Merit Book·Xinghai

The old emperor squinted his eyes at her, didn't let go, and didn't speak.

Selinda took a deep breath and said with a smile: "Father, the person you arrange may not be successful. But I am different. If I ask him to discuss things, I will have a drink by the way. I think...successful." The odds are higher."

The old emperor asked: "Aren't you worried...will he hate you?" His muddy but still sharp eyes seemed to see the depths of Selinda's heart.

"Even if you sent someone to do this, if he wants to hate me, he will still hate me." Serinda said frankly: "But, Father, you know that my greatest wish is that he can stay in the By my side." She pursed her lips, and said a little sadly: "If the price of fulfilling your wish is his hatred... I think I can accept it. Besides, I will treat him very well, So good that one day, he will forget his hatred for me."

The old emperor stared intently at his daughter for a moment, then slowly, showing a satisfied smile, he patted his daughter's hand and said, "Good boy, you have finally grown up. That's fine, I will leave this matter to you. I Let Lance go with you, and if you can't do it, let him do it."

Selinda's body froze, but her expression didn't change a bit.She looked at the old emperor's gratifying smile, but felt chills in her heart.

She naturally understood that Lance was actually someone sent by her father to monitor her.He wasn't convinced by Selinda's words, but he was willing to pretend to believe what she said and give her the chance to prove herself.

Lance was quickly called.He is the chief steward of the royal family and one of the most trusted people of the old emperor.Selinda and her brothers and sisters can be said to have grown up under the care of Lance. He is like a brother to them, and he is the closest family member.

When the old emperor talked to Selinda, he turned away all the servants. Naturally, Lance didn't know what they said, and he didn't know what the liquid in the glass tube in Selinda's hand was, but the old emperor's order was simple and easy to understand. He understood right away—

Accompany Selinda to entertain a young man named Rong Yuan, and then find a way to make him drink the liquid in the tube. He wants to [witness] this process.

Lance understood. He glanced at Selinda who was stiff all over, and bowed to agree.

Although Lance was just a housekeeper, Selinda always felt that he was the smartest person in the palace.Since childhood, Selinda has never seen anything that can stump him, and she has never seen anyone who can deceive him. They are brothers and sisters. Even if they frown, Lance can know that they What's on your mind.

Therefore, Selinda was not at all sure of doing anything under his nose.

With trembling fingers, she issued an invitation.Rong Yuan probably happened to be free, and it didn't take long before he received a reply.

Selinda knew that in Rong Yuan's eyes, she couldn't compare with those members of the Feiyan team who followed him, but because she helped Emerida and the others regardless of the cost and did not ask for anything in return, she treated Rong Yuan As far as she is concerned, she is also her own.And because Sailinda is not a member of Rongyuan's team, he has to be extra polite and tolerant towards her.

This kind of differential treatment was not what Selinda wanted.If this creates an opportunity for her to hurt Rong Yuan, she will not forgive herself.

When the time for the meeting came, Selinda walked towards the appointed place, every step was like walking on a steel knife.

Then, she stopped.

The girl twisted her fingers nervously, turned around, looked pale and beggingly at the man who was always by her side, and said in a trembling voice, "Uncle Lance, help me..."

Lance looked into her eyes without avoiding, then smiled slightly, took a step back, leaned slightly, put his hands on his chest, and said calmly, "Please tell me, my princess."

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"I thought that if I treated you sincerely, I would be able to make you loyal. It seems that I was wrong."

——[Leave, you are the eagle of freedom, don't rot in the mud of politics. 】

"Captain, you also know that your power is so powerful that even I, as the princess of Landia, the strongest empire in the galaxy, feel uneasy when I see you. This is like a herbivore How scary, disgusting, and hateful it is to meet a Tyrannosaurus rex, and it should be understandable if you are as smart as you?"

——[Don't continue to be bound by the shadow of the past, move forward!You are so strong, strong enough to face any ordeal.I know that if they have spirits in heaven, they will be like me, and I hope you can continue to go on and fulfill your common wishes. 】

"No kingship can tolerate a person with such power. I'm sorry for betraying your trust, but I'm sorry, after all, I'm still the princess of Landia. In the near future, I will become the emperor of this star field. So... ...that's my choice."

——[I'm sorry... I'm sorry... I don't want you to be tricked by my father, and I don't want you to know that his plot is against him. I can only force you to leave... I'm sorry, Landia is not a paradise. I don’t know what the royal father will do next... I’m sorry, I can’t make Landia a place for you to rest...]

"The days with you are very happy, and I will always remember that time, so I am willing to give you a chance. If you can survive and leave the Red Prison Planet by chance, then never come back. Otherwise, I I will definitely do my best to take your life!"

——【Hate me!hate me!I just hope that in the future you can live well in a place I don't know, and I hope you can meet a very good person who can make you feel happy. 】

Watching Rong Yuan fall, he personally sealed him in the ice coffin.Selinda put her hand on the ice coffin, said vicious words lightly, but felt pain like a knife in her heart.She hopes that Rong Yuan is still conscious at this time, can hear her words, and never come back here again; she is also afraid that Rong Yuan is still conscious at this time, hearing these words, she believes that she has really become a cold-blooded and heartless political animal.

Seeing the spaceship carrying the ice coffin and prison star supplies completely disappear into the sky, Selinda whispered: "Uncle Lance, why did it become like this?"

Her father, the one who loved her the most in the world, forced her to turn the person she valued the most into a slave, and forced her to cut off her most precious friendship and...that thread can never be honest. feelings.

Lance said: "This is the so-called emperor, Your Highness."

Selinda smiled wryly: "Are you forever alone?"

Her back is elegant and noble, and there is still a faint smile on her face, but she is looking up at the sky where there is no trace of the spaceship anymore, but tears are already pouring down like rain.

Standing behind her, Lance seemed to be able to see a little girl with short red hair beside her. She squatted on the ground with her mouth wide open and wailed loudly, crying heartbreakingly and tearfully.

Lance blinked, and the phantom of the little girl disappeared. He looked at the princess with long hair like a red waterfall in front of him, and the corners of his mouth unconsciously twitched.

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Selinda returned to the Ice Palace nervously, and she couldn't help but feel afraid when she thought of how the old emperor would react to what she had done.

But the old emperor was calmer than he imagined, he just let out a long sigh: "Really?" He didn't say anything else.

There was no blame, no anger, and no disappointment. This kind of calm made Selinda feel more guilty and uneasy. She lowered her head and said, "I'm sorry, father, I..."

She knew that her father was only planning for her wholeheartedly. Selinda did not regret her choice, but she felt sorry for failing to live up to the old emperor's expectations.She knew what a blow it would be to an old man on his deathbed to discover that the well-bred heir had not had the qualities he had hoped for.

"It doesn't matter." The old emperor said calmly: "I knew a long time ago that you are a kind and affectionate child. It's just politics that can't tolerate your naivety."

His attitude was gentle, but there was an indifference that chilled Selinda's heart.She couldn't help but wanted to say something eagerly, but was stopped by the old emperor with a wave of his hand.

"Lance." The old emperor looked coldly at the man standing aside, whose presence was as natural as air, and said, "I didn't expect that you were one of them."

Selinda was a little confused, so she looked back at him.

I saw Lance take a step forward, and said politely and apologetically, "It's not my wish to disobey your order, but..." He looked at Selinda lovingly, and said, "Your Highness is tearful." Please, I really can't make her sad like this. Of course, no matter what the reason is, I have disobeyed the emperor's order, please punish me."

"No! It's not Lance's fault!" Sailinda hurriedly said, "Father, I forced him to agree to help me! Please punish me!"

The old emperor didn't look at her. Under the cover of drooping eyelids, his eyes were always gloomy and coldly staring at the man behind Selinda.

Lance looked at him with a smile. Even when he heard Selinda defending him, the curvature of the corner of his mouth did not change a bit, and there was no extra emotion or thought in his light blue eyes except calmness.

After a long time, the old emperor lowered his eyes, his face as old as bark was expressionless, but the veins on the back of his hands covered under the quilt were bulging, as if he was restraining great strength.

"Father... the emperor?" Serinda seemed to feel something, pressed the old emperor's hand through the quilt, and asked softly, "Are you okay?"

The old emperor did not answer, as if he had fallen asleep.

