Lan Qi and the Empress sat on either side of an elaborately carved dining table. A silver candlestick stood regally in the center, though unlit. The light from outside the window was dim, and despite it being midday, no color reflected off the surrounding silverware. The air carried a hint of misty rain.

"Thank you, Your Majesty Kexiya."

Lan Qi thanked the Empress.

After a brief exchange before the meal, a long silence returned to the table. Servants began to bring in courses, and the two, lost in thought, ate with decorum.

Time passed unnoticed until the clock had ticked past noon, and the servants cleared the table, leaving it as it had been before the meal.

Empress Kexiya gazed at the courtyard outside the window, where rain threatened to fall, and was silent for a moment.

"To be honest, I'm afraid of you, because no one can figure you out."

She said candidly, not looking at Lan Qi.

"I heard your speech yesterday. It was great. To be honest, I was inspired by you, but I'm also more afraid, afraid that making you prime minister was a mistake."

She didn't know if she should say these words to Lan Qi Weierfute. Finding no other topic, she spoke her heart.

"In your opinion, am I more frightening, or the Huoning Empire?"

Lan Qi asked.

"..."

Empress Kexiya did not answer.

Objectively speaking, she felt that the man before her was far less frightening than the Huoning Empire, an obvious conclusion.

But he was right in front of her, and if this man were an enemy, she would feel a deep sense of unease.

"To put it another way, if I am your staunch supporter, and will do my best to serve you and resist the Huoning Empire, would you still find me frightening?"

Lan Qi asked again.

"No."

Empress Kexiya closed her eyes and shook her head.

Hearing such assurances from Lan Qi brought her instant peace of mind.

"I'm worried about your position in the council."

She added.

Even if she was willing to support the new prime minister, she was only a symbol of power in the eyes of the people, with little real power to sway the council. At most, she could use her personal relationships to persuade those who might help the prime minister.

Empress Kexiya knew very well what had happened at the Upper House meeting that morning before Lan Qi's arrival. If Weierfute and Duke Moleidi had not maintained a high degree of restraint, the divisions and conflicts in the council might have further intensified, leading to uncontrollable internal strife.

Hearing Kexiya's words, Lan Qi seemed to recall the absurd confrontation that morning.

"They want to drive away the street performer and replace him with his monkey."

He said with a hint of dissatisfaction.

"Watch your words, Lord Weierfute. Duke Moleidi is a friend of mine."

Empress Kexiya rebuked.

She was surprised that Lan Qi would speak so frankly at this moment, directly expressing his thoughts. It seemed that he did indeed have strong feelings about Duke Moleidi.

"..."

Lan Qi lowered his head upon hearing this, and remained silent for a long time.

"Although I don't know the specific details of your conversation with Duke Moleidi this morning, I believe that you both started with the idea of making Polante Empire better. I shouldn't interfere in your disputes, nor can I defend the rights and wrongs of either party. I just know that when I hear others speak ill of my friends, I will never agree and need to correct them."

Empress Kexiya began to worry that she had said the wrong thing, and explained or clarified.

"Only if I am not needed."

Lan Qi said dejectedly.

This immediately made Empress Kexiya worried again.

"Perhaps it's because you're frightening. No one knows what your next decision will be, or even what kind of words you'll say."

Seeing Lan Qi's slight dejection, Kexiya's tone softened a lot.

Cat Boss: "???"

It felt like it had learned new tea art skills.

Sometimes, directly expressing dissatisfaction, a method that didn't even qualify as low-level green tea, could actively provoke the other party's reprimand, thereby putting on a victim's pose and making the other party doubt which side was really at fault.

Now, compared to continuing to question Lan Qi, the Imperial Princess Kexiya was probably more focused on considering "Could Duke Moleidi have gone too far?"

This wasn't a low-level green tea tactic, but a perfect combination of advancing by retreating and retreating by advancing, returning to simplicity. Compared to purity, it even made him seem very straightforward.

In the course of their conversation, their relationship became closer.

Lan Qi was isolated and helpless in the wartime Upper House, but the attitude of Imperial Princess Kexiya was clear: she was willing to believe in the Prime Minister.

The two then discussed many topics concerning the war and the future of the country. Empress Kexiya expressed her views thoughtfully, while Lan Qi demonstrated his leadership and loyalty to the empire. The Empress raised many questions about Lan Qi's decisions, but was also satisfied with his answers.

Although the two had different status, a subtle mutual understanding and respect began to grow between them.

Until finally, the agreed-upon lunch time was coming to an end.

Lan Qi glanced at his watch and politely indicated to Her Majesty the Empress that he needed to busy himself with his work.

"I'm sorry, Lord Weierfute, for taking up so much of your time that should have been for rest."

Empress Kexiya suddenly realized how quickly the time had passed.

But Lan Qi wasn't in a hurry to leave, as if he would prioritize answering the Empress's questions until Her Majesty was satisfied.

"I actually see no hope of victory. In perhaps a little over a month, the Huoning Empire will invade Hershalem."

Empress Kexiya took a deep breath and pointed out the most critical issue.

"What do you think our chances of winning are now?"

Although no one could truly answer, she believed that she wasn't alone; this was the question that the people of Polante Empire were most concerned about.

She just wanted to hear Weierfute's thoughts, perhaps to give herself a little more confidence.

Even if he were lying to her, as a pro-war advocate, he should exaggerate the odds of winning as much as possible.

"0."

Lan Qi replied.

"..."

Empress Kexiya seemed shocked by Lan Qi's candor.

At least he should have said one percent, right?

However, Empress Kexiya could not see the slightest hint of falsehood in Lan Qi's eyes.

She wanted to ask.

Since you are the one who most deeply believes that there is no chance of winning, why do you still strive against the tide?

"Are you serious?"

In the end, these were the only words that came from Empress Kexiya's mouth.

At this moment, she couldn't empathize with the Prime Minister's mind, and could only stare into his emerald eyes.

She couldn't tell if they were clear lakes or bottomless pools. She was just careless and stared at him for a long time, forgetting to look away.

"Please trust me. There is a saying, 'When you are ready to sacrifice yourself, you are also more likely to sacrifice others.' Fighting the Huoning Empire may cause considerable sacrifices, but before that, I am ready to sacrifice myself. I will spare no effort to carve out a chance of victory for you, Your Majesty."

At this moment, Lan Qi was like a knight swearing an oath to the Empress.

But he was different from the usual steadfast and valiant knight.

There was a vast loneliness and a faint sense of fragility.

"..."

For some reason, Kexiya always felt that in front of this man, she was not like a constitutional empire monarch with only a noble status, but a wise monarch with absolute imperial power.

This was a huge expectation, and a kind of trust that placed his back in her hands.

It made her want to protect this man and support him in completing his heroic and great cause.

"I understand."

Empress Kexiya pondered, and finally nodded with a determined expression.

Afterwards, Lan Qi briefly bid farewell to Empress Kexiya, and indicated that he would come to her again. After receiving Empress Kexiya's consent, he left Shalem Palace and moved on to his next schedule.

Cat Boss didn't know what to say.

Another human who hadn't escaped Lan Qi's hypnosis. After a few more courses, they might just listen to Lan Qi's every command.

Now, those people outside the Shadow World, and even the Huoning Empire and the Blood Clan on the opposite side, probably haven't realized the seriousness of the problem.

Even Cat Boss understood that this was a global strategic domination type of Shadow World, not a character affinity conquest type of Shadow World!

You're just like a nation-destroying evil god!

(End of chapter)