…as she is the right hand of our Empress—we don’t know about the old noble faction… and the forces moving in the darkness behind them. Who knows what they might do… So it’s better for us to stay away from them for now…”

Hearing this, the others’ faces fell a little… While they had enjoyed their stay here, home was always preferable… and knowing they couldn’t return just yet made them a bit sad—but that was all…

Seeing that, Vivian added, “No need to act like that, all of you… sooner or later we will go back. It’s just that the time isn’t right yet… Going there now could cost us our lives… and that’s not something we can afford…”

Hearing this, the others’ faces fell a bit… While they had enjoyed their stay here, home was always preferable… and knowing they couldn’t go there just yet made them a little sad—but that was all…

Seeing that, Vivian added, “No need to act like that, all of you… sooner or later we will go there. It’s just that the time isn’t right yet… Going there now could cost our lives… and that’s not something we want…”

“Do you all understand?” Vivian asked, briefly looking at each of them. Without even waiting for their reply, she continued with what she was doing…

Yet they soon responded, “We understand, young miss… We had simply forgotten our suffering—and the comrades we lost during our escape… And now, seeing that we might have a chance to return home with some level of safety, we forgot about what lies behind the scenes…”

“It’s good that you remember all this and understand, people…” Vivian said.

She smiled, though no one saw it… yet they could feel the satisfaction in her voice, and quietly sighed…

“Uh, young miss…” Celeste suddenly spoke, as if remembering something… “There’s one thing I forgot to tell you… The Void Fleet has allowed you to send a recording of yourself—explaining your condition here and how you are being treated—so it can be sent back…”

“They said our people practically begged for it when they learned you wouldn’t be handed over, no matter what they did… and they also don’t dare to attack the Void Fleet at the same time… so they came up with this… or at least, that’s what I was told… and from what I’ve gathered and understand…”

Taking in everything Celeste had said, Vivian couldn’t help but feel a bit happy… Even though it was only about sending a recording of herself, she understood why General Arya had asked for it…

Knowing her father, he might already be on the verge of going on a rampage—one that even the Empress might not be able to handle this time…

She smiled faintly and shook her head, thinking that this was good… At least her father wouldn’t do something that might bring harm to himself, their family, their domain, or their people…

Only then did she notice where Celeste had stopped…

“Understanding of…?” Vivian asked.

“It’s General Arya, young miss…” Celeste replied. “It was definitely her idea to ask for this. After all, she knows about Master—the Duke of the West—and his care and love for you…”

“Harming you has already enraged Master… and he is barely holding himself back out of respect for our people and the empire… But knowing him, if he doesn’t see you soon, he might truly act this time… and the Empress might not be able to stop him…”

“Which would cause her to suffer… and knowing Arya, she would never want to see her Empress—whom she is absolutely loyal to—suffer like that…”

Hearing this, Vivian thought about Arya and couldn’t help but reminisce about the time she had spent around her… like an elder sister…

Though Arya wasn’t truly her sister by blood, Vivian had grown up around her under her father’s instruction, being trained… ever since he discovered her uniqueness…

And as Celeste said, Arya was someone who held deep respect for the Empress as her subordinate… known as her sword and shield…

By that definition, she would never be able to bear seeing the Empress suffer…

“Indeed… this is something only she could come up with…” Vivian said with a small smile.

“Then, young miss, shall we proceed with the recording…?” Celeste asked.

“Sure, we can do that now…” Vivian nodded, but continued planting in the small garden.

“Here…?” Celeste raised an eyebrow, a bit speechless. “Should we not return to your suite, young miss? You could change and freshen up first… for the sake of your image?”

Hearing this, Vivian looked back at her and shook her head in disapproval.

“No… this is more natural. Knowing my father and Sister Arya, they will understand that I’m well taken care of if they see me like this… After all, this is what I usually do back home in my free time. They’re used to it… they’ll understand, and they won’t worry more than needed…”

“Whereas if we record in the suite, it might look… staged. Others might think I’m being manipulated into saying all this… so it’s better we don’t do that…”

Hearing this, Celeste found it quite logical. Her young miss had indeed spent a lot of time gardening back home, even cultivating an enormous garden herself…

Nodding, she said, “Then this is what we will do, young miss…”

With that, she took out a recording device and began…

“Father… I hope you are well…” Vivian spoke, still working as she planted another set of seedlings before finally looking at the camera with a soft smile.

“As you can see, I’m doing something I’ve always loved… even back home…”

From there, she continued, speaking about many things—her struggles while escaping the old noble faction and the mercenaries they had hired… She even mentioned her discovery of another power working behind the scenes, using those same noble houses…

She spoke of how she encountered the Void Fleet and was taken in by them—not forcefully, but with dignity and respect… She explained her freedom of movement, her treatment, and much more… all to reassure him…

She even hinted that her abilities were guiding her to stay with them… that remaining here would benefit her, while returning might instead bring harm…

“I know you might be saddened by my not returning, father… but perhaps this is for the best… Who knows—coming back might only bring trouble to you and others… but staying with the void humans may be better for my safety…”

“Please understand this… and don’t act rashly or cause trouble seeking vengeance for me…” she said, her tone turning serious.

“This is not the time for that… wait for my return… and then, if needed, we will seek vengeance together…”

With a faint smile, she bowed her head slightly… a small tear slipping down, which she quickly wiped away…

“Send this to the Void Fleet personnel… let them handle it,” Vivian said afterward, her tone returning to normal. “But tell them I hope it reaches Sister Arya… and that it should be delivered to my father as quickly as possible…”

With that, she calmly returned to tending the garden alongside her subordinates…

Celeste nodded and quietly walked away…

Celeste followed through and passed the recording to the appropriate personnel before returning to join Vivian in her work…

The First Battle Fleet, after reviewing it under Ezra’s command, quickly forwarded the recording to Lady Yan Shi, as she was the one in contact with Elven General Arya back in the Azura Imperium…

Yan Shi, after going through it, passed it directly to Fleet Admiral Arya…

Arya watched the recording in silence… then shook her head slightly, a faint smile on her lips as she listened to Vivian’s message—both for her and for the Empress…

But beneath that smile, there was anger…

Knowing that the old noble faction was collaborating with unknown powers behind the empire only deepened it… She had long been suspicious of such things, but never had proof… and now that she did, her anger only grew…

“Looks like I need to reach the Empress as soon as possible and inform her…” she muttered.

“But as Vivian said… I shouldn’t let the Empress act just yet… Instead, I should coordinate with her father—the Duke of the West—and keep the old nobles unaware… wait for the right moment… the right news… something that will help the Empress deal with these traitors in one decisive strike…”

“I don’t know what that girl has in mind… but she can be trusted… she has never been wrong with her predictions…”

“Josephine,” she called out to one of her subordinates standing below the command seat.

“Yes, Admiral.”

Arya raised her hand and sent the recording to her. “Secure the channel and deliver this to the Duke of the West without delay.”

“As you command.” said Josephine with a salute and walked away…..

“Ella,” she called for another trusted subordinate.

“Yes, Admiral.” Ella came forward quickly and saluted!!

“Recall everyone to the fleet immediately. Prepare the hyperdrive modules… We are returning to the empire. We move in six hours… we don’t have time to waste.”

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep