Xingyue, is Xiaokai also considered Kai?

"Novia, I..."

Xia Li raised her head again, looking up at the sky. The warm sunlight shone on her cheeks. This light, containing inorganic matter, shone with golden brilliance, just like the day she first met that person. Novia was also facing such light, saying strange things.

The girl's mind drifted back to their first meeting in Alexandria. So, today was no different from that day; nothing had changed...

She thought about it listlessly.

"Excuse me, Lucius, could you please go back inside for a moment? I'll hand it over to you later."

"it is good."

Lucius didn't think much of it, nodded, and went back.

Then, Cialis took out the gift she originally wanted to give to Novia: a stone. This was something she had thought about for a long time before deciding to give, something she had developed that could engrave sounds on.

Although the Atlas Institute's rules explicitly prohibit the public disclosure of one's research, the old dean acted as if he hadn't noticed that Cialis had brought it out with the intention of giving it away.

Although it was possible to have Lucius relay her message, the purple-haired girl felt it would be better for Novia to hear it directly.

A sudden gust of cold wind blew past, and her back shivered inexplicably. In that instant, she suddenly remembered the piece of food she had kept so well, the half-eaten food, which she had originally intended to return to him this time...

Her cold fingers rubbed against the stone, and Xia Li couldn't help but complain in her heart, "If only Novia were here."

How long is he planning to stay before coming back? She really couldn't understand it; ever since meeting him, the girl felt constantly filled with questions.

That being said, it's not just now, but every single second that Novia would be here.

It turns out that what she had always wanted was for him to join the Atlas Institute. Indeed, his design ideas and such were very much to her liking. But unfortunately, that was probably impossible now, since he had already joined another organization.

"Do you really have to tell me...?"

The girl, holding a stone to her lips, uttered short, almost soliloquized words.

The words I wanted to say had already jumped to my throat, but because of some unknown feeling, I swallowed them down with my saliva.

But the purple-haired girl took another deep breath, ignoring the intense heat on her body, and engraved the words in her heart onto it.

"Novia, there's something I want to say to you, even if you might say you don't need it, but I still want to tell you... Congratulations on achieving your goal, you're amazing, and I really look forward to seeing you again next time."

064: I am Nero's teacher, that is a sufficient reason.

"A gift from Cialis?"

Novia, who had just returned to Rome from Armageddon, soon received a gift from Cialis from Lucius. He was now playing with the stone in his hand, rubbing it incessantly.

Unlike when she came, Melusin insisted on returning by boat, and Novia understood her intentions, so she let her have her way.

"Cialie? That purple-haired human?"

Melusin still has a deep impression of this name, because she first saw Novia carrying this weak person on her back, which made her slightly less upset about her head being turned into a weapon. After all, she really liked people who were considerate of the weaker ones.

But her mindset has completely changed; she only cares about one thing now—

"Could it be that she likes you too?"

"Don't worry, she and I are just friends."

Novia readily agreed, and casually reached out to pinch her cheek.

"Well, I believe you."

Novia would never lie. She might hide something, but she would never tell a false story. Melusin was so confident.

"Speaking of which, what's the use of this stone?" Melusin continued. "Although it has some magical energy attached to it, it's very slight. Could it be that there's some principle I don't understand?"

"I don't know either, but no matter what, it's a gift. As long as it's the thought that counts, I'll keep it safe."

Although Novia knew it was a gift from Cialis, it just looked like a stone with a hint of magic... It probably carried some kind of blessing from Cialis.

What he didn't know was that although Cialis asked Lucius to give her the stone containing her words, she didn't tell him how to use it. It was unclear whether she forgot because she was shy, or because she thought that such a thing should be known without being told.

In short, Novia did not hear what Cialis said at this moment.

"It's getting late, it's about time—"

Before Novia could finish speaking, Melusin, who had been pressed against his face, immediately came into his arms and opened her arms. Her golden pupils blinked as if she had seen something new and interesting, as if she was now yearning for something, and her mouth was half-open in a silly way.

