Chapter 111 Storm: Women's Clothing (End) [VIP]

After washing away all the dirt that had accumulated on their bodies while they were trapped in the mirror dimension and the dark passage, and making sure that there were no undiscovered scars on each other's bodies, Xiao Yun and Yaris came to the rest area and soaked comfortably in the large bathtub filled with medicinal powder, spices and flower petals.

Mrs. Sonya brought them some fruit and drinks and asked with interest, "Are you feeling better?"

“Thank you for the hospitality. I feel much better now.”

Xiao Yun answered politely and signaled Sonya to leave with his eyes.

Sonya looked at Yaris unwillingly: "Your Highness? Is it really not necessary to ask a doctor to come to Alice Palace to treat you?"

"Need not."

Yaris said in a sickly voice, leaning against Xiao Yun.

The two people were completely immersed in the bathtub. Their porcelain-like skin had turned a beautiful rosy red like the sunset because of absorbing the hot water. Their thick, wet hair shone with water and stuck to their smooth and delicate skin. Their exquisite facial features were more radiant than the masterpieces handed down by famous artists of the time.

Sonia couldn't help but stare at them, and couldn't help but say, "...No wonder everyone believes the Holy Family are the most special beings with divine blood flowing through their veins. How could such beauty be bred by human genes?"

"From the tone of your voice, it seems that we are..."

"Yes."

Sonya turned around, looked at the green plants in the corner of the lounge, and murmured:

"Because I stole the title of 'Most Beautiful Woman in the Palace' from the Younger Consort, I would consciously stand in the corner every time I attended a banquet related to the Holy Family, so as not to incur the Younger Consort's displeasure. So, even though I had seen His Highness countless times at balls, He barely had any memory of me. And because I was so far away, I only had a vague idea of ​​His Highness's beauty..."

"...What kind of vague concept?"

Xiao Yun was interested in Sonya's words.

"So lonely, so frail, like a veil that will be blown away by the wind, or like the Moon King trapped in a castle of thorns, waiting to be rescued by the Prince of Night."

At this point, Sonya sighed. "My extensive experience in relationships has taught me that people with this trait often have a difficult life. Because they're so fragile, so delicate, and so beautiful, they easily attract malicious desires."

"Malicious covetousness..."

Yaris murmured again, then suddenly asked, "Sonia, as the palace's top socialite, there's no one in the capital's social circle you don't know, right?"

"Of course, I know all of them."

Sonya said without hesitation.

"Have you noticed anything unusual in the royal aristocracy lately? Like someone suddenly disappearing?"

"Someone...suddenly disappeared..."

Sonya was surprised.

Because of these words, Xiao Yun remembered the group of noble ladies and aristocrats in the mirror dimension who had unfortunately turned into monsters with animal heads and human bodies.

"Disappear...disappear...it seems...it seems..."

Sonya was trying hard to think, her expression extremely painful.

"Can't you remember? Or—"

“I…I…Ah!”

Sonya screamed, covered her head with her hands, and knelt on the ground.

Just thinking about what Yaris had said gave her a splitting headache, as if an icicle were piercing her brain.

"Why, why is it like this...ah...your highness...why would such a simple question make me, me, me..."

"What happened? Why would she—"

Xiao Yun asked Yaris in confusion.

"Magic hypnosis."

Yaris said coldly, "Someone has cast a large-scale magical hypnosis on you, making you unaware of the strange things happening around you."

"--ah!"

Sonya knelt on the ground, screaming continuously.

"It hurts! It hurts! Help me! Help me! Ah—"

"Stop thinking about my problems and the pain will stop. The only way to end the pain is to die or break the magic hypnosis," Yaris said. "Sonia, you choose -"

"I, I want to break the magic hypnosis!"

Sonia suppressed her pain and said, "I don't like being treated like a fool!"

"Then stop thinking about it for now. Once we've recovered, we'll find a way to help you break the demonic hypnosis."

“Thank you, thank you…”

Sonya walked out of the lounge in frustration.

Xiao Yun noticed that cold sweat was constantly coming out of Yaris's forehead.

He quickly hugged his shoulders: "Are you okay?"

"It's okay... I was just thinking... Sonya's situation reminded me of something..."

"What is it?"

Should we remain in the capital and continue dealing with Him, waiting for an opportunity to expose His true identity? Or should we quickly contact Ulysses, the citizens of the Lower City, and the student representatives, and then secretly leave the capital?

Is there any difference?

There is a big difference.

Yaris leaned on Xiao Yun's shoulder and calmly analyzed the current situation.

[Through His arduous efforts to create a mirror dimension of the Palace of Light, and His actions of subjecting the palace, which was run by Ulysses and performed a circus, to magical hypnosis, we can see that He not only desires to become an eternal god, but also plans to "legitimately rule our country."]

[And you want to stay in the capital and deal with Him, forcing Him to take off the mask in public and reveal His true face as an alien?]

[Yes! I want Him to take off the mask of "Edmund" in public and let the world be occupied by a demonic monster of unknown origin! In this way, not only will I be divided, but even the royalists who originally rejected us will turn against us on a large scale.

