After Defeat, the Empress’s Negotiating Chip Turns Out to Be Me

Chapter 13

13~ Outing~

"..."

Mo quietly ate the pastry in her hand, completely ignoring the noble young lady who had just sat down across from her.

No need to think to understand, this noble young lady was either here to build connections or to probe for information. After all, that day at the funeral, she'd sat on the Empress's lap in front of all of Scarlet Phoenix Nation's citizens. It was hard not to make people speculate about their relationship.

"Please don't come any closer... to the young lady!"

Seeing this noble young lady's hand about to touch the little Princess, Ling suddenly extended a hand between the two to stop her.

The noble young lady was somewhat angry, but to maintain what she thought was a good impression in Mo's heart, she silently swallowed this frustration.

Damned maid! Just a mere servant dared to speak to her like this? If it were any other time, she would definitely make this servant know their proper lowly place as a servant.

She quickly adjusted her expression and emotions:

"Your young lady hasn't refused me yet, has she? What do you mean by making decisions for your master as a maid?"

Full of hostility. For a moment, Ling didn't know how to respond.

"I told her to do so."

Mo timely came to Ling's rescue, making the noble young lady's face even more embarrassed.

"You...!"

How unreasonable! She was the Miller family's second young lady! So many people lined up wanting to curry favor with her, yet this person who appeared from who knows where wasn't giving her any face at all!?

"Please don't come near the young lady anymore."

Ling emphasized behind her.

The noble young lady left with a dark expression. By this point, people around had probably all figured out that she completely didn't want to deal with anyone.

Could one be so arrogant just with the Empress backing them? Well yes, they definitely could. If they had the Empress backing them, they'd definitely be many times more arrogant than Mo. Just going around mocking other nobles would be considered mild.

"Young lady, I apologize for startling you."

"It's fine."

The cooperation between the two looked truly like a master-servant pair, not arousing any suspicion from others. It was just that between their conversations, Mo's behavior and manner weren't like a noble but more like a princess.

After two rounds of refusals, no one tactlessly came up to disturb her anymore. They just observed from nearby, trying to figure out what exactly about this girl could attract the Empress.

Soon after, the Empress finally appeared at the banquet, walking straight over.

"Mo, come here."

This was... a single-character name!?

The nobles on the side immediately turned pale. Single-character names weren't something ordinary people used! Those were for royal family members only!

Since the Empress personally acknowledged this girl's name, didn't that mean... she was a royal family member!?

The noble young lady who realized this almost had her entire face collapse. Her intention to probe for information just now had been so obvious!

"Your Majesty."

Ling made a gesture of paying respects. This well-practiced motion was clearly a habit formed from doing it frequently!

The head of the Miller family suddenly realized that he'd been damn well entrapped by law enforcement!

The Empress timed her entry into the banquet. All the nobles sat in their proper positions. Throughout the entire banquet, only Mo's position was most special, sitting on the Empress's lap...

"I am very pleased that all of you could attend this banquet..."

Generally speaking, this banquet was the Empress's show of authority to the nobles, basically warning the nobles present to restrain themselves and not make little moves under her nose.

It made sense too. With only the Empress as a royal family member, aside from this city where the palace was located that was directly ruled by the emperor, other cities were controlled by various great nobles serving as lords. When the nobles gradually discovered that this Empress's energy was ultimately limited and she'd shifted her attention to war, she no longer had time to manage other domestic lords.

Now, the Empress had noticed their little moves and thus set up this banquet to show them her authority.

Of course, only verbal intimidation could only suppress them temporarily. Only action could make people remember bitterly and forever. The Empress still knew this, but she wasn't in a hurry. There was still plenty of time. Everything could be taken slowly.

After the banquet ended, those who should disperse had dispersed. The little Princess was also brought back to the bedchamber by the Empress.

"So, did you find out anything by using me to test those nobles just now?"

The little Princess asked after sitting on the bed.

The Empress didn't say, but that didn't mean she didn't know.

Originally, she could have directly let her enter the banquet together, yet went through such great trouble, having Ling bring her into the banquet first, letting those nobles come over to probe her for information. If it wasn't for this reason, she couldn't think of any other reason.

"Didn't really test out much. These aren't things you should worry about."

The Empress rubbed her head.

"Hmph..."

The little Princess turned her head away, no longer looking at her, obviously still sulking over the previous matter.

...

...

About several more days passed. It came to the day the Empress decided to go out and play...

"So can you do a bit more proper work..."

Mo was somewhat speechless. After serving as a body pillow for several more consecutive days, she remembered the Empress had previously said she'd take her out to play...

As a nation's monarch, during such an important wartime period, actually still thinking about going out to play. If the citizens below found out, they'd definitely have a word or two to say.

"It's arranged once every year. Just this year it's arranged a bit earlier."

Mo: "..."

After roughly packing the luggage, Ling carried large and small packages onto a carriage, while she and the Empress boarded another carriage exclusively for the Empress.

The carriage used magical runes to achieve effective shock absorption and could also keep the interior at an extremely comfortable temperature. It was who knows how many times better than the carriage she'd used when coming to Scarlet Phoenix Nation to avoid detection.

Even in the carriage, she still couldn't escape the fate of being a body pillow, being held and pinched in the Empress's embrace.

Was she dying? Was holding her really this comfortable?

She couldn't hold herself like the Empress did, so she couldn't tell.

Forget it, forget it. Since she couldn't resist anyway, might as well treat the Empress as a gentle big sister and properly enjoy it, even though the Empress was completely the other extreme...

Not long after, she fell asleep again. Perhaps she was too bored, or perhaps a bit tired.

No helping it. Who told her this body just couldn't handle exertion.

The carriage traveled on, from morning until about dusk before slowly stopping, stopping beside a small house by the sea.

"Mm...? We've arrived?"

Not knowing how long she'd slept, waking up Mo only felt her head was about to explode. She'd slept too much. It hurt.

"Mm, we've arrived."

This was where they'd be staying for the next few days. And Ling's temporary residence, according to the Empress's intention, was built in a more distant place...

"Ling, after putting away the luggage, go down and prepare dinner."

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Next would be her and Mo's two-person world.

Sending Ling away didn't mean she wanted to make a move on Mo or anything. After all, the little Princess looked quite young. She didn't have any thoughts for now. That kind of thing should be left for later.

She had developed feelings for Mo. Mo was excellent, almost impeccable in every aspect in her heart. Most importantly, this frail body made her very easy to control...

However, this didn't mean she'd lose her head because of it.