Chapter 831

Chapter 831: Flickering Candlelight

In a dimly lit room, a small cake adorned with a candle flickered warmly, casting a glow that illuminated Lily’s face, her warm tears slowly trickling down.

“Why are you crying again, silly Lily?” she heard someone say.

“No, I’m just feeling nostalgic,” Lily replied, wiping away her tears softly.

“It’s alright now,” came the response.

“Then close your eyes and make a wish. You wanted to be the empress before; that wish has come true. Do you have a new one now?”

“Yes,” Lily closed her eyes.

I don’t want to be empress anymore; I just want a simple and peaceful life, she thought silently.

But this wish was too selfish, after enjoying the glory and power of being an empress, to now irresponsibly want to escape. So, please let me keep this wish buried deep within my heart.

“What did you wish for, Lily?” Yeling asked curiously.

“Nothing, just a simple yet selfish wish,” Lily shook her head.

“Ah, still keeping it a secret?” Yeling said disappointedly.

“Mm, I’m not a child anymore; I can’t be as carefree as before when expressing my wishes,” Lily shook her head slightly.

“Why not? Why can’t you say it?” Yeling placed her hand under her chin.

“Because I realize some wishes inevitably disappoint and hurt others,” Lily remained silent.

“It’s so complicated, I don’t understand.”

“Haha, Yeling, just be yourself. There’s no need to know everything,” Lily smiled through her tears.

“Is that so? Never mind, let’s eat the cake,” Yeling suddenly stood up.

“The forks are ready,” Lolan Hill waved her fingers, and several forks made of magic crystal slowly descended.

“I’ll cut the cake,” Lily spoke.

“Here,” Lolan Hill handed her a small crystal knife.

Holding the slightly cold knife, Lily looked at the cake flickering under the candlelight, lost in thought for a few seconds, then returned to reality, cutting the part with her name, revealing the soft cake and cream underneath.

She then divided the slice into smaller pieces, handing them to Lolan and Yeling.

“Can we eat it now?” Yeling held the cake eagerly, then turned to look at Lolan Hill.

“Together,” Lolan replied.

“Mm,” Lily nodded.

The three of them sat around a small table, eating the cake and reminiscing about the past.

After Lolan Hill and Bumansa graduated, Lily stayed in school for a few more years, seeing off Yeling, Letis, Alena, and Nia before leaving herself.

“It’s a pity I didn’t get to advance to fifth year and graduate,” Lily said apologetically.

“My talent isn’t exceptional like Nia’s, so I only managed to reach fourth year.”

“After returning home, I helped clear out a few weak demonic beasts in the territory, and then lived a peaceful life. Being the youngest among siblings, my parents didn’t have high expectations, and I had several older brothers and sisters taking care of me.”

“So those days were very happy. I even went south to visit Alena, but had to return because of the war,” Lily’s eyes revealed a faint longing.

“Later on, I met His Majesty the Emperor during a banquet at the Basca family.”

“At first, I thought he was just another young nobleman because he looked young and lacked any grandeur. I even considered kicking him at the time.”

“But later, he confessed something to me, which surprised me. In the empire, many people both respect and fear the emperor,” Lily shook her head slightly and continued eating the cake.

“But all of that is in the past now.”

“Two years passed like a dream, now there’s only the harsh reality,” her voice became somber.

“Sigh, Lily,” Yeling walked over, hugging Lily’s head to comfort her.

They whispered to each other for a while before separating.

“What plans do you have for the future?” Lolan Hill approached.

“The future is unpredictable,” Lily smiled bitterly.

“Now, it feels precarious, the center of power is like a storm’s eye, filled with intrigue and bloodshed.”

“In fairy tales, princes and princesses always live happily ever after.”

“But no one thinks about what happens afterward. Can the prince definitely inherit the throne? And even if he does, can he govern well?”

“A king who cannot bring prosperity and victory will be abandoned and despised. But a cruel and tyrannical king, as long as he keeps the nation victorious, his sins will be forgiven.”

“People attribute their weaknesses and shortcomings to the king’s failures because the king brings misfortune to the nation. But in reality, once someone sits on that throne, they cease to be themselves and become a more complex existence.”

Lily slowly recounted her experiences over the years, though she rarely participated in imperial decisions, she learned much from Aimanke through osmosis.

If they hadn’t attacked the Snowfall Seven Kingdoms, the accumulated grievances and conflicts within the empire would have reached a critical point. Aimanke capitalized on this dissatisfaction to gain military support and initiate a coup.

If they allowed Ansel and his brother to ascend to the throne, maintaining the status quo, the pent-up resentment would erupt, leading to rebellion and uprising within the empire.

Aimanke understood the ideology propagated by Clancia, which the other nobles were unaware of, but he knew how tempting it could be to the common people. He even discussed with Lily that if this ideology spread further, even without external enemies, the empire would likely split internally.

“I can only steer this chariot, extinguish the flames, either by crushing them and ensuring the empire continues to unify the continent, or failing, leading to the empire’s fragmentation,” she said.

“Isn’t there another way?” Lily had once asked him.

“There isn’t, Lily. If you read the scholar’s works, you’d know that the conflict is inevitable and unresolvable,” he replied.

“The existence of Clancia seems to prove our mistakes. If Clancia thrives, doubts will arise within the empire about whether our system and policies have led to its weakness and backwardness.”

