Not long after, Rolilly finally began returning to her personal residence within the palace.
The two, Rolilly and a maid, walked through the quiet inner corridors of the castle. At the same time, moonlight spilled through the towering windows that overlooked the capital.
Compared to the extravagant ballroom, these halls were much calmer and colder, almost solemn in a strange way. Paintings of past professionals lined the walls, while silver lights burned with soft, golden flames and stood between massive pillars that had been carved with images of a 'royal ring lion-dragon'. Occasionally, palace guards could be seen standing silently at an intersection like stone statues, and every so often, one might even spot a magic artifact or strange spirit repairing the castle at night.
Their footsteps echoed softly against the polished floor.
Along the way, another palace maid quickly approached and bowed.
"Your Highness, do you still require anything tonight?"
Rolilly lightly shook her head.
"No..."
The maid briefly hesitated before eventually speaking again.
"…The intelligence team has narrowed the list..."
Rolilly's eyes slightly shifted.
"Oh?"
"After the most recent check, only seven individuals remain worthy of your attention. Of these seven, only three have arrived on the Cross Continent, two of which were present during tonight's ball."
Rolilly continued calmly listening while walking.
Although she appeared outwardly lazy and irritable most of the time, she was still the Third Princess of the Hellion Empire. She naturally possessed her own network of eyes and ears within the palace, and unlike her first and second sister, she also possessed a disturbingly thorough information network outside the palace, even beginning to reach her claws towards the rest of the world.
The Third Calamity was approaching, the Royal Ring Secret Realm was about to open, and the balance of the continent was beginning to shift.
During times like these, influence mattered more than ever, so she had long planned for this day…
"…Any particularly troublesome ones?" Rolilly asked lazily.
The maid slightly lowered her voice.
"There are several, and one appears connected to the delegation from the Dragon Race, and another possesses certain connections to the Amaranda Academy…"
Rolilly quietly listened, then frowned slightly.
The maid continued speaking while following behind her down the long corridor, but eventually, Rolilly lost interest halfway through the explanation.
Honestly, she was just tired tonight...
At some point, the conversation had devolved into nothing more than background noise while she stared blankly out the palace window towards the distant city. With a wave of her hand, the young maid was dismissed, much to the joy of her trembling legs.
Eventually, Rolilly and the initial maid reached her personal residence within the palace.
* * *
Royal Palace, Bedroom—
The heavy evening dress slowly slipped from Rolilly's shoulders and spilled across the floor, while a few nearby 'maids' carefully gathered the expensive fabric before it could wrinkle. The various accessories adorning her body were removed one by one and placed aside, while her slightly tired figure gradually emerged beneath the warm light of a low-hanging lantern.
Shadows stretched across the frail figure of the third princess, but in addition to outlining her mesmerizing figure, her nude body also seemed to carry a sense of inhuman aura.
Rolilly rubbed her temples irritably, completely unaffected by being exposed.
She walked past a few maids who all averted their eyes, and eventually reached an extravagant door leading to a private bathroom reserved for her personal use...
-
A few minutes later—
Steam quietly filled the bathroom while warm water rippled softly around her body. Rolilly leaned back against the smooth stone rim of the bath, her short blond hair already damp as the exhaustion gathered from today's gathering gradually melted away beneath the hazy heat.
The room was silent except for the faint sound of running water and faint footsteps.
For the first time that night, she could finally relax.
"…Mm—" Her eyes slowly closed, almost falling asleep...
-
After cleaning herself up, Rolilly returned to her room.
She changed into soft, sleek black sleepwear with the help of a maid, then Rolilly lazily dragged herself across the room while drying her hair with one hand. The oversized sleeves hung loosely around her arms while her expression remained half-awake and completely unguarded, which was a stark contrast compared to her usual sharp and stabby demeanor.
Just as she was about to lie down and close her eyes—
"Hm?"
Her face darkened, and she turned her head.
Right there, silhouetted by the moonlight that was pouring through the curtain-drawn window, was a tall shadow in black clothes. If 'certain people' were here, they would recognize this cloaked figure as the existence that stepped off the Dragon Boat and quickly escaped the eyes and ears of the palace.
Rolilly, facing this uninvited guest, frowned slightly…
"Why are you here? Wasn't everything already prepared? Don't tell me there was a change?"
