CHAPTER 431: WITH SUCH A PIG’S BRAIN, HE DARES TO DREAM OF ASCENDING THE THRONE

Since she was going to share a bed with Astrid, the head maid, ever mindful of noble etiquette, naturally couldn’t continue wearing her everyday maid uniform.

Not only had the long journey exposed her to wind and dust, which might soil the bedding, but the outer fabric of the maid dress itself was unsuitable for touching the princess’s fair and delicate skin. No matter how one looked at it, she needed a change of attire.

Back in her room, Elise selected a soft, pale-blue nightgown along with other garments, then pushed open the princess’s bedroom door and entered the adjacent washroom designated solely for the princess’s bathing.

Normally she came in here as a personal maid to clean, but today she was the one using the bathing facilities. Glancing at the single bathtub nestled against the wall, Elise didn’t hesitate. She quickly removed all her clothing and stepped beneath the showerhead, lightly pressing the water-element crystal stone.

The young mistress was waiting, time was short. There was no need to linger and enjoy yourself.

Her vision blurred by steam, Elise stood upright, lowered her head, and focused on cleaning herself thoroughly.

Completing her bodily cleansing at the fastest possible pace, ensuring even her hair had completely dried in the wind, the woman with dark hair changed her clothes in front of the washroom mirror, now wearing a silk nightgown. Her two legs, unusually long even among her peers, were wrapped in thin, sheer pantyhose.

Hearing the washroom door open, Astrid, who had been whispering with Amalia, gently rubbed the girl’s head and turned to face the newcomer.

"Finished so quickly?"

She should have known, her head maid, who handled everything with such efficiency, would even bathe this quickly.

Hearing Astrid’s voice, Elise gave a slight nod. Her long, cascading black hair fell to her waist, straighter and longer than usual after the bath. Even her normally delicate, pretty features seemed unusually aloof, accentuated by the sleek black hair.

"Mm, just a simple cleanse," Elise replied softly.

Stepping forward with her long legs, clad in white low-heeled sandals, Astrid watched under moonlight as the head maid’s snow-white, smooth instep shimmered faintly, delicate veins faintly visible, as if veiled by a thin gauze.

"You still wear so many clothes after bathing?"

Noticing the sheer stockings on the other’s legs, Astrid asked idly.

For comfort during sleep, and to avoid the lining poking Amalia when she hugged her, Astrid herself wore nothing except her nightgown and essential modesty coverings.

Elise nodded in response, replying with solemn earnestness.

"Reporting to you, Miss, this is noble etiquette."

Even when unavoidably staying in someone else’s residence, a guest should minimize direct contact between their body and the bedding or mattress, to facilitate cleanup afterward.

If not for her wardrobe containing only the most basic silk gowns and no long-sleeved nightwear, Elise might not have exposed even her arms right now.

"..."

For a moment, Astrid wasn’t sure whether to call Elise rigid or excessively respectful. She fell silent for a while, then softly parted her pink lips.

"There’s no need to be so formal in private, Elise."

"Besides, no one will see, and no one will know."

She’d probably said similar words many times before.

"Understood, Miss."

"Climb in."

Then again, Elise’s current personality hadn’t formed overnight, expecting rapid change was equally unrealistic.

Her maid was indeed this serious person.

Receiving Astrid’s order, the head maid paused for several seconds, then grasped the blanket and gently lifted it.

Seeing the bright silver hair, like flowing moonlight, scattered across the bedding, Elise placed her hand aside to avoid pressing on Astrid’s hair. Her mature, elegant figure perched slightly on the edge of the bed, politely and restrainedly sliding her legs beneath the covers.

Elise wasn’t sharing a bed with Astrid for the first time. Strictly speaking, aside from blood relatives, she was likely the first person ever to sleep beside the princess.

Of course, back then Astrid had been very young, and Elise herself had only just come of age. The two had lain side by side on the soft mattress, passing long nights with idle chatter.

Just like Astrid and Amalia did now.

Watching Astrid beside her, gently holding the little girl and speaking softly, Elise’s expression remained unchanged, but a flicker of nostalgia passed through her ink-black pupils.

