Chapter 681
The Empress's Methods!
Aetherel's questions were quick and urgent, her chest heaving slightly with the fluctuations of her emotions, and the neckline of her plain white dress trembling gently with her breath.
This is not only anger towards the Black Tomb, but also a sharp accusation of Adele's "dereliction of duty".
Faced with this sudden question, Adele neither refuted it nor showed any anger at being offended.
Instead, after Aetherel asked the question, her face unconsciously darkened, revealing genuine self-reproach.
Adele spoke slowly, her voice much lower than before, showing no intention of defending herself, her frankness even surprising Aetherel:
"This is my fault; I didn't think it through."
I underestimated their madness, and overestimated the palace guards and my own vigilance.
Adele's decisive and straightforward admission of her mistake left Aetherel feeling as if she had punched empty air, causing her to choke on her words and unable to continue.
Adel raised her head, her gaze returning to the lights of the distant palace, those twinkling lights that illuminated the deepening night.
Her profile was somewhat blurred in the dim light, but her voice gradually regained its composure, even carrying a strange sense of relief:
"However, in retrospect, it was precisely because of that ambush..."
Cohen was under a strange curse. He wasn't in mortal danger, but he lost his memories of the past ten years.
When he awoke, his memory was stuck in the period shortly after he had formally become my apprentice and begun learning magic from me.
Adel's lips curved slightly upward, revealing an indescribable tenderness:
"He doesn't remember our cold war, his suspicion and estrangement from me, or the arguments and misunderstandings."
The way he looked at me returned to how he used to be... a boy with dependence, trust, and a touch of shyness and stubbornness.
He no longer resented me for trying to usurp his throne; he simply became my student again, my brother, the one who would follow me around calling me "sister."
Having learned my lesson the first time, I didn't make the same mistake again this time.
I stopped ignoring him and stopped arranging everything for him and imposing it on him.
I started to truly act like a teacher, and also like... well, a guide.
Starting from scratch, patiently teach him how to see the situation clearly, how to analyze people's hearts, how to balance power, and how to assume the responsibilities of a monarch, rather than just a symbol sitting on the throne.
Fortunately, Cohen... after all, he was that kind of person in his previous life.
His talent, his understanding, and what's ingrained in him are indelible.
He learns very quickly, incredibly quickly.
Moreover, he gradually regained his memory and his rationality.
He knew my predicament, understood my good intentions, and comprehended everything I had done.
Although he later went astray, learning to hide his thoughts from me, playing tricks, and even... secretly plotting things, keeping it all from me.
She gently shook her head, a gesture that carried little reproach but rather a hint of...pampering?
"This makes me... well, not too happy."
Although he said he was unhappy, there was a genuine smile in his voice.
Her body straightened up unconsciously, and she withdrew her hand from the stone railing, placing it on her chest.
Her eyes suddenly shone with an amazing brilliance, so vivid and dazzling that it seemed to envelop her entire being in a soft and moving halo.
That wasn't divine power projected outwards, but rather a powerful emotional radiance bursting forth from within.
Her voice trembled slightly, not from fear, but from some kind of suppressed excitement:
"However, I must admit... back then, at the exchange meeting in the Northwest region, when I was surrounded and in imminent danger."
His image—alone, with only a sword, standing before me, shielding me from a thousand armies—is one I will never forget!
Adele's eyes shone brightly at that moment, surging with waves of memories, ripples of emotion, and a deep-seated sense of identification and admiration.
The light was so pure and so intense that it seemed to infuse her already stunning beauty with a soul, giving her a breathtaking charm.
Beside her, Aetherel, who had been listening to her narration, held his breath almost imperceptibly the moment that captivating light emanated from Adele.
The light emanating from the depths of Adel's soul was so real, so intense.
It was so intense that even she, the goddess who governs light and has witnessed countless faiths and passionate emotions, felt momentarily stunned.
Aetherel was stunned.
The light emanating from Adele, from the depths of her eyes, from every subtle expression and gesture, was so dazzling, so real, so warm, and so weighty.
Aetherel suppressed the tremor in her heart, realizing that the troublesome nature of the woman named Adele Angrayn before her had increased to another level.
It's not just a difficult situation in terms of being a romantic rival, but also a difficult situation in terms of mindset, tactics, and even influence over Cohen.
This woman's methods are truly remarkable.
