CHAPTER 457: SWEAR

From a political perspective, even if Astrid’s initial thought was that the two princes were incompetent and she wanted to choose a new monarch, she actually had no reason to take Amalia out of the palace.

It would be much more convenient to hide the choice plan, keep a low profile, wait for the two princes to attack each other, and when the time was right, she could then, with absolute advantage, enthrone Amalia, who was easy to control and possess royal blood.

At least from Hibbort’s perspective, Astrid letting Amalia leave the ancient castle too early, while allowing her to learn the ways of a monarch and study statecraft faster, the hidden dangers within far outweighed the gains.

If Alistair or Lucas had discovered Amalia’ escape early on, Astrid’s plan would have inevitably failed, and it would have been difficult to regroup and counterattack in adversity when everyone was on guard.

Hearing a hint of doubt in Hibbort’s tone, Astrid raised her beautiful eyes and quietly looked at the man. Her crimson reflection reflected on the outer wall of the wine glass, merging with the blood-like liquid.

"This is a long story... If Father Emperor wants to hear it, I can tell it from the beginning..."

About the canaries dancing alone in their cages, and one night, a streak of silver moonlight fell through the window into the ancient castle, reflecting on the corridor tiles.

"My time is short... but tonight is an exception..."

Hibbort’s voice was low, and his eyes calmly gazed at Astrid across the table.

"Go on..."

He wanted to know the true motivation behind his most beloved daughter’s anti-political intuition action.

Receiving Hibbort’s permission, Astrid nodded, her hand, covered by a black silk glove, gently caressing the pendant on her chest, beginning her story from the very source of everything.

"After Father Emperor discovered Amalia’ escape and initially identified Livia Calliste as the suspect, he must have worked backward along the timeline, checking transaction records related to me, Elise, or members of the maid service."

Including that greedy maid she sent back to her hometown, Hibbort must have also sent people to investigate.

"Among those numerous magic potion transactions with the Velmont family, a special, non-combat magic potion was mixed in."

"Intermediate-level potion for Sorcerer, Transformation potion."

Although the preparation of Transformation potions was not difficult and their grade was not high, they were very suitable for adding to bedroom intimacy, so they were not uncommon in aristocratic circles, and Hibbort had heard of them.

"It allows the user to be temporarily enveloped by a layer of arcane factors, thereby affecting other observers of the drinker, causing their sense of touch, hearing, and sight to misjudge, showing the image they most desire to see in their hearts."

Hibbort had considered this aspect after losing his wife, but ultimately chose to accept reality.

The deceased was gone; what was the point of a fleeting illusion, a mirage, when looking at the beauty that once existed in life?

Astrid nodded slightly upon hearing this, confirming Hibbort’s statement.

"When I realized that the future of the Empire would be controlled by an emperor who only cared about enjoying power and not bearing responsibility, I began to consider whether to approach the Fourth Princess, Amalia Valeria, whom Father Emperor disliked."

"After initially confirming, through an orange cat, that this girl locked in the ancient castle still possesses a trace of sympathy and compassion, I felt I could get to know her more deeply."

In Astrid’s view at the time, Amalia was completely different from the two princes who had already gone astray and committed millions of sins. She had not yet grown into the tyrannical loli tyrant with a violent temper and cruel methods she would become four years later; she still had the potential for reshaping.

"But outwardly, I had once hurt Amalia due to youthful jealousy and willfulness, so the image of the Third Princess Astrid, who was easily resisted, could not be my identity for getting to know the Fourth Princess."

Astrid spoke softly, her gaze passing through Hibbort’s aged face, seeming to see the cold girl with the same blue eyes as him.

"So, I took the transformation potion, visited the ancient castle at night, and went by the name Livia Valeria."

Livia... Valeria...

The two familiar words fell into Hibbort’s ears. The man’s fingers lightly tapped the table, and he quickly understood the deeper meaning of the alias Amalia used.

The name Astrid used when she met her, combined with her sister’s true surname, eventually became the dark-haired girl clinging to the Third Princess, who was also known as Livia Calliste.

