CHAPTER 443: ARE YOU DOING TREASON?

Ever since the topic of the coming-of-age ceremony began, Hibbort’s words had always carried double meanings, whether it was his address when inviting them to sit, or his seemingly offhand remarks just now.

The phrase "remaining composed even when facing me" could be interpreted in two ways.

As the supreme ruler of the Empire, Hibbort always carried an extremely dominant aura of authority. This presence naturally pressured nobles and commoners alike who stood before him. Once fear took root in their hearts, it would manifest not only in their body language but even in their inability to meet his gaze.

Yet the dark-haired little girl seated before him now shows not a trace of fear. Her cold, clear eyes simply gazed at the surface of her tea, completely unlike the timid girl of the past, common-born, who used to hide behind her sister at the first sign of trouble.

The other interpretation, and the one currently held by Astrid, was that Hibbort was hinting how completely Amalia had concealed her hatred towards him, not letting even a shred of resentment leak out.

Such restraint indeed warranted him taking her even more seriously.

"Compared to adults who’ve experienced the complexities of life and hold fixed, rigid ways of thinking, children are more malleable and learn at a much faster pace."

Astrid sipped her tea, her tone calm.

"They’re like a blank sheet of paper, easily stained with any color, good or bad."

This was exactly why, back then, she had chosen to seek out Amalia, whom Hibbort had imprisoned in the old castle, rather than attempting to change the crown prince Lucas, with whom she still had a decent relationship.

The investment and future prospects of cultivating the two were simply on entirely different levels.

As she finished speaking, Astrid turned her gaze toward Amalia. Her hand, clad in silk gloves, rested gently on the table, her voice softening slightly.

"Of course, besides what I just said, we can’t ignore Livia’s own efforts."

"Her learning ability truly is exceptional."

She’d thoroughly grasped the theoretical knowledge; the only thing missing now is practical experience.

Feeling the tenderness in her sister’s tone, Amalia moistened her lips with tea, restraining herself from rubbing her silk-stockinged legs against Astrid’s beneath the table as she usually did.

Hibbort watched the cold-eyed girl beside the desk while listening to Astrid, his expression deep and inscrutable. The wrinkles on his face were especially prominent in the light, like the dry, water-deprived bark of an ancient tree.

"More than that, I’m even more surprised that my most treasured gem has come to like her so much."

"When I first learned the full truth of the matter, I felt a shock unlike any I’ve ever experienced."

It even surpasses the surreal feeling of his once-spoiled imperial princess suddenly becoming more outstanding than either of his two sons.

In just a few short years, the entire Valeria Empire had been completely revitalized under Astrid’s reform. Her mastery of public opinion manipulation, research into magical devices, and accumulation of political power far outstripped those of the other two heirs.

The only thing Astrid deprived on her path to the throne was the one most crucial thing, imperial bloodline.

Hearing Hibbort’s words, Astrid narrowed her eyes slightly, her thin lips pressed together as her entire body tensed imperceptibly.

For Hibbort to say this... it was practically laying his cards on the table...

In the past, the third imperial princess had openly overlooked Amalia. Now, the two appear as close as ordinary sisters.

Recalling the overwhelming mental presence she’d sensed along the way to the Emperor’s chambers, something impossible to ignore even without focusing, Astrid’s eyes shimmered with quiet light as she gazed at the silver-haired little girl across from her.

"Livia has been improving, but so has her older sister."

"In the past, I was narrow-minded, arrogant, and haughty; my reputation among the capital’s nobility wasn’t good. I must have caused Father endless headaches."

Of course, that was all in the past. Today, Astrid Calliste had become a rare pioneer in magical devices, the Capital’s Gem served by Holy Knight Baroness Lyra, and the silver-haired princess whose presence always carried a faint, icy floral fragrance.

Hearing this, Hibbort slowly shifted his gaze from Amalia’s eyes to Astrid.

"Even when you’ve already guessed the truth in your heart, you still maintain composure on the surface."

"If only they had half your calmness, I would already be satisfied."

The man placed his hand atop the gem embedded in the Imperial Scepter. A flash of white light later, several stacks of parchment appear on the desk, along with an exquisitely crafted metal box.

