As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 160

Chapter 351: Inside the Imperial Palace (Part 4)

"Oh dear, Lady, you're being a bit too enthusiastic!" Feeling Flora's sudden embrace, Lius lay back on the bed, slightly raising his head from her chest, enduring a somewhat imposing pressure, as he spoke to the silver-haired beauty before him. Flora, too, looked back and forth on the young man in front of her with excited eyes, swallowing hard, appearing quite thrilled.

"Ha... This is my reward to you, Lord Lius. You must have expended a great deal of energy in this battle, Lord Lius. It's only right that I, the Queen, show some concern for my subjects. Or perhaps you, Lord Lius, are not content with just this 'concern,' but wish to take things further?"

As she spoke, Flora gently licked her lips, her breathing quickening. Her slender hands, which had been tightly wrapped around Lius's shoulders, slowly moved towards her body, placing them on the chest of his magnificent robe, as if she were about to unbutton the fabric. Every movement carried a profound and seductive meaning.

“Your Majesty… this… I was invited to the Chamber of Deceased Affairs today only to discuss the matter of rewards, wasn’t it? I never expected you to do something like this.”

"From the very beginning, Lord Leus, you must have understood, right? Not just anyone can come to my queen's private quarters. From beginning to end, only you, Lord Leus, have had this honor." So, Flora moved closer to Leus, keeping a very close distance, so close that they could feel each other's breath. At the same time, she continued to unbutton her clothes, revealing her snow-white, crystal-clear "paintings" to Leus.

A faint fragrance emanated from the Queen and flowed into Lius's mind, causing his heart to race. He couldn't help but hug the silver-haired beauty in front of him, holding her close and letting the alluring scent linger in his mind.

"Ha... Your Majesty, you are so enthusiastic, I can't refuse anything... But before that, I should explain what happened before and then start getting along with you, so that I can feel more at ease."

"Is there anything else you want to say? Isn't it all recorded in the report you submitted, Lord Lius? I have already dealt with it all. Could it be... that you have something more important to report to me?"

"Logically speaking, no, but just as Your Majesty entered the room, it suddenly occurred to me that there is something I must make you understand, otherwise I may not have the chance to speak with you so intimately in the future."

"Oh?"

Hearing Lius's words, Flora narrowed her eyes slightly, and then her eyes, which had been full of lust, immediately returned to a serious expression as she looked at Lius, waiting for him to say what he was about to say.

“Your Majesty, there is some information regarding the cult that I must inform you of—it suggests that the cult may be cooperating with higher-ups in the church.” “Hmm?”

Upon hearing this news, Flora's eyes widened, then she frowned sharply, her arms around Lius's shoulders tightened involuntarily, and her eyes flashed with a sense of "warning".

"The church's higher-ups are cooperating with cultists. Lord Leus, are you really sure? This is not something you can say lightly. If the intelligence is wrong, it will affect the entire kingdom. I urge you to confirm this again, Lord Leus."

“I am absolutely certain of this, and there will be no mistake whatsoever. It is precisely because of the importance and seriousness of this that I have chosen to speak to Your Majesty in person at this time, to inform you of this matter in secret. Do you understand?”

After her initial surprise at Lius's statement, Flora quickly regained her usual composure, nodded slightly, and then spoke again to the blond boy in front of her:

"If it's truly as you say, Lord Leus, then... regarding what needs to be done next, Lord Leus, do you have any plans?" Regarding this, Your Majesty, please rest assured, the reason I'm involving the Church in the investigation of the cultists is to seek opportunities to find those hidden within the Church who have contact with the cultists. Only then can we have a chance to eradicate those threats lurking in the shadows in one fell swoop.

"Are you confident?" Flora continued to ask.

"I am 100% confident. Please rest assured and leave everything to me, Lady."

Looking at Flora with a serious gaze, Lius lowered his head slightly and answered her. Flora, in turn, looked at the excited blond boy with satisfaction and couldn't help but gently reach out and stroke his warm and smooth blond hair, which was as warm as the sun. "All of this is thanks to you, Lord Lius. Whether it was the pursuit of the cultists or the handling of the aftermath, it was basically all done by you alone... As the female lead, I've really been too leisurely. It's been like this since I ascended the throne. Both my daughter and I have received a lot of help from you, Lord Lius."

