Initially wavering and softening, Ji Yu Su’s heart turned as hard as stone when Ji Lian pleaded with tears in her eyes.
She clenched her rosy lips tightly, resisting the turmoil within her.
Setting down her pen, she ultimately crossed out the lone “Ji” surname on the steam train boarding list.
This was her punishment for Ji Lian.
Yet she didn’t completely block off the girl’s retreat, nor did she cut ties entirely.
Though emotionally distant, she was not heartless.
In a chillingly cold tone, Ji Yu Su spoke.
“About a month from now, the appointed Grand Protector by the Empress will take office.”
“You will welcome them and transfer all the power held by the Ji family to the Protectorate, without leaving a single trace. Remember, not a single trace.”
“Fericis will also fall under the rule of the Empress from then on.”
“By that time, you will take the steam train back to the Imperial Capital.”
This was both a command and a notification.
From the moment it was spoken by Ji Yu Su, it became unchangeable, and could only be obeyed.
Ji Lian, utterly lost and powerless, knelt on the ground.
Apart from letting tears stream down her cheeks, the girl couldn’t speak for a long time.
Of course, she understood perfectly well why her sister had inflicted this punishment upon her.
And all she could do was comply.
One could say… she should be grateful for her sister’s gracious mercy.
Otherwise, her fate awaiting her would be nothing but despairing exile.
Meanwhile, Ji Yu Su took this time to consider who could fill the void left after crossing out Ji Lian’s name.
In fact, this was a highly coveted position.
If Ji Yu Su were willing to offer it up, it would incite a frenzy among the Imperial City residents of Fericis and even the wealthy elf nobles, all clamoring for forgiveness by offering their wealth and resources!
Yet, after some deliberation, the name she ultimately wrote down was…
“Little Unicorn”!?
One can only imagine how perplexed and bewildered the imperial officials receiving this list tomorrow will be.
Among the common surnames… is there really one called “Little”?
And “Unicorn” too?
But they will understand soon enough.
It turns out Ji Yu Su truly granted this precious return opportunity to a little unicorn named “Bai Ling.”
As for the reason.
It’s actually quite simple.
She was just afraid that Sherya would be sad after parting with her little horse.
…………
At the same time, in Ji Yu Su’s room, Sherya was consumed with regret.
The petite elf princess tossed and turned on the pillow still imbued with Ji Yu Su’s scent, the bells on her dress jingling softly.
If she could speak, she would probably be exclaiming in cute frustration, “I’m so mad I could die!”
Because Sherya just couldn’t understand.
How could her carefully planned farewell kiss fail!
That was supposed to be her first… well, a kiss on the cheek could also count as a first kiss, right?
Anyway, failing to complete the system task of the “Farewell Kiss” on Ji Lian’s lips and instead accidentally giving away her first kiss…
No matter how she thought about it, it was definitely not worth it!
Unconsciously, the girl had begun to learn to weigh gains and losses.
Whether this was something to be celebrated or not, she wasn’t sure.
Because only by understanding how to calculate one could one avoid losses, prevent injuries, and cleverly fend for oneself in the complex society and among the heroines.
But what was the cost?
Sherya didn’t know, or perhaps, she didn’t want to know.
After tossing and turning on the soft bed, Sherya finally stopped.
She hugged the snow-white pillow, squeezing it tightly between her slender legs.
On her charming little face, tinged with a blush of maturity, she emitted slightly hurried breaths.
“Hoo… hoo…”
In the silent night, her breaths sounded particularly clear in the girl’s long ears.
Including the accelerating heartbeat.
All of this served as proof that the girl was indeed in an incredibly lonely situation.
But the stubborn girl insisted that she didn’t care.
Loneliness is better after all!
Whether it’s being with Ji Lian or Ji Yu Su…
What awaits me is nothing but a terrible fate and treatment!
I don’t want… anyone by my side.
Sherya thought firmly in her heart.
But she couldn’t change the fact that, afraid of the dark, she hugged the pillow tighter and tighter, her small body sinking deeper into it.
The scent of Ji Yu Su emanating from the pillow, like a faint tea or some medicinal flower, filled her nose.
Surprisingly, as she breathed it in, it didn’t seem so unpleasant.
Instead, it gradually made her forget to think.
Her eyelids began to fight against each other.
The scene in front of her sometimes expanded, sometimes shrank.
In the end, it all returned to a darkness that seemed to have lost any sound or sensation.
Sherya fell asleep.
Just before Ji Yu Su returned.
She fell into a deep sleep alone, without waiting for her.
After some time had passed, Ji Yu Su returned to her bedroom under the cover of night.
As she pushed open the door, she finally showed a trace of exhaustion. Her jet-black hair followed the motion of her body leaning forward, cascading like a waterfall in the dark.
Otherwise, in front of others, she would always be that flawless “Imperial Moon.”
But behind closed doors, or rather, in front of Sherya, the girl could shed her perfect facade and reveal a slightly more down-to-earth side.
Although, she still remained extraordinarily otherworldly.
“Bang!”
The sound of the door closing abruptly seemed to reflect the mood of the room’s owner at that moment.
She couldn’t wait to return to her disobedient little slave’s side.
Ji Yu Su had punished Ji Lian, but Sherya, on the other hand, had yet to pay for her disobedience.
She speculated that her little slave was probably waiting anxiously for her return, right?
Perhaps… if she were clever, she would have chosen to warm up the bed beforehand.
That way, Ji Yu Su probably wouldn’t be angry with her.
She might even be “rewarded” in return.
As Ji Yu Su mused, she approached her own bed.
Even without turning on the light, in the darkness, the girl’s vision was still keen.
Her footsteps were silent, like a wild beast hunting in the darkness.
And as the prey, the lamb, unaware of the impending danger, remained peacefully ensconced in the soft, cloud-like dreams.
Ji Yu Su slowly pulled back her bed curtains, her gaze looking down from a high vantage point, casting light on the curled-up, adorable figure nestled there.
Even she herself hadn’t noticed for a long time.
The curve that involuntarily formed at the corner of her lips… Was it the existence called “a smile”?
Was she smiling just from gazing at the sleeping elf girl?
It was strange indeed.
But this only made Ji Yu Su more curious.
How many unexpected things would Sherya, with her inexplicable charm, make her do?
Without further thought, Ji Yu Su, as usual, slowly removed her clothes.
Preparing to sleep, gathering her spirits for the journey ahead tomorrow.
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