So there was this origin.

After a brief thought, Hibbort raised his hand to support his cheek, his usually straight spine slightly hunched, quietly waiting for Astrid’s next words.

From the initial caution when first meeting Astrid, locking the bedroom door every night, do not initiate conversations, and avoid any interaction with her.

Then to the period of transition and testing, pulling out the bolt, occasional curiosity, and accidental chats, the self-isolated Amalia gradually opened her heart to accept this gentle imperial sister who, in her eyes, bore the Valeria surname but had no inherent flaws of blood.

Taking her to see her own paintings, exchanging paintings, raising a cat together, and drinking delicious iced grape juice.

And late at night, to give Amalia a chance to taste novel foods from outside the ancient castle, and to ensure this petite girl received enough nutrition for her development, Astrid brought her a set of utensils in the dim room, cooking food with various spices and ingredients she brought.

Finally, in the palace where everything returned to silence, they barbecued on top of the ancient castle, sat on the stone steps to watch the moon high in the sky, and felt the cool evening breeze carrying each other’s scents, letting their body temperatures intermingle.

Hibbort closed his eyes, listening calmly, from the wary caution of strangers to the budding affection between sisters, finally confiding in each other on the small bed in the ancient castle.

Livia’s appearance filled the deepest void of love in Amalia’ heart and satisfied the care and companionship she had desperately longed for since birth.

In caring for Amalia, Astrid had done countless times better than him; calling her a sister might not even be enough, that level of dedication could almost be considered her half-mother.

"I promise that one day I will take her out of the ancient castle and show her the world outside the cage."

Astrid looked down at the liquid in her wine glass, speaking softly.

"I don’t want to break my word, especially to someone who relied on me so much and saw me as a sister."

"That would be too cruel to Amalia."

A child who had been unloved since childhood received care from others, chose to let down her guard for the first time, and trusted the other person unreservedly.

If even this one time, the result was betrayed and deceit, Amalia would inevitably fall completely into darkness, no longer believing in any warmth.

Hibbort slowly opened his eyes at this point, his dry lips moving, his tone faintly tinged with complexity.

"You could have chosen to bring her out at the very end."

That wouldn’t count as breaking a promise.

Astrid’s answer did not give a clear answer; she still had many choices.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Astrid spoke softly.

"But Amalia is much smarter than I imagined."

"This sensible child eventually discovered the truth, discovered that the dignified and gentle Sister Livia was actually one of the people she hated the most, the Third Princess Astrid, who had once bullied her and destroyed her few precious good memories."

Beautiful dreams eventually wake up, just like Amalia, under the moonlight, saw Livia’s smooth golden hair draped over her back turn into bright silver.

"Knowing everything, she returned to her past cold indifference and isolation, locking her door and avoiding me day after day."

"I can understand her feelings, that daze of a collapsed worldview, the disgust for the bad woman Astrid, and the suspicion of everything that had happened before."

Astrid placed her hand on her neck, gently lifting a strand of silver hair. The black of her dress and the white of her skin intertwined under the light, making the silver strand wrapped around her fingertip appear even brighter.

"However, there is one thing I want to prove to her."

"Whether it’s Astrid Calliste, or Livia Valeria... no matter if my appearance changes, or if my attire matches her memory..."

"That heart, which beats faster every night before entering the ancient castle, takes care of her."

Astrid had more refined self-serving methods, more secure and covert ways to seize power.

But she still chose Amalia, bringing a glimmer of hope to this lonely girl reflecting in the ancient castle, like an evening breeze.

"There’s one thing I’ve never faked, and that’s my love for her." Astrid lowered her long, crossed legs, and the black stiletto heels with cutout designs gently tapped the floor tiles.

"This emotional sentiment affects my judgment and makes my choices less rational."

Not refined enough, not self-serving enough, not the best choice given the circumstances.

But romantic enough.

"If the Father Emperor insists on a reason..."

Astrid paused briefly, her voice low.

