The Queen’s Visit

The afternoon breeze carried the scent of flowers. Ziyao felt immensely comfortable, sitting in the small pavilion in the backyard. Looking around, vibrant blossoms of every hue encircled the pavilion, adorning the space as if it were a fairy realm.

“What a leisurely life this is,” Ziyao mused, turning a page in her book.

She was still holding the book of myths Sophia had gifted her. The Pope who had penned it was indeed a brilliant talent; under his hand, what could have been a dry narrative became utterly captivating. Aiya, meanwhile, sat on the other side, poring over the textbooks her teacher had prepared for her.

Hmm? Sensing an unfamiliar presence in the garden, Ziyao looked up with a hint of confusion.

Ailin was leading a woman veiled in black towards them.

Hadn’t it been said that no one would be visiting today? So, who could this woman be? Never mind, Ailin will surely introduce her soon enough.

Ziyao abandoned her fruitless speculation. Their movements were swift; in mere moments, they arrived just outside the pavilion. It was only then that Aiya noticed the arrival of a guest.

“Mother? Why are you here?” Aiya exclaimed, throwing herself into the woman’s embrace.

Uh, Mother… Oh my god, it’s the Empress!

Ziyao’s hands, clutching her book, trembled slightly. This was her first encounter with such a prominent figure. The Roland Empire stood as the most formidable power on the continent, and its Empress could easily be called the most influential woman across the lands. Though Ziyao possessed great strength, she understood that contending with a national apparatus was an utterly unwise choice. Who could possibly know how much hidden power this mighty nation harbored in the shadows?

“Ara, this must be the Ziyao that little Elena mentioned, yes?” The Empress settled onto a chair with Aiya in her arms, then turned her gaze towards Ziyao.

“Yes, it is an honor to meet you.” Ziyao quickly rose, feeling an unsettling aura of immense power radiating from the woman.

“There’s no need to be so stiff; I am not the Empress right now.” The Empress smiled, wagging a finger. “I merely came to meet the new friend my daughter has made.”

A friend? Ziyao awkwardly scratched her cheek. She hardly considered herself Aiya’s friend. However, in the presence of this overwhelmingly powerful woman, she dared not contradict her.

“Indeed, Aiya is a wonderful girl.”

“She truly is; after all, she is my daughter.” The Empress, for some reason, proudly puffed out her chest. “Aiya is my favorite child.”

Huh? The pressure is gone?

“Teacher, would you like a drink?” At that moment, Ailin spoke from the side.

Teacher? Wait, the Empress is Ailin’s teacher?

Ziyao felt as though she had just stumbled upon something extraordinary. If Ailin, a Seventh-Level Assassin Master, was the Empress’s student, then the Empress herself must be a Shadow Assassin.

No way, is she really that terrifying?

“As for a drink, the usual will do,” the Empress said with a smile.

Upon receiving her answer, Ailin instantly vanished from the garden. It seemed even Ailin felt considerable pressure when interacting with the Empress. Yet, while Ailin found a reason to escape, Ziyao had none. This poor girl was left to endure the company of a Shadow Assassin in the same pavilion for an unknown duration.

“I heard that something happened when you examined Aiya,” the Empress said, gently stroking Aiya’s golden head. However, the words that left her lips sent a cold sweat down Ziyao’s spine.

It’s over. She won’t suddenly erupt and kill me, will she? Oh, surely not!

“Um, yes…” Ziyao lowered her head, her voice trembling slightly. The pressure was simply too overwhelming.

“Mother, it wasn’t Ziyao’s fault.” Aiya, still in the Empress’s embrace, looked up and softly spoke to her.

Aiya, you truly are a little angel. Ziyao nearly burst into tears of gratitude.

“Relax, you two little ones.” The Empress offered a smile, patting Aiya’s head. “I was merely a little curious.”

Huff—

Ziyao breathed a sigh of relief. This matter was truly difficult to speak about. However, since the woman before her was Aiya’s mother, Ziyao felt it necessary to recount the full details.

“I see. How peculiar.” After hearing the entire story, the Empress fell into deep thought. “I’ve never even heard of such a thing.”

“Indeed, but now it seems there are no issues.”

“I will consult my old friends about this.” With no immediate answers, the Empress could only set these questions aside for now.

In that case, this matter should be considered resolved.

“Now, I have one more question.” The Empress looked up, her azure eyes directly meeting Ziyao’s red ones.

“Please ask.” This time, Ziyao suddenly felt a surge of power within her. She raised her head, not averting the Empress’s gaze.

“Your… opinion… of Aiya.” The Empress articulated her question slowly, word by word.

An unparalleled aura erupted from the Empress. Only now did Ziyao realize that the Empress might be nearing that legendary realm. In the presence of the Roland Empress, she might not even last a single move.

No wonder the Emperor dared to act so boldly. It seems he had a fallback plan after all.

This question, the Empress was serious about. Ziyao closed her eyes, contemplating her view of Aiya: a fragile, vulnerable little girl. She needed the companionship of family and friends. At least for now, she lacked the ability to stand on the world stage.

“Aiya is just a little girl.”

“Oh?”

Opening her eyes, Ziyao’s blood-red gaze met the Empress’s directly. She spoke, her heart devoid of any distracting thoughts, “Family and friends—these are what Aiya needs most.”

“Compared to Aiya’s physical condition, I believe her mental state is far more crucial. If Aiya truly is the prophesied Imperial Princess, then even in her weakness, her followers would construct an impenetrable wall with their very bodies to protect her.”

“But currently, Aiya possesses no such ability. She is fragile, she is lost, and she hasn’t even seen blood. She is like a delicate white flower grown in a greenhouse—beautiful, yet utterly vulnerable. If I’m not mistaken, she hasn’t even participated in real combat yet, has she?”

Having articulated her complete perspective in one breath, Ziyao watched the Empress’s inscrutable expression, unwavering. As for the subject of their conversation, the little girl had already lowered her head. Ziyao had certainly not considered Aiya’s feelings when evaluating her.

Time passed, minute by minute. The Empress remained motionless, her formidable aura still unfurled. She was contemplating whether her protection of Aiya had, as Ziyao suggested, been excessive.

“I do not wish for Aiya to encounter such things,” the Empress finally said softly.

“But that is an impossibility.” Ziyao knew she had passed the test. “Aiya is destined to step onto the stage. That much, Your Majesty, you should know even better than I.”