The cloaked figure remained silently standing beside the window, lost in thought…
After an unknown amount of time—
Rolilly sat down lazily at the edge of her bed while drying her damp hair with a towel.
"…So?" she asked again, this time more flat…
"What is so important that you needed to interrupt my sleep? Don't you already know that Father is looking for you? Last time, you were almost caught, and that wouldn't be good for either of us."
The cloaked figure slightly lowered their head.
It was impossible to tell what they were thinking.
"I was sent here on behalf of the Grasswind Family, you already know this…"
Rolilly showed no surprise.
Indeed, she already knew that this person was from that massive family overseas, her fiancés family. In truth, she had already guessed it the moment she sensed the other party entering her room back then.
"All the preparations are proceeding smoothly," the figure calmly continued. "Our side will continue supporting you in secret, and we have no interest in changing our overall plans regarding the empire."
Rolilly gave a lazy hum.
"Mm, is that all?"
The figure briefly paused before speaking again.
"…There is also the matter of the marriage contract…"
The room became much quieter.
Rolilly's movements slowed down before eventually stopping altogether.
A faint irritation flickered within her dark green eyes.
"…Again? They can't seriously be thinking about my first sister, can they?"
"The elders are beginning to grow slightly impatient," the cloaked figure replied. "Your engagement has existed for many years already, yet no progress has been made at all. Even if it can't be helped, there are still some people who can't help but look for trouble. Don't mind it, just be aware… Several people within the family are beginning to question whether the agreement still holds any real long-term value, and even more want to look for a more... hm, higher breed? You under—"
"Pfft!"
Rolilly suddenly burst out laughing!
" Hahahaha! Hahahaha!" It wasn't a cheerful laugh, no, it was cold and mocking.
"Value? Higher Breed? Pfft! Aren't those guys worried about such words reaching that person's ears?"
Her gaze, darkened by rage, drifted towards the palace window.
"As long as the contract exists, it has value. What does my 'pedigree' matter at all? Ridiculous! I finally understand what they mean by making trouble for the sake of making trouble! Isn't it enough for those old monsters? I guess not!" She narrowed her eyes. "Or are they suddenly in a hurry to marry me off before the Third Calamity begins because they think I might suddenly die? Heh! What do they know that I don't! What are they hiding?"
Her eyes snapped to the figure, but the cloaked figure remained silent.
Seeing this, Rolilly clicked her tongue.
"Tsk! I already told you! After the Secret Realm opens, I plan to remain on the Cross Continent and properly establish my power." Her voice became calmer as she spoke. "The southern region is slowly becoming the center of the world. Even I can feel it. Do you think the others are all idiots? Every power is gathering here. Why would I leave now? It was one thing before those guys arrived, but the Dragon Race, the Church of Light, and the Telltera aren't even trying to hide it! How could they possibly be interested in a secret realm? Mm! The secret of the calamities is obviously hidden here!"
Her expression darkened.
"…Also, if I ever want to really ascend to power, now is the only time! Especially while those two are planning to leave for an extended period of time!"
The figure quietly asked, "Your sisters?"
Rolilly's gaze immediately turned cold.
"My first sister," she flatly corrected.
A trace of disgust flashed across her face.
"Rotell has always looked down on me." Her voice seemed to sharpen. "Ever since we were children, she's treated me like something troublesome, like I'm just something stuck to the bottom of her boot! Everything is always about her sword, her talent, her glory, and her future! Bah! Bah-bah-bah! Father always praises her like some flawless hero while ignoring everything else around her! It's so unfair!"
Her fingers tightened around the towel in her hands.
"She acts righteous, but in reality, she only sees the things directly in front of her!
She swings her sword first and thinks about the consequences later!" Rolilly sneered. "'Those two' (Arthur and Rotell) are really a good pair, huh! If the empire is ever handed to someone like her, it'll eventually collapse under its own stupidity!"
The cloaked figure wordlessly listened.
Rolilly slowly exhaled before continuing.
"…Rorall is different!" For the first time, her tone slightly softened…
"She actually sees things as they are..." Rolilly leaned back. "She understands the world better than anyone else in this palace, me and father included. Honestly, if not for the curse… she would probably become something terrifying, but her vision is too narrow, only seeing those ethereal chains!"
The room fell quiet again.
Then—
Rolilly suddenly smiled bitterly.
