Chapter 70
The old emperor squinted at her, neither letting go nor speaking.
Serinda took a deep breath and smiled, "Father, the people you arrange may not fail. But it's different for me. If I ask him to discuss something and have a drink with me, I think... the chance of success will be higher."
The old emperor asked: "Aren't you worried... that he will hate you?" His cloudy but still sharp eyes seemed to see into the depths of Serinda's heart.
"Even if you sent someone to do this, he would still hate me if he wanted to." Serinda said frankly, "But, father, you know that my greatest wish is that he can stay with me." She pursed her lips and said a little sadly, "If the price of realizing my wish is his hatred... I think I can accept it. Moreover, I will treat him very well, so well that one day, he will forget his hatred for me."
The old emperor stared at his daughter for a moment, then slowly revealed a satisfied smile. He patted his daughter's hand and said, "Good girl, you have finally grown up. Well, I'll leave this matter to you. I'll let Lance go with you. If you can't do it, it's the same to let him do it."
Serinda's body froze, but her expression didn't change at all. She looked at the old emperor's pleased smile, but her heart was chilled.
She naturally understood that Lance was actually someone her father had sent to spy on her. He was not convinced by Serinda's words, but he was willing to pretend to believe what she said and give her this opportunity to prove herself.
Lance was called in soon. He was the chief steward of the royal family and one of the most trusted people of the old emperor. Serinda and her brothers and sisters grew up under Lance's care. He was like a brother and a father to them, and the closest family member.
When the old emperor was talking to Serinda, he dismissed all the servants. Lance naturally didn't know what they said, nor did he know what the liquid in the glass tube in Serinda's hand was. But the old emperor's order was simple and easy to understand, so he understood it immediately.
Accompany Serinda to entertain a young man named Rong Yuan, and then find a way to make him drink the liquid in the tube. He wants to witness the process with his own eyes.
Lance understood. He looked at Serinda, who was stiff all over, and bowed to agree.
Although Lance was only a butler, Serinda always felt that he was the smartest person in the palace. From childhood to adulthood, Serinda had never seen anything that could stump him, nor had she ever seen anyone deceive him. Even if the brothers and sisters frowned, Lance could tell what they were thinking.
Therefore, Serinda had no confidence at all in doing anything under his nose.
With trembling fingers, she sent out the invitation. Rong Yuan was probably free, and soon received a reply.
Serinda knew that in Rong Yuan's eyes, she could not be compared with the people in the Feiyan team who had followed him in the past, but because she had helped Amirida and others without asking for anything in return, Rong Yuan considered her one of his own. And because Serinda was not a member of Rong Yuan's team, he had to be extra polite and tolerant to her.
This kind of differential treatment was not what Serinda wanted. If this gave her an opportunity to hurt Rong Yuan, she would never forgive herself.
When the meeting time came, Serinda walked towards the agreed location, and every step was like walking on steel knives.
Then she stopped.
The girl twisted her fingers nervously, turned around, looked at the man who had always been by her side with a pale face and a begging expression, and said in a trembling voice: "Uncle Lance, help me..."
Lance looked into her eyes without flinching, then smiled slightly, took a step back, bowed slightly, put his hand on his chest, and said calmly: "Please give me your orders, my princess."
"I thought that if I treated you sincerely, I would be able to gain your loyalty. It seems that I was wrong."
——【Leave, you are a free eagle, don’t be corrupted by the quagmire of politics.】
"Captain, you know that your power is too strong. It is so strong that even I, the princess of the most powerful empire in the galaxy, Landia, feel uneasy when I see you. This feeling is like a herbivore encountering a Tyrannosaurus Rex. How terrifying, disgusting, and hateful it is. As smart as you are, you should be able to understand it, right?"
——【Don't be bound by the shadow of the past any longer, move forward! You are so strong, strong enough to face any hardship. I know that if they are still alive, they will also hope that you can continue to move forward and fulfill your common wish.】
"No kingship can tolerate a person with such power. I'm sorry for betraying your trust, but I'm sorry, I'm still the princess of Landia after all. In the near future, I will become the emperor of this star field. So... this is my choice."
