Chapter 224

"She looks so beautiful, or rather, stunning."

The carriage stopped near the city gate, and Princess Dai Niya, smiling, led her entourage forward to greet her.

And "Your Majesty" had also abandoned her airs; she slowly stepped down from the carriage and waved to her supporters and well-wishers.

It was an elegant, dignified gown, unadorned yet rendered regal by the sapphire crown; the black veil she had always worn was gone, and her faint smile carried a trace of weariness.

She was beautiful, incredibly beautiful—but vastly different from Li En's "memory."

The impatience and scholarly naivety of her youth were gone; her sapphire eyes held unwavering will, and beneath it, hidden sorrow. She did not seem to be faring well.

Compared to the baby-fat cheeks of the girl in his memory, she was now thinner; though she had gained the curves of a mature woman, her icy, iceberg-like aura and the worry in her gaze made Li En think only of negative emotions: "loneliness" and "betrayal."

Of course, those things were invisible to those unfamiliar with her.

What they saw was only the Queen smiling as she accepted the flowers offered by her daughter, cheerfully waving to the crowd.

"That princess who could never act has grown up—she, who never pretended, is now forcing a smile."

Li En rubbed his head and sighed; the dream's influence still lingered—he needed time to adjust.

Based on his own experience, one day would be enough; after all, these weren't his own memories or experiences—they would soon blur and distinguish themselves from his true recollections.

Then, it would feel like recalling a movie, not a personal experience.

The Princess and the Queen began their slow procession; seeing the welcoming ceremony proceed normally, Li En thought of slipping away.

He had come primarily to verify the "Princess's" identity; once confirmed she wasn't the Queen herself, he naturally planned to leave.

"Li En, Princess Dai Niya has ordered us to wait at the Governor's Mansion—Your Majesty wishes to receive us."

Well, now there was no escaping.

Given everything that had happened, and Li En's special status, Dai Niya's introduction of him to the Queen seemed inevitable.

He just didn't know whether she'd introduce him as "the emissary of the Spirit Hero" or "her friend"—either way, Li En felt something was terribly wrong.

But some things couldn't be avoided, especially with certain things still watching him from the shadows; Li En truly needed the royal family's support.

Li En had anticipated meeting her, but never imagined it would happen so soon.

"Why so slow!"

And reality always unfolded in subtle ways: after entering the city, the Queen spent a long time on trivial ceremonies and meeting higher-priority individuals.

At noon, she dined with several great nobles, grand sorcerers, and high priests; Dai Niya accompanied her, while Li En sat silently gnawing on bread.

With no freedom to leave and forced to wait for possible summons, Li En was granted the full "subordinate" experience.

Finally, near evening, Li En and Miss Shaliman saw "Your Majesty" again—in a side chamber.

No one else was present; Queen Maryanna lay reclined in her chair, one hand resting on her cane, eyes half-closed, as if listening to her daughter's whispered words—but Li En knew she wasn't hearing a thing; in this state, she was suffering another migraine.

Whenever she drank ice water or overworked herself, she slipped into this "nervous lion" state; any sudden noise made her headache worse, and anyone who annoyed her got bitten—utterly unreasonable.

In the past, Lex had especially loved coming to her with urgent matters during these times, even stomping loudly around the room.

The half-closed Queen watched the male figure enter, listening to his footsteps.

Slowly, she opened her eyes; in the light, she saw the ghostly silhouette of that warm figure—the man who never knew fatigue or fear.

"Single-celled organism?" Though she could no longer recall his face, Maryanna sat bolt upright—she felt it: it was him! It was him!

She blurted it out instinctively, but the figure in the dim light frowned—the familiar twitch of his eyebrow. No mistake! It was him!

"Your Toothless Highness—sorry!" Even as she instinctively stepped back, it was too late.

The Queen leapt to her feet, eyes wide with shock and disbelief.

The next moment, two trails of tears marked her cheeks; her taller frame loomed over the man, overwhelming him.

The Queen's headache worsened.

