Chapter 34: The Illegitimate Daughter and a Shadow of Doubt

Anna, the illegitimate daughter of Glais II—this was truly explosive news.

“What?! Sister Anna is the Prince’s daughter?”

Xina’s face was a mask of shock as she pressed further, “Then why did you never mention it before?”

“I only found out a year ago.”

Anna hugged her knees, resting her head on them. Simon, wagging his plump tail, nestled beside her, and Anna gently stroked his furry head.

“Dorota Normanthine suddenly appeared at my home a year ago, claiming to be my sister. She revealed my true identity and spent a considerable amount of time earning my trust. Yet, in the end, she lured me into the Secluded Forest, intending to kill me. Luckily, Simon saved me, or I would be nothing but a skeleton now.”

Dorota? A chill ran through Chloe’s heart. Wasn’t that the woman Cliff was set to marry? It seemed this incident was indeed connected to Cliff.

Why would he hunt down the Prince’s illegitimate child? Was he afraid the Prince would legitimize her, thereby pushing him further down the line of succession?

Cliff was a dangerous man. He was adept at concealing his ambition, inciting rebellions with one hand while inviting Chloe to his wedding with the other.

Recalling earlier events, Alena had also been targeted by his assassins. Given his ability to use the Elder Council to depose the Prince, he clearly had intricate ties to them.

To be frank, his actions alone made him seem almost like a ‘Traverser’.

His motives remained shrouded in mist. Whose side was he truly on? The Elder Council’s? Or was it purely for his own gain? Chloe still couldn’t discern his true nature.

“Do… Dorota?” Xina murmured, “Could it be that Cliff also ordered Dorota to assassinate Sister Anna?”

“Cliff?” Anna frowned. “I heard he not only cares for his ailing father daily but is also quite benevolent to his subjects. He shouldn’t be capable of such a thing.”

“The benevolent and filial lord you speak of first ousted his grand-uncle and then nearly had us killed,” Chloe retorted.

“…It seems I’m terrible at judging people, both Dorota and Cliff,” Anna said, her face falling with disappointment. “So, can I trust you two?”

“We’re family!” Xina smiled warmly.

“Dorota is my sister, and Cliff, by seniority, is my little nephew. We share blood, yet each of them wishes me dead.”

Anna sighed, leaving Xina feeling awkward and unsure what to say. However, Anna then brightened, gently patting Xina’s head.

“But I know Xina is a good child.”

Xina giggled. Anna then turned to Chloe, a peculiar smile playing on her lips.

“Xina, I haven’t asked you what your relationship is with this little beauty.”

Relationship? Chloe chewed on the intriguing word. What was her relationship with Xina, exactly?

‘Rivals?’ They had already formed a united front; bringing up past issues felt inappropriate.

‘Colleagues?’ After all, they co-governed a countdom. No, no, it felt like it had surpassed mere colleagues.

‘Friends?’ Perhaps, but they lived and ate together, and had even seen each other in their true forms. Were they truly *just* friends?

Just as Chloe wrestled with finding the right word, Xina was ready with her answer.

“Family, we are family!” Xina declared definitively. “Chloe is just like my little sister.”

‘Hey, in terms of mental maturity, Xina is clearly the younger sister!’

Anna pinched Chloe’s pouting cheek, a mischievous smile playing on her face.

“I think you two are more like lovers.”

“Lo-lo-lo-lo-lo-lovers?!”

Xina’s face flushed as red as the rising sun, steam practically rising from her head.

Chloe nearly fainted.

‘If I were still a boy, perhaps I could consider marrying Xina. No, wait… the intelligence gap is a bit too wide. It wouldn’t work.’

“Sharp observation, but we’re both girls, so we can’t be lovers.”

Chloe coughed twice, a crimson blush spreading across her fair skin as she deliberately averted Anna’s gaze.

Anna watched Chloe, drawing out her words intentionally: “Oh, really? Then why does Xina care so much about you? When you were captured just now, she ran all the way here. It’s fine; I’ve heard that same-s*x marriage is permitted in the Kingdom of Tolina in the eastern part of the Empire. You two could go there to get married.”

“Sister Anna, stop teasing us!”

Xina could no longer meet Chloe’s eyes. Chloe glanced at Xina, whose lustrous black hair fell casually around her. Her purple eyes were filled with affection, her high nose and thin lips combined with firm, fair skin, and a curvaceous, healthy, and alluring figure. She was a true beauty. She was a gentle yet strong maiden, and it was no exaggeration to say she perfectly met Xia Ni’s standards for a partner.

‘No, no, that was Xia Ni. How could I think such things? As a girl now, my sexual orientation should be… never mind. Sticking close to other girls suits me better.’

Anna chuckled softly, brushing Chloe’s silver hair. Her cerulean eyes glinted mischievously at Chloe. “Xina, be careful I don’t steal your love. Silver hair, red eyes, and skin as delicate as an eggshell—every single one of Chloe’s features aligns with my aesthetic.”

‘This person is not normal!’ Chloe recoiled a few steps in alarm. ‘Is this the legendary yuri girl?! Xia Ni’s sister once encountered such a girl, and to reject her, she even had Xia Ni pretend to be her boyfriend.’

Simon padded over, quietly licking Chloe.

‘You too, buddy?’

A sudden scream of terror tore through the sky, scattering birds in every direction.

Anna frowned, looking into the distance.

“It seems someone is in danger. We must go help them.”

Anna mounted Simon and charged towards the sound, while Chloe and Xina exchanged a glance and followed her.

Pushing through layers of tall grass, they saw Simon tensely confronting a bear. Xiao Nuoqi was cradling Tucker, whose body was covered in blood, seemingly lifeless.

Simon let out a low growl. The bear, realizing it was no match, turned and fled back into the forest, disappearing from sight.

“Xiao Nuoqi, what are you doing here?” Chloe quickly asked.

“I was worried he’d be ambushed by wild beasts, so I wanted to follow Tucker, but he didn’t want me to come along. While we were arguing, the bear suddenly charged out and killed Tucker instantly.”

Xiao Nuoqi was still shaken, his face slick with sweat.

“Damn it, if only I had come sooner.”

Anna dismounted from Simon, looking remorsefully at the hunter who had previously spoken rudely to her.

“Oh, well, there’s nothing for it. We can only bury him now,” Xina sighed.

Unexpectedly, there had been casualties. Chloe knelt down helplessly to examine the unfortunate hunter.

Xiao Nuoqi tried to hoist Tucker onto his shoulder, but the size difference was too great, so Chloe helped him lift the body.

The scent of fresh blood stirred Chloe’s appetite. She had to clench her jaw to resist the urge to drink Tucker’s blood.

Yet, she couldn’t help but glance at Tucker’s neck. There, she noticed a fresh scratch.

That mark could not have been made by a bear; it looked more like a cut from a dagger. It was strange, she mused. Tucker was a skilled hunter; how could he have been killed so easily by a bear?

‘Could someone have ambushed him from behind during his confrontation with the bear?’

In Chloe’s eyes, a shadow seemed to fall across Xiao Nuoqi’s otherwise harmless face.