Chapter 265: Chapter 265: Photograph

Upon hearing this, Her Majesty the Queen, who had lost her composure, suddenly calmed down. Steading herself, she looked at Ares kneeling before her with his head bowed and let out a soft laugh. “What did you think I was going to do to you, Vice Admiral Ares?”

“I wouldn’t dare speculate,” Ares answered directly.

Her Majesty the Queen gazed at him. A young, tall male with a cool, detached air. Though at first glance he bore no resemblance to *him*, if she looked closely, she could see his shadow everywhere.

She would never forget the first time she met him. He had been just as clean-cut, exuding that same sense of aloofness and detachment.

“You may rise.” After speaking, Her Majesty the Queen turned and sat back on the sofa, ignoring the wine glass she had knocked over. Her eyes remained fixed on Ares as he rose to his feet. From the moment she first saw his photograph, her mind had been whirring. ’No one could look that much like him by chance.’ “Vice Admiral Ares, besides the matriarch of your family, do you have any other relatives?”

This was the same question the elderly attendant had just asked, which deepened Ares’s confusion.

The reactions of both the elderly attendant and Her Majesty the Queen after seeing him were simply too strange.

’It was as if they were looking through him, searching for something… or someone.’

A faint guess began to form in his mind.

“I also have a Father.”

As expected, as soon as he finished speaking, Her Majesty the Queen’s eyes widened. “You mean to say, you have a Father? What is his name? Where is he now?”

“My Father’s name is Buck, and he is not on Emperor Star.”

“Buck?” Seeing that it wasn’t the name she had been hoping for, Her Majesty the Queen looked somewhat disappointed, but she quickly seemed to think of something. “Has he ever changed his name?”

Ares looked at Her Majesty the Queen, whose eyes shone with hope, and shook his head. “Not that I recall.”

Hearing this, the hope in the Queen’s eyes died. She gave a self-mocking laugh. “Then… do you have a photograph of him?”

Ares was now beginning to suspect that Her Majesty the Queen had summoned him today because of his Father.

“I have one.” Actually, Buck had never taken a picture with him; he was always the one taking pictures *of* him. This one photograph was a photo with Lu Xiao that he had saved.

Hearing this, Her Majesty the Queen became excited again. “Quick, take it out. Let me see.”

Ares opened his terminal and found the photograph.

Her Majesty the Queen leaned closer. As she looked at the man on the light screen, the last of her hope evaporated the instant she saw the photo. ’It’s not him.’

Ares could clearly feel the Queen’s disappointment. He was puzzled but didn’t press the matter, maintaining his silence.

Her Majesty the Queen returned to the sofa and sat down. “You must find my behavior today very strange, yes?”

“Not at all. Her Majesty the Queen must have her reasons for everything she does.” Ares switched off his terminal, remaining standing respectfully before her. ’There were some things for which he had no curiosity, no desire to pursue the truth, because he wasn’t sure if he could bear the answer.’

“You look very much like an old acquaintance of mine. When I first saw your photo, I thought he had come back.” Her Majesty the Queen, however, seemed to have a desperate need to unburden herself at that moment. Ignoring what Ares had said, she continued on her own accord.

Ares remained silent, acting as a quiet listener.

“I suppose I was just getting my hopes up. How could it be him? How could he ever come back? Ha!” As she said this, Her Majesty the Queen suddenly covered her face and began to weep.

Ares did not move. He neither stepped forward to comfort her nor offered any words of solace. He simply stood there quietly, listening as Her Majesty the Queen let it all out.

After a good while, Her Majesty the Queen finally calmed down. With red-rimmed eyes, she looked at Ares. “You really do look so much like him. You must have guessed who he is by now, haven’t you?”

“I wouldn’t dare presume to guess.”

Her Majesty the Queen let out a laugh, then stood up. “I’ll show you something. Then you’ll understand what I’m talking about. Follow me!”

Hearing this, Ares had no choice but to follow.

Her Majesty the Queen led him to the master bedroom. The moment she pushed the door open, Ares saw a massive portrait hanging on the wall. The man in the painting, like himself, wore a military uniform and had a grim, cold expression. The first sight of it sent a violent shock through Ares’s heart. ’Why is my Father’s portrait here?’

He remembered clearly from his childhood that a portrait just like this used to hang in his home, but at some point, his Father had taken it down and put it away.

But the portrait had made a profound impression on him; the influence of this image was a major reason he had chosen to join the military upon becoming an adult.

Now, seeing it again, Ares was overcome with shock. ’Why is this portrait in Her Majesty the Queen’s bedroom?’

And he knew very well whose former residence Sofie Manor was.

In that case, didn’t that make his Father…

“The resemblance is uncanny, isn’t it? The first time I saw your picture, I thought you looked similar. You don’t look alike at a glance, but if you look closely, the resemblance is there. And your temperament is just like his.” Her Majesty the Queen, not seeing Ares’s reaction behind her, gazed adoringly at the portrait, recounting her first impression of him.

But Ares didn’t hear a word she said. He was truly and utterly shocked.

’If his Father was the master of this manor… then who was his mother?’

He dared not dwell on the answer.

A cold sweat broke out on his forehead. Ares struggled to steady his nerves. At this moment, he desperately missed Lu Xiao.

’If only Lu Xiao were here.’

“Vice Admiral Ares, do you know who he is now?”

“…Yes, I do. It’s Prince Li Ke.” As Ares responded, he tried his best to remain calm, but his voice was still tight. However, Her Majesty the Queen was too lost in her own emotions to notice. “It’s him, Prince Li Ke. It’s just a pity he’s no longer with us. But seeing you today has made me very happy. I hear you’re about to hold your wedding with Lu Xiao?”

“Yes. The date has already been set.” This was not something he could hide, so Ares admitted it calmly.

“Remember to send me an invitation. I will attend.” Her Majesty the Queen didn’t turn around, her eyes still fixed on the portrait as she spoke, as if she were trying to make up for something.

“Yes.” After Ares responded, Her Majesty the Queen said, “You may leave, Vice Admiral Ares. Someone will see you out.”

“Then I will take my leave.” Ares gave a slight bow and turned to depart.

The elderly attendant was waiting outside the study door. Seeing Ares emerge, she said, “This way, please, Vice Admiral Ares. I will see you out.”

The way out again required a ride on the shuttle. This time, however, the elderly attendant did not join him. As she was seeing him onto the vehicle, she said, “In the future, Vice Admiral Ares, when you are not busy, you can visit Her Majesty the Queen here often.”

“If Her Majesty the Queen summons me, I will come.”

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