Chapter 888

Chapter 888: The Clashing Blood-Edged Generals

As November waned, the Rose Palace was adorned with frozen branches, and the courtyard’s roof was covered with thick snow. The garden that once bloomed with competition now lay white under the winter’s touch, and the occasional sound of dripping water from the eaves could still be heard.

Lily sat in her study, beside a brazier emitting a warm, reddish glow. Although the palace had arrays and facilities to maintain temperature, she still preferred the fire, which brought a gentle warmth, unlike the cold, unchanging decorations around her.

She placed an orange next to the brazier and gently rocked the cradle beside her, watching her child sleep peacefully within. Her heart filled with happiness. She remembered how she used to sit by the fireplace with her family as a child, sharing joyful stories.

Though she came from a noble background, Lily’s family was not among the High Nobility. They were merely a small, ordinary noble family with a limited fief that could only support two knights. The most valuable part of their estate was the vineyard at the foot of the plain.

With the wine produced each year, the family enjoyed a steady income. On the day of the Winter Festival, her father would buy gifts for his siblings.

Compared to the constrained lives of the daughters of large noble families, Lily’s childhood was much easier. Being the youngest, she was taken care of by her older brothers and sisters and did not bear the heavy expectations and responsibilities.

As her father often said, all she needed to do was grow up healthy and get married.

Her brothers managed the family business, and her sisters took care of maintaining or establishing family relationships, all of whom were doing well and had no worries. She often visited her brothers-in-law’s homes, traveling and enjoying the scenery, broadening her horizons.

This allowed Lily neither to be like the endangered nobles’ children who eagerly sought power and status, nor to be like the sheltered young ladies who harbored fantasies about the outside world.

Well, there wasn’t much she aspired to anyway. Lily led a content life, not expecting too much, finding satisfaction in simplicity.

Unfortunately, reality moved too quickly. In the couple of years since marrying Aimanke, she often woke from dreams, questioning if everything was real.

I am just a small, country noblewoman from the Southern Empire, so how did I suddenly become the highest-ranking Empress? What exactly happened?

Sitting beside the quietly burning brazier, Lily gently rocked the cradle, her eyes

Tong followed the flames, recalling the figures of the past.

“Your Majesty, Minister Xiflai has arrived,” a maid whispered softly into the Empress’s ear in the study.

“Mmm, let him in,” Lily said, slightly adjusting the wrinkles in her clothes before sitting on a wooden chair by the fire basin to wait.

After a while, the maid gently pushed open the door. A man wearing military boots walked to the entrance, first saluting, then slowing his voice as he noticed the Empress and the cradle in the room, introducing himself.

“Hail to Your Majesty and the Prince. I am General Xiflai of the 56th Legion of the Empire. It is an honor to meet you.”

“Come in, fellow student Xiflai,” Lily smiled and beckoned him.

The officer then entered the room, feeling somewhat awkward about whether to stand or sit, despite the maid having kindly placed chairs.

“It’s better if you sit down. It’s less tiring for me to look up at you,” Lily said gently to Xiflai.

“Yes, Your Majesty,” the general sat down, somewhat excited.

“I hope I haven’t disturbed your work with this summons,” Lily asked, asking the maid to bring hot tea for the officer.

“Thank you, it hasn’t been a disturbance at all. On the contrary, it is a great honor,” he replied, carefully placing the teacup on the table in front of him.

Xiflai had once studied in Emanas and was also a student at the Fortress Academy. After Lolan and Bumansa graduated, Lily, as the senior member of the club, briefly served as the president for two years.

Although she felt she did far less than Lolan and Bumansa, the club’s foundation had already been laid, and she only needed to maintain it. This fellow student Xiflai was the rising star during those two years at the Fortress Academy, winning third place in the Winter Festival Gala.

“Thank you, Senior Lily. Back then, you accepted me into the club and provided me with tremendous help,” Xiflai reminisced, feeling moved. Although he was a prodigy, he started late and had a low status, always being an outsider in the noble-filled Fortress Academy.

It wasn’t until he joined the ‘Black Lotus’ club that he gained recognition from his peers, receiving rare opportunities for experience exchange, sparring, and extraordinary potion assistance. During those two years, his strength grew rapidly, and he became famous after winning third place in the Winter Festival Gala.

Though some upperclassmen had mixed feelings about President Lily, in his heart, she remained someone he respected greatly.

“All that is in the past. Your own efforts were also crucial,” Lily shook her head, speaking of how Lolan and the club had once helped him.

The words spoken by the member. She had little experience at that time, and many of the methods and words were imitations of notes left by Lolan.

“In fact, I called you here hoping to get your help,” Lily said slowly, getting to the point.

“Willing to face boiling water and raging fire for Her Majesty the Empress,” Xiflai stood up straight upon hearing this, but because his voice was too loud, the child in the cradle was awakened.

“Be good, it’s alright.” Lily gently comforted her child, then gestured for Xiflai to sit down first.

“In fact, this is indeed a dangerous and arduous task.” Seeing that the child had calmed down, Lily signaled the maid beside her to continue rocking the cradle, then turned back to speak to Xiflai.

“Due to the current significant changes in the situation, I need a loyal group to protect the Rose Palace.”

“You don’t need to rush to agree. I want to explain to you that this mission may involve many dangers, and sometimes my status might implicate you,” Lily explained beforehand.

“I understand,” Xiflai nodded calmly at this moment. He was not a hotheaded youth; after military training, he naturally perceived the changes in the Empire keenly.

During the Emperor’s lifetime, the only object of loyalty for the legion was naturally Emperor Aimanke. But after Emperor Aimanke passed away, there was a significant problem: the crown prince was too young, still having over a decade before he could inherit the throne. At this time, should they be loyal to the weak Empress or follow the orders of the Regent, who was supposed to ascend the throne himself?

The Regent undoubtedly had higher strength and reliability than the Empress, but people are different. Xiflai graduated from Emanas and was once a member of the ‘Black Lotus’ club, which naturally marked him with Empress Lily’s label.

Rather than avoiding this label and being caught between two worlds, it would be better to embrace this identity and become a loyal supporter of Empress Lily.

There weren’t many choices in the world, and Xiflai had undoubtedly chosen the only viable path. He would also ensure the safety of Empress Lily and the crown prince, making them true rulers of the Empire, and he himself would reach the pinnacle of his life through this process.

“Knowing this, I am relieved.” Looking at the legion commander who swore allegiance, Lily pressed her chest lightly with her fingers, indicating her relief.

“Before the end of the year, you and your troops will be transferred near Titania. Then I will rely on you.”

“Imperial military star, General Xiflai of the Resonant Blood Blade.”

After this, this rare Demon Sequence 7 Extraordinary Being in the Empire slowly withdrew.

(End of Chapter)