CHAPTER 430: MY LADY

In the imperial capital, inside the Emperor’s private chambers, a middle-aged man dressed as a servant leaned against the window, reaching his hand outward.

The next second, two pitch-black birds landed on the back of his fingers. Instantly, every feather and bit of skin on their bodies dissolved into nothingness, their sharp beaks and claws melting away like spring snow.

Ripples spread through the air as the illusory birds seeped into his skin, returning into the man’s mind, becoming mere wisps within the vast ocean of his surging mental energy.

[Mimetic Senses], an early-tier arcane spell of Magnus level, possesses high concealment and exceptional information-gathering capabilities. Its effect resembles an Executor’s ability to project mental energy for detection, thus also being known as the mage’s second pair of eyes and ears.

"Your Majesty, Prince Lucas went to Earl Roast’s mansion at three o’clock this afternoon, where he shared tea with his daughter Helen."

Hearing the attendant’s report, Hibbort did not open his eyes, continuing to lie on the bed, his fluffy golden hair like wheat stalks spilling across the pillow.

Trin, the imperial guard, had long grown grown to the other’s silence, and continued relaying the intelligence he’d just received.

"Regarding the magic crystals, Prince Lucas promised Helen he would provide Count Roast with a more favorable procurement channel."

"It’s highly likely that Prince Lucas was referring to Cedric Velmont’s recently opened hunting grounds on the outskirts of the Monster Mountain range. The ghost wolves there could become excellent sources of magic crystals."

"However, due to the front lines consuming large quantities of fire-attribute crystals every day, supply pressure remains high. Even with new sources appearing, the overall price of magic crystals won’t drop significantly."

"Marquis Charlotte suggested that our research focus should now shift toward the resource consumption issues of magical devices. They need cheaper, more efficient energy delivery, rather than magic crystals of various attributes that cost hundreds or even thousands of platinum coins per transaction..."

In addition to reporting the Crown Prince’s movements, Trin also mentioned the letter Charlotte had delivered to Hibbort a few days prior. It contains numerous points for improving magical devices, with the most critical being the energy consumption issue.

Hearing this, Hibbort slowly opened his eyes. His blue pupils, though slightly clouded, still held vitality, far from the flickering candle-in-the-wind described in outside rumors.

"Temporarily, do not change the research focus on magical devices."

Hibbort’s voice was low and hoarse. His pale hand, exposed to sunlight, revealed clearly defined wrinkles on the skin.

"The energy consumption problem of crystals is an old issue left over since Fanya was alive, it won’t be easily resolved. Even if Charlotte focuses entirely on it now, making rapid progress will be difficult."

"The treasury remains sufficiently full. Continue focusing on stability and destructive power for now."

Rather than gamble on solving a magical puzzle that had troubled Arcanist mages for years during wartime, it was better to continue advancing along the already explored path using existing resources.

Like most progressive nobles, Hibbort could clearly see the boundless potential hidden behind magical devices. They represent a path toward imperial prosperity and could even reshape the entire world.

Precisely for this reason, the eventual popularization and simplification of magical devices was inevitable, but not now.

External conflicts had already become irreconcilable, and the empire’s internal power transition had turned increasingly perilous. Introducing further variables now will make the situation impossible to control, even for the Emperor himself.

In his prime, Hibbort Valeria would have accepted Charlotte’s proposal, just as he had once supported Astrid’s mother, Fanya, in researching those bizarre novelties considered unusual by the royal family.

A new market structure will bring new modes of production, along with a series of political transformations. The task of resolving the conflicts between nobles and commoners, regarding magical devices or otherwise, should be left to the empire’s next emperor. Right now, he simply used his energy.

At this thought, the man’s brows tightened, and the wrinkles at the corners of his eyes seemed to deepen in that instant.

None knew his sons were better than their father. How capable the two princes truly were, Hibbort, as their father, certainly understood.

Lucas was smooth and tactful, but severely discouraged and courageous. He hesitated excessively in action, and even minor successes easily made him arrogant and complacent, losing all sense of proportion. He could serve as a competent ruler in peaceful times, but absolutely could not shoulder great responsibilities in times of turmoil.

