Chapter 2: Chapter 2: The Frail Princess Decides to Restore the Glory of the Empire
Meanwhile, within the Imperial Palace.
The Second Princess of the Ense Empire, Olivia, once again stopped her favorite sister and said earnestly, "Sister Wang, please agree to my request!"
Seeing her sister’s helpless expression, she instinctively glanced towards the direction of the Prince’s Mansion outside the Imperial Palace.
She would never allow that person to harm her sister again.
Beatrice, the appointed next successor of the empire, affectionately ruffled her head and said helplessly:
"He has already been granted the title of Honorary Prince, Olivia, and you’re talking about this now—are you trying to make our royal family a laughingstock?"
Beatrice could hardly believe how her sister could say such foolish things as "removing Prince Louis."
This was something she had pushed through against all odds with the Emperor and ministers, and it had even been publicly announced.
Telling her this now, are you out of your mind?
But the girl’s sweet and delicate voice rang out: "Sister Wang, I think you’ve been charmed by that demon."
A hint of anger flashed across the face of the lady-in-waiting standing next to Beatrice, and she instinctively stepped forward, only to be stopped by Princess Wang.
The First Princess squinted her eyes at her younger sister, who was always known for her meekness and silence.
Those eyes, just as crimson as her own, carried a determined hue, and her rosy lips were bitten by her silver teeth. Her neatly trimmed golden shoulder-length hair cascaded like a waterfall, like a proud little swan.
The little swan seemed to sense her sister’s hesitation and, relying on her sister’s affection, kept shaking her hand.
"Sister, Ense is a predominantly human nation and a key member of the Order faction, right?"
"Yes."
"Prince Louis isn’t from a noble family; he’s merely a surviving test subject you bought from the White Tower Mage, right?"
"Right."
"Never in history has a mixed-blood demon held a high position, correct?"
"Correct."
"Allies on the side of Order will question our stance, old nobles will criticize his lack of noble lineage for the title of Prince, and the nobility and purity of the royal family will be shaken. Compared to these losses, the reputational damage from removing him is insignificant, isn’t it?"
Beatrice glanced at Olivia in surprise and suddenly laughed, "In principle, yes."
Olivia, slightly agitated, stepped forward: "So, Sister Wang, for the future of Ense, please let him leave."
"But I disagree."
Beatrice rejected her proposal without hesitation.
"Why, Sister Wang?"
However!
Faced with her sister’s stunned expression, Beatrice said with a smile:
"Because that’s exactly what I want."
"Not being of noble blood means he has no connections with the old nobility."
"The lowly status of a test subject can’t even compare to ordinary citizens, not to mention the poor, and their lives aren’t in their hands."
"If someone like him can receive my support, then as long as we cultivate Louis properly, more people will believe that the royal family is willing to give ordinary people a chance to advance."
"Never in history has someone of another surname, especially a mixed-blood demon, held a high position in the empire, meaning his real power can only be realized through me."
"And I, as the First Princess of Ense, can escape the harassment of those pursuing me for my status while saving a test subject who could die in a magic experiment at any moment. Why not?"
Olivia felt only a strange itch on her head, as if a brain was about to grow.
Beatrice mischievously smiled, opened her fan, and hid her charming face:
"Of course, there’s another crucial reason."
Another one?!
She didn’t know there was such a good reason, but she still asked, "What is it?"
"He looks handsome and proper; I like that, and it makes for a good appearance when going out!"
Olivia opened her mouth but couldn’t refute for a moment.
How could she forget that her sister was a genuine face-lover?
She could criticize that man in many ways, but when it came to his looks, he truly deserved the name "Country-Bewitcher."
This darn it, after being lectured and warned by Sister Wang, she somehow felt it made a lot of sense.
But only she knew how much trouble that man would bring.
She would never allow Sister Wang to head into danger.
Seeing Sister Wang about to leave, Olivia instinctively stepped forward to explain once more, but the lady-in-waiting blocked her way.
Still, she said loudly, "At least verify whether he’s worthy of becoming your husband!"
With her back to her sister, Beatrice snapped the fan shut.
Olivia saw this and shouted loudly:
"Sister Wang, hold a trial suitable for a Prince for him. If it turns out he’s not suitable, then listen to my opinion!"
She had long guessed that Sister Wang wouldn’t compromise that easily, so her primary goal from the start was not to directly kick the "Country-Bewitcher" out.
"Alright, you handle the Prince’s training curriculum, and I’ll oversee it."
A hint of joy appeared on the little swan’s face.
Success!
Louis Charles Julius, I said I would teach you a lesson!
Yes, our little swan isn’t normal either.
Because she is a reincarnated soul.
Olivia is the Second Princess of the Ense Empire, born with a mysterious elemental disease, naturally weak, and has been recovering in the palace for years.
Fortunately, Ense is wealthy.
As the oldest empire among the three human empires, Ense is well-established, so supporting a sickly princess is no big deal.
In the past, her relationship with Louis was neither good nor bad.
After all, he would always bring her little gifts every time he returned from his travels.
—Although she didn’t need them.
And tell her stories of the outside world.
—Even though he liked telling vulgar jokes that she found distasteful.
But because of her frailty, she didn’t go out often, and aside from Sister Wang and the head maid, there were few people she could talk to.
But until Sister Wang was assassinated and he ascended the throne, their relationship deteriorated drastically.
When she went to ask Louis about the situation, he waved a hand and said:
"This matter doesn’t concern you. Your health is poor; stay in the Imperial Palace to recuperate."
Then she was taken back to the palace by Sister Wang’s Personal Guard to be put under house arrest.
Olivia was dumbfounded.
In just a few days, how did he manage to control even the Personal Guard?
He was just an Honorary Prince, with no real power, no fief, and not many resources at his command!
Where did he get so many loyal subordinates?
They must have been bewitched by that demon!
The name "Country Bewitcher" for Louis began with this incident involving Olivia.
And so, she became a caged bird, under house arrest for ten years in the palace.
Occasionally, when Louis returned from his tours, he would bring her some gifts and tell her about recent events in the empire.
Later, she escaped the Ense Empire with the support of remnants, and after several years, by chance, she resolved her physical issues.
However, when she returned to Ense, what she saw was a nation engulfed in flames and Louis being led to the guillotine.
And after that... she died.
...
"What? You proactively applied to establish a Prince’s training program?"
Click.
As the bedroom door closed, Olivia watched as her head maid’s face visibly stiffened.
The two of them exchanged a silent look.
"Your Highness was foolish to do so!"