“If the empire defeats Clancia, the people of Clancia will have to admit that noble bloodline is superior, and the aristocratic system is effective.”

“So, conflict is inevitable, and I merely initiated this war when the empire was at its peak.”

“This isn’t necessarily bad. If the empire wins, gaining vast lands and wealth, internal issues will be greatly alleviated, ensuring at least 200 years of prosperity and peace,” he told Lily.

“What about after that?”

“Afterward? That’s for future generations to deal with. There is no perfect system; it’s a gradual process of adaptation, or continual reform when necessary,” Aimanke replied, gently stroking Lily’s forehead.

In the dimly lit room, Lily recounted the events she had heard over the past two years.

“I can’t change his mind, nor can he change the trend of the era,” Lily sighed.

“Now that he’s gone, I can only watch over my children, hoping they grow up safely, far from the throne,” she said.

“But such thoughts are naive; I’ve realized this more recently,” she added.

“There’s no retreat from the struggle for power.”

“It’s sad, Lily,” Yeling said gloomily, worried for Lily.

“If I had plans for the future, I hope to step down peacefully with my children. I’m not suited for this position; I lack ruthlessness and decisiveness,” Lily said.

“But it’s difficult because it’s too sensitive; any misstep could cause significant domestic upheaval,” Lolan Hill rose slowly, gazing out the window at the glowing lights of the city, the streets lined with magnificent buildings, many rooftops twinkling with the light of alchemical creations.

“Yes, I recognize this,” Lily took a deep breath.

“I’m not a child anymore; I can’t be as reckless as before. Although I ended up in this position by accident,” she said.

“But no matter what, once here, I can’t abandon my responsibilities.”

“Even if I must face assassination attempts and eliminate obstacles, can I continue to move forward?” Lolan Hill turned back, her pure eyes like warm red jade.

“I think I can learn to do so,” Lily closed her eyes.

“How do you plan to handle the situation left behind by Aimanke? I hear many people are supporting Ederan now,” Lolan asked.

“Should I fully relinquish power to him, or struggle to retain some of my own?”

“Let’s struggle a bit, although it’s foolish, there’s still hope and security,” Lily said with difficulty, smiling.

“Huhu, that’s right, Lily,” Yeling said.

“Then what else do you plan to do?” Lolan asked again.

“I plan to console the families who lost loved ones in the war,” Lily replied.

“This requires a lot of money, and some may never receive it,” Lolan commented.

“This…” Lily bit her lip.

“I… I really don’t know how to fix everything left behind by Aimanke,” tears fell to the ground.

“Don’t be sad; you’ll find your path eventually. Besides, we’re here to see you,” Lolan patted Lily’s shoulder.

“If you want to solve the empire’s problems, it’s not just about you or the current system,” Lolan comforted her.

“So, you shouldn’t burden yourself so heavily.”

“Escaping is shameful, but sometimes it’s necessary. There are things we can’t face, and surviving is better than dying in sorrow,” Lolan continued.

“For now, just do your best in your role.”

“Find trustworthy people, take some money, collaborate with reputable locals, establish orphanages, and try to raise children who lost their families. Place those injured or disabled by war near these orphanages, providing both help and protection, and enabling them to support themselves through manual labor.”

“Thus, even if the empire falls, they can continue, rather than collapsing suddenly,” Lolan explained.

“You can’t give them bread every day, but at least you can help them earn it.”

“More than that, it’s beyond one person’s capability. It requires the efforts of countless people over generations to change everything,” Lolan hugged Lily, offering detailed advice.

“Don’t push yourself into a corner, Lily. Though it seems simple, achieving these two points is already challenging. Then, you can leave this position and live a peaceful life elsewhere.”

“But… I still feel guilty towards many people,” Lily recalled the couples who married under her and Aimanke’s witness on the square in the imperial capital.

“Yes, because you are the empress, you bear corresponding sins,” Lolan replied.

“But if you falter now, you lose the chance to atone. Moreover, power might fall into the hands of those more driven by greed.”

“Doing ten wrong things and then a hundred right ones is better than never taking a step,” Lolan said.

“Do you want to be a moral paragon? Pursuing a life without sin or error isn’t a path to happiness, it will only bring pain.”

“So, be steadfast. Since you’ve taken a wrong turn, correct it and walk the right path ahead,” Lolan reflected on the words of the Sanda nanny who once comforted her, realizing she was now comforting someone else, which felt like she was speaking to herself.

Though she bore two crowns and had the power to shape the future, she always restrained her thoughts to avoid causing pain and misfortune.

Seeing the corruption and suffering within the empire, she still hesitated to overthrow it, seeking instead a peaceful reform.

If one day, like Lily, she made mistakes and caused pain to many, could she face herself calmly? Could she accept her flawed self?

Having a sensitive and kind heart makes one sympathetic, but this kindness can sometimes constrain one’s thoughts, even when reason tells her it’s right.

Perhaps she needed to be stronger and more resolute, enduring accusations and misunderstandings, staying on the right path.

People understand each other through similarities, but as individuals exist longer, their views and perspectives change, becoming increasingly alienated from the world.

Perhaps this is why witches often have peculiar personalities.

She hoped that even after a long time, she could maintain some understanding and compassion for ordinary people, avoiding becoming a cold-hearted witch.

Lolan Hill comforted Lily, her eyes fixed on the flickering candle, her thoughts drifting far away.

I am just Lolan Hill, not a witch.