——【I’m sorry… I’m sorry… I don’t want you to be successfully plotted by my father, nor do I want you to know his plot and become his enemy. I can only force you to leave… I’m sorry, Landia is not a paradise, I don’t know what subsequent actions my father will take… I’m sorry, I can’t make Landia a place for you to rest…】
"The days I spent with you were very happy. I will always remember that time. Therefore, I am willing to give you a chance. If you can survive and leave Red Prison Star by chance, then, never come back. Otherwise, I will do my best to take your life!"
——【Hate me! Hate me! I just hope that you can live well in a place I don’t know in the future, and hope that you can meet a very good person who can make you happy.】
Watching Rong Yuan fall, and then personally sealing him in the ice coffin. Serinda placed her hands on the ice coffin, speaking cruel words lightly, but her heart felt as painful as a knife. She hoped that Rong Yuan was still conscious at this time, could hear her words, and would never come back here again; she was also afraid that Rong Yuan was still conscious at this time, and heard these words, and believed that she had really become a cold-blooded political animal.
Watching the spaceship carrying the ice coffin and the supplies from Prison Star disappear into the sky, Serinda whispered, "Uncle Lance, why did it become like this?"
Her father, the person who loved her most in the world, forced her to turn the person she cared about most into a slave, forced her to sever her most precious friendship and... the feelings that she could never express to each other openly.
Lance said, "This is what is called an emperor, Your Highness."
Serinda smiled bitterly: "Will I be alone forever?"
Her back was elegant and noble, with a faint smile on her face, but as she looked up at the sky where she could no longer see any trace of the spacecraft, tears were already streaming down her face.
Lance stood behind her and seemed to see a little girl with short red hair next to her. She was squatting on the ground, crying loudly with her mouth wide open without any scruples, crying heart-wrenchingly and with tears streaming down her face.
Lance blinked, and the illusion of the little girl disappeared. He looked at the princess in front of him with long hair like a red waterfall, and the corners of his mouth curled up unconsciously.
Serinda returned to the Ice Palace anxiously. She couldn't help but feel afraid when she thought about how the old emperor would react to what she had done.
But the old emperor was calmer than expected. He just sighed and said, "Really?" and said nothing else.
There was no blame, no anger, and not even disappointment. This calmness made Serinda feel even more guilty. She lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, father. I..."
She knew that her father was only thinking about her, and Serinda did not regret her choice, but she felt sorry for disappointing the old emperor. She knew how it would be a blow to the old man if he found out that the heir he had carefully cultivated did not have the qualities he expected when he was dying.
"It doesn't matter." The old emperor said calmly: "I have known for a long time that you are a kind and affectionate child. It's just that politics cannot tolerate your naivety."
His attitude was gentle, but it revealed a coldness that chilled Serinda's heart. She couldn't help but want to say something eagerly, but the old emperor waved his hand to stop her.
"Lance." The old emperor looked coldly at the man standing aside, whose presence was as natural as air, and said, " I didn't expect that you were one of them."
Serinda was a little confused and looked back at him.
Lance stepped forward and said politely but apologetically, "I don't want to disobey your order, but..." He looked at Serinda lovingly and said, "Her Royal Highness begged with tears, and I really can't let her be so sad. Of course, no matter what the reason, I disobeyed the royal order, please punish me."
"No! It's not Lance's fault!" Serinda said hurriedly, "Father, I forced him to agree to help me! Please punish me!"
The old emperor did not look at her. Under his drooping eyelids, his eyes were always staring at the man behind Serinda .
Lance smiled and looked at him. Even when he heard Serinda's words in defense of him, the curve of his mouth did not change at all. There was no extra emotion or thought in his light blue eyes except calmness.
After a long time, the old emperor lowered his eyes. His face, as old as tree bark, had no expression. However, the veins on the back of his hands under the quilt were bulging, as if he was restraining a huge amount of strength.
"Father...Emperor?" Serinda seemed to sense something. She pressed the old emperor's hand through the quilt and asked softly, "Are you okay?"
The old emperor did not answer and seemed to have fallen asleep.
