Volume 2: Empire Chapter 66: Love Riddle
The dancing continued into the night, and after dinner everyone had dinner in the dining hall , each person was assigned a room.
The lights shine out from the palace suspended in the air, creating a different kind of scenery in the imperial capital at night.
Inside the palace, palace guards marched in formation on their patrol routes, and many wizard eyes floated on the eaves, scanning every dark corner where no light could reach.
Most of the young people who had played for a day fell asleep. The magic spices floating around in the bedroom protected everyone's dreams and prevented them from being mentally invaded and controlled.
The palace leaves the space wall and the defense is raised to the highest level.
Queen Christina walked in the long corridor, her footsteps sounding even louder because of the silence. The royal knights standing on both sides saluted her, but their movements were very light, as if they were afraid to alarm anyone.
There is an exquisitely carved mahogany door in the middle of the corridor. In addition to the two royal knights guarding here, there is also an elderly court eunuch standing respectfully outside the door.
When the palace eunuch saw the queen coming, he immediately saluted and said, "Your Highness, you haven't rested yet?"
Christina asked, "Is your majesty still working?"
The eunuch replied, "The Princess Royal just came and brought a lot of intelligence from the North. There is also a bandit gang calling themselves the Free Army that attacked several towns and fled into the Kama Mountains.
There are a lot of things to do today, and His Majesty is still working."
"Open the door, I want to see His Majesty."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
When Christina walked into the open door, she saw Emperor Augustine sitting behind his desk, reading a document. He was wearing a pair of gold-framed reading glasses and squinting his eyes to read very carefully.
There was no one else in the room. Emperor Augustine did not like people making noises around him when he was working. There was only a flying cloak hanging on a hanger next to the desk, ready to take the necessary information from the bookshelves on both sides.
Christina slowed down her pace, walked slowly to the chair opposite the desk, sat down, and waited quietly.
The only sound in the room was the sound of Augustine flipping papers.
After reading four documents in a row, Augustine took out a snuff bottle from the drawer. After putting it to his nose and taking a deep breath, his tired look immediately recovered a lot.
Christina then said, "Your Majesty, your body cannot work so hard any more. Some things can be handled by the cabinet, or Fania can help."
Emperor Augustine took a sip of the honey water from the cup and said, "Do you think Fania is capable of doing this job?"
"After Alec left the imperial capital, Fania was the only son you had around. I think he would be happy to help."
Emperor Augustine smiled and said, "He would definitely be happy to do so, but if I ask him to come, it would send a wrong signal to the outside world. I want to give Alex a chance to perform. And the cabinet... the power of the Cross is too strong. If we give them too much power, they will become the second Brotherhood of Blades.
Let’s not talk about these annoying things. I heard that Dale danced with Yunxing from the beginning of the dance and then sat there until the end of the dance. Does she like Yunxing? "
Christina thought about it seriously and replied, "She has a crush on Meteor. Meteor is from Raging Waves City, has a special temperament that those noble children don't have, and also saved Dale.
But does she like falling stars? I don’t know. I don’t know what it’s like to like someone.”
The regret expressed by Christina made the atmosphere in the room solemn and made Emperor Augustine look at her.
Christina is about the same age as Agatha. Born in the secluded kingdom of Lucien, her manners and demeanor show excellent upbringing and traditional aristocratic temperament.
Life in the palace and her identity as queen elevated her temperament, calmed her heart and helped her accept her fate.
"Are you complaining?" asked Emperor Augustine.
Christina smiled and regained her composure: “Everything is decided by my father. As the princess of the kingdom, I must fulfill my responsibilities.
For example, at the ball, I helped the Kingdom of Lusien negotiate a deal with the Acting Governor of Meteorite."
Speaking of meteorites, Emperor Augustine's attention was immediately diverted: "What business?"
Christina explained the investment plan of Raging Waves City to Lucien Kingdom. "It must be that Acting Governor Meteorite heard McDonald complain to me that a lot of food would be wasted this harvest season. The investment of Raging Waves City solved the biggest problem for Lucien Kingdom. If Meteorite hadn't told me, I wouldn't have known that the wine of Lucien Kingdom could be sold for so much money after being resold."
Emperor Augustine asked about the details of Raging Waves City's investment in the Kingdom of Lucien in detail, and finally asked to confirm: "Did Meteorite really say... that the Kingdom of Lucien only needs to repay the debt and did not put forward any other conditions?"
