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He instinctively tightened his embrace around the delicate woman in his arms, realizing with profound clarity that… he had indeed become the sole pillar in her life.

Every fragment of her past that had once belonged to Ravenna was methodically stripped away, and the once towering, majestic, and radiant figure in her heart was now replaced by Ansel.

Thus, the entity known as Helen had, in the truest sense… completed her rebirth.

After the embrace, Ansel took Helen\'s hand, feeling her small, soft hand gripping his with more strength than usual.

"Let\'s go," the young Hydral\'s expression softened. How could he not? No one would be able to resist feeling tender towards a girl who was willing to "forsake" so much.

"Let\'s go home."

"Alright, Father."

As they were about to leave, a burst of fire ignited in front of them.

"Lord Ansel."

The fire formed a figure, which bowed to Ansel, "Her Majesty summoned you to Anthicheg."

"According to Her Majesty, Princess Evora has spoken... some rather irresponsible and reckless words, and thus, Her Majesty believes... she owes it to you to clarify certain matters."

The delicate hand Ansel held tightened, a sign of restrained patience yet readiness to spring into action at any moment, pleasing Ansel — her demeanor showed no fear even in the face of divine beings, ready to erase any enemy of the Hydrals, a standard Helen clearly surpassed.

Ansel simply smiled and squeezed Helen\'s hand, calmly responding, "Then, please lead the way."

"The carriage is ready for you," the fire figure said respectfully. "Please."

The young Hydral looked up at the sky, taking on this invitation filled with unknown dangers, with his still not yet the pact head.

When the fire figure brought Ansel to the only imperial palace used by generations of emperors, it stopped Helen, while saying to Ansel:

"Please enter, Lord Ansel. Her Majesty has been waiting for you for some time."

Not using any teleportation but instead bringing Ansel here by carriage, our Empress seemed to have given Ansel full respect, as well as ample time for thought and preparation.

Ansel, who from beginning to end showed no sign of unease, smiled as he pushed open the massive palace doors without hesitation.

In the final moment, he could feel Helen\'s gaze, steadfastly fixed upon his face.

*

The grand doors of the palace closed slowly with a heavy grinding sound, yet what Ansel beheld … was an entirely different Anthicheg.

He had never visited this place before, but he recognized it through memories of that game. This location, serving as the supreme palace of successive emperors, was opulently decorated, yet it felt profoundly empty.

Apart from the towering columns, there was only the central eternal flame of the palace, the Flamefeast Source Flame, which burned unceasingly.

Now, before this Source Flame, a massive curtained bed had been placed, with a long table in front laden with an array of food and drinks, and on the bed... a slender, graceful figure with seductive curves was faintly visible behind the semi-transparent curtains.

"Have you arrived?"

A lazy, feminine voice came from behind the curtain, distinctly different from the aged, raspy voice of that empress of the past.

Instead, it carried the most bewitching rustle, like a perfectly ripe peach, captivating and dripping with allure.

It\'s no exaggeration to say that such a voice could elicit a reaction from any ordinary man.

"Your Majesty seldom seeks me out personally."

Yet, under the thrilling sight of the graceful figure and enchanting voice, Ansel merely smiled gently: "It seems, then, that this is a matter of great importance."

"Heh... of course, it is."

A section of snowy, slender leg, shining with the visible luster of jade, emerged from the curtain, the bright red nail polish making her feet bloom like lotus flowers, her bare legs boldly placed on the ground, as the figure behind the curtain changed her pose and stance.

She now sat sideways on the bed, the shape outlined by the curtain revealing voluptuous curves and gravity-defying peaks, starkly contrasting with her seemingly fragile waist, creating an extreme visual impact.

"My daughter wants to use me… to harm your woman, and she even dares to speak ill of me."

The woman behind the curtain made a hair-tie gesture, sighing in resignation:

"She really thinks of me as a senile old fool."

"You are too harsh, Your Majesty."

Ansel remained at the doorway, keeping his distance, and bowed slightly: "Princess Evora is, after all, your daughter."

"Exactly because she is my daughter."

As the empress spoke, she extended her other leg from the curtain, casually crossing her legs in such a way that she boldly displayed them to Ansel.

"She would be mad enough to… resort to any means necessary, wouldn\'t she?"

The young Hydral merely smiled, "To me, Your Majesty, Princess Evora\'s words are merely unfounded, as you have no reason to sever ties with me and my father, for you are a wise and rational sovereign."

"Hehehe…hahahahaha!"

Behind the curtain came the woman\'s hearty and joyful laughter, yet the undertone of uncontrollable madness made it clear she was as "senile old fool" as she had claimed.

"Do you know what I like most about you, Ansel?"

Ephesande retracted her leg, adopting a side-lying position on the bed, her single hand propping her cheek, her body\'s curves beautifully undulating.

"I like your... chill."

She shuddered as she sighed, her voice unguarded and comfortable, "It makes me want to fiercely burn your chill."

"No matter when, no matter where, no matter who or what situation, you always manage to carry out cruel schemes with such a gentle, generous, and composed demeanor."

"Just like how you can now say \'I am wise and rational\' without any hindrance, completely from the heart."

Ansel, though his disguise was pierced, simply continued to smile silently, making no comment.

"Come here."

After her reflection, a slender, delicate hand reached out from behind the curtain, "Sit down first, have something to eat. Don\'t think I lack any hospitality, for you are... my most important guest, dear Ansel."

Ansel hesitated not, walking to the long table and sitting down. At this moment, the seductive body behind the curtain was only a few meters away.

The semi-transparent curtain hardly served any purpose now; Ansel could already glimpse the boiling perfection and allure of that body, yet he simply poured himself a glass of wine and quietly sipped.

"..."

Ephesande fell silent for a short while, unable to garner the intense gaze she had hoped for, yet she did not dwell on it too much. The rationality she could muster was diminishing by the minute, too precious to waste on trivial matters.

"First, I must admit something, Ansel."

The Empress\'s jade arm emerged from behind the curtain, her hand delicately picking a grape, plucking it off, and tossing it into her mouth, causing the other two grapes to visibly tremble.

"I bear no animosity towards you and Flamelle, but I indeed have... thoughts about you."

Ansel smiled and said, "Before inheriting my father\'s power, I didn\'t think there was anything worthy of such treatment from Your Majesty."

"No... no, no, no, you have many qualities that merit my hospitality," Ephesande raised her voice cheerfully, "and I can also recognize your true value, your true strength."

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