Looking at Leus, Flora seemed to recall a series of past events, a look of nostalgia appearing on her face. Leus gently stroked the young woman's delicate face, and beneath her tender skin, he softly spoke to her:

As long as it's for you, my lady, it's all worth it. Just seeing your smile and the princess's smile makes my heart content... "At times like this, let's not talk like a monarch and his subjects. There are only the two of us in the room, not even Noelle. Under these circumstances, I don't care how you address me, Queen."

Flora continued to gaze intently at Lius's face, speaking earnestly with a hint of coquetry in her voice. This caused Lius to lower his gaze slightly, a helpless smile appearing on his face. He stroked the young woman's smooth, silver hair and softly addressed her:

"Alright, alright, since Your Majesty says so, then... Flora, may I just call you by your name?"

"Ha... This is exactly what I've been waiting for. I'll just call you Leus then. Leus, come on, keep holding me tight. It's been so long since we've spent time together properly. I absolutely can't let you go easily this time."

As she spoke, Flora tightened her grip on Lius's arm, her breathing and swallowing echoing in the air, making her seem like a hunter determined to devour the blond boy before her.

At that moment, Flora gently unbuttoned her gorgeous dress, revealing the underwear beneath. She gently exposed her long and delicate legs from under her skirt, along with her chest, which was wrapped in a corset, and presented them to Lius. Then, she gently lifted her two jade feet, which were covered in black silk, and placed them on Lius's waist.

"Ha... This is the first time this queen has ever done this. Before, Lius, you would at most just get close to my legs and act cute. But this is the first time this queen has ever taken the initiative to pose like this. It's really amazing."

Flora blushed slightly, her face flushing crimson as she gently licked her lips. This caused the usually powerful and dignified Queen to display a rare shyness. Then, Lius leaned closer to Flora, stroking her delicately raised black-stockinged foot while softly whispering sweet nothings to her.

"In my opinion, no matter what Flora looks like, whether she is innocent or frivolous, she is equally beautiful and without any flaws."

"Oh? You think a few words can make me happy, Lius? Don't forget I'm the lady. Being praised by my subjects is a daily occurrence for me. I'm already tired of it."

Despite speaking in a nonchalant tone, Flora's face was beaming with joy. Contrary to her claims of being tired of hearing it, her eyes held a sense of anticipation for Lius, as if she were waiting for him to say what he was about to say.

To this, Lius, "living up to expectations," smiled slightly and finally continued speaking to the silver-haired queen before him:

"The praise others give to you, Your Majesty, may be based on your achievements or the beauty and poverty of the entire kingdom. But what I just said is purely an evaluation of Your Majesty's personality and beauty. In my opinion, your most attractive feature is not your achievements, but your beautiful face that is enough to captivate thousands of people."

"Oh? You actually say that? Don't we always talk about cherishing inner beauty? How come you're saying you like my body the most now? Doesn't that make the Queen seem frivolous?" Flora looked at Lius and deliberately adopted a mischievous posture as she continued to ask him.

"It's because we've already praised your great talent and strategy so many times, so it's only natural that we should now give you some praise for things that few people usually do, right?"

"A feature rarely admired... is my own beauty?" Flora continued.

"That's right. To be honest, I find it a bit strange. Your Majesty is so beautiful, practically the most beautiful person in the kingdom. Why doesn't anyone dare to say that to you so directly? It's such a pity. What I want to do is to make Your Majesty happy. Even if I act a little frivolous, I won't have any objections."

Gently embracing his chest, Lius, like a child, poured out his true feelings. While kneading the young woman's delicate feet, he showered her with praise, his continuous barrage of sweet words filling the silver-haired beauty's heart with affection, making her heart pound like a gasoline-powered engine.

"Under the intense emotions surging within her, Flora's inner turmoil reached its peak, causing her to clamp her legs together, trapping the boy's face between them. At the same time, her rapid breathing further intensified the warm atmosphere in the air."

"Since you say that I, the Queen, am so beautiful, then now... I will also display myself properly before you, Leus, and see if you, Leus, can bear this reward bestowed upon you by me."

“I’m ready, Your Majesty. Come.” Feeling the Queen’s body approaching, Lius said softly, “Call me Flora.”

