Fool's Library

"But for me, for the human named Hiltina..."

"The so-called kingly way, the so-called right way, is to never regret it, no matter what happens, even if you make a mistake."

"From beginning to end, I have always believed in the path I have taken, and I will never complain even if I am trapped in hell."

Even if you are at the end of your rope and in a miserable state, you should never deny the path you have walked in the past.

She spoke again softly, but her words were no longer self-deprecating; instead, they carried a strange undertone.

"Therefore, once I officially ascend the throne and become the Empress of the Granville Empire... I will never allow these distracting thoughts and wild fantasies to be displayed to the world or to my subjects."

"In my father's words, learning to wear different masks at different times is a required course for a qualified king - in front of his subjects, a king should always maintain a superior and always correct appearance."

"Speaking of which, wearing a mask and all that... is actually in your comfort zone, Rust."

A subtle smile involuntarily appeared on Hiltina's lips.

"To this day, I still remember the scene when we met in a bar in Deep Blue Harbor late at night."

"At that time, my first impression of you was quite bad. I thought you were a smooth talker who made cheesy jokes and was all show and no substance, a lecherous man with a handsome face but nothing inside."

"Looking back now, that flirtatious gigolo persona was probably one of your most common masks."

"To be honest, I don't really like you when you wear a mask... Although you are indeed more proper, more composed, and more likable when you wear a mask, the stiff smile painted on the mask seems too exaggerated and pretentious to me."

"What I truly love is that you whose mask occasionally slips off, revealing your true self in those fleeting moments of vulnerability."

Hiltina still held the boy's hand tightly with one hand, while her other hand involuntarily reached out.

Then, she gently stroked the boy's sleeping face.

When Lust is awake, he gives off an elusive and all-knowing vibe, so much so that people subconsciously overlook his appearance.

However, when he was asleep, the boy's face looked much more youthful. His facial features were not sharp and distinct, but rather soft and gentle, and could even be described as innocent and naive.

Back when they wiped out the cult at Deep Blue Harbor and were preparing for the Iron Cross Battle Royale, Hiltina had a brief glimpse of what Rust looked like when he was asleep.

This was the first opportunity for Hiltina's perception of Rast to change.

In the words of Dean Yin, an expert on emotions and gossip, this was also the moment when the seed of love sprouted between the two of them.

"You're even cuter without the mask on...isn't that right?"

"As childish as a child."

"And what about myself...? I ran away from home for a dream I casually mentioned as a child, a dream called 'the forest ranger.'"

"At our core, we are just naive children, completely out of place in the adult world outside, utterly alien."

"However, it is precisely because of this disconnect from the world, this sense of being out of place..."

“People who are different should stick together and support each other.”

Hiltina's fingers slid down the boy's cheek, then paused when they reached his chest.

"As the master of the holy sword, as the empress of the empire."

“I must never utter these weak and confused words before others, before the people of the country… not even my sister Ophelia.”

“But I think you, Rust, are the only exception…”

She spoke softly like that.

“Last”.

"To me, you are not simply a subject of the Empire, nor a classmate of Star University, nor a comrade who fought alongside me in the Night World."

"You are one of a kind."

“Whether it’s Ophelia, my father and stepmother, or even my biological mother, none of them can replace you.”

"Empress Hiltina of the Granville Empire must never reveal the slightest weakness or cowardice in front of outsiders."

"However, as the person you are betrothed to, as Last's fiancée, Hiltina can freely show this weakness in front of her fiancé, and confide her confusion and cowardice."

"So, in these very last few hours before I become Empress..."

She slipped her hands under the pristine white sheets and gently wrapped them around the boy's neck.

“Last”.

"Please bear with my weakness and willfulness for a while."

This was their second embrace. The last one was in the Night World's Echoes of History, after the explosion in the port area, in the icy waters of Deep Blue Harbor... To prevent Rust from being swept away by the giant waves created by the shockwave of the explosion, Hiltina held him tightly, helping him stabilize himself in the water.

But now, it's no longer the same embrace of mutual support and sympathy that happened three years ago... The boy in Hiltina's arms is warm, with a burning temperature.

“I love you the most, Rust.”

"So, we must stay together forever and ever, and you must never leave me."

……

Ding-a-ling, ding-a-ling~

The faint chimes of the clock beside the bed pulled Hiltina's consciousness back to the real world.

It was already evening.

The sunlight streaming through the glass windows of the ward was no longer the golden yellow of the previous afternoon, but stained with a blood-red hue.

"Sister Wang."

A soft knock came from outside the ward.

Then Ophelia pushed open the door and entered, calling softly from the doorway:

"Your coronation ceremony is about to begin."

"Okay, I understand, Ophelia."

Hiltina nodded: "Have the driver come over first. Preparations can begin in the capital. I'll be down in a bit."

After saying these words, Hiltina quietly stood up.

She turned to look at the boy on the hospital bed:

"Indeed, only by your side can I calm myself down and find a moment of peace."

"However, our rest time has come to an end."