Every word she uttered, every detail she described, even every pause and every glance, seemed to be meticulously calculated. On the surface, she was stating facts and sharing the past.
In fact, every action she took solidified the unbreakable bond between her and Cohen.
And she, the dignified goddess of light, Aetheril Dawn, was unknowingly drawn in, and even touched for a few moments by the emotions revealed in her words.
This gave Aetherel a chilling sense of clarity, along with a touch of anger at being fooled.
But more than anything, it was the solemnity of meeting a worthy opponent.
She took a deep breath, allowing her turbulent thoughts to settle slightly, and looked at Adele again, her expression turning completely cold. She frowned and said:
"Enough. There's no need to deliberately flaunt your affection for each other in front of me."
I'm not interested in those things. Tell me about Cohen's adventures over the years, his actual experiences.
In his twenties, as a mortal, he struggled to reach this position, wielding such a vast empire, and even managed to kill a god while still a mortal.
The road he walked was not smooth; tell me about that, I want to hear it.
After winning two rounds, Adele stopped "training" the goddess and nodded slightly with elegant movements.
"As you wish, Ms. Dawn."
For the next hour, or longer, the rhythm of the conversation on the terrace completely changed.
The magic lantern emitted a steady, cold white light, casting the shadows of the two women onto the stone ground, which swayed with their occasional subtle movements.
Adele began to recount Cohen's experiences over the years.
It is no longer a memory filled with personal emotions, but a well-organized narrative.
From the power vacuum following the unexpected deaths of Cohen's parents to the growing unease of various factions;
From how he started with nothing, operated in the name of the Shadow Lord, entered the Lost Lands, and gradually gained a foothold, etc.
It tells the stories of conspiracies hidden in the shadows of history, betrayals from within the nobility, and assassinations and bribes from external forces.
Of course, she also mentioned people.
Those important figures who appeared on his adventures and rise to power.
Loyal knights, wise advisors, cunning allies, and... beautiful ladies.
Adele’s tone remained calm, objective, and even had the composure of a historian.
Especially when she mentioned those "beautiful ladies"—
The first to follow Cohen, becoming the sharpest sword in Effie's shadow, Miss Night Rose, Nefertice Robben;
Isabella Winzer, the Golden Wing's daughter, provided tremendous support to Cohen in the early stages;
Asuna Iliad, the red dragon princess who is bathed in the blood of dragons and commands a dragon army to sweep across the continent;
Windsor Windrunner, the winged elf princess who accompanies Cohen on his adventures, possesses knowledge of the ancient elven race, and studies ancient teleportation arrays;
Grace Tang, the eldest princess of the Eastern Empire, invested a huge sum in Cohen, only to end up investing in herself as well.
Freya, the Queen of Ceylon, is a sorcerer who actively takes on the task of executing Cohen's plan to destroy the country, but whose ambitions are equally great.
She had been engaged to Cohen early on, forming an alliance to fight against the Central Empire's Empress, Shanis Klein, of the Central Empire's House of Nobles;
The strongest legend on the continent, the Sequence Master who helped Cohen gain a foothold in the Lost Lands, Vermouth Vineyard;
The Tinuville sisters, descendants of the royal bloodline of the Arcane Empire, assisted Cohen in unifying the Lost Lands;
Galin Saint-Mera, the Saintess of the Starry Clan and the Emperor of the Starry Empire, who provided a large amount of high-end extraordinary power to Saints and Legends;
Claire Salgado, the most beautiful sea creature and the reincarnated mermaid chieftain, assists Cohen in conquering the Endless Sea;
The first Elf Queen, the continent's number one expert, and Cohen's greatest trump card, Virekis the Destroyer...
When mentioning these girls, Adele's descriptions were very objective, stating only the facts without adding any subjective evaluations.
For example, their beauty, or the relationship between them and Cohen that went beyond mere collaboration.
But it was precisely this calm statement that made those names resonate even more deeply with Aetherel.
Aetherel listened quietly the whole time.
Leaning against the cold stone railing with his arms crossed, it was a very defensive posture.
Her face was mostly hidden in the shadows cast by the lantern, making it impossible to discern her specific expression.
When Adel finally finished her narration, a brief silence fell on the terrace.
Aetherel remained in the position of crossing her arms, without moving.
After a long while, she slowly straightened up, lowered her arms, and turned to Ydell, the light of the lantern clearly illuminating her face.
