Although many people envied Chille and his Kingdom of Lorraine, the "Steel Princess" of the French Court... for Serena, a small rural noble, she is simply a legendary figure. To see each other even once is a great honor.
Now she has unexpectedly become the "love rival" and "opponent" of the princess, or perhaps just a small pebble in the princess's path.
Raising her head, Serena looked at Count Lorraine's gentle and moon-like crimson eyes, which seemed to resemble a cunning fox that had caught its prey.
"Mmm, a cunning fox who has caught a rabbit," the girl murmured softly, her words full of slight resentment in the quiet carriage.
"Oh dear, I've been discovered," Chille said with surprise, then grinned at her, his small tiger teeth sharp and white, against his beautiful rosy lips.
"But it's too late to regret now. Little rabbit, will you obediently become the fiancée of the big fox~ Hehehe..."
Slightly tilting her mouth, Serena pouted her pretty face, pretending to be angry.
"You... you're the little rabbit!"
"La la la~" Chille stuck out his tongue at her.
Then he glanced out the window, the sweet smile on his face gradually fading, replaced by a solemn expression.
"We have arrived."
...
"Count Lorraine, please wait here while I announce your arrival," the leading soldier said respectfully after a few seconds of silence, observing the elegant and noblely dressed young man in front of him.
"Your Excellency, please wait a moment."
Soon, a silver-haired, blue-eyed female knight walked out, wearing a silver-white sturdy armor and holding a standard steel sword, shimmering with cold light.
"Your Excellency, please follow me. Her Highness has been waiting for quite some time."
Without hesitation, Chille quickly followed the solemn and serious female knight, while also turning back to introduce,
"Hérona Fossée, the Chief Knight of Her Highness Anjolina."
Hérona still had an unsmiling face and casually glanced at the hands held by Chille and Serena, furrowing her brows subtly.
"What happened exactly?"
Hérona turned her head forward, her voice calm and simple.
"Contraband."
"Contraband? It's probably not as simple as that," Chille didn't fully believe her words, and continued to inquire,
"If the Underground Market only got shut down because of contraband, then it probably wouldn't even need to exist."
"Your Excellency, I have said enough."
The conversation stopped as they reached a large locked door, with the knight standing in front of it.
"What you need to know will be explained by Her Highness after she has made her decision."
Chille looked up at the room in front of him - it used to be his office, now occupied by Anjolina. He needed to ask permission to enter now.
Well, guess I'm used to that woman's style.
Knock, knock, a gentle knock on the door.
"Young Master."
The butler called Chille, and the maid, who had been silent for a long time, reached out and pulled the young count to her side.
"There's a familiar and ominous presence."
Delfina Delettrez Fendi held Chille's slender waist, her soft and ample bosom against his thin back, her expression solemn and serious.
"Be careful."
An presence ominous enough to make a Demon cautious?
Chille paused for a moment, realizing that things might have become more complicated.
"I understand."
With a gloomy face, the young count tried hard not to let his emotions show any signs of strangeness. He spoke seriously to the confused Serena.
"Stay by our side and don't leave, no matter what, got it?"
"Got it."
Serena replied lightly.
Though she didn't understand why Chille had said these words to her, she could see the seriousness and solemnity in his expression.She knew that she might not be able to solve the problem or help, but she wouldn't cause trouble,
"Tell me when you're ready to talk, dear."
She playfully teased, sweet and charming.
Without further questioning or inquiry, Serena let go of Chille's hand and gently stood behind him, obediently and quietly.
Feeling a twinge in his heart, Chille blinked and couldn't help but smile. He took a deep breath and slowly pushed open the door.
Clean, simple,
A very ordinary room,
The white walls were bright and clean, the sunlit windows were open, a gentle breeze blew in, and a mahogany office desk was placed in the center of the room.
The only thing unusual was the person in the room,
Dark military uniform, golden button seal with the coat of arms, snow-white crisp breeches tied with high-heeled hunting boots, sitting quietly at the desk with a gleaming longsword leaning against it.
"Chille Loranrand?"
Looking at the arriving young countess, she slowly stood up, her tall and beautiful figure towering half a head taller than Chille,
Gazing sternly and arrogantly at Chille's exquisite and pretty face, her cold, solemn eyes gleaming like molten gold, she scolded in a soft voice,
"Do you know your crime?!"
"Your Highness Anjolina, if I had committed any great mistake, I wouldn't have come."
Juvenile Countess couldn't help but pout, Chille was not intimidated by the woman's aura in front of him, calmly speaking,
"The whole Moran Empire knows that the 'Steel Princess' does not show mercy with her sword."
"Heh."
Anjolina coldly laughed,
She nodded, then slowly shifted her gaze away from Chille's face,
Looking at Delfina Delettrez Fendi, who seemed to be protecting Chille but actually holding onto him tightly, she couldn't help but furrow her brow deeply and make a slight clicking noise.
But she knew that Delfina Delettrez Fendi was just a maid, not worth fearing.
However, when she saw the unfamiliar, beautiful girl behind the young count, her expression instantly became even more gloomy, her aura turning cold and intimidating,
"Who is she?"