Lance whispered in her ear: "His Majesty has already rested, let's not disturb him. If you have anything to say, it's the same to talk about it another day."
Serinda hesitated for a moment, nodded, reached out to tuck the old emperor's feet, adjusted the temperature and brightness in the room, then stood up and walked gently to the door.
"Selinda!"
Just as Lance opened the door for her, the old emperor's voice suddenly came from behind. Serinda turned her head quickly and saw that the old emperor had opened his eyes and was staring at her. He also lifted the quilt and stretched out his hand, as if he wanted to hold her.
"Father!" Serinda walked over quickly, held the skinny hand with both of hers, and said, "I'm here, Father."
"Selinda, my daughter, my little princess..." The old emperor stammered, his hands were so strong that it seemed as if he wanted to break her hands, and there was a hint of madness in his eyes.
Serinda endured the pain and comforted him, "Father, I'm here! Father, Father!"
The old emperor moved his mouth as if he wanted to say something, but when he saw Lance coming behind her, he suddenly calmed down. He slowly relaxed his strength, but still did not let go of Serinda. He just trembled his lips and murmured, "You have to be fine, be fine..."
"I will, Father." Serinda said, "I failed to live up to your expectations regarding the captain. However, even if I inherit your position, I want to keep my principles. I believe that a person without humanity will never be a good leader. Even you, Father, dote on me in this way, don't you?"
The old emperor looked at her deeply, then he turned to Lance and said, "Lance."
"Yes, Your Majesty." Lance responded politely.
"...I hand my daughter to you..." The old emperor held Serinda's hand and trembled slightly, but his voice was very calm. He said: "-You must assist her and take good care of her."
Serinda was very surprised to detect a subtle sense of repression in his tone, as if he was enduring great pain as if swallowing a knife and blood. Then she felt an irrepressible sadness for the old emperor's words, which seemed like he was entrusting his son to someone else. Her nose felt sore and her eyes turned red.
"Please rest assured that I will do my best to assist Your Highness!" Lance said solemnly.
"That's good." The old emperor said indifferently. He let go of Serinda's hand and said, "You all go out. I'm tired."
"Yes. Then, Father, you should have a good rest. If you need anything, please send someone to call me."
Serinda walked towards the door again, and when Lance closed the door, she suddenly felt something and looked back.
The old emperor stared at her intently. It was as if he saw the treasure in his hands slipping into the abyss without his knowledge. He wanted to save it, but he could not stop it.
The moment the door closed, she saw the old emperor's lips move and he said two words silently.
--【careful.】
What should I be careful about?
Serinda thought she had seen it wrong, and when she looked carefully, the door was already closed. She thought she couldn't disturb her father when he was resting, so she decided to ask next time.
But there won’t be a next time.
After the door was closed, after a long time, the old emperor with his eyes open suddenly called out, "Du Meng."
"Here." A figure appeared from somewhere.
"Act according to the orders I gave you before." said the old emperor .
"Yes." The figure answered in a calm voice.
The next morning, Serinda received a notice from Lance: the old emperor had passed away.
Hearing the bad news suddenly, Serinda was like being struck by lightning. She stumbled to the old emperor's bedroom, only to see him lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully, with deep furrows between his brows, as if he had endless worries that he couldn't let go.
However, all the instruments connected to him had completely gone silent, and all the data had been reset to zero.
"Father."
Serinda walked over slowly, expecting this to be a bad joke, expecting him to open his eyes again and look at her kindly.
"Father."
She called softly, as if she was afraid of disturbing his sleep, or as if she was expecting to hear a familiar response. The weak voice was soon swallowed up by the silent air.
"Father."
Serinda knelt beside the bed and held the old, weak hand for the last time. She felt no response and finally couldn't hold it back any longer. Tears fell drop by drop on the snow-white bed sheet. She couldn't even scream out in extreme sadness. She just gasped and sobbed one after another, feeling like her heart was being torn apart.
Lance stood by her side as always, without saying words of condolence, but just accompanied her silently.
He looked at the old emperor's face, and for the first time, that pleasant and trustworthy smile had disappeared and became expressionless.