Astrid’s eyes had barely shifted toward them when the man spoke.

"So, did you intend to keep hiding the truth until my death?"

The serious words struck like thunderclaps, Hibbort stroking his staff with an imposing, unangered gaze in his blue eyes.

"I never imagined my most favored daughter would one day do something like this."

Astrid looked at the parchments on the desk. The cover clearly shows trade records between the Velmont family and the Honeysuckle Guild, documentation of plant membrane transactions.

To have traced it this far, he didn’t even need to dig through the purchase records that Elise had carefully secured. Once Hibbort’s suspicions were confirmed, all subsequent intelligence became transparent to him.

The Emperor’s power lay not in whether he could uncover something, but whether he wanted to.

The metal box most likely contains the same type of plant membranes.

Knowing Amalia’s identity had already been exposed, further concealment would only be inappropriate. Astrid lifted the hem of her dress, shifted her body back to press against her chair, and immediately bowed.

"Your Highness, I apologize for my concealment."

For a princess of a non-royal bloodline to meddle in succession matters, acting as a supporter to the crown prince might have been barely acceptable. But creating a new faction by backing an alternative candidate was entirely different.

Looking through the entire history of the Valeria Empire, no Emperor would ever tolerate such an act, especially since Amalia’s identity was that of a bastard child, someone Hibbort overlooked.

"Secretly retrieving a royal bloodline confined within the castle, Amalia Valeria, and renaming her Livia Calliste."

"Truly audacious beyond measure."

Hibbort spoke calmly, his blue eyes fixed on the silver-haired girl he once treated like his own daughter.

In an instant, all previous warmth and affection transformed into oppressive pressure, a massive boulder crushing down on Astrid’s heart.

"Please believe me, Your Highness. This was done out of necessity."

As she answered, Astrid’s mind raced.

Hibbort had chosen to receive them tonight precisely because of the timing, the moment when the crown prince and second prince were locked in mortal conflict. After tonight, one of them will certainly be eliminated from the succession.

Given that Hibbort already knew of Amalia’s existence, Astrid reasoned that his words now couldn’t be about punishment, there had to be another purpose.

"Out of necessity?"

Hibbort repeated softly, his tone indifferent.

"How so?"

To put it bluntly, Astrid’s previous covert actions could easily be classified as treason.

Before the man could continue, a clear, cold female voice rang out in the room, speaking before Astrid could.

"Because the situation was extremely critical, there had to be a qualified leader."

"Crown Prince Lucas has narrow vision, lusts after beauty, becomes reckless after minor victories, and ignores hidden dangers. He possesses not a shred of imperial bearing."

"In the future, when facing the Kingdom of Velys, such a pleasure-seeking emperor will be unable to keep the Empire standing firm in war."

Amalia put down her teacup. Her clear red eyes reflected Hibbort’s face as she spoke in a calm, articulate tone.

"As for Second Prince Alistair, he has courage but lacks wisdom. He’s shallow in talent yet has sky-high ambitions, always believing that offering generous terms will win over the nobles and secure his succession. He failed to understand that human greed is insatiable, constant concessions only make their appetites grow larger."

"A compromising heir like that ascending the throne will eventually lead to the royal family’s interests being devoured by wolves and tigers. Let alone uniting the nobles to coordinate strategy and face external threats."

Without any emotional bias or personal grudge, Amalia looked at the man who had imprisoned her for years, her biological father, her lips parting as if speaking to a stranger.

"Putting either of them on that throne would be tantamount to surrendering the Empire to others."

If Hibbort truly intended to support one of them, he wouldn’t have kept her alive until now; this was the foundation of Amalia’s confidence.

The golden-haired man leaned against his chair listening quietly, staring at Amalia for several seconds, then spoke slowly.

"Are these words Astrid taught you?"

Amalia didn’t answer directly, simply continuing to look at Hibbort.

"As long as you know what they’ve done, making such deductions isn’t difficult."

"Just as now, if you opposed my presence in this study, we wouldn’t be sitting here drinking tea."

"Isn’t that right..."

"...Your Majesty Hibbort?"

