The Legend of Dragon Warriors, Part 5: Dark's Mental Breakdown (Episodes 21-23) Author: Half a Frog

This post was last edited by s175366 on 2015-09-29 19:21.

[Main Story Part 5: Dark's Mental Breakdown, Episode 21: Fallen Angel] Chapter 1: The Abused Queen

The Queen's bed was wide and soft, with a thick down mattress. Lying on it, my bones felt weak and incredibly comfortable. I lay on my back on the Queen's bed, my body stretched out in a "T" shape, silently sprawled out.

"What was that lustful fire all about? Why was it so intense? I couldn't suppress it, it inexplicably went out of control..."

Coming to my senses, I increasingly felt that something was wrong. I turned to look at Queen Liana, whom I had carelessly tossed onto the corner of the bed. Her hair was disheveled, and she was sprawled on the bed. I had just brutally raped her; her legs couldn't close, revealing her light brown anus and thick labia. Golden fluid flowed from her vagina. The Queen's face was flushed with the afterglow of her orgasm. Not only that, her skin also had a faint pinkish hue.

"She seems to be having a great time... Could it be an aphrodisiac? Right, that strange lavender scent on her, and that wine... Lavender? I remember now!"

There are no more than five poisons in the world that are effective against dragon warriors, but there are quite a few effective aphrodisiacs. My dead father was a womanizer, and he once mentioned an aphrodisiac in his diary called "Drunken Dream Fragrance." When mixed with wine, it would have a strong aphrodisiac effect on ordinary people, but it was basically ineffective against dragon warriors. However, if lavender oil is added, the effect will be greatly enhanced, and even dragon warriors will not be able to resist its power.

At this moment, Queen Liana also woke up. She moved her body, silently got up, casually picked up the pieces of clothing that were thrown aside, wiped her lower body that was overflowing with semen, and without even glancing at me, walked barefoot straight to the wardrobe, opened the door, took out a pale yellow floor-length dress and changed into it.

Sitting before her dressing table, the Empress picked up the jade comb and slowly combed her disheveled hair. Her face, still smeared with semen, looked slightly disheveled, but she had completely regained her former haughtiness.

"For Keith's sake, I'll let you off today. Get out!"

Both her tone and expression were that of a queen.

Watching the Empress's pretentious act, I felt a surge of anger. This woman had clearly tricked and "seduced" me, and now she dared to play the victim. Filled with rage, I silently stood up and walked behind the Empress.

"Get out now!" The Empress in the mirror looked at me coldly, her face full of contempt.

I sneered, suddenly reaching out and grabbing the Empress's hair, pulling her back forcefully.

"Leave? Why should I leave? I haven't had enough fun yet, how can I leave now?"

The urge to violate this woman surged again, not just to have sex with her, but to conquer her, to trample her underfoot, to knead her like mud. To make her my sex slave, no, a bitch a hundred times more despicable than a sex slave.

I tore the new clothes the Queen had just changed into shreds again, my fingers gripping Queen Liana's full breasts from behind, squeezing them tightly. The Queen's full breasts were squeezed into a gourd shape by my fingers, but I still desperately increased the pressure, squeezing until her nipples turned red from engorgement.

"Who do you think you are? Don't give me that!"

"You were the one who drugged my drink with aphrodisiacs, and then used lavender to seduce me into bed, and now you're acting all high and mighty!"

"When I was doing it to you just now, look at how wanton you were, and now you're pretending to be a saint?"

I angrily exposed the Queen's trickery, lowered my head, and bit down hard on the Queen's right nipple. I bit down so hard that Queen Liana's eyes rolled back in pain, and she screamed. I released my teeth, leaving two rows of deep teeth marks on her breast, from which blood seeped.

"One on each side, that's symmetrical!"

The other breast, naturally, didn't escape my ravages either.

"My father was already in such a state, he was already in such a terrible situation, but you, for your own selfish desires, actually kicked him when he was down, stabbing him in the back of his wounds! You say I'm not human, but what about you? Are you even human?"

"That's fine, the little princess is your daughter, but you've never properly cared for her. Are you even a mother?"

"That's fine too, but drugging your daughter's boyfriend and seducing him into bed, what a good mother you are!"

As I listed the Queen's crimes, I pinched her two grape-like nipples and twisted them forcefully in opposite directions, physically punishing her.

"Who do you think you are? What right do you have to be Queen? You only deserve to be a bitch, the lowest of bitches! Lie at my feet and lick my toes!"

The more I spoke, the more agitated I became. I flipped the Queen's body over, pressed her against the armrest of the chair, and tore the fabric at her buttocks, exposing her snow-white, plump buttocks high in the sky.

"Queen Liana, you bitch, accept my punishment!"

I raised my hand and slapped it hard onto the Queen's plump, snowy buttocks. When I raped Lilith before, although I had made her cry and scream, I had never excessively tormented a woman's body. This was the first time I had ever truly physically tortured a woman. Having tasted the pleasure of sadomasochism for the first time, I couldn't stop raising my hand, relentlessly striking her delicate buttocks.

Queen Liana struggled desperately, drool dripping from her mouth, howling in pain, begging for my forgiveness.

"It hurts...it hurts so much...ah!"

"Daxiu, please...please let me go...I was wrong!"

"Daxiu? What did you call me?"

I stopped slapping her, grabbed her hair again, and sneered in her ear, "Only the woman I love can call me Daxiu!"

The Queen's buttocks were already covered with handprints from my slaps, completely red. She had never suffered like this before, always pampered. Her eyes were full of pitiful tears. Even her father, a seasoned womanizer, and Lagus, the future head of spies, had been fooled by her. This woman was a genius at acting, and I had no sympathy for her. I put her head down and slapped her a dozen more times.

"For Li's sake, please let me go!"

"I wouldn't be angry if you didn't mention the little princess, but she's your daughter!

You're asking for it!" "Please!...I can't take it anymore! I was wrong, I really know I was wrong...Waaah!..."

Queen Liana cried and screamed, tears streaming down her face. I wasn't afraid of being discovered. The Queen had seduced me and had already sent everyone away. Now she was reaping what she sowed; no matter how much she screamed, no one would come to her rescue.

I stopped slapping her and asked fiercely,

"Now you know how to address me, right?"

"Ah! Mistress..."

"Yes, keep saying it!"

"No..."

She still couldn't let go of her years of pride as Queen.

"Hmm..."

I raised my hand, pretending to spank her.

"Mistress!"

Queen Liana, already terrified of me, cried out desperately. I laughed heartily and released her grip with satisfaction.

I helped the Queen down from her chair and took it myself. Queen Liana knelt before me, obediently holding my penis, sucking on it while pitifully observing my expression. Seeing how much I enjoyed her service, the Queen released my wet penis and instead used her tongue or teeth to gently scrape the sensitive glans, her skillful oral sex making me moan with pleasure.

I suddenly remembered the dog collar, whip, and candles among my father's belongings. It was a pity these things weren't on my body; otherwise, it would have been very appropriate to bestow them all upon the "noble" Queen.

I placed my foot under the Queen's body, my big toe gently probing her genitals. I combed the Queen's hair with both hands and softly asked her, "Since you call me master, what should I call you?"

The answer, of course, was "bitch." Forced into a corner by the situation, Queen Liana, who had been badly beaten by me and knew the art of retreat, once again displayed her extraordinary forbearance. Her eyelids didn't droop as I expected; she glared at me fiercely, but after a brief silence, her sexy red lips parted, the word "bitch" practically escaping her lips.

"Stop talking, that's enough!"

Just as the Queen was about to speak, I suddenly reached out and covered her mouth with my finger. Then, abandoning my previous brutality, I gently lifted Queen Liana from the ground and carried her back to the bedside. After gently placing her on the bed, I cast a healing spell to heal the Queen's minor physical wounds. My drastically different actions puzzled the Queen; she stared at me with wide eyes, confused.

I had changed my mind. Originally, I not only wanted the Queen to call herself a bitch, but I also wanted her to lick my toes, and even urinate on her face and mouth. But considering that too much of a good thing can be bad, and especially since Queen Liana is a woman who can bend and stretch, if I were to insult her too much, she would only grit her teeth and endure the humiliation, and then take revenge on me later. That would be a losing proposition.

"From now on, I'll still call you Aunt Liana! The torture I just endured was actually to fulfill my father's last wish, to avenge your infidelity back then! Dad wasn't a good person either; he had so many women outside that you could fill a cart with them. Why can't you find more men, Aunt? Although your methods weren't very moral..."

Dealing with a woman like the Queen is like dealing with a horse; you have to use both soft and hard tactics. When she disobeys, you have to whip her, and after you've done that, you also have to give her a carrot at the right time.

"Don't say that... It was indeed my fault back then..."

"Auntie, your body is so beautiful... Father's dying wish has been fulfilled, now it's my turn to enjoy myself, isn't it?"

I looked at the Empress with a dazed expression, my eyes shooting out a burning gaze, and pressed my lips to the Empress's lips, first giving her a deep, passionate kiss, then like a virgin tasting forbidden fruit for the first time, I caressed the Empress's proud breasts with loving caresses, my tongue constantly teasing the Empress's sensitive nipples.

The Empress panted, enduring the tingling pleasure emanating from her body, and said sadly, "You are just like your father, one moment like a devil, the next like a wanton and unrestrained romantic... Just now, Keith-like tone, and that expression, were exactly the same as his... I think no girl can resist your charm..."

I exclaimed, "Wow, that's amazing!" I knew you were just flattering me, but it sounded incredibly pleasant. These kinds of words could tantalize any man's itch; no normal man could resist them.

I sweetly retorted, "That's exactly what I wanted to say to you, Aunt Liana!"

Queen Liana blushed and said, "Auntie is very old..."

I suddenly grabbed the Queen's breast, brought my mouth to it, and sucked hard on it, praising,

"Auntie, how can you say you're old? It's so firm!"

Queen Liana reached out and pressed her hand between her breasts, lamenting to me as if atonement,

"You were right about that! I really am very lewd, like a bitch! Back then, I was greedy for vanity and dumped your father; after meeting you, I was greedy for physical pleasure and seduced my own daughter's boyfriend! I am indeed a lewd woman, no, a lewd bitch!"

"Auntie is sorry for your father! It's all my fault. Back then, I was greedy for fame and fortune and betrayed your father! Do you know? For the past twenty years, I've often dreamed of Keith, dreamed of him ravaging me, avenging my infidelity!"

"You look just like Keith. Actually, ever since I met you in the square that day, for some reason, Keith's face in my dreams keeps getting mixed up with yours!"

The Queen spoke like a woman who had abandoned her husband and children to elope with another man, confessing her sins to her former lover. Her tone was filled with endless regret, and for a moment I

couldn't tell whether the Queen was sincere or not. "Come on, Keith's son, my master! If you don't mind that your aunt is dirty, please take your father's place and torture this slutty bitch to your heart's content! I don't want your gentleness, I only want your brutality and violence!"

Queen Liana's body was in the position of a slutty bitch, her snowy buttocks raised high in the sky, kneeling on the headboard in an infinitely seductive posture, her eyes filled with regret.

"Auntie..."

I cupped the Queen's face, at a loss for words.

"Don't feel sorry for me, your aunt is a sinner,"

the Queen's body trembled slightly, her limbs crawling on the bed like a dog. She turned around, presenting her snowy white buttocks to me. She turned around, gave me a mournful smile, and said, "Auntie knows what you want! Come on, don't hold back! In place of Keith, torture this sinful slut to your heart's content! Torture me however you like, but don't hurt my face, or it'll be terrible if someone notices something's wrong!" Her

beautiful anus, overflowing with semen and vaginal fluid, swayed before me, constantly arousing my desire. I couldn't help but reach out and gently touch her smooth, snowy buttocks. The soft, elastic skin was so slippery. This woman was indeed a natural beauty; the little princess's skin must have been inherited from her. There was a reason she could stand out in the harem, where everyone vied for favor, and ascend to the throne of empress.

"Come on, don't hesitate any longer! Use your brutality to save Auntie's fallen soul!"

The encouraging voice rang out again, and I, aroused once more by the empress's provocation, finally raised my hand and slapped her hard without any hesitation.

The applause was deafening. Queen Liana threw her head back and let out a long cry, like the final lament of a dying swan.

"Again!"