The face was still perfect, but it was expressionless, like wearing an exquisite mask.
After a brief silence, he spoke coldly:
“You are his queen. After listening to you say so much, I can sense that your feelings for him are no less than mine.”
Adele met her gaze and spoke calmly:
You can remove 'seems'.
Aetherel curled her lip:
"If that's the case, then why... can you still tolerate him being surrounded by so many women?"
Judging from your description, there are more than just one or two. Elves, sorcerers, dragonborn, princesses, witches, mermaids... none of them are simpletons.
You are his queen, his lawfully wedded wife, and you share the deep affection you speak of.
How could you just stand by and watch, and even... condone it?
Ada didn't answer immediately. She turned her head slightly, her gaze falling on the deep night outside the stone railing, where the outlines of the layered courtyards deep within the palace were hidden in the darkness and could not be clearly seen.
The lantern's glow cast small shadows on her long eyelashes, trembling gently with the blinking of her eyelids.
After a while, she turned back and looked at Aetherel.
The perfect, gentle smile on her face hadn't disappeared, but its curve seemed to have deepened slightly:
"Personally speaking, I certainly hope that Cohen's eyes and heart are filled with only me."
All his joys and sorrows, all his dependence and trust, belong only to me.
Unfortunately, I couldn't do it.
I wasn't there for him during some of the times when he needed help the most in his life.
And those women, those 'extraordinary' ladies, appeared at every juncture when he needed help.
They offered him support when he needed strength. In their own way, without regard for cost or reward, they accompanied him through that period… without me.
She took a slight breath, the cool night air filling her chest, making her voice steadyer:
"So, since they have already appeared in his life, left indelible marks, and become a part of his past, and even... a part of his present."
Forcibly separating them is like forcibly cutting away a piece of flesh that has already grown back; besides bringing pain and disfigurement, what will be left?
She looked at Aetherel, her gaze almost sharp and honest:
"As long as Cohen is happy, satisfied, and feels that those relationships are worth cherishing, then for me, it's only natural to leave it at that."
I'm fine with anything.
Aetherel's body stiffened.
Her arms, which had been crossed over her chest, had somehow come down and were hanging at her sides, her fingers unconsciously curling up.
She looked at Adele, at the helpless, resigned yet unusually determined expression on the other's face, and at her speaking in such a calm tone that it sounded almost like a concession.
This was unlike any of the reactions she had expected.
There was no jealousy, no resentment, no arrogance of the first wife, not even the slightest bit of reluctance. There was only endless understanding and tolerance.
Adele seemed to see through the astonishment and confusion churning in Aetherel's eyes, and smiled gently:
“I know that if I insist on using our relationship to force him to completely cut off contact with those women… Cohen will agree.”
But that would hurt him.
Adele raised her eyes, her gaze fixed directly on Aetheril. Her azure eyes shone brilliantly under the lantern light, holding no hesitation whatsoever.
"And I don't want him to be sad, not even a little bit!"
The expression on Aetherel's face finally froze completely.
It wasn't coldness, nor anger, but rather a stunned silence, as if struck by something.
She stared intently at Adele, at the woman standing before her, uttering the most incredible words in the calmest tone.
Her pale golden pupils narrowed slightly, reflecting Adele's serene face, as well as her own current confusion.
She tried to understand, to comprehend this...love?
Is it love, or something deeper and more complex?
A kind of protection that transcends possessiveness, even beyond one's own feelings...?
She thought of her long life, of the years she spent looking down from the throne, and of her unforgettable, life-and-death, and reincarnation-bound devotion to Corleone.
Her love was passionate, pure, exclusive, and imbued with the pride and possessiveness unique to gods.
Even before Cohen disappeared in her previous life, she was still jealous and annoyed by some unfounded rumors circulating in the divine realm.
She couldn't imagine whether she could tolerate other "ladies" around Cohen, no matter what help they had given her.
But the woman before him, the woman who watched Cohen grow up and shaped him into who he is today, the woman who has spent the most time in Cohen's life and left the deepest mark on him, so calmly chose to forgive him.
After a long time, Aetherel sighed softly, with a sense of relief, acceptance, and a hint of admiration that even she herself was unwilling to admit.
She finally understood why the being who had once stood shoulder to shoulder with her on the clouds, after being reincarnated, would be so... infatuated with the woman before her.
It's not just about companionship, teaching, or "hands-on" shaping.