Alistair acted decisively, understood timing, and employed sufficiently aggressive methods. Unfortunately, these qualities could not conceal the weakness in his character. To secure the throne, he repeatedly bowed to the nobility, and only dared vent his frustrations upon the lower classes, losing imperial dignity in the process.

In contrast, his adopted daughter Astrid, having shed superficial pretenses, revealed a calm disposition similar to her mother’s. Not only did she leverage the Crown Prince faction’s advantages to rally numerous reformist nobles, but through her intelligence, she also gained the support of the traditionally neutral Velmont family.

Most commendably, Hibbort saw in Astrid the possibility of reconciling the conflict between nobles and commoners, she clearly understood the potential of magical devices, and also knew such matters were too significant to be rushed. Thus, her pace remains aligned with his own as Emperor, advancing three steps and retreating two at a macro level.

Only a pity... she clearly held no interest in Lucas...

Otherwise, the current Crown Prince would already have secured an absolute advantage and won this battle for the throne.

"Is Alistair still at Redgrave’s place?"

"Your Majesty, Prince Alistair has been staying overnight at Duke Thomas’s residence recently."

"..."

Upon hearing Trin’s words, Hibbort gently tapped the bed frame, the image of those vicious, sinister blue eyes flashing in his mind.

Based on his understanding of Alistair, the other will never just sit idle. With rumors of the Emperor’s worsening illness spreading ever more wildly, Alistair would inevitably make a final desperate attempt.

Now it remained to be seen whether Lucas had the ability to withstand Alistair’s last counterattack.

"Keep a close watch on Lucas, but don’t intervene too early."

Hibbort stopped his hand movements, his voice low.

"Only after someone stands victorious at the end should we proceed with corresponding follow-up measures."

"The Empire does not need an Emperor who dies easily."

Trin slightly bowed his head in acknowledgment, replying respectfully.

"Yes, Your Majesty."

With that, silence returned to the bedroom. Hibbort steadied his breathing, his gaze fixed on the framed family oil painting hanging on the wall.

Looking at the gentle and dignified woman in the portrait, and the two golden-haired children standing beside her, Hibbort’s eyes brightened slightly, then returned to normal.

"Trin..."

"I’m here, Your Majesty."

"...Summon the four ministers. I have matters to instruct them."

.............

Astrid received news of Hibbort’s meeting with the four cabinet ministers during dinner. Holding a stemmed glass, she listened to Elise’s report while occasionally sipping fruit juice. Her two long, slender legs elegantly crossed beneath the table. The candlelight reflected on her fair, delicate face, accentuating her already beautiful features into something even more refined.

"It’s normal to meet with four ministers... If it were Duke Charles, I couldn’t even imagine what would happen in the capital tomorrow..."

Still, Hibbort’s action had the effect of further heightening tensions. At least in Astrid’s eyes, it was like forcefully plucking the already sensitive string that was Alistair.

Without an omniscient perspective, who could know whether the ailing Emperor might make a final decision during this meeting, appointing Lucas as his successor and demanding the four cabinet ministers to fully support him?

In this succession struggle, Alistair was like a frog in gradually heating water. Being boiled was only a matter of time. The only difference was that he knew he was being cooked and would struggle to leap out.

"Duke Charles... I’m sorry, My Lady, I haven’t obtained any further intelligence about the Duke."

Travel routes, departure times, destinations, Elise had failed to acquire any of these critical details.

"This is not your fault, Elise." Astrid shook her head gently, her tone soft.

"If such private information could be so easily uncovered, even my two elder brothers would start suspecting something was missing."

No matter where Duke Charles currently was, whether in the capital or at the border, any related information should be top secret. A hook that’s too straight can’t catch fish.

"And Lucas’s side? How’s the investigation on Helen going?"

"So far, Miss Helen hasn’t had direct contact with the Second Prince’s faction."

"The same goes for Count Roast. He’s an extremely low-key noble..."

Noble ladies aspiring to become future empresses were not few across the capital. The ones Astrid knew alone could line up several rows in the West District. Helen was no exception.

After exchanging a few words with Elise, even someone as cautious as Astrid found nothing to criticize. After finishing dinner, the young lady accompanied Amalia back to her chambers.

"By the way, Elise, do you remember what I told you earlier?"

Hearing Astrid’s words, Elise paused, then asked softly.