(Politics makes more and more people support us and more and more people oppose us.)

A sentence suddenly flashed through Xiao Yun's mind.

he.

It has already started.

Yes, that's the essence of politics! Gain the most and broadest support, and even enemies can become our allies!

…

…

“Stop!”

With a loud shout, two spears blocked the way of the carriage and the dozen or so knights accompanying it.

The leader, the Paladin Leon, shouted in a domineering tone, "Do you have a pass?"

"Of course! Of course! Look!"

The leader of the accompanying knights took out a pass from his pocket and handed it to Lyon, who was responsible for guarding the southeast entrance and exit of the palace tonight.

Leon took the pass and checked it, but he was still worried: "Who is in the car?"

"The people in the car are Countess Sonya and her two friends."

"Countess Sonya?"

Leon was stunned for a moment.

This lady was a renowned love witch in the capital, with countless admirers, including many distinguished nobles like dukes and marquises. Her eight ex-husbands were also mostly of high status, and to this day, they were obsessed with their romantic and amorous ex-wife.

To offend Lady Sonia is to make an enemy of the social circle in the capital—

but……

"Even Countess Sonya must be examined!"

Leon shouted, “Madam! Why did you leave the palace so late at night?”

"Why? For love, of course."

From inside the carriage with thick curtains hanging on the windows, the sweet and charming voice that was unique to the "Love Witch" was heard.

"love?"

Leon frowned: "Are you going to sneak out of the palace to meet a secret lover? Or do you want to send the dangerous lover hiding in the palace away under the cover of night?"

"—Knowing who I am, why did you stop my carriage?"

"Two days ago, an assassin broke into the palace with the intention of assassinating Your Majesty. After the attempt failed, he fled with injuries and is currently hiding within the palace. Your Majesty has been merciful and ordered us not to make any public announcements or cause panic, but to strictly inspect all carriages entering and leaving the palace, especially those leaving late at night! All suspicious individuals will be arrested on the spot!"

"You think I'm a suspect?"

"I dare not."

Paladin Leon walked to the front of the carriage and grabbed the door handle: "Madam likes romance and excitement, so she might be attracted by the assassin's charm. Wang Dong provided him with help, so-"

Click!

The carriage opened.

"ah--"

A woman's scream was heard in the car.

Two women in court costumes hugged each other in fear and huddled in the corner of the carriage. The dark scarves fixed on their hair by hair accessories fell naturally, covering most of their faces together with their hair. The uncovered parts reflected a delicate and soft luster like silk in the hazy moonlight. It was obvious at a glance that they were noble ladies from a prominent family.

Marquis Sonya stopped the two of them, pointing her lace fan at Leon's head and yelling, "What are you going to do!"

"Who are they?"

Leon ignored Madam Sonya's anger and stared intently at the two people huddled together in the carriage.

"They are...wait! Why should I answer your question! They are not the women you can dream of!"

Sonya pretended to be angered by Leon’s dirty thoughts and raised her hand to slap the man.

"lady!"

Leon grabbed Sonya's hand and explained with ill intent, "Your Majesty said the assassin had infiltrated the palace disguised as a lady-in-waiting. He possessed beauty and a figure comparable to a woman's. So even if the two people traveling with you are truly ladies of noble status, we must do nothing! What if they are actually men disguised as women?!"

"--you!"

"Besides close inspection, are there other ways to confirm their gender?"

"Aren't you afraid of getting your head chopped off afterwards?"

Sonya said coldly.

“This kind of thing…”

Leon showed a smug look: "What if they are fascinated by my masculinity and are willing to become my lover?"

“…”

Sonya looked at the accompanying knights.

The entourage looked helpless.

Not only because the enemy had three times as many people as them, but also because this was the southeast exit of the palace - engaging in armed conflict with the emperor's knights at the exit of the palace would be tantamount to treason.

"Come on! Distinguished ladies, lift up your veils and let me see your faces clearly! Let me see if you are men pretending to be women!"

As he spoke, Leon pulled Sonya out of the carriage, stepped on the steps with his heavy boots, supported the door with one hand, and reached into the carriage with the other, actually trying to forcibly pull the two people inside out.

[Brother, this is a little unexpected...]

"I don't know why He suddenly issued the order to capture the assassin, but if He wants to use this to embarrass us, it's a big mistake!"

Xiao Yun calmly looked up at Leon who had stuck his head into the car.

Suddenly——

"Ah! There's actually such a beautiful person!"

Leon screamed in disbelief and almost fainted.

"Oh my God! If this beautiful woman is a man in disguise! Then there must be, must be..."

Upon hearing this, Xiao Yun deliberately raised his already graceful chin, as if making eye contact with the dirty guy in front of him would make him feel extremely uncomfortable.

"I'm sorry! I, I didn't expect... that! I really didn't expect..."

Leon was so shocked by the beauty's appearance that he was incoherent and at a loss.

Sonya took the opportunity to sneer: “Master Leon, do you want to continue the inspection?”

"Of course we have to continue checking!"