The dragon was asking for kisses, a habit she had developed back on the ship. Every night before the night ended, she would ask Novia to kiss her and hold her tightly. It would be even better if Novia could gently bite her long tongue.

Since physical intimacy has not yet been successfully achieved, after the kiss, Melusin would cling to Novia and sleep with her until dawn, after which she would ask for another kiss.

Now, naturally, there will be no exception.

The next day, since Nero was still on the Greek peninsula and would not be able to return for a while, Novia, who had learned of the oracle of Sibylla, went to find Nero's mother, Agrippina.

"Your Highness Agrippina, it's been a long time."

"It's you, Novia."

Novia last saw her at Nero's coronation ceremony, and hadn't seen her since. Moreover, Nero didn't allow her to participate in politics.

The sunlight streaming through the windows of Agrippina's house was swallowed up by the boundless darkness inside, leaving no ripple on the snow-white walls. It was like a coffin sitting in this remote corner, filled with oppression.

"No matter how you look at it, Novia, you're actually quite pitiful."

The silence continued, and it was less that Novia was ignoring the woman and more that she was waiting for her to say something next.

"Ah, because that child, the child who looks like a doll, is already the master of this great empire. Such a lovely child, my child." Agrippina cupped her face, revealing a sickly smile, as if talking to herself, "I really love her."

"Ever since I was exiled, I've been determined to make the adorable Nero emperor. I'm capable of anything, I'll do anything, and I'll stick to it no matter what. I've had this insatiable desire to devour anything since I was little. She really is such a cute little doll..."

Novia watched as her expression shifted between gentleness, madness, and terror.

"No matter what, you are still her mother."

“Yes, I am her mother. She has my blood, Agrippina the Great’s blood, and Julia’s blood. That’s why you are the most pitiful one, Novia.”

Agrippina the Younger laughed maniacally.

"The so-called emperor is precisely the earthly god who replaces the one in heaven to rule all things, who has everything under control, who is granted everything, and who is allowed to do whatever he wants!"

Then, Agrippina gave Novia a mocking look.

"Nero is fundamentally unchangeable. Look, the prosperity that illuminated the empire ultimately summoned her. She is now only maddened by your actions, misinterpreting her own madness and desires. She only loves you."

And it is precisely because I understand this that you are the most pitiful, Novia. In the end, either she will kill you, or you will kill her. Hahahaha, I have been waiting for that day to come.

Julia, Octavian's daughter, was exiled by Octavian for her licentiousness and adultery.

Agrippina the Elder, Julia's daughter, was exiled and starved to death on charges of treason and sexual misconduct.

After her husband's death, Agrippina the Younger attempted to seduce her brother Caligula, but failed and then tried to assassinate him. When her plot was exposed, she was exiled. After returning to Rome, she bewitched the richest man in Rome at the time and made him marry her. Not long after, the richest man died. Finally, she seduced Emperor Claudius.

It is evident from the experiences of these three women that they all led extremely dissolute lives, one after another, even surpassing each other in their debauchery.

Therefore, generally speaking, Nero should also be—

"Right now, you must be thinking about something that makes you feel really happy, right?"

A voice rang out, accompanied by laughter, and Novia suddenly spoke.

“Agrippina, actually, it was just a very minor fact, one that anyone might overlook. Nero did lose her smile, that’s all.”

"Your words did indeed give me a fleeting thought: Is it possible that Nero, as your child, is just a misconception? But no, she is not Julia, not Agrippina the Elder, and certainly not you. She is Nero, nothing more."

"It's her own life, she will make her own choices. Even if her past cannot be changed, I will accept it and bear all of it, that's all."

"Being her teacher is a sufficient reason."

065: Teacher, please, don't abandon me (4k)

The canal was completed six days before Nero was to return to Rome.

The weather was cold and gloomy that day; it was a cloudy day with darkness interspersed with white clouds from early morning.

"It's raining, Locusta."

"Ah...yes, Your Majesty."

Nero, sipping his Rocusta with mushroom soup, watched with interest as the rain began to patter into puddles reflecting the gloomy sky outside the window. The ripples then collided and disappeared as if melting away.