"Alright, Flora, please continue, continue our... time together." And so, amidst these gentle words from the young man and woman, the two became entwined, carrying out their "daily affairs" as monarch and subject in this bedroom reserved only for the Queen.

Chapter 352: My Dream Home (Part 1)

"...Brother, you're so slow. You've been talking with Her Majesty the Queen for a long time and haven't come out yet." Some time later, in the room arranged for Lia inside the palace.

With a hint of boredom in her voice, Lia, who was waiting in the room, was swinging her two little feet and listlessly sitting on the exquisite sofa. Her whole body was sunk into the soft cushions, presenting a very leisurely and idle posture.

After Lius and Flora entered the Palace of Illusions together, Lia returned to her assigned room to wait, while Anne and the others went to another part of the palace, saying they had been invited by the other ministers to discuss matters concerning the cultists.

According to Anne, they were going to discuss future plans and matters in their respective territories. These were matters between the kingdom and the church, and it was not appropriate for Leah to participate. Therefore, the adults separated Leah from them, leaving her alone in the room.

In short, the only one who is now free is this white-haired girl.

"Ugh... I'm so bored. I really wanted to take a nap with my brother. He's so tired, he should be resting, but the Queen dragged him away to continue discussing work, and so did Annie and the others... There's only Lia here with nothing to do, it's so boring." With these thoughts in mind, Lia lingered on the sofa for a while, then stretched slowly like a cat, before burying her head in a small pillow next to her, keeping herself completely still. As waves of fatigue washed over her, her eyes slowly closed.

"Forget it... I don't want to think about it too much. In this situation, I can only let Lia sleep alone. Let her rest for a while. She has been waiting for her brother to come back and has hardly slept all night. She should get some rest now... After she wakes up, her brother should be able to return to the room and play with Lia."

Recalling Lius's face, the girl's previously somewhat gloomy heart gradually calmed down. The corners of her mouth turned up slightly, and after yawning with a cute expression, she curled up on the sofa, hugged her pillow, and began to rest in the palace bedroom.

"The soft, gentle breathing of the girl flowed slowly from her mouth, sounding very calm and carrying a sense of peace from the bottom of Leah's heart, which was very pleasant."

Amidst this peaceful breathing, the girl's mind slowly drifted into a blank, ethereal world.

Her consciousness seemed to traverse the Ganfang River, swaying up and down in the churning ocean. When she finally came to her senses, Lia opened her eyes, maintaining a clear mind in her sleep, immersed in the space composed of dreams, feeling a little bewildered as she experienced this dream world she had entered.

"Hmm? This place is slightly different." Lia realized that she was suddenly standing in a pure white space. The scenery around her had changed. The traces of the palace had disappeared completely, and only a white plain that seemed to have no end appeared in her sight, which was completely visible.

Her body, which had been fast asleep and full of fatigue, was now enveloped in white light, and bursts of vitality surged up. This caused Leah's blood-red eyes to shine with a lively light, and her gaze involuntarily fell on her hands, feeling the warm current flowing from them. A strangely familiar feeling arose in her heart.

"This place... is in a dream! It's the place Lia came to last time. This place... Lia remembers it. This feeling is definitely not wrong, it's a dream!"

With this thought in mind, after narrowing her eyes slightly, a sense of doubt gradually emerged in her heart, causing her to instinctively take a step and step on the white plain with her small feet covered in white stockings, feeling the hard yet smooth texture of the ground, and marveling at it repeatedly.

"This feeling... it's so real, like I'm actually standing on solid ground. It's unbelievable that a dream could have such a vivid experience. Is this... 'You're awake?'"

Just as Lia was feeling surprised, another voice came from her side, causing Lia to instinctively turn her head and see a white-haired girl in a black robe standing quietly beside her.

Beneath the black robe, one could see her snow-white hair, which clung quietly to the girl's skin, seemingly damp with sweat, giving her an overall calm and serene appearance.

Looking at her face, even though it was covered by a black robe, Leah could still sense her thoughtful expression, as if she were staring at her intently. This made Leah purse her lips slightly, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable.

"You...you are...I've seen you before, I remember now...that's right! Although I forgot before, I did meet you. You gave me strength so that I could help Lord Dui, I remember all of that!"

