Become their wicked yet gentle lord.

And Ryuka... that unserious and unpredictable guy... what does he think of me?

Esther cupped her breasts in her hands, the soft touch making her want to keep touching them. She turned to the side, looking at herself in the mirror, striking a slightly alluring angle.

Without being narcissistic, this is absolutely not a beautiful sight that can leave one unmoved.

But then she remembered the annoying boy in her mind and began to complain softly.

"Even if there are many women, they shouldn't react so calmly..."

Chapter 27 Social Skills

Adela's entourage was extremely cautious. The Miller family's territory was very close to Sochi, and although it wasn't their first visit, they remained very wary. Even if they appeared to be very familiar with Esther, they still harbored suspicion.

After all, Hayden has been arrested, and Adela's appearance is well known to Ryuka, so it's hard to say that there won't be any surprises.

Do any of you have appointments?

"No, please inform Miss Miller that a friend is visiting."

The maid, Yulina, stepped forward on behalf of her mistress and handed a handkerchief to the captain of the guard, also slipping a gold coin inside.

"Understood, please wait a moment."

Upon entering the Miller family's territory, Adela was quickly questioned by Miller family soldiers. This was nothing unusual; after all, no one would easily allow armed infiltrators into their territory.

Just a routine check, Adela thought, but this wait felt longer than usual.

"Miss, could it be... that something unexpected has happened?"

As dusk fell, the number of pedestrians on the road gradually decreased, and the busy workers and farmers all returned home. Only Adela's carriage and her entourage remained outside the slanting shadows of the mountains and forests, which made Yulina somewhat nervous.

After all, Sochi isn't far from here. If Esther betrays them, the Ryukyu cavalry could quickly launch a surprise attack. (The remaining text appears to be gibberish and unrelated to the preceding sentences.)

"What are you afraid of? Don't forget, we have teleportation magic."

Adela gently kicked the box under the seat, which was precisely why she dared to linger in Sochi. Although casting spells required time, the guards outside the carriage were there specifically for that purpose.

But the long wait still made Adela uneasy. She gave Yulina a look, and the maid, having received permission, took out a box from under her seat, opened it, assembled it, and soon obtained a unique magic staff.

With the staff in her hand, Yurina seemed much more at ease, stroking it from time to time, like a child seeing a long-lost friend.

But Adela's harsh words soon struck her, making her straighten up immediately.

"Be careful, don't let your magic go out of control."

"Yes Yes!"

Seeing Julia's timid and hesitant demeanor, Adela turned her head away and sighed, which made Julia even more silent. Time was wearing down her patience; Esther shouldn't have betrayed her to Ryukyu, otherwise Sochi City would have already made a move. But Adela was also beginning to worry. Could it be that Esther had received news of Hayden's arrest and no longer wanted to get involved in their merchant guild's alliance?

If that's the case... should I really consider giving up my Sochi plans?

Adela finally couldn't hold back any longer. Ignoring Yulina's attempts to stop her, she pushed open the car door herself, intending to question the Miller family guards. Just then, their familiar head maid, Esther, appeared in the distance.

"I apologize for keeping you all waiting. Miss is willing to see you. Please follow me."

"Thank you for your help..."

Adela tried to maintain a smile, then closed the car door and sat back down. Her constant tapping of her sandals on the ground betrayed her inner unease.

Would you be willing to... receive me?

It seems his worries were justified; the reason he waited so long was because Esther was hesitant. But the fact that she ultimately agreed to see him meant he still had a chance.

But she overlooked one thing...

"I feigned hesitation to make my wavering stance seem genuine. If I had met her from the beginning, it would have aroused her suspicion. But right now, she probably only has one thing on her mind: to get my help at all costs..."

Inside the room, Esther looked out the window at the approaching carriage and murmured to herself, a slight smile playing on her lips. This was a judgment she made based on her understanding of Adela, deliberately keeping her waiting a while. She had ordered her maid to observe from a distance, waiting to suddenly appear when Adela showed impatience or even wanted to leave.

This is the tug-of-war; if Adela is willing to grit her teeth and come see him again, it means she's really stubborn...

"Well then, it's time to put on a good performance."

Esther patted her face. She had ultimately chosen a casual summer outfit, which she had her reasons for. After stretching her facial muscles, she tested various expressions in front of the mirror, then took a deep breath, patted a book on her dressing table, and encouraged herself:

"Bless me!"

She then put the book, titled "The Art of Social Interaction," back in her drawer. She had found it in a small bookstore when she was studying in Beijing. Although it had no author's name and the content wasn't entirely reliable, the various tricks and deceptions it contained were very much to Esther's liking, which was why she could display social skills beyond her peers.

But this time, the person she's dealing with is Adela. No matter her flaws, Adela is still a mature female businessman to Esther, unlike those naive noble ladies and suitors. Therefore, to deceive her, Esther has to rehearse and plan ahead…

"Why aren't you ready yet! You're so clumsy! Why did I pay so much money to hire you?!"

Adela had just entered Esther's mansion and hadn't even had time to take off her trench coat when she heard Esther shouting from inside.

The head maid who led the way gave an awkward smile. She whispered an apology to Adela, asking her and Julia to wait there for a moment, and then hurried to the room.

But Adela raised an eyebrow slightly and followed silently, secretly watching from outside the door of the reception room.

"You guys can go now, I'll take care of this..."

The head maid dismissed several tearful maids and silently began tidying the room. The drawing room was somewhat messy; a teapot had been overturned on the table, soaking the carpet and leaving clear, messy footprints. Esther sat cross-legged on a chair nearby, her brow furrowed, tea still clinging to her fair feet. Looking around and not finding a towel, Esther grabbed a piece of clothing she had just changed out of and began wiping her damp feet with a somewhat agitated gesture…

The dress used to wipe her feet was a proper gown for receiving guests, while Esther was wearing casual clothes she had just changed out of. Besides the overturned teapot, there were several plates of leftover snacks on the table. Judging from the number of plates and seats, Esther had probably just held a tea party, and her clothes had only recently been changed. Furthermore, she hadn't changed in her bedroom, suggesting the tea party had lasted a long time, making Esther somewhat irritable.

Adela had her own intelligence networks, and she knew, of course, that Esther frequently hosted gatherings for aristocratic young ladies after she rose to prominence. She could even find out which ladies were at today's gathering if she wanted to. Therefore, this scene wasn't unexpected for her. In Adela's view, the reason Esther was so agitated was probably the news of her sudden arrival…

Adela looked at the small footprints pacing back and forth on the carpet and Esther's wet soles, a slight smile playing on her lips. Sure enough, the reason she'd been kept so long was because this little girl wasn't sure about the current situation either.

Seeing her current agitated state, Adela was actually pleased. Because the more chaotic a person's mind, the easier they are to manipulate, which gave Adela even greater confidence.

Knock, knock, knock. Adela gently knocked on the door of the reception room, causing Esther to suddenly look up, frown, and ask in a displeased tone:

"Miss Adele?"

Esther then immediately turned to her head maid, her displeasure seeming to ask, 'Why didn't she greet me before coming in?'

"Don't blame her, Esther. I don't want to wait at the door any longer; I've already waited long enough today."

Adela walked in without a word, her smile slightly aggressive, like that of a victor who had everything under control. Yulina, on her way here, had disassembled the staff and hidden it under her skirt. Now, with an apologetic and embarrassed expression, she bowed slightly to Esther's head maid, seemingly apologizing for her mistress's rudeness.

Adela's preemptive questioning made Esther a little impatient. She turned her small face away and said impatiently:

"Sorry, something came up today..."

"Really?" Adela walked to the chair, lifted the back of her skirt and sat down gently, smiling at Esther. "Is it about Sochi?"

Esther's expression visibly stiffened, then she sneered and looked at Adela: "Looks like I can't hide it from you. To be honest, after hearing that your people were arrested, I was really torn about whether or not to see you."

Just as she had expected. A hint of smugness flashed in Adela's eyes as she looked at Esther's reception room: the exquisite room was a mess, and Esther had used her expensive dress to wipe her feet... It was hard to imagine that the owner of this room had to borrow a dress from her just three months ago to attend a banquet.

Adela had frequent contact with the Northern nobles under Prince Clovis's command while doing business with him. Anyone with a noble title had dealings with merchants under the Merchant Guild, and the Miller family was no exception. She was acutely aware of their dire financial situation, and had been paying close attention to the Miller family for a long time, though back then she had only acquired their assets at a low price from Esther's father…

After Esther distinguished herself on the battlefield in Sochi, Adela changed her mind. This young girl immediately became a worthy bet, especially after hearing that Clovis would arrange for the Miller family's territory to be closest to Sochi. Therefore, even before Esther cooperated with Ryukyu, Adela began various contacts, as offering help in times of need is far more valuable than adding to someone's success, and the incident of borrowing clothes was just one part of that.

As it turned out, her gamble paid off. This down-on-her-luck young lady, who had dropped out of school in the capital, had indeed turned her life around. Although it was because she had the backing of the economic policies of the minor governor of Ryukyu, this made Adela value Esther even more. After all, Adela felt that Esther was capable of being the first among the Northern nobles to cooperate with Ryukyu for profit, and also capable of betraying Ryukyu again for profit. Adela's previous subtle probing and Esther's deliberately displayed attitude further solidified her judgment. Therefore, Adela brought up the matter of the Fourth Prince, Elias, and the Papacy's alliance against Ryukyu, hoping to entice Esther to her side. Esther, of course, also showed interest to Adela, but the two remained wary and defensive, as their relationship was based solely on self-interest, lacking trust and loyalty.

