The King of Black Fog

If it were someone else, Alicia would suspect that they had already surrendered to the Empire to inquire about her news, but Zhou Weisi would not, he was a brave and loyal warrior, and his family had been killed by the soldiers of the Empire.

"Yes," Alicia nodded, her heartbeat gradually slowing down.

Over the next three minutes, Li Changzhou listened in silence to the opportunity before him.

He pondered for a moment and changed the original plan of directly capturing Margaret III.

"Princess, this opportunity requires a princess, please tell her tomorrow that the automobile mechanic will be waiting for her with a wrench," he said.

"Automobile—ah!" Alicia gasped, nearly suffocating as the image of Zhou Weisi in front of her suddenly vanished.

Could that power armor negate the wavelength of visible light?

This technology was currently only mastered by the Empire, could it be that Zhou Weisi has defected to the Empire?

However, the existence of that opportunity should be known by Margaret III, so why still send someone specifically to inquire about the news?

Was it Di'en who, not reassured, sent someone himself?

Or was it that Zhou Weisi had not betrayed, and was genuinely preparing to 'sacrifice himself if necessary to retaliate against the Empire'?

Alicia tossed and turned, restless.

Only when she heard the sound of cannons did she realize that it was already daylight without her knowing.

Today was the day her daughter, Beia Triss, was to marry Di'en, and also the day the Leistain Duchy truly perished.

The maid who had followed her from the Duchy was by her side, helping her with her makeup.

"Queen," the maid whispered in her ear, "there was an incident in the Imperial Palace last night."

It used to be like this, every morning like listening to the radio, the maid would chat with her about some news.

"What happened?" Alicia looked at herself in the mirror.

Her hair was golden, each strand shining brilliantly, as if lit from within.

"Someone broke into the Imperial Palace and poisoned several male servants."

Alicia did not know whether this had anything to do with Zhou Weisi or what the purpose behind killing a few male servants was.

Soon, she stopped pondering these thoughts; she had made up her mind—to tell her daughter about Zhou Weisi's plan.

After all, it's death.

If it weren't for her daughter, she would have committed suicide with her husband when the National Guardian Divine Machine was defeated.

Dressed in a gorgeous gown, Alicia arrived at the Rank Hall where her daughter was already dressed in a white wedding gown, wearing a princess tiara sparkling like the bright moon, pure and beautiful like the legendary Cangqiong Goddess.

Some ladies of the Empire and noblewomen were complimenting her, and she smiled back at them.

Her smile was appropriately fake, exactly the smile she had taught her—when you don't like something, when you detest something, just smile like this, then she affectionately pushed up the corners of her daughter's mouth, and suddenly, her daughter genuinely smiled.

Alicia walked over.

"Mother," the smile on Beia Triss's face faded a bit.

Alicia examined her; she had imagined her daughter's wedding many times, but never had she imagined it would be like this.

"Are you alright?" she asked.

"I'm fine," Beia Triss's smile returned.

Someone came over to compliment how young and beautiful both mother and daughter looked, like daughters of the Cangqiong Goddess, walking out it was hard to tell who was the bride.

No one treated them arrogantly; everyone was very polite, as politely as one would treat another family's servants.

The wedding quickly began.

According to the procedure, Alicia was to personally hand over Beia Triss to the heir of the Empire, and then the princess and prince, on the terrace of the Cangqiong Hall, with the citizens of the Imperial Capital witnessing in the Imperial Square, would officially be wed.

They walked up the red carpet leading to the terrace of Cangqiong Hall.

Knight dressed up respectfully stood on both sides, saluting them as they passed.

At the forefront of the red carpet, Di'en, dressed in a military uniform adorned with honors, stood at the entrance of the Cangqiong Hall terrace, watching the two of them approach with a look as if thinking about which piece of cake to eat first tonight.

Margaret III, also with a head of brilliant golden hair, stood next to her son.

It was said to be a fairy blessed by the Cangqiong Goddess, fluttering around Margaret III, adorable and tiny, only the Cangqiong Goddess could create such a marvelous being.

The band could be heard playing "Beautiful Cangqiong."

"Ya," Alicia whispered in a voice so low it was almost a whisper, "I'm sorry."

Beia Triss wanted to shake her head lightly, but the etiquette and the princess tiara on her head weighted her down, preventing her from moving.

"Your father and I knew the world isn't a fairy tale. Outside the royal court, there are wars, deaths, hardships, disappointments, and the helplessness of giving your all and receiving nothing in return.

"As the heirs of the kingdom, we should have told you early, instructed you, given you the resolve, the courage, the will, but—"

"But we hoped instead that you could be favored by the Cangqiong Goddess, to be happy and joyful for a lifetime."

"Mother..." Beia Triss wanted to cry, but her gown was so tight it left her struggling to breathe.

"Ya, listen, no matter what I say next, don't get agitated."

Alicia composed herself, her tears had already dried up the night before.

"Your father is dead, and you are now the Queen of Leistain Duchy. According to the ancestor's agreement with the Cangqiong, the Empire's Mecha, which carries the Cangqiong Fragment of the National Guardian Divine Machine, has the right to appoint a mechanic in your hands. And if you marry Di'en, you will lose your last right, and the Duchy will completely disappear from history."

"What?" Beia Triss managed to control her expression and emotions.

"Don't get agitated," Alicia reminded her again.

Don't get agitated, she reminded herself, taking a small, deep breath.