Chapter 655 Are You An Addict?

[ Chivisea Dynasty ]

"Long live Her Highness, the crown princess!"

The cheers of people gathered in front of the high wall of the royal palace resonated in the air that could reach the heavens. Everyone was yelling the same greeting, and the majority of them were women who were robbed of the right to even speak without a man's permission.

In this strict country, no woman had ever become the heir to the throne. But for the past six months since the Fourth Princess, Veronika Barkridge returned after losing the selection, everything slowly changed until they reached this point of welcoming their newly crowned princess and also the first in the line to the throne.

Many thought it was absurd. A woman? Leading this nation? Had they not heard what happened to a four-hundred-year-old kingdom when they boldly replaced the rightful crown prince with a woman? That country was now an official state of the Maganti Empire.

This matter had divided the nation, and it was to be expected. Everyone was used to their practice, beliefs, and way of living. So change was never easy. Though many wanted to submit their petition for this puny challenge Veronika proposed to her brother, they had no choice but to accept it.

Why?

Apparently, even though the Fourth Princess didn't succeed in claiming the empress's seat in the Haimirich Empire, Veronika was able to get on the good side of the newly crowned empress and the emperor of Haimirich. The Haimirich Empire played a major role in this change.

Anyone who would receive a personal letter from the emperor of Haimirich, 'informing' the king he would subjugate their land, would be alarmed. Abel never had the reason to explain himself for doing something because he wouldn't be called a tyrant if he wasn't rotten to the core. All he needed was to say his piece, and that was his admiration for the Fourth Princess; adding his 'word of advice' to reconsider his heir because 'personally' Abel wouldn't mind having a girl as an heir if she was capable.

The overall letter might appear a little friendly and polite, but the hidden message in it was as clear as a day. Abel supported the Fourth Princess.

It was no secret that Aries, Abel's newly crowned empress, was fond of Veronika. Aries cinched everyone knew about that by sending a ton of gifts to Veronika, and the rumors in high society in the empire because Aries would always talk about her. Rumors traveled quickly to Chivisea, and when Veronika stepped foot in her home country, the unit of royal knights and the delegation that escorted the princess proved she was favored in Haimirich.

To put it simply, Veronika's backer was the empress and emperor of the Haimirich Empire. There must be a reason for them to admire the princess. Hence, many — those who weren't really happy with the crown prince or on bad terms with him — saw this opportunity. With all their powers and might, they pressured the king to accept the princess's request to give her a chance.

Now, here they were.

Veronika won, obviously, and fair and square. After all, her brother, the crown prince, was a foolish man, and his only advantage was that he had a flatter chest and different genitalia.

A smile turned up on Veronika's lips, standing on the balcony of the palace she moved in after claiming the crown of the crown princess. It had been several days since the coronation, but she couldn't get enough of listening to the cheers that were mostly from women who wholeheartedly supported her.

"Your Royal Highness." Suddenly, a woman disrupted the peaceful silence on the balcony as she stood by the door. "The Captain had arrived after hearing your summon."

"That is quick." Veronika slowly turned on her heel as she faced her handmaiden.

"Your Royal Highness, the Captain seemed upset. I heard he had been complaining about the orders you gave him."

"And what was he complaining about it?" asked Veronika as she marched inside the room while her handmaiden stepped aside to give way.

The handmaiden followed a step behind her, whispering. "That he doesn't see the reason they needed to march to a land that our kingdom had nothing to do with. More than that, the surrounding territories around it were known for their notorious governance."

"Heh." Veronika only let out a shallow breath, making her handmaiden sigh in worry.

"Your Royal Highness, I know I am but a woman —" the handmaiden halted when Veronika stopped. Seeing the crown princess look back at her sharply caused the former to gulp and bow. "Apologies."

"The moment my father, the king, passed me the crown, that habit of demeaning our gender had disappeared. I will let this slip-up slide just once."

"Yes, Your Royal Highness."

Veronika rocked her head mildly. "So, what were you telling me?"

"I am forever grateful to Your Royal Highness for choosing me as her handmaiden. But Your Royal Highness, as much as it pains me to say this, the captain had a convincing argument." The handmaiden cleared her throat as she explained. "The land you wanted to survey will not benefit our Chivisea."

"And what made you think it won't?" Veronika arched a brow. "I had stayed silent for years and only now did I get the courage to fight for my people without letting a man steal my merits. I care for this land more than anyone, and thus, my actions, decisions, and orders will surely benefit Chivisea to greater heights."

The handmaiden slowly gazed up at Veronika, and upon catching the confidence in the latter's eyes, she bowed once again.

"Understood, Your Royal Highness."

"This is an investment," said Veronika, waving dismissively as she resumed her steps. "I might be in the good graces of the sovereigns of Haimirich, but I still need to repay their kindness. I am not the only one who needs their support, after all, and I cannot allow others to find my idleness an opportunity to take my spot."

"This way, Your Royal Highness." The handmaiden picked up her pace and walked past Veronika, opening the door for her that leads to another room.

Veronika smiled, but before she could enter, she gazed at the handmaiden. "Do you think my letter to the empress had reached Haimirich?"

"You used the fastest falcon the king gifted you," replied her handmaiden. "I'm certain Her Majesty would've received it."

"Great! I wonder what was her reaction?" Veronika hummed happily, continuing her steps, imagining Aries's reaction once she read the letter.

[ HAIMIRICH EMPIRE: ROSE PALACE ]

The corner of Aries's lips curled up, holding the teacup in front of her lips, eyes on the letter in her other hand.

"Veronika is truly a wise decision," she whispered, keeping her composure when the door suddenly flew open. Her eyes slowly rose to the aghast Conan, watching how his mouth fell open while his eyes scanned the little hall for the empress's mini tea party.

"Your Majesty!!" Conan's voice erupted in the air, gasping in disbelief.

"You are so loud, Conan." Aries cocked her head to the side, blinking innocently. "Did His Majesty do something to rile you up again?"

Conan gasped once more, scrunching his nose up in disdain. He then pointed at Aries, and at the unconscious ladies around the table where Aries was enjoying a cup of tea.

"You…" his voice shook quietly, feeling his entire body tremble. "... are you competing with His Majesty on who gives me a heart attack first!?"

"Oh no, Conan. We're not competing…" Aries smiled sweetly. "We had a bet."

"That's the same! Curse this empire — ugh, my head…" Conan reached for the jamb to prevent himself from collapsing.

"Oh, come on, Sir Conan. Don't curse this empire. Being efficient is what I'm doing. I am having a tea party whilst wrapping up some of my business at the same time. I cannot take home any work tonight since Abel warned me for the last time he would tear all the documents if I didn't pay attention to him during our shared nights."

"What do you mean shared nights?" Conan snapped his eyes at her groggily. "You sleep together every night and he never fails to gloat about how passionate his nights were everywhere he goes."

Aries chuckled. "Come, have some tea…"

"Hah???" His eyes dilated, looking at her with equal dismay and disbelief. "Have some tea when all your esteemed guests are poisoned! Are you an addict? Stop poisoning people!"

"Oh no, I didn't. I figured poisoning people is really cruel." Aries shook her head, casting every unconscious lady a glance. Like dolls, the ladies slowly pushed themselves to sit upright, but even when their eyes were open, they were cloudy and blank.

"See?" she looked back at Conan with a bright smile. "I didn't poison them. I just let them have some beauty rest… so they won't bother me with their endless flatteries."

"..." Conan opened and closed his mouth, but no words came out. This was what he had been dealing with for the past six months since Aries's coronation.

He had to deal with two versions of Abel... and his life couldn't get any worse.