the door. As she passed Aurelia, her eyes held endless malice.

That gaze, those eyes, seemed to curse one into the ninth layer of purgatory, but Aurelia didn’t indulge her. As that gaze shot towards her, she also turned her head and met it.

Her cold golden eyes held an indifferent aloofness. Then, she spoke.

“Don’t think I don’t know about the things you do in secret. They’re just petty, underhanded tricks, too trivial for me to even mention. All you do is play insidious and cunning games. You truly have disgraced the Liuli family!”

“You!”

Elizabeth’s steps halted. The fury in her eyes seemed about to gush out like tears. But feeling the icy, bone-chilling gaze behind her, in utter helplessness, she could only swallow her shattered teeth.

“You just wait for me!”

In the very end, she only left those words, then completely turned away and left the study.

The study door closed again. Only then did Aurelia turn her head, her gaze fixed on the Dragon King, who had remained seated.

Perhaps it was Elizabeth’s departure, but the atmosphere in the study eased considerably. Unlike the way he looked at Elizabeth, the Dragon King’s gaze towards Aurelia softened significantly, but also became much more complex.

“Aurelia, you’re here for…”

The Dragon King spoke hesitantly.

“Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal. Give it to me.”

The girl extended her hand, palm open, asking for it directly.

‘Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal, give it to me!’

“This, what do you need Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal for?”

The Dragon King clearly hadn’t expected Aurelia’s opening remarks to be like this. He paused, then asked, perplexed.

“Sigh.”

The girl sighed as if annoyed, withdrew her hand. Then, the black robe she wore began to billow as if filled with wind. The unstable aura around her was thus released. The Dragon King was startled, his eyes filled with incredible joy.

“You, you’re going to advance to Transcendent-tier?!”

“Mhm.”

The girl nodded, expressionless, speaking sparingly.

“But if it’s Dragon Marrow Saint Crystal, the church should have it too. Why are you coming to me this time for it?”

Joy had not completely overwhelmed the ruler’s mind. He quickly noticed something amiss. His relationship with this niece could be described as very poor. To what extent?

So poor that at the Saintess’s enthronement ceremony, he lowered himself, wishing to reconcile with her, but this niece wouldn’t even give him a pleasant look.

That was under the gaze of tens of thousands of Dragon Tribe citizens, and she dared to be so disrespectful to the Dragon King’s face. Why, now, instead of taking it from the church, did she specifically come to him for it?

“The church is not safe. There’s no choice. With advancement approaching, I can only come to you.”

The girl’s face was calm. Her tone, though clearly indicating annoyance, was so self-evident.

“So, are you giving it or not?”

“If you are, give it to me now.”

“If not, I’m leaving now.”

In the cold, rainy season, there was no room for negotiation.

And facing such threatening words, the Dragon King, usually ill-tempered, did not rage in response. He merely stared silently at the girl.

After a long while, he broke the silence.

“Alright.”