The Queen's voice trembled with excitement, and her body convulsed as if electrocuted by my slap.

"Hit me, curse me! I'm a bitch, I'm a slut, don't hold back!"

Slaps rained down on her buttocks, turning her beautiful, snowy bottom red once more. The Queen's moans and cries of pain quickly aroused my desire to its limit. Excited, I gripped my own penis and aimed it at her clitoris.

Feeling my genitals touching her body again, Queen Liana cried out, "Dashu, my master! Please punish me with your big cock! Punish this slutty bitch!"

"Well said!"

I grasped her buttocks with both hands and forcefully spread them apart, making Queen Liana's anus even more visible. The Queen was prepared for today; her anus was clean, clearly having been cleaned beforehand.

"That place? No!"

Realizing I was about to enter her rear, Queen Liana feigned panic and struggled.

I pretended to be angry and said, "You cleaned this place so thoroughly just to wait for me, didn't you?"

"But yours is too big, it'll break! And this..."

"What's wrong..."

"It's the first time, no one's ever used it!"

The emperor loves anal sex, I really don't believe Queen Liana can still be a virgin! But the queen wouldn't lie so stupidly, she's obviously doing it on purpose to add some spice. I grinned wickedly at her and said,

"Then, you'll give me your virgin anus as your atonement!"

"No! It will hurt a lot, no!"

The queen struggled, crawling on the bed like a dog. I tore most of her dress to shreds, exposing the part that covered her buttocks. Her snow-white buttocks swayed in front of me. She crawled a few steps, then turned around, her face full of the fear and anxiety of a wounded little bird.

I pressed my hands on her buttocks and exerted force, circulating my dragon power. The suction pulled the queen's body back.

"A bitch sex slave has no right to disobey her master's will!"

"This is my final judgment on behalf of my father!"

I gripped my erect penis, aimed at her anus, and mercilessly thrust in a small section.

"Mmm, feels so good, Auntie, is this really your first time?"

"Mmm..."

Suddenly forced in by a massive object, Queen Liana was in so much pain she couldn't make a sound, only groaning in her throat. I felt the Queen's sphincter muscles constantly clenching and sucking my penis, as if a suction force was pulling my penis deeper.

"Oh...it's so tight! It's clean, and even oiled, Auntie, so you were prepared!"

I breathed excitedly, slowly pushing my penis in, while enjoying Queen Liana's painful expression.

"Mmm...ah..."

The Emperor liked to use a man's anus, so this was definitely not Queen Liana's first time, but after so many years of abstinence, the tearing pain from my intrusion still caused Queen Liana considerable suffering. She gripped the sheets tightly with both hands, trying to shake her high buttocks to relax her gluteal muscles and alleviate the excruciating pain inside her.

After penetrating two-thirds of the way in, I paused, allowing Queen Liana's anus to adjust to the size of my massive member. I reached out and grasped the Queen's breasts, kissing the back of her neck.

"Auntie, the most painful blow is coming soon! Prepare to receive my divine whip of punishment!"

I abruptly pulled the Queen's body back into a sitting position. This movement pushed my penis to its limit inside Queen Liana in one go. Her delicate anus was stretched until it bled, and Queen Liana threw her head back again, letting out a long, mournful cry like a choked swan.

The excitement of cuckolding the dog emperor and the immoral pleasure of sleeping with the little princess's mother were truly aroused to their peak at this moment. I knelt down and thrust upwards into the Queen's anus. One hand gripped the Queen's breast, kneading it vigorously, while the other hand rested on her lower body, acting as a substitute for my penis, thrusting into her honeyed orifice.

"Mother and daughter, mother and daughter, mother and daughter! One day, I will definitely get Queen Liana and the little princess into bed together!"

This thought, like a ghost, kept popping into my mind, quickly filling my soul.

Queen Liana's physical endurance, like her resilient personality, was astonishingly strong. As her body gradually adapted to my size, she even began to experience a unique pleasure from my roughness; perhaps a masochistic streak simply flows in every woman's veins.

"What a stunning beauty! When my strength is fully restored, I'll definitely use my clone technique to fill all three holes in this woman's body at the same time!"

"I'm... I'm coming... I'm coming... Ah..."

Due to extreme excitement, Queen Liana's anus was incredibly tight. After hundreds of thrusts, just as Queen Liana lay weakly on the bed, moaning, I let out another satisfied moan, ejaculating wave after wave of semen into her rectum.

"Auntie, my filthy body still has many places that need my semen to cleanse. Get ready for the next wave!"

I withdrew my still-swelling lower body after ejaculating, turned Queen Liana's body over, and returned my lower body to her equally swollen vulva. Only then did I relax with satisfaction, tightly embracing the Queen's sweaty body. After catching my breath, I quickly resumed my reckless caressing of the exhausted Queen Liana, and we began to make love again.

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The Queen's body was damp, the faint scent of sweat mingling with the fragrance of lavender, creating a sensual aroma. Lately, I've been preoccupied with Heila's matter, unable to truly engage in sexual activity, until today when I finally satisfied myself with Queen Liana.

After catching my breath, I grasped Queen Liana's breasts with both hands, kneading them vigorously a few times. Still inside her, my half-erect lower body felt the urge to ejaculate again. There are women in this world who make you want to do it again and again, ride it more and more, love it more and more, even if you're exhausted, you still want to ride it. Queen Liana is undoubtedly such a peerless beauty. I held Queen Liana, conquering her vulva and anus countless times, still savoring the experience, unwilling to give up.

"You should leave! You can't stay here too long!"

The Queen gently pushed me away, but I remained unmoved. Instead, I lowered my head and gently bit the two grapes I had squeezed until they turned purplish-red. Queen Liana, enduring the tingling sensation, smiled at me and said, "From today onwards, Auntie is your bitch, your sex slave! We'll have plenty of opportunities later!"

"Opportunities?"

When that word entered my ears, I suddenly felt a chill. Looking into the Queen's eyes, which were filled with tenderness and longing, as I pressed her beneath me, I suddenly remembered Lagus's warning not to play with fire. A chill spread from my heart to my entire body.

"I slept with the Queen, the Emperor's woman!"

The excitement of cuckolding the Emperor and disciplining the Queen was instantly replaced by immense panic. I knew what it would mean if word got out.

"I slept with the Empress, damn it, I fucked her! And I fucked her again and again, rode her over and over! Heavens!"

I hurriedly channeled my dragon power, scanning my surroundings, terrified someone would suddenly burst in and discover my affair with the Empress—a crime punishable by death for the entire family. To make matters worse, at this critical moment, someone was heading towards the Empress's bedroom, and that person was already at the door.

It was a palace maid carrying a tea tray. With a creak, she carelessly pushed open the door, seeing something she shouldn't have seen. The door was wide open, light streaming in, exposing all the gloom in an instant.

The sound of the tea tray shattering on the ground, the sound of footsteps slamming the door as she fled, and the whimpering of her prey being choked and dragged…

In this situation, without the Empress's prompting, I knew what I had to do. I chased after her, grabbed the palace maid by the throat, and dragged her back.

"I...I didn't see anything!"

This was a plain-looking, young palace maid, her face contorted with extreme panic. She managed to utter a few words through the gag in my throat. I glanced at her, then looked questioningly at Queen Liana.

"But you did see it!"

The Queen's cold eyes flickered, and she nodded to me. Taking her signal, I twisted the maid's neck with all my might. As the sound of the broken neck reached my ears through my arm, I seemed to hear something else snap. A rush of blood shot to my head, and I felt dizzy. Despite

violating the heavenly law and having just murdered someone to cover it up, Queen Liana remained unusually calm. Lying on the bed, utterly exhausted, she laboriously reached out and checked the maid's breath with her fingers, confirming she was truly dead. She nodded slightly.

"I have a few people I trust very much; they'll come in after you leave. I'll handle the cleanup!"

I didn't say much to the Queen, silently cleaning up the scattered pieces of clothing. I hadn't felt anything while I was murdering her, but now, reflecting on it, my mood was terrible. The feeling of frustration reminded me of the demon girl who died at my hands during the battle of Slote Fortress.

The Queen lay quietly on the bed, as if nothing had happened. I wanted to say something to the Empress, but I didn't know what to say. Silently, I dressed, nodded slightly to her, and left.

As I went out, I glanced back at the corpse I had thrown on the ground; the palace maid's neck was twisted unnaturally, and a feeling of nausea and resentment welled up again. A wave of disgust washed over me, and I quickly left. About a hundred paces from the Empress's room, the two middle-aged palace maids whom the Empress had ordered to guard Princess Ruyun were walking towards me.

As they approached, I stopped and carefully examined them. They were two plain-looking women, around forty years old, with cold expressions and unremarkable appearances. From their gait and the aura they exuded, I sensed that these two women were experts, their martial arts skills not much inferior to the Ten Tigers of Fengdu whom I had killed at Shenlong Square.

As they passed by me, they stopped and bowed respectfully.

"Marquis Xiunaida, Princess Ruyun is waiting for you over there. Please go quickly; we'll handle everything here!"

The two women's movements and the frequency of their speech were remarkably synchronized, demonstrating the tacit understanding developed through long-term cooperation.

"Queen Liana, she's certainly no ordinary woman!"

I sighed inwardly, nodded, and left with peace of mind. I knew in my heart that in my several confrontations with Queen Liana, I hadn't truly gained the upper hand. I was acting, and the Queen was no pushover either. Although I had thoroughly explored every nook and cranny of her body, I couldn't tell who the ultimate victor was between us.

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When I returned to the little princess's room, she looked terrified and rushed into my arms as soon as she saw me enter.

"Brother, Mommy..."

I hugged the little princess, gave her a long kiss, and soothed her with both hands before comforting her, "Mommy agreed to our relationship!"

"Mommy looked so fierce and scary just now!"

"She scolded me a few times, but she forgave us in the end!"

"Really? Brother, don't lie to Li! Mommy is so scary!"

The little princess reacted strongly, her expression telling me that, subconsciously, her mother was a terrifying woman.

"Brother, please take me away. I want to sleep with Sister Ruyue tonight; it's too cold here!"

The bed where we almost had a passionate encounter was now filled with her favorite clothes and toys, and the little princess was planning to escape to Ruyue's place for refuge.

I found it both funny and pitiful. Even her own daughter was so afraid of her; what kind of woman was Queen Liana?

The process of taking the little princess away from the West Palace was practically a farce of abducting a young girl to elope. The little princess hastily packed her personal belongings, not wanting to stay a moment longer, and hurriedly fled the Queen's palace with my hand.
[Main Story Part 5: Dark's Mental Fall - Episode 21: Fallen Angel] Chapter 2: Catching Butterflies

With the little princess leading the way, I had the privilege of stepping into Ruyue's boudoir for the first time. Entering Ruyue's room, the little princess cheered, took off her shoes, jumped onto the bed, and rolled around several times. Ruyue's bed was very similar to the little princess's: a pink bedspread, pleated trim embroidered with gold thread, and a thick velvet mattress. Aside from slight differences in color

and pattern, there was an extra pillow on the bed. Entering Ruyue's bedroom for the first time, I was greatly intrigued and carefully observed everything around me. I was surprised to find that the room's layout was remarkably similar to the little princess's bedroom in the West Palace—the patterns on the floor and walls, the style of the dressing table, the potted plants adorning the room, even the furniture and furnishings were almost identical.

This was an ordinary noblewoman's boudoir, completely different from what I had originally imagined—a room for a boy with a weapon rack, a wrestling mat, and a strong masculine atmosphere. Ruyue is currently busy with government affairs and will not be returning for the time being.

"Free! Liberated!"

Upon arriving here, the little princess, who had been somber earlier, jumped and skipped joyfully like a slave who had just been liberated, a stark contrast to her timid demeanor in the West Palace.

I gently scolded, "How can you talk like that? She's Mi's mother! Although she's a bit strict and fierce, she's still Mi's mother!"

"You don't understand. I've grown up, and my mother has rarely hugged me. The way she looks at me is just like the way my father looks at me—cold and icy." "

Bei is still young and doesn't understand. Some mothers are cold on the outside but warm on the inside. They may seem strict, but they actually care a lot. Before, she was afraid of being lonely, so she would ask her brother to keep her company in Sa Xuan."

I sat on the edge of the bed, offering kind words of comfort, but my mind was preoccupied with what had happened between me and Queen Liana today. Was she drugging me just because of her physical condition and uncontrollable lust?