"My Lady, which part do you mean?"

She had served Astrid for so many years, receiving hundreds of instructions. Back when she was unhappy, even drinking tea came with five or six rules: milk from the Leferset region, tea leaves harvested mid-month, teacups made of moonstone. Without these, she wouldn’t drink a single sip.

Although Astrid no longer behaved like that now, the number of daily instructions she has remained substantial.

"Of course I meant the one from this afternoon, always ensuring the personal safety of both me and Amalia."

Stepping into the bedroom, Astrid bent her knees as she leaned forward, untying the straps holding her high heels in place, speaking softly.

"The same applies tonight."

Her gaze shifted to the side, where two soft, smooth white-stockinged feet slipped free from little leather shoes and stepped into plush slippers, revealing only a small sliver of pink-tinged heels, like an alluring ice cream half-unwrapped, teasingly visible.

Seeing Amalia enter, Astrid straightened her legs. Due to the earlier movement, the black stockings at her knees had slightly wrinkled, and the hose had slid down a bit.

Indeed, garter-style stockings suit her better.

Internally muttering that thought, Astrid gently tugged at the lace trim of the thigh-highs, lifting them back up with her fingertips. Then she noticed the head maid still standing in place.

"What is it, Elise?"

"Was my instruction not clear enough?"

"..."

After a brief silence, the cool, composed woman slightly tilted her head, her long jet-black hair swaying with the motion, brushing against the hem of her maid’s dress.

"My Lady... you mean I shouldn’t return to my own room to sleep?" Elise asked.

"Mm."

Reaching out to gently ruffle Amalia’s hair, Astrid continued.

"Just in case. Until this matter concludes, you’ll rest in my room every night."

This way, safety can be maximized, preventing desperate mad dogs from biting recklessly. Secondly, with the head maid present, the risk of their conversations being eavesdropped will greatly decrease.

Astrid was a middle tier magnus, and Amalia, thanks to the superiority of royal blood, had two weeks ago crossed into the next rank above hers, becoming a peak tier Magnus. Although mages of such caliber could, with focus, detect many unnatural factors in daily life and thus avoid having private conversations overheard, in terms of crisis awareness, they still couldn’t match a Master Knight’s instinct.

A knight’s five senses and bodily intuition would always surpass those of a mage.

Understanding the crucial point, Elise showed no hesitation, merely giving a slight nod.

"Understood, My Lady."

Besides, at her level, meditation was sufficient to replace most sleep. Normally, she would lie on the bed opposite the princess’s room anyway, how else would she know that Lyra and Amalia sneaked into Astrid’s bed at night? Now, she was simply changing locations.

As usual, she heated up tea and brought the items by organization into Astrid’s room, doing her best to minimize her presence, acting as if she were just a cat like Rhine.

At night, after finishing their tasks, the two sisters each took a bath and lay down to rest, while Elise remained seated at the desk, her two legs wrapped in fine white silk stockings naturally pressed together, facing the mirror with eyes closed in quiet contemplation.

"Elise, why don’t you come up and lie down?"

"My Lady, didn’t you instruct me to be the night watch?"

That was the instruction, yes, but she didn’t need to sit there all night.

"The days ahead are many. You can’t spend every night sitting there."

Astrid wrapped her arms around Amalia’s waist, letting the girl coil her slender white legs around her, speaking softly.

"Come, lie on the bed together."

The head maid was perfect in every way, except she could be overly serious at times. Such a simple thing still requires her to spell it out step by step.

Elise remained silent for a few seconds, her eyes settling on Astrid’s spacious bed, which should comfortably fit three people, before slowly speaking.

"Then I... will go wash up first."

"Mm, go ahead."

Feeling a cool, smooth sensation at her collarbone, knowing the dark-haired little girl in her arms was expressing affection, Astrid slightly lowered her head. Her crimson eyes unintentionally caught a glimpse of snow-white skin similar in hue to the dress fabric.

Casually adjusting the strap of Amalia’s nightgown that had slipped down to her shoulder, ensuring no further exposure, Astrid fluttered her eyelashes and kissed the girl before her.

Although she had a little sister’s physique and was facing her own elder sister, Amalia was still a grown young lady. Certain things still need attention.