Today is the day to place your bets and reap the rewards...

Chapter 28 Esther's Pledge of Allegiance

“I know what you’re worried about, Esther.” Adela offered a calm smile, trying to reassure Esther that the current situation posed no threat to her. “But Hayden’s capture is his own problem; it doesn’t mean that Ryūsha will easily defeat us…”

She explained her judgment methodically, and brought up the fourth prince Elias and the Papacy as her trump cards.

"Don't forget, this operation against Sochi Province was supported by His Highness Elias. It wasn't just our merchant guild and other related merchants, but also nobles from the North and other powers, as well as the Holy City of the Papacy. This was Archbishop Carmela's intention..."

"With so many people on our side, how far can Liu Xia go? Once we have the 'evidence' of his crimes, no one can stand up to protect him, not even the princess behind him, or the one on the throne..."

Adela is right. If so many people simultaneously attack Ryukyu, even if the emperor wants to maintain a balance, he will probably have to turn a blind eye. After all, these people's goal is not to destroy Ryukyu and the provincial system, but simply to seize some benefits from Ryukyu. On the contrary, the emperor might be quite happy to see such a scene.

Esther watched Adela's performance quietly; this woman always seemed so confident. This domineering demeanor easily convinced most people, making them follow her lead. That is, if they hadn't had close contact with Ryūka...

Interests, conspiracies, backstabbing... A cold smile flashed in Esther's eyes. As the daughter of a nobleman, she had grown up in this kind of environment, especially since her father was a magic fanatic who was oblivious to the outside world. She was used to such things, like wild dogs fighting for food, until she met Ryūka.

That boy, who was about the same age as him, was different.

Before meeting Ryūka, Esther knew what poverty felt like, but even a starved camel is bigger than a horse. As the only daughter of the Miller family, she was at most in dire straits, but not struggling to survive. Her family's decline led her to focus on places she had never paid attention to before: the lower classes of ordinary people.

So when she saw the astonishing vitality that burst forth from all sorts of people under Ryūsha's rule—nobles like Hetia, ordinary knights like Luca and Baron, emerging magical engineers, merchants, farmers, workers… everything and everyone was completely different from what Esther had ever seen. Even the bustling imperial capital didn't have this unique atmosphere. Therefore, her vision extended beyond simply revitalizing the Miller family.

Of course, the family needs to turn its fortunes around, but after getting the money, there are more important things to do, aren't there?

After all, he wasn't some shallow nouveau riche.

Esther gave a cold laugh, both mocking Adela across from her and acting according to her own script. She appeared unimpressed by Adela's attitude and said with a hint of disdain:

“I thought you, Miss Adela, would have some profound insights. Do you think I couldn’t have thought of these things? I admit, if things are really as you say, with so many forces preparing to unite against the Governor of Ryukyu, then his chances of winning are indeed slim…”

Esther's tone displeased Adela, who frowned and asked, "Then why are you still hesitating to see me? Don't forget, you promised to help us last time!"

"I thought this struggle was at most a political and business battle!"

Esther raised her voice, seemingly blaming Adela. Her pretty face flushed with rapid breathing; to achieve this effect, Esther had even drunk a small glass of craft wine beforehand to make her excitement seem more real.

"Didn't you ever think about that? He could retaliate against Hayden for a conflict from months ago, arresting him on a whim! He could do the same to us!"

Esther angrily berated Adela: "Rescue the clergy of Sochi Cathedral? Ha~ They can just turn around and go back to the Holy City to report to their Archbishop Carmela~ The Fourth Prince? Even if Ryukyu wanted to touch him and his men, they would have to hesitate~ The other nobles are also sticking together in their own groups! And what about me?!"

Esther jumped off the chair and paced back and forth in the room, her tone anxious and restless, which convinced Adela that she was truly hesitant.

"Our Miller family was the first Northern family to embrace Ryukyu's economic policies. Although they now fawn over us because of our prosperity, they definitely see us as traitors! Moreover, our territory is only an hour away from Sochi City... no! It wouldn't even take half an hour for a knight to run there! If Ryukyu is really pushed to the limit by you, I will be the first to suffer the consequences!"

"Hmm...you're overthinking it...besides, you only need to help us secretly, you don't need to openly confront Ryukyu..." Adela tried to soothe Esther's emotions, but deep down she also felt that what Esther said wasn't unreasonable, however, she didn't care...

"Heh~ Our governor can endure for several months before taking revenge on a merchant~ How can I be sure he won't suffer in silence under your siege and then retaliate later?"

You want me to get the schedule and personnel for the supplies that Liuxia will provide to the cathedral, and you also want me to monitor the movements of Megan, who is in charge of the city's defense forces.