"You don't understand! Brother!"

The little princess crawled over and snuggled into my arms.

"When Li was little, she had a friend named Lace, a little palace maid who played with me all my life. We were very close, like sisters. Once, when she was playing with me, she accidentally scratched Li's face, and when my mother found out..." "

What happened?"

I noticed the little princess's body trembling slightly.

"When my mother found out, she ordered her to be beaten to death."

"Ah!"

I was stunned. I never imagined Queen Liana could be so cruel. My father had said that every crack in the palace bricks hid disgusting filth. What I did this afternoon was, in fact, part of that filth.

"My mother's expression was so terrifying. Lace was screaming, 'Li, save me, save me!' But I couldn't do anything. That night, Li hid in her room and cried bitterly. It was quiet all around, as quiet as a tomb. Later, Sister Ruyue found out about this and took me away."

Recalling her childhood memories, the little princess trembled uncontrollably in my arms, her face already covered in tears. But what came to mind was the palace maid whose neck I had just snapped. The feeling of disgust and guilt I felt after killing her still lingered in my heart, refusing to leave.

"Over the years, I've been fortunate to have Sister Ruyue taking care of me. Every night, whenever she was in Fengdu, she would stay with Li, holding me, patting my back, and softly singing lullabies in my ear."

The little princess sang softly, "The rabbit jumps, the fish leaps, the bird rises early in the treetop; the moon is beautiful, the stars smile, Mommy calls me a good baby..."

Singing this gentle nursery rhyme, the little princess stopped trembling, a smile appearing on her face, her consciousness returning to the happy times of her childhood.

I hugged the little princess tightly and looked around. Ruyue's boudoir was the former residence of the late Queen Darlene, the former Queen's East Palace. When Ruyue's mother died suddenly, Ruyue was not yet seven years old. It is said that she locked herself and her mother's body in this room for three days and three nights without eating, drinking, or seeing anyone, until Aunt Brigitte appeared.

What Brigitte and the Emperor said more than ten years ago is unknown to outsiders, but from then on, Ruyue replaced her mother as the mistress of this place. Even Queen Liana, who later succeeded her as Queen, even at the height of her favor, could not set foot here, and could only obediently live in the former West Palace.

Above the dressing table on the wall hangs a portrait of Ruyue's mother, Darlene, a beautiful woman with a gentle smile. Although Empress Liana succeeded Darlene as Empress less than three months after her sudden death, she never stayed here for a single day. Many rumors circulated about this, the most popular being that Ruyue had seized the place and driven away Empress Liana. Less than a year after Ruyue's mother's death, Emperor Aura met the "man" of his life, and his "sexual interests" suddenly changed overnight. Empress Liana's once-glorious fate began to decline, and she fell out of favor.

The claim that Empress Liana had murdered Ruyue's mother had been quietly circulating among the empire's upper nobility for over a decade, even her father believed it. But if all this were true, then Ruyue's treatment of the little princess like a younger sister seemed rather unreasonable!

"Brother, do you know what game my sister and I loved to play when we were little?"

I asked with a laugh, putting myself in her shoes. "What game? Catching caterpillars to scare people, or putting cockroaches and mice in people's closets?"

"What are you thinking? Do you think my sister is like you? She's not as bored as you! My sister and Li's favorite game used to be catching lots and lots of fireflies and putting them in a glass bottle. When the lights were off at night, the fireflies would flash in the bottle… Hmm, it's almost summer now, and the fireflies seem to be coming out. Brother, shall we go catch some fireflies?"

Ruyue's bedroom faced a huge garden, filled with calla lilies, canna lilies, tulips, and other seasonal flowers. Beautiful butterflies and nimble dragonflies displayed their dances in their own ways. Entering the garden, the little princess quickly forgot why she was there, running and chasing excitedly, lost in the sea of flowers and butterflies.

I sat on the grass, smiling as I watched the little princess dance before me like a beautiful butterfly. The little princess, who has lived in the palace for sixteen years, still retains her childlike innocence, untainted by the filthy environment here. This must be all thanks to Ruyue's meticulous care and protection.

I held a homemade insect trap in my hand—a bamboo pole bound with wire into a circle, covered with a silk bag. The bamboo pole, having lost too much moisture over the years, had a dull gray exterior, its surface riddled with countless tiny cracks. The little princess told me that Ruyue made this trap for her herself shortly after she moved here to live with her. Although almost ten years have passed, she still couldn't bear to throw it away.

Lately, I've been spending all my time with the little princess, and the emperor must know it. I'm close to his neglected youngest daughter, yet I ignore his beloved eldest princess. How will he view this? The current Emperor Aura can no longer be considered a tyrant—or perhaps that guy has never been confused; his past absurdities were merely a clever disguise. Dealing with and serving him well is becoming increasingly difficult.

I smiled bitterly to myself. I was incredibly unlucky when the emperor used to make things difficult for me, but now that this big boss is so "favoring" of me, I still have countless troubles to deal with.

"Brother, come quick! Let's catch butterflies together!"

Children are so different from adults. I was caught "in bed with another man" by the empress that afternoon, and now it's all gone.

I sighed, forcing myself to shake off my gloom, and accompanied the little princess to catch the butterflies fluttering around.

※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※

After spending half the afternoon fooling around with the little princess, I deliberately took my leave before Ruyue returned from her official business. These past few days have been filled with one big and small incident after another, and I still can't sort them out. I don't want to face her for the time being.

Back home, I received news that Emperor Aura had issued a new order: I must report to the military affairs office within three days. Clearly, he is still "enthusiastically" encouraging my marriage to Ruyue.

"Is Kisaragi's chosen fiancé really that bad?"

I suddenly became interested in Kisaragi's chosen fiancé. During dinner, I took the opportunity to ask Kirsten, "Kirsten, do you know a guy named Kirk? Kirk Biseya, he's Muse's distant cousin."

"Kirk Biseya? That name... I remember now, about half a year ago! At a royal ball, Muse was there too. A few young noblemen from the Fabil family played a prank, pushing a clueless young man forward and asking him to invite Princess Kisaragi to dance. This young man named Kirk didn't seem very bright, a bit dim-witted, and... well, not very handsome, just average. At the time, those dissolute youths were completely messing with him. Muse was so angry her face turned pale, she almost drew her sword."

"And then?"

Little Kirsten stroked her chin and laughed, shaking her head. "The real meaning of this ball was His Majesty choosing a fiancé for the princess. When the ball started, the princess was clearly in a bad mood, her face always grumpy, like an ice queen. Who knew that when that silly boy went to invite her, she actually smiled, and then took his hand and danced three rounds, leaving everyone astonished."

Xueyi chimed in from the side, "That's called being a fool and having good luck! I know this guy named Kirk. I also attended that ball. The little princess and I even played a trick on him! We gave him red wine with lots of salt and pepper in it, and that idiot actually drank it down."

Xueyi had just laughed triumphantly when she immediately received a light slap from Xuezhi.

"Bei's been playing pranks on people outside again! And he dares to brag about it here!"

Xuezhi didn't hit her hard, but it still made Xueyi shed two tears. She covered her face and defended herself, feeling wronged, "I just thought it was fun."

With a thud, Xuezhi, who was sitting next to me, slammed her knife and fork on the table and said with a dark face, "Who wasn't born of a father and mother? Who wants to be born stupid and mentally challenged? It's right that you think it's okay to bully others just because you think they're dumber than Lin. By that logic, wouldn't those who think they're better than us be able to bully us at will? Cheng..."

"Come on, she's still young."

Seeing Xuezhi's anger getting worse, Rosa quickly tried to smooth things over for Xueyi, and Xuezhi calmed down a little.

"You all spoiled her too much before! She's not a child anymore, she should be responsible for her actions! Little Kristin, you're older than her, don't always indulge her! If she does something wrong, scold or punish her, don't hold back!"

"I know!"

Little Kristin remained silent, not daring to look Xuezhi in the eye. I had a guilty conscience and couldn't speak, so I could only pretend nothing had happened. Sheila was focused on the food on her plate and didn't say anything more. Since learning Sheila's true identity that day, I had intentionally or unintentionally distanced myself from her, and she seemed to sense something, and the distance between us also increased.

That

night, I sneaked into Xuezhi's room. After a passionate encounter, I held Xuezhi, who was panting in my arms, and asked with a smile, "You were an accomplice today, Zhizhi. I never imagined you could be so terrifying when you're angry. Even I didn't dare say a word."

My life had changed drastically during these years of coma. Before, when I was making love with the women, we mostly slept together, a chaotic battle. These past few years, I'd been in a coma and away from home, and the women had all moved out.

"Am I really that fierce?"

I nodded frantically.

"It's not that serious, it's just that when Mi scolded Xiaoyi, I felt like she was scolding me too. Actually, I have the same problem as her!"

Xuezhi rolled her eyes at me: "That's why I can't let my sister be like you! It's strange..."

As she was speaking, Xuezhi suddenly frowned and said: "Daxiu, don't you think Xila is acting strangely? She's been talking very little lately, and she's become gloomy. Like today, she should have stood up and said something, but she remained silent! And you, you're acting strange too. I always feel that there's something strange between the two of you. Did you have a fight?"

Even Xuezhi could sense the discord between me and Xila. I didn't want Xuezhi to get involved, so I coaxed her: "No, we've always been fine! Actually, it's like this, Xila hasn't been feeling well lately. These past few days, ah, these past few days have been her special days, so she's been acting a little strange!"

"Special days?"

"The day Jiangyin gets pregnant with my little baby, there won't be these special days anymore! Zhizhi, when are you going to give me a dozen babies!"

"A dozen? Two or three at most, having too many will ruin your figure!"

"After all these years of supplementing your diet, it seems like it's about time! Chao is so good at raising children, she's already paved the way for our future kids!"

"Dream on! Who wants to have children for a scoundrel like you!"

"Just eating without laying eggs will get you whipped!"

"You dare?"

"Why wouldn't I dare? Hehe, whipping, of course, will be carried out by this whip below!"

I embraced Xuezhi again, temporarily concealing the matter, but I knew in my heart that the day to completely confront Xila was just around the corner.

[Main Story Part 5: Dark's Heart Loses Its Defense - Episode 21: Fallen Angel] Chapter 3: A Civil Servant's Half-Day

The Command Office was located on the west side of Fengdu City, next to the special training camp for reserve officers, and only a few steps away from Ruyue's office. The air was fresh, the environment elegant, surrounded by green trees; it used to be a scenic area, a good place to recuperate and relax.

"Are there free drinks here?"

"Right now, only tea and coffee!"

"Do you have juice? Freshly squeezed!"

"We used to offer free fresh juice, bubble tea, betel nut coconut milk, and even free wine on holidays."

"Great perk, sounds tempting! Used to? Why isn't it anymore?"

"Four years ago, after Princess Kisaragi took command of the logistics and reserves, she said this perk was a waste of taxpayers' money and it was canceled!"

"Oh, what a pity! If you want something else to drink…"

"We can have Officer Akebono's chef make it, but it'll be charged at market price, cash on delivery! Even Princess Kisaragi herself is no exception. However, if you wish… Officer Akebono doesn't serve alcoholic beverages during official hours!"

"The princess's idea again? Oh…"

"Last time His Majesty came here for an inspection, he had a simple meal here. After His Majesty left, Princess insisted that Guan Shuyu write a bill and ask His Majesty for money! She said that this was a system she set, and no one could enjoy special privileges! A few days later, His Majesty actually paid the bill..."

The secretary and chief secretary assigned to my side was a middle-aged man in his forties, short and stout, with some balding hair. Just by looking at him, you could tell he was an extremely clever and cunning old fox. The reason I labeled him an old fox was because at first, I was very careful and respectful in my questions and answers. But after a few sentences, he accurately grasped my personality, and his tone became slick.

"Ugh, why are these oak chairs so hard? They're really uncomfortable. This is supposed to be the headquarters for the mobilization of hundreds of thousands of troops; surely we have at least one soft, comfortable leather swivel chair?" "

That's because Her Highness the Princess discovered someone sleeping while working, saying the chairs were too comfortable, so..."

"Enough! The cleaning staff here are all middle-aged women, and the female secretaries are all unsightly wolves—was that her idea too?"