Christina answered affirmatively: "I am also afraid that he will use the investment to control the food production of the Kingdom of Lucien, but Meteorite assured me that all the facilities and factories invested in will belong to the Kingdom of Lucien. My father only needs to pay back the money on time."
Augustine the Great scratched his head.
According to his understanding of Meteorite, there must be a deeper meaning behind Nutao City's investment in the Kingdom of Lucien. It must be that they want to gradually control the food production of this rich land through investment. But all the investment facilities and factories belong to the Kingdom of Lucien. What else can he get besides money?
I can’t figure it out. I can’t figure it out…
Is he really just fulfilling his duties as a vassal, helping the Kingdom of Lucien to improve its economy and making money for the empire?
Did I misunderstand him?
He is actually a loyal minister!
The analysis of Meteorite's investment made Emperor Augustine feel that it was more exhausting than reading dozens of documents. But he couldn't think of any conspiracy that Meteorite could hide in this investment. The autonomy of food and agricultural product production was in the hands of the Lucien royal family.
Looking at Augustine's expression, Christina knew that he couldn't see what Meteorite had hidden in this investment, and she couldn't help but secretly breathe a sigh of relief.
If even Augustine can't see any problem, then there really is no problem.
"Your Majesty, do you have any suggestions?"
Emperor Augustine had no choice but to say, "This is a good thing for both the Kingdom of Lucien and the Empire. I know that the cabinet has been preventing too much agricultural products from the Kingdom of Lucien from entering the Imperial market. This is a protection for the Empire's agriculture.
If Raging Waves City can help the Kingdom of Lucien sell its surplus agricultural products overseas, it will be your reward to the Kingdom of Lucien as the queen.
I will inform the cabinet of this matter, and the empire will try its best to give the suzerain country the necessary help. "
Christina stood up and saluted Augustine: "Thank you, Your Majesty. The Kingdom of Lusien has been loyal to the Empire for generations!"
Augustine smiled and said, "The Kingdom of Lusien is loyal to the Empire. That's what King Lusien does. As the Queen of the Empire, you belong to the Empire.
My eyesight is blurry and I can’t see the words clearly... Please read these documents to me.”
Christina asked in surprise: "Your Majesty, can I see these state secrets?"
"You are the Empress of the Empire! You can't read? Who else is qualified to read? We really need help here. You have nothing to do in the palace anyway, so come and read the documents to me."
"As you command, Your Majesty."
Christina picked up an unread document from the table and read it to Augustine sentence by sentence.
Augustine took off his glasses, closed his eyes, and occasionally asked Christina to write her opinions on the document.
It is indeed much easier to have someone to help.
While Christina was assisting Emperor Augustine with state affairs, someone knocked on Luke's bedroom door.
Luke, wearing a set of silk pajamas, yawned as he opened the door and saw Agatha standing outside in her court dress.
"Why are you looking for me so late at night? The aroma here makes me want to just lie down on the bed and sleep."
Agatha pushed past Luke and entered the room.
The bedroom was very spacious, and the decoration was in line with the status of the Acting Governor of Meteoric Star. A large gilded iron bed was covered with a soft mattress, and smoke rose from the incense burner by the window.
Agatha walked around the room, looked at the bathroom in the inner room, and then went to the window to look at the situation outside.
"I was afraid someone cut off your head while you were asleep. Miss Qingkong didn't come to the celebration, and it would be too easy to kill you in this palace high in the sky."
Luke walked to the wine cabinet, took out a glass and poured two glasses of red wine, then brought the glass to Agatha.
He handed over a glass of red wine, and then said casually: "Didn't you say that His Majesty would personally examine me before deciding whether to kill me?
And you are here, so I have nothing to be afraid of."
Agatha took the wine from Luke and drank it in one gulp because she was thirsty.
Wiping the wine stains from the corners of her mouth, Agatha grabbed the bottle with her wizard's hand, poured herself some wine, and placed the bottle on the windowsill.
"I don't know if you have some way to save your life, or if you are really confident, but you made me nervous for the whole day.
I just met with my father and told him about the situation in the North and the rampant liberal activities in the Empire. He should consider whether the Empire can quickly stabilize the unrest in Fury City without you.
