Chapter 19: A Peculiar Rivalry and a Gruesome Plan

“The moon tonight is truly beautiful.”

This was a popular declaration of love in the Eastern Continent, an artistic way of saying “I love you.” However, when Wang Xiaole uttered it, it held no hidden meaning. She meant it quite literally.

Wang Xiaole exerted her utmost effort to prevent Isabella and Cai from reverting to their previous contentious state. Her strategy involved finding ways to capture their attention. To that end, throughout their journey to the Imperial Garden, Wang Xiaole transformed everything she saw into a potential topic of conversation.

“The moonlight is indeed exceptionally beautiful…”

Isabella picked up the thread of conversation, tilting her head to gaze at the bright moon. A single glance at her ethereal profile was enough to captivate anyone’s heart.

“This scenery would surely appear even more exquisite if only two people were appreciating it!”

Isabella’s words resonated with Cai, who wholeheartedly agreed.

“Lady Xiaole and I are quite sufficient here. Your Majesty, please return quickly to attend to state affairs.”

Isabella cast a sidelong glance at the speaker, her eyes clearly conveying anything but affection or respect.

“There’s no need for you, Sacred Maiden, to concern yourself. Capable individuals know how to manage their time. You, on the other hand, should perhaps consider returning.”

“I don’t have a mountain of indispensable tasks, unlike certain individuals who lead such arduous lives.”

“I’m aware you have ample leisure, but this place has no need for irrelevant people.”

“Does Her Majesty possess such self-awareness?”

“Indeed, I am acutely aware: Miss Xiaole would not be happy in your company!”

“Who is it that makes Lady Xiaole unhappy? Is it not a certain Empress who insists on clinging to her?”

“That form of address is truly peculiar. Unnecessary honorifics only serve to distance you from others.”

“‘Miss Xiaole’ is somehow better?”

“What is inappropriate about addressing an unmarried woman as ‘Miss’?”

Both Isabella and the Regent Duke had judged Wang Xiaole’s marital status by her demeanor, surmising that she was unmarried. Fortunately, their guess was correct; otherwise, an incorrect address would have undoubtedly led to a rather awkward situation.

Listening to the two women squabble even over forms of address, Wang Xiaole genuinely felt that this entire endeavor of trying to poach her was veering into a bizarre direction.

She had a distinct feeling; while this feeling might not be entirely accurate, if one were to ask for Wang Xiaole’s innermost thoughts, she was indeed thinking at that moment:

‘Why has this turned into a full-blown rivalry…?’

Until this very moment, Wang Xiaole had been holding the hands of both beautiful young women. She had to. Indeed, positioning herself between the two was undoubtedly a shrewd maneuver. In their current state, maintaining physical distance helped to prevent a disastrous outcome. It could be said that Wang Xiaole was, to some extent, continuously diffusing the tension between them.

“Then let Lady Xiaole make the judgment!”

“That suits me perfectly!”

In a blink, the conversation seemed to gallop wildly towards an uncontrollable direction, catching Wang Xiaole entirely off guard.

“Eh, what are you two talking about?”

Just moments ago, Wang Xiaole had been preoccupied with the suspected rivalry, failing to pay attention to how far the two women’s conversation had progressed.

“We both agree that someone’s presence here is making Miss Xiaole uncomfortable…”

“Therefore, we’ve decided to let you judge: exactly who is spoiling the atmosphere?”

Why did they suddenly unite at a time like this? How peculiar.

“Is there any point in asking such a question?”

“Yes!”

Isabella answered Wang Xiaole with unwavering certainty. Both the Empress and the Sacred Maiden were now utterly serious. The latter, fueled by her dislike for Isabella and a recent unpleasant incident, had begun to target her. The former, initially intending only to recruit talent, had been provoked by Cai, igniting a competitive spirit within her!

Pinned under the simultaneous gaze of two pairs of eyes, Wang Xiaole felt the pressure mount. This was the first time she had been asked to make such a choice, but if given the option, she would gladly forgo certain novel experiences. Her moment of trial had arrived.

Wang Xiaole feigned a few coughs, using the brief reprieve to rapidly churn her thoughts. It didn’t take long for her to devise the optimal response:

“You’re both right, there is indeed someone here spoiling the atmosphere!”

“Mm.”

“That’s right.”

Cai and Isabella nodded in unison, both awaiting Wang Xiaole’s next words.

“That person… is me, standing right before you.”

This act of self-sacrifice was arguably Wang Xiaole’s last resort. Fortunately, after her declaration, the two women realized they had gone a bit too far and temporarily became docile.

‘I was a little irrational just now…’

Isabella felt she shouldn’t forget her initial objective. Poaching talent required considerable patience; she wasn’t in a hurry. For now, simply building a good rapport would suffice.

She began with some necessary inquiries:

“Judging by your appearance, Miss Xiaole, are you from Imraan?”

Black hair was extremely rare in the Western Continent but commonplace in the Eastern Continent. Upon seeing Wang Xiaole’s hair color, Isabella instinctively assumed she possessed Eastern heritage. And the most powerful nation in the East was the Imraan Empire, which she had just mentioned.

Thanks to the knowledge stored in her mind, Wang Xiaole possessed a considerable understanding of Imraan. However, she had no intention of falsely claiming to be an imperial citizen.

“Ah, no, not Imraan…”

“Then which Eastern kingdom are you from?”

“It’s certainly a country Her Majesty hasn’t heard of, so I won’t bother mentioning it.”

Hearing this, Isabella realized Wang Xiaole disliked the topic. Very well, a change of subject then.

“Do you have any intentions of settling long-term in Dibeles?”

“Hard to say. No one knows what the future holds.”

“And your considerations for the future?”

“Taking things one step at a time.”

It felt as though continuing this line of questioning would lead the conversation to a dead end. Isabella decided to try a different approach.

“What are your thoughts on the Regent Duke’s son?”

“He’s an utterly detestable fellow!”

That was it! Thanks to someone, Isabella now knew how to steer the conversation.

“How do you intend to deal with Uwe?”

“That depends on Cai’s opinion.”

Saying this, Wang Xiaole tilted her head to look at the Sacred Maiden, who offered her a smile.

“Whatever Lady Xiaole wishes.”

“Are you sure?”

“Quite sure.”

Since Cai had given her blessing, Wang Xiaole spoke her true feelings:

“I want to kill him!”

The moment she voiced her intention to kill, Wang Xiaole found herself far calmer than expected. The reason was likely her profound dislike for Uwe, believing that a person like him wasn’t truly worth living.

“There are many ways to consider killing someone. How do you plan to kill him, Miss Xiaole?”

“Quartering!”

“An Eastern Continental torture? Excellent. I’ll make the arrangements when I return.”

“In my country, we typically execute criminals by guillotine. Quartering, however, is certainly a fresh method of execution.”

The three conversed cheerfully, their discussion centered on the young noble’s demise. In a sense, Uwe was, in his own unique way, contributing to his homeland.

The logic was thus: The Empress was intrinsically linked to the Empire; her affairs were the nation’s affairs. Therefore, Uwe providing Isabella with a topic of conversation was tantamount to him, at his own expense, bringing a positive influence to the Empire. Congratulations, he had finally become a useful person…