Volume 1 Chapter 109

Volume 1 + Chapter 109: Seeking Guidance

Eve instinctively quickened her pace. Before she even reached the reception hall, she could already see, from afar, a luxurious hall built against the mountains and beside the water. 

Inside stood a slender young girl, meticulously pouring tea for the stern-faced imperial Emperor, whose presence carried authority even in stillness.

The expression on the imperial Emperor’s face was solemn, tinged with a hint of tension.

He seemed oblivious to the considerate service of the young girl before him, his gaze constantly searching for something instead.

It was not until his eyes met Eve’s that the tension on his face finally eased somewhat.

He raised his hand to signal to the girl beside him that there was no need to pour any more tea. Without waiting for Eve and her group to enter the reception hall, he stood up and stepped out to greet them first.

“Your Majesty, this old servant Reynolds pays his—”

“Enough with the formalities, enough. Miss Eve and the others accompanying her need not bow either. I came this time to resolve a matter. Miss Eve, were you injured?”

The imperial Emperor waved his hands hurriedly, his tone carrying a rare hint of warmth and ease.

“The incident on the commercial street of the imperial capital was due to my inadequate governance.”

Hearing the imperial Emperor’s words, Umi and her mother beside them hardly dared to breathe, let alone raise their heads to look at Eve or the ruler standing before them.

At that moment, Umi’s mother seemed to finally understand why Miss Eve had the confidence to stand up for her, so much so that even before the imperial Emperor himself, she was treated with courtesy and respect.

“Thank you for Your Majesty’s concern. It was only a minor matter. Someone drank too much and caused trouble, which I discovered and stopped in time. The troublemaker has already been taken into custody by the Imperial Tribunal. Both the Tribunal’s efficiency and the Reynolds family’s attitude are commendable.”

“This is all thanks to Your Majesty’s capable governance of the empire. Otherwise, this matter might truly have been difficult to resolve.”

Eve’s words carried a hint of flattery, yet they were by no means unfounded.

Had this happened in another empire, it would likely have devolved into a farce of abusing power and blurring right and wrong.

Of course, the swift handling by the Imperial Tribunal and the Reynolds family’s sincerely repentant attitude had also played no small part.

“Miss Eve, there’s no need for such polite flattery before me. Since we have appointed you as Alice’s teacher, it means the entire empire recognizes your ability and insight. Your criticism is of particular importance to me, and to the empire as a whole.”

“I came this time specifically to understand this incident. Now that it has been properly resolved, I am at ease.”

“And also… regarding the magical formula you provided earlier, there are still some parts I do not quite understand. Might Miss Eve be willing to spare some time to enlighten me?”

The imperial Emperor smiled with a trace of embarrassment as he took a notebook from his robes. Inside were detailed notes analyzing the magical formulas Eve had casually written down before.

It was clear this was hardly a matter of “just by the way”—the imperial Emperor had come well prepared.

For Eve, however, this was nothing to fuss over. Explaining it posed no problem.

“Didn’t Your Majesty have plans to visit another country today?”

“It’s fine. Let them wait.”

The imperial Emperor waved his hand dismissively. Visiting another country? How could that compare to listening to Eve explain magical formulas?

Once this formula was fully understood, would there even be a need to visit other countries? To hell with visits, boost the economy, raise troops, and march straight over. Other kingdoms would end up taking his surname.

Why bother visiting at all?

“In that case, please come this way. Let’s find somewhere suitable to talk.”

Eve nodded. At this moment, Old Master Reynolds, Umi and her mother were so stunned they could not utter a single word.

For Umi and her mother, this was understandable, they had never witnessed such a scene before, so being dumbfounded was only natural.

But even Old Master Reynolds stood frozen as well, which showed just how shocking it was to witness the imperial Emperor personally seeking guidance from Eve.

The imperial Emperor now looked like an elementary school student, sitting properly across from Eve, maintaining a polite distance while still appearing approachable.

As he listened to Eve’s explanations, he could not help nodding repeatedly.

“Grandfather.”

The slender young girl who had been pouring tea earlier jogged over.

Her delicate, pretty face was also filled with astonishment.

“Who is that beautiful big sister? Why is His Majesty treating her with such courtesy…?”

“Miss Eve, the empire’s future Imperial Grand Advisor. Anlu, if you encounter Miss Eve in the future, you must conduct yourself properly as well.”

Old Master Reynolds steadied himself. Having survived countless life-and-death battles, he quickly recovered from his shock.

“Imperial Grand Advisor…”

The girl named Anlu frowned subconsciously. The empire had no shortage of Grand Advisors, there were more than a dozen alone who assisted His Majesty.

Yet all those Grand Advisors had to show the utmost respect when meeting the Emperor. But with Miss Eve, even formal salutations were waived entirely.

One had to know that throughout the entire empire, only three people were granted the privilege of exemption from formalities before His Majesty.

One was the Empress. Another was Princess Alice. The last was her own grandfather, whose advanced age and infirmity made movement difficult.

That privilege was not because her grandfather was a founding hero of the empire, but simply because his health made formalities impractical.

But this Miss Eve was something else entirely. Not only was she exempt herself, even the commoner mother and daughter accompanying her were granted the same exemption.

For an ordinary person, receiving the honor of exemption from formalities before the Emperor, even just once was an achievement worthy of boasting about for a lifetime.

“But there are so many Grand Advisors around His Majesty… She’s just pretty. What’s so special about her?”

Anlu could not see what made her different. His Majesty could be said to be utterly uninterested in women, he even slept separately from the Empress.

Not just separate beds, but separate chambers entirely.

The three pillars of the empire each had their own palace, even traveling between them required a carriage.

So Eve’s beauty could not be the key point… If not beauty, then what?

Could she be something like the Crimson Witch?

Ridiculous, the Crimson Witch had long since died.

“Disaster comes from the mouth. Don’t speak carelessly.”

“Oh, I know. I’m not like my brother, I know my limits.”

“Brother?”

Reynolds froze for a moment, confusion appearing on his face.

“Where did you get a brother? Your brother is already dead.”

“Dead?”

Anlu paused instinctively. Seeing the anger on her grandfather’s face, she immediately understood something.

“Good riddance. Saves air.”

She crossed her arms and muttered softly in agreement.

“Go over and listen as well to what Miss Eve is explaining. It will benefit you.”

“Huh? I—I… how do I go over there?”

“Silly girl, can’t you see Miss Eve doesn’t have any tea yet? Go on, quickly!”