"Sir, you are truly wise and insightful, no wonder you're invincible on the battlefield! The Princess said this is a combat command headquarters, not a beauty pageant, and drove away all the beauties. Countless lecherous men have starved to death here over the years!"

"Well, there's also... well, unfortunately, extremely unfortunately, I was born at the wrong time!"

The old fox, Hu'ao, looked at me helplessly. He'd worked here for over a decade, wasting most of his life doing nothing. A few years ago, he suddenly got a serious, demanding new boss, and his life had been extremely unpleasant ever since.

According to imperial regulations, the position of Deputy Commander-in-Chief should have two positions, and for the past few decades, these two positions had been held by someone surnamed Fabil. The empire's eastern front had to fight both the demon and orc races simultaneously, making the pressure far greater than on the western front. The President's main responsibility was on the eastern front, while the western front was entirely handled by another Deputy Commander.

The demons were launching a counterattack on the human empire on the western front? Such a thing had never happened since the empire's founding. For hundreds of years, the western front had always been a battle where humans were the first to invade the demons' territory, eating, drinking, and relieving themselves. If the empire didn't actively seek refuge with the demons, the demons should be thanking the heavens and shouting for divine protection. If there's no war, the deputy commander in charge of this area, unless he's a warmongering fanatic, can live a fairly easy life.

The deputy commander in charge of logistics and reserves, however, was previously held by Prince Graeme, whom I have a deep-seated grudge against. Rumors of him using military pay to supplement his personal income are rampant throughout the empire, causing endless complaints from the soldiers. Because he's the emperor's brother, Lagus, who oversees both espionage and anti-corruption, can't do anything about him. In the end, he had to ask Ruyue to step in and allow him to step down gracefully by having Ruyue replace him.

The personnel arrangements for the ever-increasing number of royal noble children after they come of age have been the empire's biggest headache for centuries. These Fabiers are born with a silver spoon in their mouths, enjoying stipends from birth until their death, never having to worry about food or drink. Because of the laws established by Rez before his death, no member of the Fabier family, regardless of who they are, can inherit their father's title without military service. Rules are good, but they're inflexible and utterly useless in the face of personal relationships, since joining the army and obtaining a noble title is remarkably easy. An overly privileged living environment, devoid of any sense of crisis, naturally breeds generation after generation of idle, resource-wasting good-for-nothings. Worst of all, these good-for-nothings not only indulge in pleasure and entertainment, but they also crave power and influence. They not only control the empire's upper echelons but also infiltrate the economy in various ways, engaging in collusion between officials and merchants, plunging the entire country into chaos and corruption.

In fact, from Reiz onwards, all the Golden Dragon emperors could be considered quite wise rulers. Even Emperor Aura, who was known for his fondness for men, was more praised than criticized in his youth, setting aside his personal preferences. However, due to numerous concerns, reforms targeting the royal nobility were never implemented. Moreover, the problem not only remained unresolved but worsened over the centuries. Among

Reiz's descendants, those like Ruyue and Roland, who retained admirable qualities such as hard work and self-torture, were a tiny minority. The vast majority had long since become pungent, organic fertilizer, consumed by daily debauchery. Ruyue's fists could tear stars apart, but they were useless against her relatives with the same surname, Fabil. Unable to openly implement sweeping reforms, she could only make patchwork changes within limited scope.

Hu'ao told me some stories about his predecessors, which filled me with envy.

The predecessor who held this position was actually a very good person. He also shared the same surname, Fabier, and had held the position for nearly twenty years, with a much better reputation than Prince Graham. While he had his flaws, they were all minor.

He was greedy for small gains—he liked to drink large amounts of milk tea, juice, and expensive liquor during office hours, and he enjoyed socializing. Fortunately, he understood the principle of keeping public funds within the family, so all official banquets were always held in the officers' quarters, greatly reducing the cost of such spending.

His groping hands often went to the wrong places—touching the female cleaner's buttocks and lifting the female secretary's skirt.

His health wasn't very good—due to his excessive nightlife, he often snored loudly on his desk or swivel chair during office hours, disturbing others.

No one is perfect, and everyone makes mistakes. Aside from these minor flaws, this gentleman had many admirable qualities.

He was unpretentious and mingled with his staff—often generously offering up his desk as a drinking and gambling table to maximize equipment utilization; so much so that the desk, used for twenty years, remained free of termites.

Most importantly, and most remarkably, he never made a single foolish mistake during his twenty years in office!—This was extremely rare, even surpassing the achievements of Rez and Hannibal! He never acted on his own initiative, never issuing a single military order without the Emperor's or Old Red-Armored Dragon's command.

This kind-hearted man, unfortunately, encountered the downfall of Prince Graeme, and to save face for the prince, he was unfortunately dismissed along with him. This position remained vacant for several years until I took over.

In casual conversations with Huo and the surrounding junior and middle-ranking staff, I learned that Kisaragi's nearly ten years in politics had been incredibly arduous; she single-handedly shouldered the responsibilities of two deputy commanders. The result of Emperor Aura's more than ten years of absurdity was that she was left with a broken vessel riddled with holes. In the past, Bordeaux often jokingly referred to Ruyue as a fire chief and a janitor, always busy putting out fires and fixing leaks. Emperor Aura has become increasingly neglectful of state affairs in recent years, pushing many matters onto Ruyue, the crown prince. Fortunately, she is the recognized heir to the throne (and has no rivals), and is a powerful and strong-willed figure with a tough personality; when she gets ruthless, everyone fears her, and orders are carried out smoothly.

While I was a ruthless killer in the army, feared by all, my laziness was also notorious throughout the empire. Although I am not yet twenty-five, several years have passed since I was officially ennobled as a count, yet I can count the number of days I have attended court assemblies on one hand. I have always tried to find various excuses to hide in my own little world at home, living a carefree life. These low- and middle-ranking officials, who have suffered greatly under Ruyue's rule, have long been eagerly awaiting my arrival to escape their misery—at least, their eyes are filled with this expectation.

"These guys, in peacetime, it's not bad to hang out with them. But if there's a real war, the first thing I'll do is send them all home. I absolutely won't use them."

After two wars, the three major races on the Wind Continent are all severely weakened. If nothing unexpected happens, none of them will be able to wield their battle axes for at least ten years. I suddenly thought of Gecko. I wonder how he's doing now. Soldiers in peacetime are in the most awkward position because there are no wars to fight. Ovimas is like me, all alone and with many enemies. I wonder how he's doing now?

"Who is the current commander of the Black Dragon Knights?"

"It's your classmate from back then, Count Hutt!"

"Count? That kid's had a smooth career, he got promoted again! What about Ovimas?"

"Ovimas? Who's that?"

As soon as Hu'ao said that, I knew Gecko's career was doomed. The usefulness of the deputy commander position is showing at this moment. I briefly explained my intentions, and immediately some astute individuals proactively searched through the military archives. Oramas, after all, had been a legion commander, making him a high-ranking officer. According to Imperial law, officers of the rank of commander of ten thousand cavalry, whether retired or dismissed for any other reason, were required to regularly report their personal circumstances to the Empire for ten years. These reports were kept on file and stored in the reserve personnel pool for emergency conscription during wartime. A short while later, Hu'ao happily reported to me on Oramas's recent situation.

"Commander, I've found the person you're looking for."

"Read it! I need his information from 302 onwards, enough talk!"

I sat in my comfortable leather swivel chair, legs crossed, my fingers rhythmically tapping the table. I truly tasted the superior, domineering feeling that came with wielding great power. Hu'ao stood at the table, back ramrod straight, holding a heavy folder in his hands, reading aloud. The chair I'm sitting on was brought out of the warehouse by my own orders. It's not worth a hundred gold coins; sitting on it feels completely different.

"Ovimas, the former commander of the Black Dragon Knights, was dismissed from his post at Solomon Fortress in September 302 of the Empire, stripped of all his military rank and titles. The charges were dereliction of duty, and..."

"Skip this part, next!"

"In January 303, Princess Ruyue ordered the restoration of all of Ovimas's military rank and titles, but he refused to accept it!"

"What! I understand... Keep reading!"

"In May 304, Ovimas, along with his wife and two men and one woman, a total of five people, moved to Fengdu. He now lives at No. 13 Shangri-La Street and runs a general store to make a living!"

"What, the gecko has come to Fengdu!"

I was overjoyed to learn that Ovimas had moved to Fengdu, but the thought that this general who had made great contributions to the Empire had fallen to the point of having to sell general merchandise made me feel quite bad.

I dismissed Hu'ao, leaned back in my swivel chair, and secretly pondered whether I should use my power to promote Overmas back to my side. My current staff has been living comfortably for too long; few are capable of handling important matters. Should I consider a major overhaul, rebuilding a trusted and competent team of advisors?

"Building my own command system requires more than just one gecko! I need to find other talent. Oh dear, why think so much? Who do you think you are? How could I forget the mess my father left behind? If my power gets too great, I'll probably lose my head. Forget it, I'll just enjoy my days of eating, drinking, and loafing around!"

Having figured this out, I quickly recovered from the initial fervor that had arisen after assuming power. Mentally relaxed, the comfortable swivel chair took on a hypnotic quality. Feeling a bit tired, I leaned back and fell into a deep sleep.

In a daze, I sensed someone enter the room and stand before me, coldly staring at me. Even in my hazy, drowsy state, I recognized her awe-inspiring presence and immediately opened my eyes in shock. Sure enough, Ruyue was standing before my desk, coldly watching me.

"Awake? You seem quite comfortable in this chair!"

"Even His Majesty wouldn't care what kind of chair his subordinates sit in during official business!"

I glanced at Ruyue, unwilling to engage with her serious, stern gaze, and looked down. Ruyue was dressed in a dark blue military uniform, a black leather belt around her waist, and smelled slightly of powder, clearly having just returned from the training grounds.

"As the deputy commander, sleeping during official duties on your very first day—what kind of example are you setting for your subordinates?"

Looking at Ruyue's serious and unsmiling expression, I wondered, if I hadn't been in a coma for nearly three and a half years, what would our relationship have become after all this time? I'd kissed her lips, touched her breasts; we were already quite close. If I hadn't lost those years…

Thinking this, my gaze unconsciously lingered on Ruyue's chest. The blue Nibu military uniform was stretched taut by the pressure of her breasts beneath it. I suddenly wondered if Ruyue were to take a deep breath at this moment, would those brass breasts snap and fall off under the pressure?

"What are you looking at?"

Noticing my gaze on her chest, Ruyue instinctively put her hand to it, but this only made things worse.

"I slept while working, which seems like I deserve punishment! I think we should establish a lot of disciplinary systems. Without punishing me, orders won't be obeyed, which is a major taboo for a general!"

Ruyue still stared at me coldly. We knew each other too well; of course, she didn't believe I was genuinely admitting my mistake.

"Deduct my salary? That seems too lenient! Put me in solitary confinement, the deputy commander being put in solitary confinement on his first day of work seems too harsh! How about this, like before, punch me, bruise my eye, make an example of me, set a bad example for my subordinates!"

Ruyue snorted and said angrily, "I'm serious! I'm not joking!"

"I'm serious too!"

I braced myself on the table and stood up.

"If you can't bring yourself to hit me for something so trivial, that's easy!"

As I spoke, my lewd hand, after three years and ten months, was once again placed on Ruyue's chest.

"You...go to hell!"

A loud crash, the sound of furniture shattering in the deputy commander's office, echoed throughout the building.

Ruyue, her face flushed with shame, fled in a disheveled state. Hu Ao and his staff peeked out from the doorway, exchanging glances and simultaneously shivering. To onlookers, Ruyue had impressively beaten up the deputy commander who was slacking off during work hours, then triumphantly strode away.

"That was terrifying! Just taking a nap during work hours, no need for such violence!"

I groaned, one hand on the wall, the other pressing my sore left eye, as I struggled to my feet. Of course, this was only meant for those outside.

I deeply regretted it; touching Ruyue's chest only resulted in a dark circle under my eye—too easy! I regretted not using my full strength, not striking with both claws simultaneously, that I hadn't done it right.

At noon, I didn't go home but stayed at the officer's office for lunch. Hilla's situation was bothering me, and I was a little afraid to go back and face her. I had just found a seat when a young adjutant approached, saying that Ruyue had invited me to a private room for lunch, saying she had something to discuss with me.

"Off-duty time, no business!"

