The old man stood directly in front of Ruan Qing'an, his face cold: "As a royal retainer, I am naturally responsible for the safety of the royal family and its members. The way you've caused trouble today is a slap in my face. It's too late to leave now!"
“A member of the royal family should naturally be protected, but if he were a beast, would you still want to protect him?”
Ruan Qing'an couldn't help but chuckle, her eyes filled with a cold smile as she looked at the Seventh Prince. After hearing everything from Aldrich, she knew that the Seventh Prince, like Eileen, was probably controlled by that mission taker and was working for him.
Upon hearing these words, the old man couldn't help but turn to look at the Seventh Prince, who was bruised and battered, looking extremely miserable. He was clutching the hem of his clothes, terrified.
"Dolores, even if he really did something, he is still the seventh prince of the Lai Empire. You should give him some face."
"Yeah?"
Ruan Qing'an glanced at the Seventh Prince with a mocking smile: "The Lancaster family doesn't need to give anyone face, especially a beast."
"You, you, you—"
The seventh prince was trembling with anger, pointing his finger at Ruan Qing'an's nose, but when he faced Aldrich, he didn't dare to utter a word of abuse.
Seeing the Seventh Prince's expression, Ruan Qing'an shook his head and patted Aldrich's shoulder again: "Let's go. There's no point in talking to this good-for-nothing. He's just someone who dares to do things but not to admit them. As for Eileen, I'll trouble the Seventh Prince to inform the Church of Light."
"It would be best to tell them what good deeds their good saintess has done. Whether they say it or not, whether they believe it or not, I don't care. The Lancaster family doesn't need this kind of hypocritical reputation."
"Aren't you right, Eileen?"
At this moment, they noticed Eileen sitting in the ruins, her face pale, but she dared not refute them, stunned and unable to come to her senses.
Ruan Qing'an completely ignored the expression on the face of the royal grand mage and walked past him. The old man, noticing Ruan Qing'an's disrespect, became even more displeased.
"Do you really think you can walk out of this courtyard today?"
As he spoke, the old man gripped his staff in one hand, and a surge of powerful elemental energy rushed in, instantly escalating the tense atmosphere to the point of imminent conflict.
A mage facing off against a grand mage will only be crushed.
The difference in levels between mages is like an insurmountable chasm. Just as Ruan Qing'an could easily suppress Eileen, the old man could also suppress her, and she would have little chance of resistance.
Even though he was in a disadvantaged position, Nguyen Thanh An remained calm and composed, clinging to Aldridge's shoulder as he looked back.
"Of course you can do it, you can even kill me."
“If you don’t want the Lycas Empire to be paralyzed as a result, or if you don’t want the royal family’s supplies to be reduced by more than half a percent, or even—causing more serious consequences, you can kill me on the spot right now.”
"Do you dare to offer sacrifices to Your Excellency?"
These words were like a slap across the old man's face. Since becoming a Grand Magister and entering the Royal Hall of Worship, the old man had never been treated like this.
However, the Lancaster family held a special position, and Dolores's position was even more so, so he didn't even dare to make a move.
The atmosphere became tense for a moment.
Just then, accompanied by a cough, a figure slowly walked out, supported by others. He wore a jeweled crown and, although old, still looked heroic and extraordinary.
It was none other than the emperor of the Lycas Empire, Sass.
Upon seeing Sass, everyone bowed in greeting. Nguyen Thanh An also had Aldrich put her down and bowed slightly to Sass, but did not say much or move.
The old man said, "Your Majesty, here—"
"Let Dolores go."
As he spoke, Sass coughed violently again, his aged face turning pale: "I watched this child grow up, he has no bad intentions, there must be some misunderstanding."
"Now that things have come to this, let's arrange for someone to clean up. As for Dolores, you should go back and rest."
"Yes, thank you, Your Majesty."
After bowing once more, Nguyen Thanh An turned and left with Aldridge and Lucas without any intention of lingering.
The old man couldn't help but frown and look at Sass.
"Your Majesty, don't you need an explanation?"
Before Sass could speak, the first to answer him was Ruan Qing'an, who had already left. She walked on without stopping, leaving only her back view, her words, full of arrogance, carried on the wind, carrying with them the haughtiness and coldness that she was born to be unapproachable.
"The Lancaster family has no need to explain to anyone."
Even the old man was taken aback by her arrogant attitude, but before he could speak, a voice came and stopped him: "...Your Excellency, please go back."
"Understood, Your Majesty."
The old man remained silent for a moment, then bowed and turned to leave.
After the royal archmage left, Sass, supported by others, coughed softly and dismissed the other guards around him. He then sent someone to take Eileen back to the Church of Light.
Then, he beckoned to the Seventh Prince: "Come here."
The seventh prince didn't dare to speak, and could only come forward with an awkward smile.
The next moment, Sass coughed softly, then slapped the Seventh Prince across the face: "Do you know what the Lancaster family means to the Lycas Empire?"
"Do you know why the royal family is holding a magician exchange meeting with the Church of Light this time? It's simple. Magicians are the real strategic weapons and have real deterrent power, but the royal family has never been able to offer anything in this area."
"Right now, in the entire Lycas Empire, apart from the powerful branch of the Church of Light, only the Lancaster family can be considered respectable. Most importantly, Dolores is the youngest archmage. Can you imagine her future development?"
Upon hearing this, the Seventh Prince's face turned pale: "But, but the Lancaster family's influence is simply too great now. Even though Dolores's reputation is not good, it still cannot erase the substantial role their family plays. This..."
"That's why we're doing this together with the Church of Light."
Sass paused, then looked coldly at the Seventh Prince: "I put you in charge of the exchange meeting to establish relations with the branch church of the Church of Light, not to make a move against Dolores and alert the enemy."
"Go back here and think it over carefully!"
The Seventh Prince dared not utter another word, and could only bow repeatedly to see Sass off, his face deathly pale.
Just as Ruan Qingan was leading them away from the courtyard—
The Lancaster family estate.
All the servants were waiting here, because this trouble was really big. According to the family's strict rules, one or two of them would probably be punished, so they waited anxiously.
But after entering the manor, Ruan Qingan waved his hand, signaling everyone to leave: "Alright, everyone disperse."
"I know what's going on here, and it has nothing to do with you."
Upon hearing this, the servants felt as if they had been granted a pardon, but seeing that Ruan Qing'an's complexion was slightly pale, they did not dare to linger and quickly left.
Soon, only the three of them remained at the entrance of the manor.
Aldrich stood behind Nguyen Thanh An like a loyal large dog, while she turned around to look at Lucas, her leaden eyes scrutinizing him. With a single hand raised, flames condensed into a long whip in her hand, which she then lashed out at Lucas.
"Kneel down."
"You'd better give me an explanation, Lucas."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com