Amalia straightened her back. Beneath her creamy-white princess dress, her two silk-stockinged legs, pale and slender like tender lotus roots, pressed slightly together. Her bright red eyes showed not a flicker of emotion.

Although the same blood flowed in their veins, neither Amalia nor Hibbort harbored any genuine feeling toward the other.

Astrid, the bond between them, continued kneeling with her skirt lifted, her silver hair cascading over her shoulders, silently awaiting Hibbort’s response.

"..."

Half a minute passed before Hibbort spoke in a low voice.

"Sit down."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Gently massaging her slightly sore knees and adjusting her dark stockings, Astrid returned to her seat beside the desk, her lips parting.

"Besides what Amalia said, I also have my own motivations."

"The crown prince opposed the development of magical devices, a stance that contradicts both mine and Your Highness’s views."

"Any person with foresight can see the immense potential of magical devices. It can elevate the Valeria Empire’s comprehensive national strength to an entirely new level. To maintain our leading position in the future and avoid being overtaken by the Kingdom of Velys, we must rely on it."

On the issue of magical devices development, both princes had long lagged behind, whereas Astrid had always been in sync with Hibbort.

"As for other matters... the crown prince’s personal conduct is truly beyond criticism...."

In a sense, this was one of the key motivations behind Astrid’s pursuit of independence. Back then, she had to choose: either change the future where she’d be killed by a tyrannical little girl, or support a useless prince whose decisions were driven by base desires half the time.

If Lucas ascended the throne, the free future she envisioned would likely never come.

"So you pretended to be Lucas’s trusted aide, a secondary figure in the crown prince’s faction, while secretly preparing an alternative path."

Hibbort raised his teacup, sipping slightly. His imposing gaze swept over the two women present.

"Under citywide martial law, with the Imperial Guards everywhere, you remained cautious in speech and conduct, staying secluded and low-profile."

"Knowing full well Lucas was heading into grave danger, you, as his younger sister, didn’t offer a single warning. I imagine you’d already prepared in secret to take over his political resources."

At this point, Hibbort’s tone became unusually severe.

"Now that it’s come to this, do you think I should praise you for doing well, or immediately clip your wings and throw you into prison?"

The palace was guarded by the Emperor’s own Imperial Guards. Beyond its walls, Trin had most likely already secured control. Every heir with a claim to the throne is now under Hibbort’s watchful eye.

"..."

"Everything is for Your Highness to decide." Astrid lowered her voice, though her heart remained unshaken.

Hibbort’s words, paradoxically, gave her a sense of reassurance. If he truly intended to deal with her in such a crude and direct way, he wouldn’t have bothered with words at all.

Going to such lengths to choose this precise moment, Hibbort most likely wanted to test Amalia’s capabilities and Astrid’s true intentions.

Was she seeking to choose a new ruler for an Empire on the brink of collapse? Or did she plan to use the royal blood in Amalia’s veins to become the nominal regent, the true power behind the throne?

The former could still be considered loyal service; the latter was nothing short of usurping the nation. If the latter charge were proven, even being the daughter of an old friend wouldn’t save her from the Emperor’s purge.

At this stage, when he could even silently permit the fratricidal struggle between his sons, why would Hibbort show her mercy?

As she pondered, rhythmic knocks sounded at the study door. Hibbort gave a low acknowledgement, and Trin, clad in a mage’s robe, stepped inside.

Without paying attention to the two princesses seated at the desk amid the strange atmosphere, Trin spoke softly.

"Your Majesty, both princes have now returned to the capital."

"Prince Lucas is severely injured and undergoing treatment. Prince Alistair has lost his left arm and has received basic wound dressing."

"The detailed records are stored within the crystal. Your Majesty may review them at any time."

"What are your orders?"

Hearing Trin’s report, Hibbort’s eyes filled with profound disappointment. After a moment, he spoke slowly.

"Seal all information."

"Then imprison both princes immediately. Assign the highest-grade Imperial Guards to watch them closely. No one is allowed to be allowed to visit."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Trin turned and left, leaving behind a transparent crystal containing the battle records.

Hibbort picked up the crystal, a thread of mental energy seeping into it.