As soon as I sat down, I picked up the knife and fork on the table to show her my stance. Being a high-ranking officer is different; even after being bruised and battered, someone immediately fawned over me, finding a sorcerer to treat me. The swelling has gone down, but it still hurts a bit.

Ruyue tried her best to maintain her superior's airs in front of me, but unfortunately, because I had taken advantage of her that morning, no matter how much she controlled her facial muscles, she couldn't hide the embarrassment of being groped by me.

She forced a serious tone and snorted, "I'm serious! Stop being so frivolous!"

The appetizer soup was quickly served. I stirred the soup with a spoon, deliberately keeping my head down to avoid looking at Ruyue.

"Looks like you've been very tired and busy lately!"

The hand scooping soup across from me stopped.

"It'll be even more tiring and busy in the future..."

"They manage everything too meticulously! Have you ever heard the saying, 'Human strength has its limits'?"

"There's no way around it, the efficiency here is too low..."

"It's not just this! It's the same everywhere! They manage everything, even if you could be in two places at once, you couldn't handle it all!"

"That's why I need your help!"

At this moment, the cook brought out the first dish, teppanyaki beef. I sat down and started using my knife and fork, but Ruyue didn't touch it.

Ruyue watched me cut a small piece of beef and then poured me a glass of wine.

"I'm only acting as deputy commander right now; I'll be stepping down in a few days."

"The North has too many things to manage; he should get help! Wait, stepping down? Who's so lucky?"

"The person you know, it's Arland!"

I sighed inwardly. Back when Arland climbed the ranks to Ruyue, Overmas and I said he had a bright future, that he'd hit the fast track. Things turned out exactly as we predicted; in less than four years, he'd risen to a position equal to mine.

"Why not Roland? His status and position seem more suitable. Back's judgment isn't bad; Arland's abilities are indeed suitable for this position, but he has no background. Promoting him puts a lot of pressure on both me and him."

The commander of the logistics and reserve forces is a notoriously lucrative position. Not to mention the immense wealth that can be made through embezzlement and misappropriation of national reserves, just drawing salaries from soldiers on empty payrolls is enough to make a fortune. Countless people are eyeing this position. Because it was such a lucrative position, almost none of the dozens of deputy commanders appointed so far managed to escape unscathed.

"I originally wanted to recommend Roland, but he refused and instead recommended Alain to me. You can probably guess why."

I understood, of course. It was a huge piece of meat, and Ruyue's relatives were all eyeing it like wolves, swallowing hard. While Roland was honest and upright, he was still a member of the Fabil family. How would he face his subordinates, who were also his relatives, trying to take advantage of the situation? In contrast, Alain, who had no connection with the Fabil nobles, had fewer of these concerns.

I smiled to indicate I understood, secretly admiring Alain's good fortune.

The chefs brought up our food one after another; they were incredibly efficient, serving everything in less than five minutes. Ruyue waved her hand, signaling everyone unrelated to the matter to leave.

"I need your help, Dark! Like you said, I really can't handle it all by myself."

"I'm a very lazy person, all I know is killing and fighting. This position doesn't seem to suit me."

"You can do it! Father has a very high opinion of you."

I felt a sense of absurdity and ridiculousness. Was I dreaming? Four years ago, I established one great policy after another for the empire, yet I incurred the wrath of heaven and the resentment of the people, making enemies everywhere, and being repeatedly persecuted by the emperor. How could I, after a long sleep, suddenly become a hot commodity again? The world changes so quickly!

I really wanted to ask Ruyue: Did you know that the emperor secretly gave me the position? But I didn't know how to bring it up. Ruyue's expectant gaze remained on me,

so I had to answer her question directly. "I'm not as outstanding as you imagine. In reality, I'm just a lazybones. There are many types of talent, and different people have different uses."

I looked at Ruyue's strikingly beautiful face and sighed inwardly, "If only this woman weren't the future empress!"

I pondered for a moment, reorganizing my thoughts, before continuing,

"Lucifer IV, the son of Emperor Kadewey, also known as Emperor Beren V, is called the Sage Emperor by the demon race. Princess, have you heard of him?"

"Yes, I have! My father once spoke of him to me. He spoke highly of Emperor Beren and his son, calling them the most outstanding and wise emperors the demon race had seen in hundreds of years. If it weren't for them, the demon race would have been wiped out by our ancestor, Reiz."

"Emperor Beren, the Sage Emperor of the demon race, had a unique approach to personnel management."

"How so?"

"Talented people in this world can be divided into four types based on their abilities and personalities."

Ruyue remained silent, her gaze shifting from expectation to inquiry.

"The first type is the capable and hardworking. Emperor Beren would appoint such a person as Minister of Military Affairs, Chief of Military Staff, or senior advisor, or send them to the army as vanguard officers in military campaigns."

Ruyue listened attentively, and after a moment's thought, she nodded and sighed,

"Giving them great power but not real power—how shrewd!"

She didn't say the rest aloud. Those in positions of power are always wary of those who are both intelligent and hardworking. People strive for higher positions, and if one day such a person wanted to climb even higher, perhaps even wanting to experience being emperor, giving them too much real power would be a disaster. Therefore, those who are both capable and hardworking are only to be utilized, not to be given important positions.

"The second type is the capable but unwilling to work; they are appointed as legion commanders or regional governors."

What I meant was that those with ability but no ambition are the ones in positions of power whom superiors feel comfortable entrusting with significant authority.

Ruyue nodded, signaling me to continue.

"The third type of person, those who are neither capable nor willing to work. Princess, what do you think of people like that?"

Ruyue remained silent for a long time before answering me softly.

"I don't really like them..."

"But these are the majority of people around us."

Ruyue smiled bitterly, "I understand, we can only make do with them!"

"The Holy Emperor treated them the same way!"

Ruyue's interest had been piqued, and she seemed quite impatient when she pressed for the fourth type.

"What about the fourth type of person! Those who are incapable but hardworking, are they also just made do with?"

"If we just make do with them, it would be a waste of such talent..."

"Oh?"

"These people seem to have a special use... but I forgot!"

Of course, I hadn't forgotten the so-called special use. I just thought about it for a moment before speaking, and finally decided it was better not to say it. Ruyue didn't press further, smiled gently, and picked up her knife and fork.

After the meal, Ruyue got up to leave first, saying she was going to see Arland to prepare for the handover of power. I saw her off, and just before she got into the car, Ruyue suddenly turned back, smiling at me, and said, "Daxiu, your thoughts on personnel management just now were brilliant!"

"It's not my own idea, it's Emperor Beren's approach to personnel management, something I read in a book, I just borrowed it casually!"

"Really? Which book did you read it in? I'd like to see it too, it's a very insightful approach to personnel management!"

"Which book? I read it a long time ago, I forgot..."

The so-called Emperor Beren's or the Sage Emperor's approach to personnel management were actually all my own thoughts and opinions. It was just that I was mindful of Ruyue's status; if I told her directly, it would sound like I was lecturing her. That's a human weakness, and it would hurt the future empress's feelings, especially since what I said was this kind of thing. Well-intentioned advice that might displease the future empress would be a loss! So I had to go around in circles, using the so-called Emperor Beren's words to express my true thoughts.

However, Ruyue was shrewd, and she saw through my little trick.

"I suddenly realized the special use of the fourth type of person you mentioned!"

I feigned ignorance. "What use?"

"The answer is what I said when I punched you just now!"

Before I could reply, Ruyue climbed into the waiting carriage, closed the door, leaving me outside, sweating and stunned.

"Go to hell? Ze guessed right, what a formidable woman!"

Ruyue was right. The greatest use of someone who is incompetent yet incredibly hardworking is to die, to carry out orders to their death. During the breakout from Slot Fortress, the loyal and hardworking but mediocre old general, Moss, had been given such an order by Emperor Aura: "Go to hell," and he had diligently and loyally carried it out.

I suddenly regretted it; these were all tricks of dealing with people, why teach Ruyue this!

[Main Story Part 5: Dark's Mental Fall - Episode 21: Fallen Angel] Chapter 4: Life is Like a Game of Chess As

the so-called deputy commander, I actually have quite a lot of free time if I don't want to get involved. Looking around, I'm surrounded by strangers; not a single one of them is reliable or trustworthy. That afternoon, I decided to personally go and find Ovimas immediately. Lately, I've had too many headaches. Aside from martial arts, this gecko's talents surpass mine in every aspect. With his help and advice, I can save myself a lot of trouble.

On Shangri-La Street, the houses on both sides are occupied by ordinary people, whose living standards are basically between subsistence and a comfortable middle-class lifestyle. Because I had a detailed address, I easily found the small shop. This general store run by the gecko was a tiny shop, the size of a tofu block, with a worn-out counter, selling only small commodities like oil, salt, soy sauce, and needles and thread.

From afar, I saw Ovimas standing in front of the counter, holding a pen and calculating accounts. I secretly observed him for a while before finally confirming that this ordinary-looking grocery store owner—wearing a white shirt, gray overalls, and small glasses—was the same gecko who had teamed up with me to create the "Gass Horror Incident."

I quietly approached the counter. Noticing a customer enter, Overmas, focused on calculating the bill, didn't look up. He kept his head down and professionally asked what I wanted to buy.

"I want to buy a gecko!"

"What?"

Our eyes met, and the surprise on our faces quickly turned into the joy of reuniting with an old friend. My right hand clasped his, clenching into a fist.

"Do you have any, boss?"

"Yes, two! Do you want them?"

We both laughed loudly.

※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※

Upon learning of our arrival, Overmas's wife prepared tea for us and performed all the proper welcoming rituals before politely withdrawing, allowing us to converse in peace.

"How's life? They haven't been skimping on your pension, have they?"

"I was dismissed from my post, and I didn't get a single penny. But then Princess Ruyue ordered that I be paid the pension of a formally retired legion commander. With the income from the general store, my family of five is doing alright."

"Why did you decide to move to Futo? Things here are much more expensive than elsewhere!"

"I'm from here. I moved elsewhere after meeting my wife. Now that I'm retired, I've come back."

After some polite small talk and inquiring about each other's recent family life, I got down to business.

"Why did you refuse when the princess wanted to reinstate you?"

Overmas touched the frame of his glasses and sighed, "There are far more people in this world who hate me than who like me! Rather than living a life of subservience and having to put up with others, it's much more comfortable to go home and be my general store owner." "

What a pity... I've been promoted now, you know?"

"I heard!"

"Would you like to come and help?"

"Well... now that there's no war, this old sword of mine doesn't seem to be of much use, does it?"

"Old sword?"

On the wall to my right hung a military sword, Overmas's personal sword, its scabbard covered in dust from not being cleaned in so long.

I looked around again: two small bedrooms, a tiny living room, plus a shop outside—this was a standard civilian residence. A little cramped for a family of four. The furniture wasn't exactly dilapidated, but nothing was decent either. After leaving his post, Gecko and his family didn't live comfortably.

I used my silver tongue to keep urging Gecko to come back to my side.

"Am I really that useful? The air at the Commander's Office is nice, the environment is great, and the pay is even better. It's a paradise for loafing around. While you're still young, come and have a look!"

Gecko was silent for a while before asking.

"Is there a place for me?"

"There aren't any good positions for now, but there's plenty of time. I'll make you my senior staff officer for now, a sinecure, but you'll get a corps commander's salary. I still have the power to make personnel decisions. I don't expect you to come every day. Come if you like, chat with me and get paid. If you don't like it, go back to being your general store owner, just a figurehead. You decide your working hours every month! Damn, with such low requirements, you bastard's life is even easier and more comfortable than mine as the deputy commander. What are you hesitating for?"

After retiring for several years, Overmas's temper had become even more profound and reserved. He listened quietly to me, smiling faintly and nodding. After I finished speaking, he slowly said,

"Princess Ruyue has implemented a series of reforms in recent years, claiming to improve the efficiency of the government's civil servants. If you and I really just coast along like you say, I'm afraid it won't last long, will it?"

"We are all military swords used in war! Although we have to put them away in times of peace, even a good sword needs proper maintenance to be effective in crucial moments! Now that there's no war, which of those guys in the command office isn't just coasting along?"

Overmas laughed, "My lord, you're getting better and better at talking! You don't seem like the legendary angel of death at all now!"

"I'm just a lazybones! Would you like to come over?"