Leon said unwillingly: "This woman is beautiful! But it doesn't mean that the other one is also a woman! Even if they are both women, the carriage can still use the interlayer to hide a third person! Isn't it!"

"How shameless you are!"

Sonya was furious: "If I were a man, I would have challenged you to a duel right now!"

"I'm sorry, but you're just a woman."

Leon said shamelessly, grabbing Xiao Yun's hand and trying to pull him out of the car: "In short, whether you are men or women, you must go to the room over there for inspection! Don't worry, beauties like you will never be treated roughly as long as you cooperate obediently. If you want to resist, I will also-ah!"

With a scream, Leon fell backward from the steps of the carriage - his face was cut by the sharp blade, leaving a bloody wound and the flesh was exposed.

"Dirty things!"

Xiao Yun commented coldly, sheathing the dagger.

The royal knights surrounding the carriage were horrified when they saw this, and all drew their swords.

"How dare you kill someone in the palace!"

"Traitor! It's a traitor!"

"Surround them!"

"Do it! Do it!"

“…”

At this moment, Xiao Yun suddenly pulled off the veil, revealing her face: "—Can't you tell who I am?"

"ah……"

Hearing this, Leon endured the severe pain and looked at Xiao Yun's face. The more he looked, the more fascinated he became: "Yes, yes... You are... the Grand Marquis of Gaola! How, how could it be... and... and..."

"Ms. Sonya is my good friend."

Xiao Yun said proudly, "As for disguising myself as a woman and borrowing Sonya's carriage to leave the palace—I've always had a penchant for traveling around disguised as a bard!"

"...You make a lot of sense."

Leon smiled awkwardly, pressed his hand against the wound, and saluted respectfully.

"You just said something very offensive to me, but you paid the price with blood for it. Therefore, not only will I not ask His Majesty to punish you severely, I will also ask him to commend you for your loyalty to duty."

"I am terrified."

"Okay, let's all go."

Xiao Yun spoke lazily and returned to the carriage.

But Lyon did not retreat.

Unwilling to give up, he stood in front of the carriage, greedily staring at the dazzlingly beautiful profile of Xiao Yun behind him, and shamelessly said, "It's my duty. Please allow me to get in the carriage and check on the person next to you—"

"You suspect my brother is an assassin?"

A cold light flashed in Xiao Yun's eyes.

"--ah?"

Leon gasped again.

“Leon——”

In the carriage, Yaris took off her veil, and her shiny black hair fell like a waterfall. Her face, comparable to that of a peerless beauty, was as delicate and elegant as a sculpture.

"Do you still insist on getting in the car for inspection?"

"—Your Highness! Please forgive my rudeness!"

Leon knelt down and apologized: "I really, I didn't expect that I..."

"It's almost dawn, and we brothers should go back to Silver Moon Palace."

Yaris murmured, closing his bright and beautiful eyes.

Sonia also climbed onto the carriage, lifting her skirt. She glanced at the palace knights who were still immersed in shock and said, "Get out of the way!"

“—Sorry! Sorry!”

Leon said this with blood all over his face and turned around.

“Let him go!”

…

…

After seeing off Sonya's convoy, Paladin Leon was ordered to go to Emperor Edmund III's residence in the Palace of Light. Watched by the royal attendants, he walked into Edmund's living room alone.

Late at night, the brightly lit room was unusually quiet, and the air was filled with an uncomfortably cold chill.

Under a luxurious ceiling that was twice as high as that of an ordinary room, Emperor Edmund III sat upright on a huge chair with a canopy, wearing a purple formal suit. Beside and behind him stood magicians in black robes, looking both formal and weird.

Lyon felt a chill on his back, and he knelt at the entrance, performing the etiquette of a knight.

"His Majesty--"

"The mage reported that you, who are stationed at the southeast exit of the palace, just met my dear cousins?"

"Yes."

"Who are they with?"

"Mrs. Sonya."

"Sonia..."

Edmund raised his eyebrows, his tone serious and heavy: "To actually date such a notorious woman who is almost twenty years older than you! This is truly a terrible thing!"

"Perhaps it's because of Madam Sonia's bad reputation and her age... that His Highness chose to date her in secret, even dressing as a woman to hide it from others..."

Leon explained tremblingly.

"Your Highness? Are you sure it's Yaris who's dating Sonya?!"

Edmund asked in a slow tone.

"--If Lady Sonia were dating the Grand Marquis of Gaura, it would be a scandal if it got out, but it wouldn't be completely hidden from others. Besides..."

"And everyone in the capital knows that Yaris has an Oedipus complex, right?"

"I am terrified."

"Oh!"

"Is your majesty prepared to take action?"

Leon asked tremblingly.

"Action? What action? Do we have to let everyone know about this shameful thing?!"

"I'm so sorry..."

"For the sake of the Holy Family's reputation, you and your subordinates must immediately forget what happened tonight! I don't want to hear any discussion of this matter anywhere!"

"Yes, sir."

"Also—the mission to search for suspicious individuals is canceled. Remember, I never issued such an order, and no assassins have infiltrated the palace!"

"Yes, yes!"

"Go down."

"yes."

With great confusion, Lyon left the living room.