"…Though, perhaps she already has found a way out..." Following these words, Rolilly thought back to the last time she saw her second sister. She still remembered the light in her eyes, the strange stare, and the words spoken for no reason, 'It doesn't matter how long it takes, just wait for me! When I return, I will show you that not everything must progress the way it's intended!'
The cloaked figure, not understanding, lowered their voice and asked another question.
"Then the Telltera?"
Rolilly's smile, after shaking away the strange emotion that seemed to linger too long, deepened.
"Them?" She lazily crossed one leg over the other, dropping the towel to hide anything that shouldn't be seen, but at the same time completely exposing her upper body to the cloaked figure. "Just a small agreement, what's so difficult about that?"
Rolilly's eyes narrowed.
"The Telltera want something from the Secret Realm, and coincidentally, I also need something too." She tilted her head slightly. "As long as our interests align, cooperation is only natural."
"And afterward?"
"Afterward?" Rolilly repeated this word.
For a brief moment, her gaze drifted towards the horizon, then something in her pupils seemed to tremble, as if a strange memory suddenly popped up.
"…Afterward, depending on how it goes, it's not impossible to flip the table, but…"
The cloaked figure stared at her.
For some reason, even they felt a slight chill hearing this third princess's words…
Only they knew a small corner of this young girl's complete plan. It should be said that Rolilly possessed countless layers, creating an unimaginably complex personality sealed beneath a layer of disguise. She was petty and vengeful, loud and obnoxious, treacherous and backstabbing, cunning and vile, twisted and bloodthirsty; and as you learned more and more, you understood that—
This Third Princess, Rolilly Hellion—
She truly was dangerous! She truly was a good match for the young master!
Each of her failures was intentional, and each mistake was just another domino in the unseen world!
Suddenly, Rolilly's expression shifted.
The faint fanaticism that had started to twist to life completely disappeared, and almost casually, she looked back toward the cloaked figure with deep, bottomless black eyes that completely lacked any semblance of human emotion.
"…Speaking of which…"
Rolilly's lips curved slightly upwards.
"Isn't my fiancé currently on the Cross Continent? Since those old guys want our relationship to move forward, shouldn't he be the one coming to see me?"
Silence!
The room went quiet.
Even the cloaked figure visibly paused in place.
Rolilly noticed the reaction, and her smile widened.
"…How do you know that?" the figure finally asked.
Rolilly lazily shrugged.
"It's not difficult to guess." She almost looked amused when saying this. "The Grasswind Family suddenly became more active, sending you and all, a secret envoy who just happened to appear during the exact same period as the Secret Realm opens, and the marriage contract is suddenly brought up again after years of silence… If I'm not wrong, there should also be an assassin sent for me, courtesy of my dear fiancée, right? The family sent you to stop them, but so far, you haven't been able to find them, right? You're panicking, right? Right!?"
She rested her cheek against one hand.
Her pale white skin seemed to shine in the moonlight.
"Hehe! Just thinking about it, the answer is obvious…"
Even beneath the hood, the cloaked figure seemed slightly stunned.
After a long pause—
"…It would seem I underestimated you a bit…"
Rolilly smiled sweetly.
Unfortunately—
That smile looked far more dangerous than cute…
The cloaked figure eventually shook their head.
"…I will pass along your words."
Rolilly dismissively waved one hand.
"Mm. Also…" Her eyes narrowed slightly. "Since he's already here, tell my dear fiancé that hiding forever is rude, it's not nice to keep a lady waiting…"
She twisted her neck, then added, "Oh, and please return these to him…" Following a snap, dozens of figures, all wearing similar robes to the black-clothed figure, walked out with hollow, lifeless eyes. Beneath the robes, some were dressed as butlers, others were familiar maids, but they all had one thing in common, and that was they didn't originally belong to the palace.
If counted, there were actually 143 in total!
They approached, barely fitting into the room, then collapsed into piles of minced meat, as if whatever was holding them together was taken away in an instant…
Seeing this, the cloaked figure widened her eyes in horror.
After a brief silence…
"…Perhaps," the cloaked figure replied more carefully, "he simply doesn't know how to approach you..."
These words had many meanings…
Rolilly snorted.
"That sounds like his problem! How can a woman be the one to approach first! Hump!"
No more words were spoken…
* * *