Overmas thought for a while before muttering,

"The general store's business seems to be a bit slow lately..."

And that was the end of it. The next day, I added a desk and chair to that beautiful office, as well as a finely crafted coffee table. Of course, all the expenses were reimbursed by the Empire.

※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※

We two, with the mindset of getting a free meal, drinks, and all that work, spent our days idly. Our main activity was gathering two other staff members, finding someone to act as referee, and then, while sipping bubble tea, playing a game of Chinese chess. When we couldn't find enough people, I'd play one-on-one against him, and the time would pass by easily. As for Ruyue, with Overmars and me so openly wasting time, naturally, some scoundrels had already secretly reported it to her. Having learned the principle that superiors should focus on the big picture and let go of the small details, Ruyue pretended not to know and didn't bother us for the time being.

On the fourth day, in my third game of chess with Overmars, I was once again in a passive position. After making a bad move, Gecko's "rook" captured my "queen," and the situation suddenly became hopelessly hopeless.

"Sir, you seem troubled!"

"Oh!"

I replied without changing my expression or even blinking, staring at the chessboard. I slowly sipped the freshly delivered juice, knowing that Gecko had more to say.

"We've played twelve games in the past few days. Your openings have been good, but in the middle game, the game often inexplicably spirals out of control, leading to some unbelievable blunders."

I knew exactly what was going on, but pretended to be clueless as I retorted to Gecko.

"Perhaps you have a talent for chess, but playing for too long makes your mind unclear and your thinking chaotic."

"This morning, you drank two cups of bubble tea, plus this big cup of watermelon juice, that's three cups! If you count the total over the past four days, that's about twenty cups... That's not something an ordinary person can do. People with worries tend to overeat and overdrink."

"I like these things, and the price at Officer Shuu is much cheaper than outside! I love taking advantage of small things!"

"Most importantly, and what I find strange is that you're not a workaholic, sir. Your home is only two blocks from here, but you haven't gone home for lunch these past few days. I know you're picky about food, and Chef Shuu's cooking isn't really to your liking."

"The women in my family often poison the cats and mice that steal their food. Besides, I'm not picky. During the war, I ate all the junk food the army provided just fine!"

I pushed all the chess pieces over the board, conceding defeat. Seeing my stubborn refusal, Overmas smiled and quietly tidied the chessboard. My cooperation with him was already quite smooth, and I didn't want to say more; Gecko wouldn't press the issue or meddle.

"You shouldn't have become a general store owner after quitting your job! Being a detective would have suited you much better!"

After a moment of silence, I decided to confide my troubles to Overmas and hear his opinion.

"I can't hide it from you; I've indeed encountered quite a few troubling things lately."

With no outsiders around, I closed the door and first told Ovimas about the emperor's bestowal of marriage and his demands. I made my stance clear to Ovimas: I wouldn't refuse to sleep with Ruyue, but I didn't want to be her husband. However, I couldn't abandon the women at home to marry her.

"What a pity, sir! If you really married Princess Ruyue, you would naturally rise to great heights, and I would rise with you! What a wonderful thing!"

I rolled my eyes at Ovimas. After not seeing him for several years, this guy had become quite slick. Was it the occupational hazard of a merchant after being a grocery store owner for so long?

"You're really joking! What about yourself? Why did you refuse the princess's kindness back then?"

"Likewise, sir. After returning home, didn't you also settle down to be a small restaurant owner?"

I smiled bitterly. Being a restaurant owner was a distant memory for me.

"Sir, you're not someone who cares about fame and fortune, so what's there to worry about?"

Gecko didn't directly give me advice on whether to marry or not, but his words already made his stance clear. I glanced at Overmas again. After years of self-cultivation, he seemed even younger than before. His half-open eyes, mostly devoid of any brilliance, only occasionally revealed a glimmer of shrewdness in a ray of light that drifted towards me.

"Thirty is the age of establishment, forty the age of clarity! This saying is absolutely true. This gecko is practically a spirit now!"

I secretly rejoiced. Luckily, we were kindred spirits and had formed a near-friendship. If he were my enemy, I wouldn't be able to sleep at night.

After a slight hesitation, I told Overmas about my second headache.

"Have you heard of my father?"

"Duke Keith Schneider? I've heard of him, and I even met him! But back then I was just a lowly soldier in a sea of men! I recognized him, but he didn't recognize me."

I whispered, "My father did a lot of dirty things in his life, really dirty things, the kind that get you beheaded! And on a large scale!"

"Hmm..."

"After he died, those dirty things were temporarily forgotten. But the tails are still there! Now those tails are coming after me, and it's quite troublesome!"

I didn't want to reveal my father's conspiracy, so I used vague words, thinking that with Overmas's shrewdness, he would understand.

"Tails? What kind of tails?"

I spoke too cryptically, and Overmas had a hard time understanding.

"It's the partner who went with him to do those shady things! Shady things, you can imagine how shady they were, even more shady than you can imagine..."

"Hmm, I understand, go on!"

Realizing I was revealing a huge secret, Overmas remained expressionless and his tone unchanged, moving one of his pawns in the upper left corner of the board forward.

I followed suit and continued, "Their purpose in seeking me out, though not explicitly stated, is probably to have me inherit my father's estate and will."

Because we couldn't afford to be distracted while discussing important matters, we started playing rapid chess. Multitasking, thinking quickly, almost acting on instinct and intuition.

"So how did you deal with it?"

"I pretended to be crazy and ran away!"

"Not the best way, but it won't do any harm for now, though it's not a long-term solution."

"Do you have any suggestions? Feel free to speak freely, don't hold back."

Overmas held a piece and pondered for a moment before making a move with a click.

"Method One: Find an opportunity to sell those people out! If necessary, you can sell your father, Lord Keith Schneider, too!"

"Sell my dad? To betray family for the greater good? What audacity! To sever all ties with Dad, dig him up and whip his corpse? What a suggestion! You really came up with that! Hehe, actually I've thought of that too, but there seems to be something wrong with it."

While listening to Gecko's suggestion, I suddenly had a small doubt in my mind. Could Dad have been involved in that ridiculous conspiracy he orchestrated back then?

"If you confess proactively, His Majesty shouldn't blame you, but he might have some reservations!"

"Yes, there are gains and losses! Do you have any better suggestions?"

"Method Two: Find a way to secretly eliminate all those partners! Kill them to silence them, and be done with it!"

"That's a good move, but unfortunately, I only know about the exposed parts of my father's partners. To kill them all without leaving a trace, the practical possibility is almost zero!"

"Method Three: Be mindful of your words and actions, and find a way to make His Majesty understand that you and your father are completely different types of people. When the time is right, you can combine Method One and Method Two depending on the situation."

"I still can't escape the fate of being desecrated and silenced, but it sounds like a very good suggestion. I will consider it carefully!"

After saying a few words, I had already made more than ten moves in the game, and I was once again at a disadvantage.

"I'm curious, with your wisdom, sir, although this matter is troublesome, it shouldn't be to the point of not wanting to go home, right?"

I smiled, neither confirming nor denying.

"Is your backyard on fire?"

The third thing I'd been hesitating to say was finally revealed by Gecko.

"The woman I love most has gotten me into big trouble! More troublesome than Dad's inheritance, leaving me with very little room to maneuver."

"What kind? Can you be more specific?"

"No!"

I firmly refused Overmas, and Gecko immediately shut up.

"It's not that I don't want to tell you, it's that I can't! If you find out, it'll drag you into it too! You have a wife and children, I don't want to hurt you!"

"I understand!"

Overmas didn't speak, focusing on the chess game. We quickly made another dozen moves, and by this time I was forced into a defensive posture.

"Want to hear my story? My wife's. What do you think of my wife?"

"Your wife is quite virtuous, a good woman." "

But do you know what she used to do?"

"What did she do?"

"She was a dancer, and she was kept by rich men, slept with them..."

"Ah!"

"You didn't expect that, did you..." "

I didn't expect that..."

"When I proposed to her, she wasn't willing because of her past profession. You can probably guess her concerns."

"I understand!"

"Guess what I answered her?"

Looking at my expectant gaze, Overmas took a step with ease.

"I said I can let go of everything, so what can't I let go of!"

"..."

"It's that simple. Later, she married me, and we've been very happy ever since!"

I was stunned for a moment, and after a long time, I sincerely said to Overmas, "Congratulations! I envy you! And thank you!"

"In matters of the heart, sometimes it's better to consider complex issues from a simpler perspective."

Gecko smiled calmly.

"Hope this helps! General! I'm sorry, your chariot is beyond saving!"

"Damn it... I made a mistake, can I take it back?"

"Life is like a game of chess, once a move is made, there's no going back! There's no reason to take it back."

Gecko's words were profound and thought-provoking.

"I used to think I was good at letting go of everything, but I was wrong!"

"Dragging things out will only make things worse! For the ultimate goal, you should learn to sacrifice the most important things. Checkmate! Your knight is finished!"

I looked at the chessboard; my pieces were almost all gone, and I was doomed to lose. Suddenly, an idea struck me. I grabbed my king and used it to checkmate Overmars's king.

"Damn it! I've moved my king across the board, checkmating you!"

"Move your king across the board? That's cheating!" "There

are no fixed rules in chess! Rules are rigid, but people are flexible! I'm the one playing chess; how can a living person be bound by rigid rules!"

"You're changing the rules!"

"No rules are my rules!"

Overmars, who had "lost" the game, laughed, and I laughed too. Although his words didn't directly help me, they inspired me, and I finally managed to sort out some of the chaos in my mind.

[Main Story Part 5: Dark's Mental Breakdown, Episode 21: Fallen Angel] Chapter 5: The Failed Dance of Ledin

After spending five days with me playing chess and four-player Chinese chess, Ruyue finally appeared. Her appearance was for Ovimas, to restore his title and elevate him to earl.

At the same time, Ruyue personally delivered an invitation to both him and me, inviting us to a grand ball to be held at the palace, supposedly for me and Arland, the two newly appointed commanders.

"A formidable woman, she knows how to win people over!"

"How does it feel to have your title restored? Have you noticed? These past few days, the way your staff and colleagues have been looking at you is practically murderous! Now their eyes are practically bulging out!"

"They spend all day playing chess with you, doing nothing, yet they're paid the salary of a legion commander, significantly higher than everyone else around them. Anyone would be envious!" "

Now they finally know what kind of person you are, so they shouldn't be envious anymore, right? Don't worry, over the next few years, I'll slowly reshuffle the people here. By the way, can you bring your wife and children to this party, the whole family?!"

"No, I'm fine going to that kind of place by myself!"

I knew what Overmas was worried about. I had too many enemies with him, and my wife had a history of prostitution. If others used that against me, it would be troublesome. So I didn't say anything more.

※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※ After three and a half years of slumber, things had changed drastically in Fengdu City, but the magnificent royal ball still retained its original charm and style. Under the high-hanging crystal chandeliers, luxurious carpets, fine champagne and wine, meticulously prepared food and desserts, amber wall hangings, centuries-old antique vases, and precious jewels everywhere, along with long gowns adorned with countless gemstones. Exquisitely dressed, beautiful females and dashing, handsome males filled every brightly lit corner.

Arland and I were undoubtedly the stars of the ball. I was not yet twenty-five years old, and after nearly four years of slumber, I had suddenly risen to this enviable position, truly astonishing everyone—just a few months before I was severely injured by the Dragon King, I had been imprisoned by the Emperor for committing a crime, almost losing my head.

However, I am a Dragon Warrior, a descendant of the Dark Dragon lineage, and my previously undeniable military prestige makes it somewhat acceptable. But Arland, standing shoulder to shoulder with me, becoming a deputy commander is unbelievable to everyone.

Arland is thirty-one years old this year, at the peak of his life! Born a commoner with no background, he was once a commander of ten thousand in the Knights of the Mighty Kingdom, but was later dismissed. When the Warcraft Alliance invaded the Empire, he distinguished himself in the war and caught the eye of Ruyue, who took him in as a confidant. From then on, his career skyrocketed. Within a few years, Ruyue repeatedly promoted him, and now he has risen to a position equal to mine.

This guy is now standing ramrod straight beside me, in his military uniform, standing like a soldier, obediently waiting for the emperor's arrival. Arland's meteoric rise naturally attracted the jealousy of many, and in the bustling crowd, there were bound to be those who pointed fingers and gossiped behind his back. But Roland remained unfazed by any external forces, head held high, eyes fixed straight ahead, his expression so serious it made one want to laugh but dared not.