That face—the hollow voids erased from portraits and statues—were slowly being filled in.

The lost fragments of her memory were being restored; how could a perfect memory-erasure spell exist? The moment someone recognized the Thousand-Faced Dragon, all her erased memories and impressions would return!

"You… it's you."

That face—though subtly changed, appearing younger—she would never forget, even if burned to ash!

"Lex! Lex Thorne! How dare you show your face to me!"

The Queen's roar echoed through the side chamber, and its content would send shockwaves across the realm if revealed.

"Your Majesty, this is Li En Sudar—he is not the Hero." Miss Shaliman stepped forward at that moment. He's my man, not yours!

Dai Niya was stunned.

Her eyes wide, she stared at her mother—who had never before shown such raw emotion—now furious.

What had she said? What was she saying?

Lex Thorne? Lex? The Hero? Father?!

Li En is my father?! What nonsense!

In that moment, the Princess was utterly dumbfounded; too many revelations crashed through her mind—she couldn't comprehend any of it, completely frozen.

"I am not Lex."

Li En was equally stunned—this was entirely beyond his expectations. He had feared exposure, but never imagined it would happen this fast.

Discovered just by meeting her? What kind of absurd situation is this!!

He was still trying to formulate a lie, to keep denying it—but someone had waited too long for this moment.

"Is this a family gathering? Why didn't you tell me?"

A sweet voice suddenly sounded from behind the Queen.

Maryanna spun around, her expression one of utter disbelief.

"You… why… aren't you dead?" The Elder Princess couldn't fathom how those long-dead had reappeared.

"Why? I don't know. Why don't you ask the dear one… why he let me live?" The black-haired young princess, her gaze as sweet as honey, turned to the only man in the room.

Dear one?

When the gaze of these two sisters turned toward Li En, he himself was stunned.

How would I know? I truly don't know!

"By the way, little Hela, this is your father. Call him."

"Father."

From the shadows, another girl burst forth, bearing no other beast-transformation traits; she resembled Dai Niya at least seventy percent! She looked like an older version of her!

A class reunion? A family gathering? A battlefield of lovers? No, this was simply a hellish gathering! @

In just an instant, the scene completely descended into chaos; Li En was still dazed, but the Hero Soul Card on his chest had already become scorching hot.

"Sister..."

The smiling black-haired Princess, the ominous Second Princess, had waited too long for this day.

Facing her beloved sister, the one who had once loved her most, she smiled and spoke the cruelest words.

"... I originally intended to kill you with my own hands the moment I saw you, my beloved."

But in the next moment, the "girl" shook her head and said, somewhat regretfully.

"But what a pity, that no longer holds much meaning. My beloved no longer remembers you or me; even if you die, he won't feel pain, so..."

The ominous Princess, smiling once more, turned into nothingness, seemingly about to vanish.

"I chose to kill her."

A slender finger pierced out from her chest; the golden-haired girl clutched her chest as a mouthful of blood rushed out. She could not comprehend what was happening at all.

"Li En..." Dai Niya reached out her hand, as if preparing to grasp something, but ultimately stopped weakly, the light gradually fading from her eyes.

And behind her, the black-haired Princess who had vanished reappeared, smiling cheerfully.

"Daughter..." The Queen instantly erupted in rage, waving her long staff, ready to deliver a crushing blow.

But someone was far more furious than she, infinitely more furious!

"Rosalind!"

A roar that shook the heavens echoed throughout the entire world; the entire city and the entire continent trembled slightly.

In those dragon eyes burned flames from hell itself; the undefeated Heroine returned to the mortal realm.

The serpent's contract was fulfilled; this day would be the most complete Heroine Laina!

He drew his sword.

The tips of his hair burned fiercely.

His dragon eyes transformed into a fixed star.

Thus, the day broke.

On that day, everyone witnessed the massive sword intent that split the city in two, and bore witness to the sun burning fiercely upon the land.

The strongest, the most evil, the most invincible Heroine returned to the mortal realm.

(End of this chapter)