Lance whispered in her ear: "Your Majesty has already rested, let's not disturb him. If you have anything to say, it's the same if you talk about it another day."

Selinda hesitated for a moment, nodded, stretched out her hand to tuck the old emperor's feet, adjusted the temperature and brightness of the room, stood up, and walked gently to the door.

"Selinda!"

Just as Lance opened the door for her, the old emperor's voice suddenly came from behind him.Selinda turned her head hastily, and saw that the old emperor had opened his eyes, stared straight at her, lifted the quilt and reached out his hand, as if wanting to hold her.

"Father!" Selinda walked over quickly, took the skinny hand with both hands, and said, "I'm here, Father."

"Selinda, my daughter, my little princess..." the old emperor murmured his lips, his hand was very hard, as if he was about to pinch her hand off, and there was a little frenzy in his eyes.

Selinda endured the pain and comforted him: "Father, I'm here! Father, Father!"

The old emperor moved his mouth, as if he wanted to say something, but after seeing Lance walking behind her, he suddenly calmed down again. He slowly relaxed his strength, but still did not let go of Selinda. But with trembling lips, he murmured: "You have to be good, be good..."

"I will, Father." Sailinda said: "I have failed your expectations regarding the captain. However, even if I inherit your position, I still want to keep my principles of life. I believe that a person who does not Human nature will never be a good leader. Even you, father, don’t you love me like this?”

The old emperor looked at her deeply, then he turned to Lance and said, "Lance."

"Yes, Your Majesty." Lance replied politely.

"...I will hand over my daughter to you—" the old emperor shook Selinda's hand slightly, but his voice was very calm, and he said: "—you must assist her and take care of her .”

Sensing a subtle sense of oppression in his tone, and enduring great pain like swallowing blood with a knife, Selinda was very surprised, and then felt an uncontrollable sadness for the old emperor's words that seemed to be asking Gu , The tip of the nose is sour, and the eye sockets are red.

"Please rest assured, I will do my best to assist Your Highness!" Lance said solemnly.

"That's good." The old emperor said indifferently. He let go of Selinda's hand and said, "You all go out, I'm tired."

"Yes. Royal father, you should rest well and send someone to call me if you need anything."

Selinda walked towards the door again. When Lance closed the door, she suddenly felt something and looked back.

I saw the old emperor staring at her firmly, with that look, as if he saw the treasure he was holding in his hand slipping into the abyss unconsciously, he wanted to save it, but he couldn't stop it.

The moment the door closed, she saw the old emperor move his lips and silently said two words.

--【careful. 】

What are you careful about?

Selinda thought she had read it wrong, but when she wanted to take a closer look, the door was already closed.She thought she couldn't disturb her father when he was resting, so she planned to ask next time.

However, there will be no next time.

And after the door was closed, after a long time, the old emperor suddenly called out, "Du Meng."

"Yes." A figure appeared from nowhere.

"Follow the order I gave you earlier." The old emperor said.

"Yes." The figure replied in an unwavering voice.

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Early the next morning, Selinda received a notification from Lance: the old emperor had passed away.

Hearing the bad news suddenly, it was like being struck by lightning.Selinda stumbled and ran to the old emperor's dormitory, only to see him lying on the bed, sleeping peacefully, there was still a deep groove between his brows, as if he had endless worries that he couldn't let go of.

It's just that the various instruments connected to him have completely quieted down, and all the data have been reset to zero.

"Father."

Selinda walked over slowly, expecting it to be a nasty joke, expecting him to open his eyes again and look at her kindly.

"Father."

She yelled softly, as if she was afraid of disturbing his dreamland, but also as if she was expecting to hear a familiar response.The faint voice was quickly swallowed by the silent air.

"Father."

Selinda knelt on the side of the bed, holding that old and feeble hand for the last time, but she couldn't feel the slightest strength to respond, she finally couldn't hold it anymore, tears fell drop by drop on the snow-white bed sheet.Under the extreme grief, she couldn't even cry out, she just gasped and whimpered one after another, feeling like her heart was about to be torn apart.

Lance stood by her side as always, didn't say anything like mourning, just accompanied her silently.

Looking at the old emperor's face, he lost that pleasant and trusting smile for the first time, and became expressionless.