Upon seeing the figure of the girl in black robes, Lia narrowed her eyes slightly. Memories flooded her mind, causing her to freeze for a moment before gritting her teeth and kneeling down, supporting her throbbing head with her hands. Amidst her rapid breathing, she pondered the current situation.

As for the girl in black robes standing to the side, upon seeing Lia's appearance, she still didn't say much. She simply took off her black robe and revealed her face to Lia.

What Lia saw next was a face exactly like hers.

The same face, the same white hair, the same blood-red pupils—it was almost a perfect replica, without the slightest difference.

If one had to point out a difference, it would probably be in the temperament of this "Lia". Compared to the more naive and innocent Lia, this "Lia" is more mature and composed, and her eyes exude a lingering melancholy, adding a unique sense of mystery to this quiet girl.

Facing this familiar face, Lia seemed to have expected it. After slowly exhaling, she stood up from the ground. Although her eyes were still full of confusion and doubt, there was more curiosity about the current situation. Especially when she looked at the "Lia" in front of her, her inner emotions rose up.

"A face just like mine. And this feeling... Could it be that you are... a demon born from within my heart?" Faced with Leah's words, "Leah" tilted her head slightly, seemingly surprised by her sudden statement. Leah nodded further and continued, "..."

"I have heard that in cultivation, if one is particularly attached to something, something similar to a demon may arise in one's heart and constantly affect the body. My elder brother has also told me many times to always maintain a relatively calm mind so that I will not be invaded and affected by demons."

The urgent words that kept coming from Leah's mouth made her scrutinize the black-robed girl in front of her, who looked exactly like her, even more intensely. After expressing her inner thoughts, she paused slightly, then continued to ask:

"So, are you my inner demon? Is it because I care too much about my elder brother that this inner demon has appeared in my heart?"

"If I were truly a demon within myself, would I have answered you properly? Or do you believe that as your own inner demon, I would admit my identity, as you expect?"

In response to Lia's question, the girl in black robes remained calm and returned the topic to Lia. Lia took a step closer and shared her thoughts: "If... I mean if, Lia really does develop inner demons because of her brother, then even if it affects and harms Lia, the ultimate goal is still to help her brother. Everything is for her brother's sake."

"For my brother," the girl in black robes muttered slowly.

“That’s right. If that’s the case, then as my inner demon, I shouldn’t deny my identity. Because if I deny my identity, it means I don’t have the resolve to give everything for my brother. If I didn’t have that resolve, there would be no inner demon in the first place, and you wouldn’t exist in this world…” Faced with Lia’s words, the girl in black robes fell silent again, her lips slightly pursed, as if pondering the deeper meaning of Lia’s words. Lia, after taking a deep breath, spoke her sincere thoughts:

Therefore, I believe that deep within my heart, even in the darkest and deepest part, there is definitely a concern for Lord K. It is precisely because of this concern that my inner demons have arisen, right? Miss Inner Demon?

Looking at the "Demon Girl" in front of her, Leah took a deep breath and used a respectful term for the white-haired girl who looked exactly like her, appearing very serious and earnest.

As for Miss Heart Demon, after being stunned by Lia's serious tone at first, she also cast a thoughtful glance at the endless plain in the distance, her delicate lips slightly parted, as if she was muttering something to herself.

"Because of this feeling, a demon arose in my heart? Perhaps that's it... Everything is because of this feeling... That's why this happened." She muttered to herself for several minutes. When the Demon Girl finally turned around, she turned her gaze back to Lia, scrutinizing her from head to toe, before slowly speaking:

"Regarding my identity... you can call me 'Inner Demon' for now, just as you said, and I will continue to call you 'Lia.' This way, we can distinguish ourselves." Hmm... so you'll continue to call me Miss Inner Demon? Lia understands. Then... Miss Inner Demon, what is the purpose of your meeting with Lia again? Lia has already had some contact with you in her consciousness, so why is she meeting you again in her dreams now?

After getting to know the inner demon in front of her, Lia breathed a sigh of relief, feeling somewhat at ease. She then looked at the white-haired girl again and asked her her question.

As for these questions, Miss Heart Demon did not give much response. She simply gestured to Lia not to be too anxious. Then she cast her own light into the white space around her and moved her fingers slightly, causing a figure to appear in this space.

"Hmm? This is... my elder brother!"

As Leah gasped in surprise, Leus appeared in the space beside them, looking as composed and handsome as ever, standing quietly beside the two of them.

