CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN

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Who is she?

The unknown girl whom I have no idea of existing even in my glimpses in dreams before caught me off guard. I should have expected there to be little changes in this timeline.

"It's a surprise to meet you atlast, Beatrice." The Empress replied, motioning her hand to the young lady. "What brings you here?"

"I've arrived to inform the result of the war." The young lady replied, showing us a white envelope with a red seal on it. "My father, the Duke, has secured the empire's boundaries that no Arhams and slaves of Caners are left to wander around."

The Empress narrowed her eyes before one maid took the envelope and had it opened for us, then handing it to Aureus. The moment she scanned its contents, she let out a satisfied hum as if she's given an award. "Excellent."

"Is it a victory on our side, mother?" Klydeur asked.

She glanced at him and gave a simple nod. Klydeur ended up in an awkward situation due to his obliviousness, since it is obvious that we already won.

I took a sip from my mint tea again before commenting. "The 50-50 war victory percentage that Eldest and her majesty talked about last time must be the problem of this result."

"Indeed." The Empress replied, closing the envelope and giving it to one of her butlers to keep. "We had secured everything and wiped out an entire race of traitors. There is no single miscalculation."

With that said, relief dawned on me. Arhams and the Caners if combined might be a nuisance or worse, our nation's strongest rival. I had a hunch that maybe they'll try to fake war and have the victory faked too.

But then again, with both Eldest and Aureus leading the battle, there's no way they'll be able to execute a plan. In the end, both parties died with a victory in our part.

The thing is, I also feel pity for the unfortunate people. They may have died an unworthy death, and if only they didn't ever try to betray our Empire, the Empress might have still taken the Arhams under her reign.

"For such a young lady to deliver a message about war, you must be preparing to become one of the Duke's successor." The Empress commented, making the young lady smile.

"I'd take it as a compliment, your majesty." She surprisingly glanced at me, and I tried not to flinch in surprise. "Ah, pardon me, your highness. I must have not introduced myself yet."

I smiled back politely, not wanting to say anything at the moment.

"I am Beatrice Roa Lethilde, daughter of Duke Lethilde and soon to be future Duchess." She introduced herself with a curtsy.

"It's nice to meet you, Lady Beatrice." I replied politely, trying to divert the awkwardness in our area when I recalled such a familiar name. It was the same Duke who barged into my room last time. If it weren't for Eldest there who shooed him away, I might have had a head ache dealing with him.

And then here's his daughter.

"I'm afraid I shall take my leave." Lady Beatrice stated as she glanced at her pocketwatch necklace. "At another time, your majesty, your highnesses. May time make haste to the Vermillion Empire."

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