I have to admit that the economic boom you brought to Raging Waves City has made the entire city very dependent on you. And after being run by the new nobles, Raging Waves City no longer has a fear of the empire. "
Luke drank slowly and said, "As long as His Majesty doesn't believe that I will harm the empire, he won't be determined to get rid of me. And I have never thought of harming the empire, so he naturally can't find evidence to prove his guess."
Agatha looked at Luke and said, "You haven't harmed the Empire. The civil war the Empire is fighting is just because of you. Now the At County Alliance is ready to make a move. It's only a matter of time before they invade."
"I started the civil war to help you. Besides, this war is inevitable. It is definitely better for the empire to start it sooner rather than later.
As for the invasion facing the North, am I not training militia in Raging Tide City?"
Agatha stared at Luke, trying to see what he was thinking, but she had to admit that he was right. Judging from the current situation on the battlefield, it would be beneficial for the Empire to start the war against the Celtic Grand Duke as soon as possible.
If it had been delayed for a few more years, not only would the Brotherhood of the Blades have been better prepared, but the Imperial Court might not have been as united as it is now.
The Celtic Grand Duke is also waiting for major changes in the court.
Internal and external troubles made Agatha very anxious. She drank the whole glass of wine in one gulp and poured herself another one.
“I hope I’m not wrong about you… and I hope Dai’er is not wrong about you.
She danced with you only once the whole time and then stayed in her seat. She wanted to give you the second dance but you were just chatting with the queen!
They were chatting so happily, but she is the Empress of the Empire!"
Luke didn't expect that Dale had been sitting there the entire dance waiting for him.
Feeling Agatha's sharp gaze, Luke immediately defended himself, "No one told me I could have a second dance! And Her Majesty the Queen and I have made a big deal, so of course I have to be happy!"
"Business?"
Agatha didn't expect that Luke would still have the mind to talk about business in this murderous palace, and he even brought the business to the Queen.
Luke told Agatha about the investment plan he and Christina had discussed: "There is not much profit margin in simply reselling grain. Processing it into agricultural and sideline products, canned food, and textiles is easy to store and transport, and the premium rate is high.
The Kingdom of Lusien is really sitting on a mountain of gold begging for food, I couldn't stand it so I gave them a hand."
Hearing Luke mention canned food, Agatha immediately perked up: "You know the most troublesome thing about war is logistics, especially the problem of feeding soldiers during continuous combat. The military's war rations are not only unpalatable but also easy to spoil. If they get sick, it will be an unnecessary non-combat casualty.
Can your cans really keep food nutritious and fresh for a long time? "
"That's a must!" Luke invented canned food at this time in order to grab the military rations order from the Cross. So he picked up the bottle and poured wine for Agatha, exaggerating the benefits of canned food as military rations.
The two of them were standing by the window, talking about canning and supply, with a view of a circular garden. At the other end of the garden, Dale was standing on an open corridor, looking in.
The lights in the room cast the figures of the two people on the glass. They seemed to be talking about something interesting while holding their wine glasses.
"Dell!"
A call woke up Dale who was in a daze, and Christina came over.
Dai Er immediately bowed: "Mother! You haven't rested yet?"
"I just went to pay a visit to His Majesty. Now His Majesty is resting, and I am about to return to the bedroom... What are you doing here?" Christina saw two figures in the window opposite the garden and seemed to understand something.
"I want to see what Saint Lun City looks like from the air... I, I'm going back to sleep. Good night, mother!"
Dai'er ran away in a panic.
Christina looked at the window across from her again, then continued down the corridor.
When they were about to walk out of the corridor, Chief Knight Milscom came towards them with a team of royal knights.
"Your Majesty!" Milscom and the knights saluted Christina.
Christina asked, "Have you arranged the protection of the palace at night?"
"Please rest assured, Your Highness, everything has been arranged." Milscom said to his subordinates, "You go on patrol, I will protect Your Highness back to the palace."
"Yes, Lord Milscombe."
A team of royal knights walked over.
When there was no one around, Milscom's eyes changed when he looked at Christina, and his tone also changed: "Chris..."
Facing Milscom, Christina took a step back and said solemnly: "I am the queen of the empire. I allow you to retain your feelings for me, but you must also retain your respect for me and your majesty.
Chris is my family's nickname for me, you are not qualified to call me that! "
Milscom stopped immediately and stepped aside. "I'm sorry, Your Majesty... I'll escort you back to your bedroom. I don't expect a response from you. It's the happiest thing for me to be able to walk with you alone."