In the blink of an eye, it had already been so long ago.

If Lady Fanya were still alive, she would undoubtedly be proud of having such an outstanding daughter.

"...Elise?"

Rarely seeing her head maid lost in thought, Astrid spoke softly.

"What are you thinking about?"

"..."

"Nothing... Miss."

Returning from memories of the past to reality, Elise extended her mental awareness, adding an extra layer of environmental surveillance atop the existing soundproof barrier.

Feeling that Elise, now reclining in a nightgown, had gained a touch of rare warmth, Astrid fluttered her eyelashes. Her clear, bright red eyes narrowed into a fine line. Her slender white feet, tucked beneath the blanket, brushed ever so lightly against the head maid’s calf, whether intentional or not, it was unclear.

"My bed isn’t small. It’s more than enough space to sleep."

"Why are you so far away, Elise?"

As the emperor’s most beloved illegitimate princess, every piece of furniture in Astrid’s bedroom was top-tier imperial quality. The desk was made of pure fragrant wood infused with magic power. The bedding was precious silk from the Western region. The pillow was woven from heavenly silkworm thread, known for its calming properties.

Materials were meticulously chosen, and naturally, the area was substantial. The princess’s large bed could easily accommodate Astrid alone, let alone a few more people.

After all, this bed was practically big enough for a team-building event.

Hearing Astrid’s words, though equally a maid, unlike the easily flustered and blushing Lyra, the head maid remains remarkably composed.

"I worry about crowding you, or accidentally pressing your hair," Elise said.

Waking up with one’s hair trapped under someone else’s head or arm, getting unintentionally tugged, was an unpleasant experience.

Astrid blinked, her pupils reflected light and Elise’s face.

The head maid’s reasoning wasn’t flawed.

"There’s no need to keep such distance. Amalia and I still need your protection."

Half of Astrid’s reasoning was her hope that Elise wouldn’t remain so tense; the other half was literal truth.

Although one could unleash powerful ancient spells and the other was a peak tier Magnus, both Astrid and Amalia were outstanding even by imperial standards, their practical combat experience was severely lacking. If assassins closed in, they’d be nowhere almost as adept in sudden confrontation as Elise.

This was also why nobles, despite valuing magic, encouraged mixed mage-knight bodyguard units: mages, fragile glass cannons, needed knights as close-range defensive shields, while knights needed mages as long-range destructive spears.

"Yes, Miss."

Elise nodded upon hearing this, then shifted her body slightly closer to Astrid.

Now, the sensation of another person on the bed became distinctly clearer. Through a thin layer of fabric, Astrid could feel the smooth touch of the woman’s leg and the comfortable warmth unique to the human body.

If the newly bathed Amalia was like a sweet, tender cake, soft, smooth, a soapy-scented kitten that relaxes the mind, then Elise was more like a cool, aloof older sister who actually carried a hint of warmth.

In front, a soft, boneless, cool yet delightful little girl, intimately locked with her by crossed legs; behind, a dark-haired mature woman with back pressed against hers, their two well-proportioned, pleasantly thick legs lightly overlapping beneath the covers, causing the nearby bedding to waft a faint, delicate fragrance.

This sense of being surrounded by close ones... was surprisingly pleasant.

A gentle personal scent lingered by her nose. Astrid was about to close her eyes when she suddenly noticed Amalia’s strap had slipped again. The milky-white skin seemed deliberately exposed to her, its contours perfectly accentuated.

Probably due to earlier movements...

Thinking this, Astrid adjusted it once more, her voice tender.

"Good night."

Amalia replied sweetly.

"Good night, Sister."

With those words, the bedroom fell silent.

How long had passed, she didn’t know. Feeling the long, slow breaths from behind, Elise, in a meditative state, turned her head with extreme care, gazing at the silver-haired girl lying on her side.

A round, smooth shoulder peeked out from the nightgown, half-hidden among silver strands. The lily-leaf lace trim covered half of a tender arm, making the skin appear even fairer and softer.

Looking at the pure black silk nightgown with its bare-back design, the butterfly bones catching moonlight, delicately adding cuteness to its allure, Elise maintained her posture, her lead-gray pupils quietly observing.

