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Join the Server“Sister, Helibea, what are you saying?”
As Helibea’s words sank in, Xiamiya could hardly believe her ears.
Helibea was the person she trusted most, apart from the king.
But why was she so quick to accuse Xiamiya of poisoning?
“Sister, it really wasn’t me! That woman gave me the medicine!! And when Father drank it, he started coughing up blood!”
Xiamiya glared venomously at the black-haired maid who had handed her the potion.
However,
Helibea merely glanced at the distant maid and slowly shook her head.
“That’s unbecoming of you, Xiamiya. If you did it, you should own up. That maid, Tina’li, just returned to the Sun Crown Palace with me. How could she have given you the medicine?”
“Sister? What… what did you say?”
“Xiamiya, I’m truly disappointed… We’ve treated you like family, even knowing you weren’t our blood. But this is how you repay us? Ah…”
Helibea pressed a hand to her chest, her voice heavy with grief.
“I can’t protect you now… Attempted murder of the Holy King is punishable by death. But we’ve been sisters for so long… I’ll try to petition the Tribunal to grant you a swift end.”
At this moment,
Helibea looked like a woman utterly betrayed and heartbroken, constantly rubbing her temples and sighing.
Those around her rushed to comfort her.
“…”
Watching this scene, something inside Xiamiya shattered.
****
“Do you truly believe your family cares for you, Master?”
“Of course!”
“Then why, when you’re treated unjustly, scorned, and bullied, do they do nothing?”
“Well… they used to be good. After Father fell ill, everything changed. Everyone thinks I caused Sister Anna’s death and Father’s injury… so they treat me like this. And since Father is comatose, he can’t protect me.”
“And your sister?”
“Helibea is always leading the army at the northern border. She has no time for me.”
“Is that so? I thought a princess with military power could easily control public opinion and servants’ attitudes, even from the border. It seems I overestimated her.”
“R-right…”
****
After that conversation with Youka half a year ago, Xiamiya had harbored vague suspicions.
She had doubted whether Helibea truly cared for her.
But because she yearned for familial love, she refused to entertain such dark thoughts.
Today, recalling her father’s earlier warning and her sister’s behavior, Xiamiya could no longer deny the truth.
“Heh, hehe, hehehe…”
Unconsciously, Xiamiya let out a hollow, eerie laugh.
Seeing her sister seemingly losing her mind, Helibea frowned.
“What’s so funny?”
“Just… how stupid I’ve been. Were the two assassination attempts your doing, Sister? And all those rumors spreading through the kingdom—you orchestrated them, didn’t you?”
Xiamiya no longer tried to defend herself; her voice turned grim.
“…”
Helibea did not even bother to reply.
With a disdainful glance at her sister, she ordered the Star Cross Knights nearby.
“Take Xiamiya to the dungeon and await the Tribunal’s judgment!”
“Yes!”
****
The furious soldiers roughly grabbed the frail Xiamiya and dragged her toward the dungeon.
Meanwhile, a squire named Geyou Leipzig approached Helibea and handed her a poker-sized token.
“Your Highness…”
“Well done.”
Gazing at the token carved with a cross, Helia smiled with satisfaction. “Father’s Blessing Token. Finally, it’s mine.”
****
On the other side of the Sun Crown Palace square, Youka, dressed as a maid, arrived and silently watched the pink-haired girl being led away like a prisoner. Seeing Xiamiya humiliated, Youka remained unmoved.
To the doll girl, this was a necessary step.
Yet, even though everything was planned, watching Xiamiya suffer stirred a strange feeling in Youka’s chest. Her fists clenched.
But a wave of strange energy rippled through her heart, instantly calming her. She returned to her usual indifferent state.
Just as Youka regained her composure, a storm of violent holy power invaded her senses. A shadow, accompanied by lightning, flashed beside her.
It was a purple-haired man wearing an eyepatch. His appearance was swift and silent, like a gust of wind.
The eyepatch covered half his face, revealing only one sharp, cold eye. His purple hair shimmered eerily in the moonlight, exuding danger. He held a massive battle-axe, its razor-sharp blade gleaming. His movements were quick and precise; the axe instantly pressed against Youka’s neck.
Clearly, any sudden move would result in beheading.
Staring at the veiled girl, the man’s eyes were full of warning and menace. His voice was low and icy: “Don’t try to help her, or you’ll regret it.”
Facing the threat, Youka remained calm. She turned her head slightly, meeting his single eye.
“Young Master Krodi-Leipzig.”
“Oh? You know me?”
“Naturally. Who doesn’t know Duke Leipzig’s second son, a Saint-tier genius before twenty-five?”
“Heh, I suppose.”
Krodi smirked smugly.
Though Youka wore a veil, his experience told him she was beautiful. Being praised by a pretty woman was always pleasant.
But
Krodi wouldn’t let that soften him.
After a slight smile, his face turned expressionless again. His hand was steady as a rock, the axe pressing firmly against her neck. The air seemed to freeze, and the tension between them grew heavy.
“Then you’d better cooperate. Otherwise, that pretty head of yours will be parted from your shoulders.”
As he spoke,
Krodi’s eyes sharpened.
“Don’t move.”
“I won’t.”
Youka glanced at the murderous Krodi and at Navi’er, who was ready to bind her with magic. She shook her head and answered simply.
“What?”
Her surrender surprised Krodi. He had expected the saintess’s maid to be as stubborn as the paladins.
But so compliant?
“Are you serious?”
“Yes. At least for now.”
“Meaning?”
“…”
Youka didn’t reply. Instead, she gazed thoughtfully at Xiamiya being taken away.
Today, until Xiamiya made her decision, Youka planned to hold back.
‘By now, Master’s unrealistic illusions must be shattered, right?’
‘So, what will you choose, my dear Master?’
Under Krodi’s perplexed gaze, the doll girl’s lips curled into an enigmatic smile.
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