"I don't know if it's raining in Rome, but this level of rain shouldn't cause the rivers to flood. Even if it is, it's not a problem at all."

"Eh, is that so...."

Upon hearing the voice, Locusta slowly turned his head and saw a gentle face suddenly come into view.

It's unclear what Nero was thinking, but a smile curved her lips, and her expression was incredibly gentle and calm.

“Locusta,” Nero said with a smile, “guess why?”

"Hmm...is it because of...Lord Novia?"

“That’s right, that’s right.” The Rose Emperor replied with a smile, “My teacher is like a starry ocean amidst countless dark filth, extremely important, not only to the empire, but also to me, in short, very important.”

Locusta didn't understand what His Majesty the Emperor was saying for a moment, but she thought he was probably praising Lord Novia.

As the two talked, the sky continued to drizzle like mist. Locusta and Nero were silent for a while, gazing at the world before them. On the other side of the trembling drizzle, the dark city stretched endlessly, and not a single person could be seen from there.

"Locusta, this is for you."

After a while, Nero called her again and handed Locusta a bottle that appeared to contain only a few drops of water.

"this....."

Locusta looked puzzled, when Nero suddenly spoke clearly.

“This is poison. You must use this as a benchmark to make a more toxic and easier-to-control poison.”

"...Your Majesty, isn't this...?"

Although Locusta knew it was wrong to refuse now, because the person before her was His Majesty the Emperor, she couldn't think of any other suitable words.

Unsure if she might displease His Majesty, Locusta began to feel uneasy. She glanced at Nero's expression, but the blonde girl continued to greet her with a cheerful smile.

"This is an order, not a request."

What a terrifying look! This was the first time Locusta had ever seen Nero, who always appeared cheerful and lively, possess such a terrifying gaze, a gaze that seemed to devour everything, like black mud.

Even though Nero was smiling, Locusta felt as if he were floating in a huge vortex when he was being looked at like that, as if an invisible tide was rising around him.

Therefore, out of fear, Locusta could only nod silently.

“Great, I’ve always wanted to do that, but it’s too late now.” Nero smiled and tilted his head. “Although this should only be enjoyed by me, Locusta, you will use it to make even better poison, so I will allow you to taste it.”

Upon hearing this, Locusta's first thought was "No," but another thought immediately popped into his mind: "His Majesty the Emperor has become so strange and unfamiliar."

Despite this, Locusta, who was already terrified and at a loss, still obeyed Nero's words. She gently put a drop of water from the bottle into her hand and put it in her mouth to analyze the contents of the poison. For some reason, she felt a subtle sense of familiarity... However, real confusion also arose.

Locusta didn't know how to answer. Was His Majesty deliberately teasing him, or did he genuinely not know?

So she fell silent. In the dim light of the room, Nero could still be seen smiling, as if liveliness was her true nature.

But because Nero's gaze was too terrifying, she made up her mind to speak.

"Your Majesty, I find this very strange."

"What's wrong? Can't even you do it?" Nero asked, puzzled.

"No, it's because this thing is completely non-toxic..."

The surrounding atmosphere fell silent instantly, with only a fine drizzle falling silently from the gray sky, the darkness brought by the gloomy weather extending endlessly and spreading outward in the drizzle.

I don't know how much time passed.

Locusta glanced at Nero one last time, her heart nearly stopping, for tears streamed down Nero's dark, muddy eyes like broken pearls; she was weeping silently.

I want to help Her Majesty, I want to stop her from being like this no matter what. Locusta racked his brains trying to figure out what he could do, and concluded that he should let her cry it out by herself. He realized he might have said the wrong thing.

"......hehe."

Nero suddenly chuckled softly, then moved his lips slightly as if to say, 'Sorry, thank you,' but Locusta had no concrete evidence.

"You can go now, I'm a little tired..."

She tried her best to suppress her sobs, but they showed no signs of stopping.

"Well, okay..."

After Locusta left, the girl's sobs suddenly grew louder, piercing through the dense clouds, reaching the distant horizon, and dissipating into the atmosphere.