If anything goes wrong, Ryuu will quickly suspect me. What if you run away and deny everything? What am I supposed to do then? Our Miller family will probably be the first casualty, right? So even though the price you offered me was high, after careful consideration, I still think the risk is too great and not worth it..."

Adela fell silent for a moment. Esther's performance was flawless, and it fit perfectly with the changing situation. She had previously promised Esther that after helping them, they would receive a considerable share of the Sochi market and, with Prince Elias's assistance, would receive a further promotion in their noble titles.

Moreover, Adela understood that Elias had another goal: to force Ryukyu to form a parliament for the Sochi province and distribute the governor's power among several council nobles. She promised to help the Miller family secure a seat.

But compared to the benefits Esther currently gains from having Ryūsha's backing, all of that is illusory, an empty promise. No wonder Esther hesitated again after learning of Hayden's arrest.

Adela smiled slightly: "I understand, Miss Miller, you're quite the shrewd businesswoman. You want a more concrete 'promise' from me... right?"

“I didn’t say that.” Esther gave a cold laugh, but seemed to have been seen through by Adela. She sat back down in her chair and then slowly spoke.

"I just wanted to ensure my own safety. After all, I didn't know what your plans were. Of course, I didn't ask, because I know you don't trust me that much. So I don't want to get involved in this mess... I just wanted to make things clear this time. Our cooperation ends here, and I'll pretend I never said what I promised you. Don't drag me into your conflict anymore... I don't want to offend anyone!"

"I'm afraid it won't be that easy."

Adela's face slowly darkened. If Esther thought that way, then it wasn't just a matter of how much benefit she offered.

“Miss Miller, do you really think you can just walk away like this? What will your young governor think if he finds out from somewhere that you and I were plotting together?”

Esther's expression changed instantly: "Are you threatening me?"

"How could that be~" Adela immediately put on a charming smile again, comforting the noble girl who was much younger than herself.

“I’m just saying, nothing stays hidden forever. It wouldn’t be surprising if he found out. And think about it, Ryukyu can’t tolerate anyone else. His attack on Hayden proves that! Right now, he only needs your and the other nobles’ support, which is why he’s allowing you to share a piece of the pie with him. But once he doesn’t need you anymore, you’ll be kicked aside like Hayden, or even worse. After all, don’t forget, you served Clovis on the Sochi battlefield.”

Adela noticed Esther's thoughtful expression and thought the young girl was easy to manipulate. Although she was quite intelligent among noble ladies of her age, she was still somewhat inferior to herself.

"Think about it, our Chamber of Commerce helped him a lot when he was still in charge of Linhu Town. We even helped him develop several gold and silver mines, but he turned his back on us just like that. What does your cooperation with him amount to? I think maybe he's just after your beauty, Esther. After all, his reputation in that area hasn't been very good."

“Estelle, we’re both girls, you have to believe me on that. No matter how old you are, men are like this. You have to take control of your own destiny. Climb up when you should, don’t wait until he betrays you to regret it.”

After hearing this, Esther's expression shifted between light and shadow. After hesitating for a long time, she finally gritted her teeth and asked Adela:

"You say you want to take your destiny into your own hands, right? Fine! If you want my help, at least let me know your plans, and let me know how I should deal with things if you run into trouble!"

"You want to know our plans?"

Adela hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting between uncertainty and a questioning look in Esther's eyes. Esther's request was somewhat dangerous, and although Adela believed she wouldn't be fooled by the little girl, it was still something that needed to be handled with caution.

Adela hesitated for a moment, her expression shifting between uncertainty and a questioning look in Esther's eyes. Esther's request was somewhat dangerous, and although Adela believed she wouldn't be fooled by the little girl, it was still something that needed to be handled with caution.

The two beauties, one tall and one short, were locked in a tense standoff, their gazes meeting, the air thick with a dangerous silence. Adela leaned back slightly, comfortably crossing one leg, her fingers lightly tapping her knee. Behind her, Yurina also tensed, seemingly awaiting her master's command…

Esther, however, did not back down. Although she had no magical items in her hands, she stared straight at Adela without any fear in her eyes.

Finally, a pair of red lips parted.

"Yes, but you need to sign a magic contract first."

As she spoke, Adela produced a commercial contract. While such contracts lacked curses and constraints, they guaranteed the authenticity of the signatories and were impossible to forge. She wrote Esther's testimony on it, stating that she was willing to betray Ryukyu to help them, and then pushed it in front of Esther.

This is Esther's pledge of allegiance. If Esther betrays her, as long as she announces this contract, anyone who suffers losses because of it—whether it's the Fourth Prince, the Papacy, or other nobles—will regard Esther as an enemy...

Esther looked at the contract, thought for only a moment, and then signed her name on it.