In her vision, the black fabric and white skin create a subtle optical illusion. To Elise, the now-grown imperial princess, for a fleeting moment, transformed back into that adorable girl who once lay beside her, wearing a sweet white dress.

"..."

Her roaming mental awareness detected tree branches outside swaying in the wind, rustling under the ethereal moonlight. Elise lowered her gaze, quickly returning to the present.

Then, she extended her hand from beneath the covers, gently pulling the blanket on Astrid’s side up to her shoulders.

The night was still long, and she had enough time.

After completing this, Elise closed her eyes, continuing to refine the quality of her mental power, which had stagnated for years.

Although Elise had been busy with various duties and hadn’t specifically trained, during those countless nights accompanying Astrid in the academy dormitory, she had still maintained the habit of constantly renewing her mental power.

Even if she couldn’t reach the level of a Crusader, the current quality of the head maid’s mental power was more than enough to defeat a peak Master Knight level assassin.

.............

"Lord Alistair’s meaning is, given the current special circumstances, private meetings between you are inconvenient. I will continue to relay related plans."

Three days later, at the Roast Count’s mansion, in an elegantly decorated small villa, Helen listened to the maid’s report and gave a slight nod.

"So, should I also avoid meeting Prince Lucas recently?"

"Correct. Too frequent contact might arouse Prince Lucas’s suspicion."

The woman in black-and-white attire looked at the noble lady before her, her tone serious.

"However, Miss Helen, you still need to maintain outward enthusiasm toward Prince Lucas, occasionally showing your presence."

Affected by the emperor’s critical illness, Prince Lucas, the first in line for succession, had skyrocketed in value. Nobles eager to spend a night with him were millions of advantages, and Helen held no significance.

Especially now that Lucas was in a state of celibacy, not particularly obsessed with women.

Helen nodded gently, replying softly.

"I understand."

"So, my next step is to continue waiting for orders?"

The maid didn’t deny it, giving a low "Hmm."

"That is also Lord Alistair’s wish."

Opportunities came only once. They had to deliver the most fatal blow to Lucas at the most suitable moment.

Elsewhere, within the Imperial Guards protecting the royal family, Lucas, the elder brother Alistair was fixed on, was now walking among orderly military formations, inspecting these ultimate defense forces belonging solely to the royal family.

After meeting the four ministers in Hibbort, Lucas had received secret authorization, gaining command over a small portion of the Imperial Guards.

The Imperial Guards were the emperor’s direct forces, ensuring the throne wouldn’t fall into outsiders’ hands. Hibbort granting him this authority undoubtedly sent two signals.

The emperor was on his deathbed, and the heir had been secretly designated as Lucas Fercis.

If previously Lucas merely believed he held a strong advantage, now he felt as if half his backside was already seated on the throne, his confidence inflated to the extreme.

Alistair... What right do you have to compete with me...

His gaze fixed on the cold, gleaming armor, Lucas licked his lips, a faint look of satisfaction appearing on his cheeks.

Although not the full roster or command authority of the Imperial Guards, this unit alone demonstrated Hibbort’s trust.

The imperial throne was within reach.

Twenty minutes later, the inspection concluded. To show royal favor, Lucas specially granted the soldiers a lavish feast and committed his subordinates to constantly monitor this unit.

Should any incident occur, he needed to be able to command them to fight at any moment.

"Yes, Prince Lucas."

The attendant left after receiving orders. Lucas then dined within the military compound, displaying his magnanimity by sharing joy with the, before boarding his carriage soldiers back to the imperial capital.

And just half an hour after the carriage entered the capital, Alistair received news that Lucas had visited the Imperial Guards’ camp for inspection, something the latter hadn’t hidden at all, but rather made rather conspicuous.

"He wants all the nobles in the capital to know he has command over the Imperial Guards."

Anse spoke coldly, his gaze shifted to the blond man on the sofa.

"But there’s also good news, Lucas has given us the exact location of this unit."

Alistair, lounging on the sofa, lazily spoke, taking a sip of red wine.

"Now our ambush plan will be easier to set up..."

"What a fool. With such a pig’s brain, he dares to dream of ascending the throne."