She gazed at the figure in the office, a young lady draped in a luxurious white pleated dress, crowned with an iris diadem, dignified and elegant, exuding an aura of nobility. She appeared to be of the same age as Seraphina, perhaps even younger. The phantom from Seraphina’s dreams was gradually superimposing itself onto this girl.

She was… she was the future Empress!

There was no doubt about it! Although she looked completely different from her past self, her demeanor and expression were a perfect match, coupled with the name Ansel had mentioned…

Had she just encountered the future Empress? free𝑤ebnovel.com

Seraphina was dumbfounded, a thought suddenly surfaced in her mind.

What would become of the empire if she killed this person right here and now?

As soon as this thought appeared, Seraphina immediately dismissed it — what a ridiculous idea! No one would do such a foolish thing!

“Lord Ansel.”

Among the six offspring of Ephesande, the youngest princess, Suellen, stood up, lifted her skirt, and bowed to Ansel, “It’s an honor to meet you for the first time.”

Ansel looked at the serene Suellen, who showed no signs of nervousness. He first signaled Seraphina to close the door, then said with a smile, “I didn’t expect Lord Parla’s guest to be Princess Suellen. My uninvited visit seems to have disturbed you both.”

“That’s not the case, Lord Ansel.” Suellen’s voice was soft and soothing, “I was just discussing some trivial matters with Lord Parla.”

“Trivial matters… really?”

Ansel’s mouth curled up slightly, “Princess Suellen, are you sure they are trivial?”

In Suellen’s silence, Ansel leisurely walked into the room, casually chose a sofa to sit down, and said cheerfully, “This morning, I suddenly heard some news about the mass production of the second-generation floating cannon.”

“Our genius lady… encountered some design issues, which led to the inability to mass-produce the second-generation floating cannon.”

Ansel propped his cheek with one hand, looking at Suellen with a half-smiling expression, “Is that so, Princess Suellen?”

Parla couldn’t help but interject at this point, “Ansel, Princess Suellen was just chatting with me—”

“It seems, Lord Ansel, you came here specifically for this matter, didn’t you?”

Suellen’s tone changed slightly, losing some of its gentleness, becoming cold and calm.

“No, I’m just purely curious.” The young Hydral spoke cheerfully:

“Although Evora only cares about whether the problem is solved, she won’t let go of anyone who deliberately creates problems. She will first throw the issue of the floating cannon’s inability to be mass-produced to the Babel Tower, but that doesn’t mean she doesn’t know that it was the Alchemy Association that deliberately interrupted the mass production of the second-generation floating cannon.”

“That’s Evora’s wrath, Parla.”

Ansel spoke threateningly, but his smile was very gentle, “You know how dangerous she is, but you still made this decision. You must have some confidence, right?”

“And in this world, the only confidence that can confront her wrath, apart from Hydral, is…”

“My mother, Her Majesty.” Suellen continued Ansel’s words.

She bowed slightly to Ansel, “Lord Ansel, I falsely conveyed Her Majesty’s decree, causing the high-level members of the Alchemy Association to choose to temporarily stop the mass production of the second-generation floating cannon.”

Parla was obviously in the know, he didn’t react to Suellen’s words, but Seraphina, who had somewhat broadened her horizons, was once again dumbfounded.

Falsely conveyed the decree? A young princess falsely conveyed the empress’s decree? Just to stop the production of some floating cannon?

What kind of situation is this?!

“I yearn to hear your rationale,” Ansel expressed, devoid of any skepticism towards Suellen’s words. It was evident that he was well-versed with the circumstances at hand.

“Rationale…”

Suellen remained silent for a considerable duration, subsequently rising to her feet and gazing intently at Ansel.

“Perhaps it’s for the best. Although the timing is far from ideal, I can seize this opportunity to voice some thoughts that I am destined to share with you, Lord Ansel.”

“Lord Ansel, do you perceive the current state of the empire as normal?” she inquired.

“Speaking for myself,” Ansel slightly shrugged, “I am not particularly fond of witnessing the empire in such a state.”

“I share your sentiment,” Suellen whispered, “Chaos, warfare, conflict, conspiracy… it’s an endless cycle. The advent of firearms has already cast a terrifying bloody shadow over the empire. Imagine if a floating cannon, a hundred times more violent, were to be mass-produced… Lord Ansel, can you envision what the empire would become?”

Her words were so righteous and sorrowful, her motives so pure and just.

“You are a man who yearns for order, Lord Ansel,” the young princess continued, “Your governance of your territory is a testament to your pursuit of order. Hence, I believe that you would not wish to witness such a spectacle.”

“The so-called mass-produced hummingbird brings no benefits to the empire.”

Suellen spoke with utmost solemnity, “Therefore, I do not wish for its successful development. If possible, I hope you can lend me your support.”

The princess, as innocent as a white flower, bowed deeply to Ansel.

Seraphina leaned towards Ansel’s ear and whispered, “Ansel, I think she makes a valid point.”

“Really?” Ansel responded, his voice not at all lowered to match Seraphina’s whisper, causing her some embarrassment. Nevertheless, she persisted in her soft tone, “Yes, even though that thing can’t harm me, if it were mass-produced… If the nobles’ guards were to possess it, wouldn’t the commoners be doomed? I also think it’s better not to let this thing be produced.”

Upon hearing this, Ansel couldn’t help but chuckle, “Seraphina, do you really believe that Princess Suellen is doing this for the harmony of the empire?”

“…?” Seraphina tilted her head, indicating her confusion.

Suellen’s expression remained unchanged as she watched Ansel.

“Let me tell you what the order of the empire truly is.”

Ansel raised his index finger and whispered, “There is, and only is, the empress herself.”

“As long as she wishes, she can eradicate all the maladies within the empire. Just like the current decay and decline of the empire, it’s all due to her personal issues.”