"Your daughter, Astrid Calliste, is just such a person who can be swayed by emotions."

She was not like Hibbort, who could completely block out personal feelings, whose heart was like stone, and who even temporarily put aside paternal affection, forcing himself to be a cold-blooded political animal, an excellent emperor.

As her voice fell, the dining room fell into a deathly silence; no one spoke again.

Until Hibbort took another sip of juice and packed his dry lips.

"I seem to understand some things you haven’t mentioned."

The transformation potion will not conjure illusions out of thin air for people one knows. Amalia had seen Astrid, meaning that when the potion creates its beautifying illusion, it will carry some elements from the other person.

"Upon your first meeting, Amalia didn’t seem confused by you calling yourself by the imperial surname, so it’s likely that in her eyes at the time, you also possessed distinct royal characteristics."

The answer was obvious: this cold girl, abandoned by her parents since childhood, deeply yearned in her heart for an older sister who shared her blood, would cherish her, and embrace her in every way.

And the cause of all this was her greedy and selfish mother, and Hibbort, who was also a victim, but maintained a cold attitude towards his own daughter.

"Astrid."

"You are an excellent guardian."

No wonder Amalia, even in front of him, never concealed her affection and protectiveness towards her sister, even giving Hibbort the impression that Amalia would challenge him for Astrid’s sake.

Yet, during the initial investigation, he had once believed that the intimacy Amalia and Astrid displayed was merely a smokescreen, intended to mislead outsiders who knew of the illegitimate daughter’s existence, and to prevent Livia’s identity from being linked to the Fourth Princess, whose relationship with Astrid had always been at odds.

"..."

After a moment of silence, Astrid replied.

"She is also a very sensible child."

As an older sister, she could feel Amalia’ urgent desire to repay her, and that sincere love, many times more fervent than her own.

Amalia also deeply loved her.

With this series of narrations, another half an hour had passed. Hibbort changed at the clock on the wall and spoke in a low voice.

"I’m glad to know that your relationship with Amalia is truly truly close..."

In Astrid’s words, he could feel the concern infused in every word and action. Likewise, this pure emotion also brought back many past memories for Hibbort.

He had brought young Astrid into the palace, heard her sweetly call him Father Emperor, and watched her grow step by step from a naive and innocent girl into the dazzling imperial jewel she was today.

Even when overwhelmed in power struggles, Astrid had never forgotten their father-daughter affection. While everyone else was hoping for his early demise to divide his inheritance, it was this adopted princess, who was not of his blood, who tirelessly listened to his everyday stories, personally devised nutritional meal plans for his health, greeted him morning and evening, and urged him to rest more, avoid drafts, and take care of his body.

Compared to his two biological sons, this adopted daughter, who had no blood relation to him, was the relative who cared for him the most.

However... At this moment, he was not just a father...

He was the Emperor, the leader of the nobles, the highest authority in the nation, bearing the weight of the entire Valeria Empire.

"I’m sorry, my daughter."

Hibbort looked at the silver-haired princess not far away, slowly raising the imperial scepter placed beside him.

"Forgive my ruthlessness and misunderstanding. Sitting in this position, I must consider more than just personal affections."

Even though he knew Astrid’s love for Amalia and understood that the former was unlikely to attempt usurpation, he still had to do this.

After all, no matter what, this was only Astrid’s side of the story.

"The position of Regent is of great significance; its power is almost equal to that of the Emperor..."

"...I need a promise, a guarantee that will allow me to depart completely."

The gem at the top of the imperial scepter shimmered slightly, radiating ripple-like magical fluctuations.

"Astrid, I hope you can swear upon the Imperial Scepter..."

"Swear that you will, for the duration of your life, be eternally loyal to the Valeria Imperial Family, loyal to the next Emperor of the Empire, Amalia Valeria, and that her commands shall be your primary command, without any defiance."

With that, a few strands of golden hair appeared in Hibbort’s palm, floating in mid-air under the influence of magic, clearly visible.

Undoubtedly, these were strands of hair from Amalia, the target of the oath.