It is also because of this almost obsessive protection and tolerance that is hard to describe in words, placing the other person's feelings above one's own desires.
Putting herself in Adaline's shoes... if she were in Adaline's position and facing the same situation, could she do it?
Can she tolerate women who share her lover's gaze, time, or even emotions?
Ms. Chenxi finally understood the weight of this emotion.
The atmosphere on the terrace subtly changed without anyone noticing.
The silent confrontation and tense atmosphere that had been building up had largely dissipated.
The tension between the two women had subsided, replaced by a quiet contemplation.
After a long while, Aetherel raised her eyes again and looked at Adel.
This time, her gaze held less scrutiny and hostility, and more of a complex inquiry:
"Now, I have one last question."
She took a small step forward, closing the distance between them:
"Please tell me, who were you in your past life?"
The divine realm is vast, and the ages are long; countless gods have fallen, slumbered, or disappeared.
But someone like you…” She paused, as if searching for the right words, “…a special being, possessing such power, and having such a deep connection with Daphne…”
Her gaze swept over Adele, and although the other was not emitting any magic power at the moment, the power originating from the essence of her soul could not escape her perception:
“I can tell that your past life’s divine office must have been related to ice, snow and winter.”
Tell me your divine name, and what place you occupy in the ancient pantheon.
What is your relationship with Daphne?
"Don't tell me you're her student; you easily entered my divine realm with just your soul power—something even Daphne couldn't do!"
A barely perceptible icy blue glint flashed in the depths of Ydell's eyes, disappearing in an instant, so fast that it seemed like an illusion.
She didn't answer Aetherel's question immediately, but instead shifted her gaze from his face back to the deep night outside the terrace:
"It's not that I intentionally concealed anything, it's just... many things are like a lake covered with a thick layer of ice, and I can't see what's underneath clearly."
My memory has not fully returned.
There are many fragments, but few clues; they cannot piece together a complete picture.
As for Lady Hanbing…
Adele turned her gaze back to Aetherel, a gentle and polite smile returning to her face:
"What is the connection between her and me... I think she herself would be happy to answer that for you."
after all……"
She paused, her gaze seemingly passing over Aetherel's shoulder and landing in the direction of the deep, dark corridor they had come from, her tone becoming much more enigmatic:
"She must be getting a little impatient."
After saying that, Adele didn't linger. She turned around and left the terrace, which was soaked by the night breeze, and stepped back into the warm, light-filled corridor.
He walked straight toward the double doors deeper into the corridor, which were carved with the imperial eagle and sword and shield emblem.
That was Cohen's bedroom, the most private and heavily guarded core area of the entire palace.
Aetherel pursed her lips, suppressing the turbulent thoughts in her heart, and followed after him.
The interior of the palace was quite different from the solemn and luxurious exterior of the corridor.
The space is spacious, but the furnishings are not overly luxurious.
Outside the huge floor-to-ceiling windows lies a private courtyard view, now shrouded in night.
Several landscape paintings, rather than the more common portraits, hung on the wall.
A large desk piled high with files and books occupied one corner, while the other side was a rest area with several comfortable chairs and a low table.
As Aetherel stepped into the palace, she paused almost imperceptibly.
Her gaze swept quickly across the room's furnishings, past the documents scattered haphazardly on the desk, past the clearly matched teacups, past the dark velvet blanket casually draped over the soft couch by the window, past the various styles of women's clothing in the wardrobe...
The place is permeated with the atmosphere of "Cohen Corleone's" life, as well as traces of the other ladies' presence.
She didn't linger in the palace for long, and soon turned her gaze to Adel, who had already walked to the center of the room.
Adeline stopped, turned around, and nodded slightly to her.
A dazzling light emanated from Aetherel's hand, and almost at the same instant the light appeared, the temperature inside the palace began to drop at a perceptible rate.
Countless tiny hexagonal ice crystals suddenly condensed in the air.
These ice crystals quickly gathered, outlining a slender, tall figure as white as snow between Aetheril and Adele.
As soon as Daphne Ice appeared, her gaze immediately fell on the two women in the room.
There was no sign of the expected tension, no intense smell of gunpowder, only a peculiar quiet.
Seeing this peaceful scene, Daphne secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
The two talked from dawn till dusk. If she hadn't sensed no magical fluctuations outside, she would have truly thought they were about to fight. (End of Chapter)