Volume 1 Chapter 121

Volume 1 + Chapter 121: A Bargain

When Chancelianne spoke these words, her gaze involuntarily flickered aside, as if there were thoughts she could not quite put into words. A trace of complex, elusive emotion seemed to surface on her face, her eyes wandered through the air, as though she were trying hard to conceal something.

Eve noticed this subtle change and could not help but feel a hint of puzzlement, yet she did not dwell on it. Instead, she remained immersed in the shock of Chancelianne’s genuine concern for the people and her conscientious fulfillment of duty. Chancelianne’s sincerity and compassion deeply moved her heart, leaving her unable to pull herself free for a long time.

After all, Chancelianne was no ordinary Empress. As one of the empire’s supreme rulers, she should naturally possess authority and status far beyond that of common people.

Yet Chancelianne did not hold herself aloof simply because of her exalted position. On the contrary, she displayed a rare approachability. She understood the grassroots populace of the empire even better than many ordinary citizens, cared about their hardships, and looked after their daily lives.

Such warm concern was clearly different from hollow, formal promises, it was grounded in concrete action, inspiring sincere admiration.

A ruler like this was truly rare. It was precisely because of Chancelianne’s thoughtful and prudent governance that the empire was able to stand out among many kingdoms, developing at a rapid pace far surpassing others.

“Alright, since that’s the case, then let’s go and take a look together.”

Eve nodded. Traveling together with Chancelianne would provide mutual support along the way. After all, the small mountain village where Pipim’s family lived was quite far.

When Eve lifted her head from the pile of documents, she seemed to notice, by chance, that Chancelianne was hurriedly withdrawing her gaze.

It was clear that Chancelianne had been watching Eve the entire time just now.

As for what she was looking at, Eve was not quite sure. After all, the look Chancelianne gave her now was no different from usual.

It was simply a blend of dignified gentleness, tinged with the unique authority belonging to the Empress.

“Miss Eve, is there anything else you need to prepare?”

“Prepare?”

Hearing Chancelianne’s words, Eve felt momentarily at a loss.

“Yes. After all, this is a long trip, so everything that needs preparing should be prepared. Based on my experience, it should take two days and two nights.”

Chancelianne was not visiting such a place for the first time. Judging by the speed of the imperial carriages, two days and two nights for a round trip plus handling affairs was already fairly fast.

If Eve were on her own, she could most likely finish everything in half a day.

After all, even if she did not wish to travel by stepping through the air, she could simply use teleportation.

For Eve, whose magical strength was practically bug-like, this was as easy as drinking water.

But traveling with the Empress was a different matter. If the Empress were to discover that she possessed such power, her identity as the Crimson Witch would likely be completely exposed.

“If there’s nothing special to prepare, then we’ll depart tomorrow afternoon, travel through the night, and reach our destination before nightfall the next day.”

“We’ll rest for one night, and then go visit Pipim’s uncle and aunt.”

Chancelianne was highly efficient in action and quickly arranged the entire itinerary.

For the sake of keeping a low profile, Chancelianne deliberately arranged for only one carriage, with very few attendants accompanying them.

According to Chancelianne, this was still within the empire. Though remote, safety could nonetheless be guaranteed.

Moreover, organizing a grand procession would be inappropriate—not only wasteful, but also potentially disruptive to their investigation.

One carriage would suffice for the necessary attendants and luggage, while Eve and Chancelianne would share another carriage.

Listening to Chancelianne’s explanation, Eve felt it all made perfect sense.

These days, which noble did not travel with ostentatious pomp, eager for the whole world to know they were on the move?

The security guards alone could stretch hundreds of meters, and the accompanying luxurious carriages would form a line so long that its end could not be seen at a glance.

It was indeed imposing—but also an enormous waste of resources.

A wise ruler like Chancelianne was truly rare. While striving to conserve wherever possible, she also understood the importance of discretion.

If they were to head to the countryside in such a conspicuous manner, it might actually hinder their investigation.

“Alright, then it’s settled.”

Eve nodded, unaware that Chancelianne, as she looked at Eve, was already blooming with joy inside.

If she could, she would have loved to set off immediately.

But there was no helping it—she had to maintain her composure. Otherwise, what if she frightened Miss Eve away?

These precious two days and two nights alone with Eve had taken Chancelianne a long time to plan, finally reaching this point.

At the thought of being alone with Eve, Chancelianne could not suppress the slight upward curve of her lips.

Meanwhile, Alice, who had been eavesdropping at the door for quite some time, revealed a somewhat displeased expression.

“Mother Empress is going out alone with Miss Eve?”

Leaning against the doorway, Alice tried to listen in a bit more while feeling a surge of intense anger toward Chancelianne’s actions.

Hadn’t she treated Eve quite well herself?

Eve said she liked drinking tea, so Alice stayed up all night learning how to make green tea.

Eve said she liked sweet scents, so Alice specially had a batch of sweet-smelling bath lotion custom-made and used it every day.

Almost everything Eve said, Alice remembered.

Although it was always misunderstood in the end—but tell me, didn’t she remember it or not?

Alice could not understand why, despite all her efforts to please Eve, Eve was unwilling to even stay the night at her place.

Yet her mother could so easily obtain the chance to be alone with Eve…

This… this was a bit too outrageous, wasn’t it?

No!

Alice felt she had to do something as well.

She carefully reflected on what made her mother so appealing—what exactly allowed Eve to so readily agree to being alone with her?

After much thought, she subconsciously lowered her gaze to her own chest.

Suddenly, as if she had realized something, she raised her head to look at the gentle, captivating portrait of her mother hanging in the corridor.

The snow-white, firm curves on her mother’s chest occupied nearly a third of the entire composition.

In terms of figure and looks, Alice was confident that, as Chancelianne’s daughter, she was not lacking at all.

So was her only shortcoming… her chest?

Alice’s understanding could not be said to be completely wrong but it was also entirely disconnected from the truth.

Still, Alice was Alice. Having such a thought was indeed something she would do.

“The chest issue can be set aside for now.”

After all, to be honest, Alice had no good way to make it develop any faster.

But this opportunity to travel far with Eve was something Alice felt she absolutely had to seize.

If there was an advantage to be had, she certainly could not let her mother take it all.