As soon as she finished speaking, the confusion, weakness, timidity, and even lingering look on Hiltina's fair face vanished completely.

Instead, there is pure tranquility.

However, within that absolute silence, there was a chilling sense of impending doom.

If someone were to immerse their consciousness in the spiritual world, they would find that at this moment, Hiltina's spiritual symbol is like a knight's sword with its sharp edge fully exposed, filled with a fierce killing intent.

It's like a warrior sharpening his weapon before heading to the battlefield... Even before the sword is drawn, you can already hear the clang of the sword in its scabbard.

The sharp energy emanated from the spiritual world and was reflected in reality, leaving the corridor outside the ward covered with tiny slash marks.

This is a manifestation of Hiltina's mental image; her overly powerful thoughts have interfered with the scenery of reality, forming an invisible domain around her, but avoiding only Rust's sickbed.

Although Hiltina's personality is not as calculating as Ophelia's.

However, after issuing a proclamation to the entire Western Continent to protect that boy, she naturally knew that countless powerful enemies, angels, and even evil gods would be waiting for her at the upcoming coronation ceremony.

But she didn't care.

Compared to the "royal power" that she only reached after wielding the Holy Sword, the "chariot" is Hiltina's true origin.

What the chariot is meant to do is crush everything in its path... Even if a mountain appears in front of Hiltina, she will not go around it, but will only cut it down with a single sword strike.

“Last”.

"Two years ago, you stepped forward to protect me when I was hesitating between royal responsibilities and my own ideals, and was caught in confusion and struggle."

Her chestnut-brown hair swayed in the afterglow of the setting sun.

Hiltina had already stood up, leaving only her chilling words echoing in the evening breeze.

"Now, it's my turn to protect you."

"Go and protect..."

"The future between you and me."

Chapter 268 He will return like lightning

The corridor outside the wards on the top floor of the United Hospital.

Ophelia stood by the corridor, silently watching the scene in the ward through the observation window, waiting for her elder sister.

The ward was very soundproof, and the whole world was silent... Ophelia could even hear her own heartbeat clearly.

For some reason, the faint heartbeat sounded in Ophelia's ears as inexplicably urgent and panicked.

"As expected..."

"No matter how many times I've seen it, I still can't help but feel sad whenever I witness such a scene again."

As Ophelia gazed at the scene of Hiltina and the sleeping boy in the ward, an indescribable bittersweet feeling welled up in her heart.

Two years ago, this was an emotion she had never experienced before.

But at this moment, it surged like a tidal wave, engulfing Ophelia's heart.

Despite proclaiming herself an absolutely calm and collected princess, she is referred to as a "manipulative witch" by the nobles of the capital...

Rationally speaking, Ophelia knew very well that these were distracting thoughts that would affect her rational judgment and had to be discarded.

But no matter how hard she tried, she could never erase those feelings.

Cut constantly, the rationale is still chaotic.

This feeling kept recurring in Ophelia's mind, causing her unbearable heartache.

"If only that ferret were here at a time like this, I could take my anger out on it and distract myself."

Ophelia chuckled self-deprecatingly.

Just then, the sound of the door opening quietly echoed down the silent corridor.

This also forced Ophelia to suppress the chaotic thoughts in her mind, so that those thoughts would not show on her expression and be noticed by her older sister.

"Let's go, Ophelia."

Her bright chestnut hair cascaded down, reflecting the twilight glow in the dim space, shining like flames.

The ward door closed quietly behind Hiltina.

This was completely different from the girl Ophelia had glimpsed in the hospital room earlier... a girl who still retained some confusion and attachment.

At this moment, Hiltina exuded an aura of majesty and superiority.

She has transformed once again into the peerless female knight who single-handedly cut off the tide of countless Iron Crosses in Deep Blue Harbor.

……

The black sedan glided slowly away from the United Hospital and began to drive along the road towards the inner city of the capital.

The hospital jointly established by Star University and the Empire is located on the outskirts of the capital, while the coronation ceremony is held in the heart of the capital's inner city, within the royal palace complex...

Considering the size of the capital, it takes about half an hour to travel from the suburbs to the inner city.

This was also the last bit of time left before Hiltina ascended the throne.

The fiery red glow of the sunset spilled down from the western horizon and reflected in Hiltina's eyes, like a hazy, golden sea of ​​stars.

Beside her, Ophelia held a gorgeous ribbon and, using the mirror in the back seat of the car, was giving Hiltina the final touches.

With nimble, pale fingers, Ophelia gathered Hiltina's long, loose chestnut hair.

A moment later.

Snapped--

The ribbon made a crisp sound as her cascading chestnut hair was gathered into a single ponytail, revealing Hiltina's swan-like white neck.

Ophelia looked at her sister in the mirror: "For the royal succession ceremony, this attire might be a little too plain."

"I remember that the royal family had dedicated aristocratic etiquette attendants and costume designers."

"Since it's such an important ceremony as the succession to the throne, why don't you let the professionals handle it, sister..."