In contrast, I, in a black tailcoat, stood casually beside him, a glass of red wine in one hand, appearing rather relaxed and unrefined. I held my wine glass in my right hand, slowly sipping, my eyes darting around, taking in everything around me.

Roland, who had voluntarily relinquished his position to someone else, now stood beside the Emperor's throne, giving Roland an encouraging thumbs-up. His act of humility in giving up the opportunity for promotion to Roland earned him even more trust from Ruyue, and coupled with his own royal status, his future career was equally bright.

"Is the Emperor nearing his end? Judging from the situation, Ruyue is already preparing to take over!"

Aland and Roland are just representative figures; in recent years, Ruyue has built her own power base. With Emperor Aura consciously transferring power, although she hasn't officially ascended the throne, she's already exercising imperial authority.

Looking at the empty throne, I suddenly thought of Kayura. This witch is now an all-powerful emperor in the demon realm, while on the human side, Ruyue, also a woman, is not far from her coronation. Kayura is practically my wife, and Ruyue… I've touched and squeezed her

breasts, kissed her lips, and licked her ears. If I agree to the Emperor's marriage, this woman who will soon become the most powerful in the world will also be unable to escape the fate of groaning beneath me…

My heart skipped a beat, but then I remembered the Emperor's demand: to discard my former pleasures like worn-out shoes. Such an inhumane thing, I knew I couldn't do it.

I scanned the crowd, searching for Sheila. I found her avoiding everyone, hiding alone in an inconspicuous corner, quietly drinking.

"Hey, how did it come to this!"

If it weren't for Sheila's situation, my current situation would actually be quite good. Everyone is optimistic about me and vying for my attention. My only worry is that I can only choose one of the two options, not have it all.

After talking with Overmas, I've been hesitating between the middle and lower options proposed by Lagus. My gaze swept past Sheila and turned to another corner. Duke Himia's group had arrived too. Kali, Cass, Shorty, and One-Eyed Ghost—the four of them were gathered there, whispering about something, occasionally glancing at me.

"This honey is so sticky! When will I ever be able to wash it off!"

The trouble my father left behind might not be as bad as I imagined. Now it seems that Emperor Aura is actually a very shrewd guy; everyone underestimated him because of his homosexuality. He probably knew everything about my father's conspiracy back then, but was just pretending not to. I confessed to the emperor that I betrayed Duke Himea and his group; he probably already knew everything, and might even be happy about it.

While observing my surroundings, I noticed that the gazes directed at Aland weren't filled with as many hateful daggers as those directed at me, but rather with arrows of jealousy. No wonder; after less than four years with Ruyue, he went from an unknown school instructor to the position of deputy commander, even above Muse and Dicanio, only half a rank lower than the old Red Armor Dragon—a truly rapid rise. I haven't had much contact with Aland, but I know he's a responsible, steady, and reliable person. To repay Ruyue's kindness, I will surely dedicate myself wholeheartedly, working diligently and tirelessly until my dying breath. If such a guy, holding the high position of deputy commander, were to be even slightly more rigid and incompetent, he would surely cut off countless people's livelihoods, causing them sleepless nights and loss of appetite. His future enemies would certainly rival mine.

"Where's your brother, Robin? I haven't seen him here."

"He's serving in the military; he hasn't returned!"

As deputy commander, holding a high position, no matter what, some shady things will inevitably happen. I desperately need a trusted and reliable person to handle these matters for me. This person must not only be clever but also absolutely trustworthy. Robin is intelligent and quick-witted, and he admires me greatly; he's always been my top choice. I inquired with Aland and learned that Robin had enlisted in the military two years ago.

"Where is he serving in the military, and when will he be back?"

"He's serving in Yingfeng Gorge now, and it'll be three years before he comes back. Two years have already passed."

I almost jumped up. "Another year? He's already served in Yingfeng Gorge for two years! According to regulations, ordinary soldiers can't serve in Yingfeng Gorge for more than two consecutive years! Do you know what kind of place that is? I passed through there when we were on our expedition against the demons. It's a vast desert, with strong winds all year round, and not even birds leave droppings there..."

"He needs more training! This kid is too unreliable!

" "Once he becomes more reliable, he'll lose the unique spirit of a child!" "

Smoothing out too many rough edges is good for him!"

"Young people without rough edges are mostly... well, never mind, I won't say anymore."

From Aland's calm tone and expression, I knew that Robin being sent to that godforsaken place was definitely his idea. Aland was a favorite of Ruyue, and many people were jealous of him, and even more wanted to flatter him. If it weren't for Arland's deliberate arrangement, a new recruit would generally never be sent to this godforsaken place.

What I didn't say was, "Young people without sharp edges are mostly talentless good-for-nothings!"

Looking at Arland's rigid and serious expression, I suddenly thought of Muse. These two guys are really similar in many ways. For example, they are both equally stubborn and very strict with themselves and others. Being his younger brother must be really tough.

We're not on the same page, and if we continue talking, we might start arguing. I ignored Arland and turned my gaze elsewhere. Of the dragon warriors present today, besides myself, Ruyue, and Little Kristin, Josie and Muse were also there. Josie was still the same as before, his appearance and spirit hadn't changed much in three years, but his power was on the verge of the fifth transformation. During the years I was in a coma, Josie was appointed by the Emperor as an inspector, responsible for criminal cases occurring anywhere in the Empire. His position was only one rank below Grand Judge Hammerabi, and on par with me, the deputy commander. Silverwing Dragon, known for his integrity, is absolutely trustworthy in terms of fairness and selflessness.

Josie is notoriously ruthless, and unlike me, he doesn't have a plethora of scandalous affairs. Because of this, before the ball began, there were hardly any bees or butterflies fluttering around him. Only his girlfriend, Feather, and a few subordinates, six or seven people in a circle, were talking amongst themselves.

Josie, Arland, and I are the three of the fastest-promoted people in the Empire in recent years. Promoting new talent and transferring power, Emperor Aura is clearly paving the way for Ruyue's succession. After the Dragon Warrior completed his seventh transformation, the curse took effect; death was already knocking at his bedroom door, and he could die at any moment. The Wise Sage Nocha. The technique left by Danmas to evade the Heavenly Tribulation, the Unity of Heaven and Man, is not a perfect way to avoid it because the time required to enter the state of Unity is too long (except for the Sea Dragon, who has mastered magic), and the Heavenly Tribulation is activated too quickly. Even after escaping the heavenly tribulation, the Dragon Plague, a nightmarish disease that has plagued dragon warriors for centuries, remains an incurable ailment that strikes fear into their hearts.

Aside from a very few exceptionally powerful mythical-level dragon warriors, most can only survive for five or six years before being defeated by the heavenly tribulation or the Dragon Plague. It's been almost five years since Emperor Aura completed his seventh transformation. If news of his sudden death were to spread now, no one would be surprised. His sudden change in attitude towards me is probably a case of "a dying man speaks kindly."

As for that philanderer—Duke Ruyaqi—when I mentioned him to Aunt Brigitte a few years ago, she dismissed him as an insignificant clown. But as my understanding of the Emperor deepens, I now realize that the situation is not as simple as outsiders imagine. The philanderer, seemingly relying on the Emperor's power, is merely a pawn in the Emperor's hands, a pawn used to balance the various factions. Since I had only recently taken office and spent my days playing chess and sleeping, we hadn't had any interaction yet. Even when we brushed past each other at the ball, we would simply turn our heads away, pretending not to see each other.

As for Muse, he had become stronger, and compared to his youth, he possessed a more solemn and composed air characteristic of a soldier. Josie and I had both been promoted, but he, being older than us, remained in the same position; this pressure didn't seem to have much of an effect on him. Noticing me observing him, Muse raised his glass and offered me a friendly toast from afar. But I was thinking to myself, Muse's father doesn't have many years left to live; will he be the one to take over his father's position?

I raised my glass in return to Muse, but my gaze lingered on the young man beside him—that burly, somewhat clueless fellow—who had caught my attention at first glance.

"This guy? A simpleton? Xiao Yi called him 'Stupid'? The Emperor and Cadus called him an idiot, could this be him?"

Judging by appearance, this man was even taller than Muse, with a muscular build like an ox, and his whole demeanor resembled that of an ox. Any normal person who glanced at him would think he was a dim-witted, rather honest and dull person. Although he was several paces away, dressed impeccably, I could still smell that naive air about him from a distance. To use G?del's favorite insult, he would definitely say he was a inferior product of inbreeding, and according to the law of survival of the fittest, should be humanely euthanized.

Having sat next to Muse for less than five minutes, he kept reaching for the food on the table, his movements crude and ill-mannered, so much so that the two middle-aged noble couples beside him—who seemed to be his parents—had to occasionally slap his hand to remind him, lest his embarrassing eating habits invite ridicule.

"Compared to Rafa, he's worlds apart. How could Ruyue, that proud and arrogant woman, choose her as her husband?"

I observed carefully for a long time, thinking and thinking, but I still couldn't understand. Just then, the late Emperor arrived, accompanied by Queen Liana. Queen Liana's residence was so desolate that it was unbelievable, but in public, the Emperor still gave her the airs befitting a queen.

The routine appointment ceremony for the new commander ended quickly. During the ceremony, the emperor, aside from his public remarks, didn't say anything else to me. But the message conveyed in his piercing gaze told me he was asking, "Have you thought it through regarding the marriage to my daughter?"

"Why do I still feel so uncomfortable when the emperor is so kind to me?" What

puzzled me most was that Ruyue should have been present at this event long ago, but she hadn't appeared by the end of the new commander's appointment ceremony. This was very unusual…

※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※ ※※※

Just seconds after the brief ceremony ended, a small commotion suddenly broke out in the crowd near the entrance. The groups of people who had been whispering in small groups all stopped talking at once. Those in the front row stared wide-eyed, while those in the back stood on tiptoe, craning their necks. Then, a gap quickly appeared in the human wall.

Ruyue, who should have appeared long ago but was late, arrived at the door arm in arm with the little princess, leaving everyone speechless and rubbing their eyes in disbelief.

"When did the iceberg turn into a volcano? Is this Ruyue?"

Ruyue, dressed in a fiery red evening gown, the well-tailored design perfectly showcasing her curvaceous figure. She wore a silver hair clip, an orange crystal necklace, and purple crystal lipstick, appearing radiant at the entrance. A flower pattern embroidered in gold thread on the left chest of the gown contrasted with her tanned skin, which had turned a healthy glow from years of exposure to the sun and wind, under the light. Her long golden hair was styled into a high bun, secured with hair clips, shining brightly on her head. The arrogance I once disliked about her had now transformed into the unique nobility of a royal princess. Her phoenix eyes held a commanding presence, her gaze sharp as lightning, and wherever she looked, those who met her invariably lowered their heads.

Under the crystal chandelier, her bright, confident eyes, sparkling lips, and the crystal necklace around her neck complemented each other, exuding nobility, splendor, dynamism, and boundless radiance—breathtakingly beautiful.

A perfect blend of maturity and nobility, beauty and sensuality, sexy, alluring, and enchanting—all words of praise seemed fitting for Ruyue, yet also superfluous.

The little princess, who entered the hall hand in hand with Ruyue, while not as radiant as her elder sister, possessed her own fresh and charming allure.

She wore a pure white evening gown with a white sash hanging at her waist. Although her figure wasn't as tall and athletic as Ruyue's, her petite and delicate frame was equally endearing.

She wore light pink lipstick, no headdress, and her equally beautiful long hair was simply tied in a ponytail with a purple ribbon, swaying with her sweet smile. Her soft skin was delicate and flawless, and her bright, inquisitive eyes swept over the guests, occasionally offering a sweet smile that was as refreshing as a spring breeze. The only thing that seemed out of place with her beautiful face was her overly full breasts, which seemed disproportionate to her petite figure and undoubtedly attracted a lot of attention.

The little princess, like a lively little sprite, nestled close to Ruyue, her playful demeanor revealing her dependence on her older sister. Ruyue's gaze towards her younger sister fully displayed the older sister's doting affection. Everyone in the empire knew that Ruyue was the emperor's most precious child, while the little princess was Ruyue's heart and soul.