"This is an image of my elder brother... It's a replica based on my memory."

"Memories of your elder brother? Miss Heart Demon, did you spend time with your elder brother?"

Looking at Lius's figure, Lia glanced at him with some surprise and asked Miss Heart Demon what he was doing. Miss Heart Demon nodded slightly and then moved her fingers again in front of Lia.

"Do you know... where my memories of my elder brother come from? And what kind of impression do they leave?"

"This... of course I don't know. Even if you are my inner demon, Miss Heart Demon, I still can't fully understand your inner thoughts. Could it be that there is some deeper meaning behind it?" In response to Miss Heart Demon's words, Lia tilted her head slightly.

“My memories of my elder brother come from my own experience, an experience that you, Leah, would never believe. And my last impression of him… is of the scene when he disappeared.”

"Disappeared...what does that mean?"

Faced with Miss Heart Demon's words, Lia blinked slightly, seemingly not quite understanding for a moment. Miss Heart Demon didn't explain much, but simply moved her fingers again, and then Lius's figure scattered like snowflakes, turning into wisps of gray dust that drifted into the white space without leaving a trace.

"Huh? Elder brother! What... what's wrong!"

Upon seeing this unusual sight, Leah glanced at it, feeling a wave of surprise at what was happening before her...

Chapter 353: My Dream Home (Part Two)

"Brother, as you gazed at the scene before you where Lius appeared and then suddenly vanished, a sense of anxious confusion welled up within you. Your gaze abruptly shifted to the inner demon beside you, and with a flustered tone, you repeatedly asked her:"

“Miss Heart Demon, why is Brother Gang’s image so strange? It looks like it has been destroyed by something. What is it?”

What are your thoughts on what is happening right now?

Instead of giving a direct answer to Lia's question, Miss Heart Demon asked her a question in return.

"What do I think... Of course, Lia doesn't want this to happen. Lia doesn't want her brother to get hurt. And you, Miss Heart Demon? Why did you let me see these things? Could it be... that you want to use this method to shake my heart?" Lia frowned slightly as she looked in the direction of Miss Heart Demon and asked her.

"That's not the case. I am not your enemy. If I really wanted to be your enemy, why would I need to use such troublesome methods? I could completely take over your consciousness with just a thought. There would be no need to do anything to destroy or damage your mind."

Looking at Lia, the inner demon girl shook her head slightly, revealing a calm and matter-of-fact demeanor, which stunned Lia for a moment. She was quite shocked by the inner demon girl's calm and graceful attitude.

"Is it true that you can take over Leah's consciousness with just a thought?" "Of course, but I won't do that."

Shaking her head slightly, Miss Inner Demon continued:

“I know you still harbor some hostility and wariness towards me, but what I’m about to say concerns my elder brother. If you still hold onto that hostility and prejudice, it will be difficult for you to glean any key information from my words. And what impact that will have on Elder Ke will be beyond my control.”

As she moved toward Leah, the Demoness's voice maintained its rational calmness, yet it also carried a hint of threat towards the young girl.

It was precisely these four words, "elder brother," that snapped Leah out of her shock. She swallowed hard, and her eyes regained their usual brilliance, allowing her to maintain a relatively calm demeanor as she nodded to the demon in front of her.

“If it concerns my elder brother… then I understand. Please continue, Miss Heart Demon. If there is any information that is truly important to my brother, I will listen attentively…”

Silently glancing at the white-haired girl clenching her fists, Miss Heart Demon's eyes flashed with a nostalgic look, as if recalling something from the past. A hint of melancholy lingered in her eyes before she regained her previous composure and slowly opened her mouth to speak to Leah:

"Regarding my elder brother. Since your last contact with him, I have done some things to empower you so that you can assist him. You should be aware of that, right?"

"Hmm... I remember the last time was when I was fighting a giant monster with my brother. At that time, I felt power surging in my body, especially when I was in contact with my brother, the energy in my body kept rising... So that's where that power came from. Thinking about it, I really have to thank you, Miss Heart Demon. If it weren't for you, I would definitely have been a burden to my brother again."

Looking at the white-haired girl in front of her, after her initial surprise, Lia quickly revealed a friendly and sincere expression, expressing her gratitude to Miss Heart Demon.