Ruyue was the radiant sun, and the little princess was the serene and elegant moon. The sunlight shone brightly, yet dared not be looked at for long, for it would be a desecration of her breathtaking beauty and nobility; the bright moon, fresh and elegant, made one yearn to gaze upon it more, and everyone wanted to embrace it and cherish it.

The regal Ruyue was a celestial beauty, too powerful to behold, while the little princess, with a perpetually sweet smile, was the lovable girl next door. The mature and noble elder sister, the innocent and beautiful younger sister, one in red, one in white, their contrasting styles complementing each other. Though many beauties were present, they all paled in comparison. Each held their breath, looking at the elder sister, then at the younger, lamenting in unison the injustice of fate.

I recovered from the stunned silence a few seconds earlier than the others; after all, I had had intimate contact with both women, and my resistance was slightly stronger. I stole a glance at Emperor Aura; a profound smile played on his lips. Clearly, this was all his doing.

The Emperor quickly noticed me secretly watching him. He gave me a meaningful nod, his expression seeming to say: "See? This is my daughter. What are you hesitating for? Don't be ungrateful!"

Today was a special day, and the Emperor's demeanor clearly indicated that I needed to make a decision tonight. I didn't know where Shira and I were headed, but I couldn't ignore Emperor Aura's relentless pressure.

I decided to resolve these two troubling issues tonight. When the Emperor announced the start of the ball, I made the first decisive move.

I walked up to Ruyue and invited her to dance. After a moment of surprise, Ruyue hesitated. My sudden action caught her off guard.

"Sister!"

At this crucial moment, the little princess, who had been leaning on Ruyue, gently nudged her from behind. To Ruyue, her beloved younger sister's sweet, coquettish voice was more effective than anything else. When Ruyue reluctantly extended her delicate hand for me to hold, the little princess gave me a celebratory wink.

After leading Ruyue onto the dance floor, I suddenly realized the situation was completely out of control. From the moment I approached Ruyue, we became the center of attention. Originally, I just wanted to take advantage of the party, when everyone was dancing and reveling, to sneak in a dance with Ruyue and use the opportunity to clarify some ambiguities. But who knew that after Ruyue and I entered the dance floor hand in hand, everyone around us spontaneously stopped dancing and moved aside, leaving only Ruyue and me on the huge dance floor.

"Damn it, I didn't want to attract so much attention!"

Ruyue's face flushed slightly, and standing before her, I felt a little flustered under everyone's gaze. Fortunately, I'm experienced in this area; after taking a few deep breaths, I quickly calmed down.

Unfortunately, even though our previously strained relationship has greatly improved, my encounter with Ruyue at the dance floor still couldn't escape the fate of verbal sparring. If the atmosphere weren't so unsuitable for fighting, we probably would have ended up punching and kicking each other, even drawing swords.

"Lin, I'm very feminine today!"

"Dark, you're still as disgusting as ever!"

"I'm sincerely praising you!" "

What a idiotic compliment! I am a woman!"

Hearing Ruyue "proclaim" that I am a woman, I couldn't help but laugh. The words Melia had said to Ruyue in that little tavern years ago echoed in my ears again.

"The gender of the North has always been difficult to discern. Forgive my ignorance!"

"Are you itching for a beating again..."

When the royal band started playing dance music, not only were Ruyue and I somewhat bewildered, but the surrounding guests were equally surprised.

"Gladiator's Song? Why is that music? Are we going to dance the Raiders? It doesn't seem right here!"

"Father chose it, I don't know either!"

"I see, does that mean all I know how to dance is this?"

"Nonsense!"

Ruyue was furious with my words. I found that Ruyue, dressed elegantly and charmingly, looked especially beautiful when angry, which made me even more eager to tease her. Although she threatened me fiercely, Ruyue was actually afraid of my fiery gaze. Before the dance began, she would either intentionally lower her head or glance in other directions, avoiding direct eye contact with me.

"Lin, you're blushing!"

"Believe me or not, I'll gouge your eyes out!"

"You look so beautiful when you're angry!"

...

The Ledin dance demands extremely high physical fitness from the dancers. In addition to having a lithe body, one must also possess excellent flexibility and explosive power. Due to the extremely demanding physical requirements, it is usually only performed by a few elite members of dance troupes who make a living through performance. I once saw Rosa teach students to dance it at school, but few could learn it. As for those pampered nobles, they would never dance such an extremely difficult dance. Of course, the high physical requirements weren't an obstacle for me and Ruyue, because influenced by Rosa, I could actually dance that kind of dance.

The piece the band played was an interlude from a very popular opera in the Empire, *Carmen's Love*, about a young man named Carmen who falls in love with the king's most beloved daughter. To win the princess's heart and the king's favor, he sells himself into the arena as a gladiator, relying on courage and strength to earn the fame of a hero, ultimately winning the heart of the beauty.

"The Gladiator's Song from *Carmen's Love*, Your Majesty, you really know how to create an atmosphere!"

The emperor playing this piece on such an occasion had an unspoken meaning. He had put in a lot of effort, but unfortunately, my so-called first date with Ruyue started off like a routine stalemate.

Ruyue was already tall and slender, and her natural beauty, combined with long-term exercise, had sculpted a devilishly fit and healthy physique. The woman in my arms was like a beautiful yet dangerous female serpent.

It was the first time I'd ever been so intimately embracing Ruyue in public. My hand, around her waist, felt the heat and vitality emanating from her skin through the fabric, and my heart raced. If it weren't for the fact that we were in a public hall, I would have kissed her without hesitation, even if it meant getting a swollen face.

"Lin, I look very charming today!"

"That's obvious!"

"Ouch! Princess, these shoes have no grudge against you, please leave them alone!"

"Lin, your waist is so beautiful!"

"Boring!"

"Looks like I misunderstood. It's not that I hate the shoes, it's just that my technique is terrible, poor shoes..." "

Go to hell!"

"Lin..."

"Go to hell, go to hell!"

"I didn't say anything..."

"Go to hell, go to hell, go to hell!"

The intense dance moves were accompanied by fast-paced music, and the usual banter occurred simultaneously. I was the one who started the fight. No matter how many times I reminded myself beforehand, I couldn't help but provoke Ruyue every time I faced her. Whether it was during my childhood when she used to beat me and make me run around like a rat

, or now when I'm becoming less afraid of her and even dare to tease her. The melody grew louder and louder, and the dance steps became faster and faster. Ruyue and I, with our hands clasped together, would sometimes clench our arms and bend our elbows, our hands intertwined, and sometimes straighten and separate. Ruyue's eyes would sometimes reveal anger, and sometimes a hint of shyness. No matter how her gaze changed, the two red clouds on her face would never fade.

"Lin, do you remember what I said when we first fought?"

"What?"

"Back then, I said that when I suddenly ascended the throne, I would kill me, the person I hated the most, and I said..."

Recalling the scene of shouting that I wanted to marry Ruyue as a child, I couldn't help but laugh.

The dance reached its climax. Ruyue, supporting herself on one toe, spun around like a top a dozen times, her red skirt billowing in the air. Standing in the traditional pose, I gazed at this woman, a woman of unparalleled beauty and strength, burning like a raging fire before me. I thought to myself, if I could conquer this tigress, my life would be complete.

"Stop daydreaming! Don't think that just because my father is in love, I'll marry you!"

These words, uttered without thinking, made me realize one thing: Ruyue already knew about the emperor's secret affairs.

I took a few steps, then reached out my right hand and embraced Ruyue's waist as she came to a stop.

"I'm curious, why did I choose that guy?"

"That's my business!"

I had expected Ruyue's answer and smiled.

"Actually, I didn't want to marry Yao either!"

Without giving Ruyue a chance to show her expression or object, I used my other hand to lift her high, spinning her around in place. This is the most difficult move in the Raider dance, and clumsy dancers often end up spraining their backs in a comical way.

"His Majesty's demand is that I abandon all the women in my household! I truly love them, this is impossible!!"

"Bei is the future Empress, and she probably wouldn't tolerate Kai's husband having affairs, much less marry a scoundrel who would abandon his old love for a new one!"

The dance was nearing its end. After completing the last move, I stopped, putting one arm around Ruyue's waist, her body leaning back at a sixty-degree angle.

A round of enthusiastic applause erupted around us. Ruyue slowly straightened up, and I released my hand from her lower back.

"What do you want to say!"

Ruyue's expression wasn't good. Although I had angered her repeatedly, it was only outwardly angry; her eyes were dull, and I could tell she was truly upset.

I uttered the most shameless words of my life to Ruyue.

"How about you become my mistress, Bei?"

After a moment of stunned silence, the Achilles' heel hidden in my left arm suddenly trembled with fear. Sparks flew from Ruyue's eyes, and almost simultaneously, a fist slammed into my right eye socket.

"Dark. Xiunaida, you bastard!"

Amidst Ruyue's furious roar, in front of countless guests, my body was sent flying, tracing an arc in the air before being thrown backward in the most pathetic way, crashing heavily to the ground.

"Ugh, did I say something wrong?"

I shook my head, opening my uninjured left eye, only to see Ruyue tear the necklace from her neck and slam it to the ground, then turn and walk away, pushing aside the stunned crowd. The orange crystal beads jingled and bounced on the marble floor...

"Sister!"

The little princess was the first to react. She chased after Ruyue's shadow and ran out. When she was almost at the door, she suddenly turned around and shouted at me:

"Brother, you're so stupid!"

The surrounding guests were dead silent. No one dared to say anything. The one who was in the worst mood after this happened was not Ruyue or me, but Emperor Aura sitting on the throne.

In that awkward and somber moment, a man walked up to me, reached out his right hand, and pulled me up from the ground. He laughed and said, "Marquis Schneider, no wonder my father always said that you and the princess are natural enemies! You always fight whenever you're together! After all these years, you still haven't changed!"

The man who pulled me up was Muse. He shook his head helplessly, a rare smile on his face.

"Yes, yes, Lin is really something, she's so old, yet she's still like a wild girl..."

Roland also chimed in to smooth things over for me. Under their prompting, the opportunistic guests quickly echoed him, and a chorus of fake laughter filled the hall, finally easing the tense atmosphere.

"That guy Muse... I never thought he would be the one to help me..."

The embarrassing scene was barely covered up, but Emperor Aura on the throne... I think he must want to tear me apart right now...

Everything returned to calm for the time being. Xuezhi and Rosa came over and asked me what happened. I was in a bad mood and shook my head, not wanting to answer.

Little Kristin, who was treating my injuries, sighed and said, "Big brother, what you just said was really too much!"

"What? You heard everything?"

"Have you forgotten that I'm a magician? Even though you lowered your voices and it was noisy around us, I still managed to hear you."

"Little Kristin, am I really that stupid?"

"Of course, big brother, how could you say such things to the princess! Even if you don't want to marry the princess, there's no need to express it this way! It's really... too shameless..."

Little Kristin shook his head vigorously. What I found strange was that when Little Kristin mentioned my marriage to the princess, Rosa and Xuezhi, who had previously looked extremely unpleasant, relaxed at the same time after hearing Little Kristin's words. Xuezhi even showed a faint smile.

I wondered to myself, "They weren't surprised at all. Did they already know about the Emperor's arranged marriage?" "

Just now, when you and the princess were dancing, someone nearby said that His Majesty was secretly going to give Princess Lu to you! I thought it was just a silly rumor, but it turns out it's true!"

"So Ruyue took my words as a public rejection of the marriage..."

I hadn't directly rejected the marriage; actually, my purpose in saying that was more of a test, but the consequences were far beyond my expectations.

"Huh? Where's Sheila? I don't see her!"

I then realized that Sheila wasn't beside me.

Rosa pouted and scolded, "You only think of her now? While you were dancing with the princess, Sheila heard about the emperor's arranged marriage and stormed off! Look how tightly you and the princess were hugging..."

Xuezhi tugged at Rosa's sleeve, "Don't talk nonsense! Didn't Little Kristin say that Daxiu rejected the princess? It was just a dance!"

There are gains and losses. This terrible misunderstanding, although it angered the emperor and hurt Ruyue's heart, allowed me to protect the woman in my home. It's a blessing in disguise.

"Go and bring Sheila back! Daxiu, you finally didn't let us down!"

Without Xuezhi's reminder, I rushed out to chase after Sheila. I had a feeling that if I didn't bring her back tonight, I would truly lose her forever.

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