Chapter 64: My Saving Grace

It is early in the morning of the next week. Jiaoying is making her way towards an unused meeting room for her first day as an advisor to Solomon’s group.

Her expression is a tight one. It is clear that her mind is swimming with deeper thoughts than just her own trek to instruct the youth.

Her eyes unconsciously dart towards her shadow.

There, a pair of glowing eyes that only she can see are staring into her soul.

A voice comes from the dark.

’Oh, how pitiful. Is little Jiao feeling a bit sad about her upcoming dirty deed?’

Jiaoying clenches her perfect teeth. “Shut up.”

’If it helps, you could always give me the reins and let me handle everything . But then again… how would that look? The glorious knight commander of the Sunset Order, having to outsource her duties to… one such as myself.’

“Are you ever silent!?” Jiaoying punches the nearest wall to quell the rising fire in her stomach.

’Now what fun would that be?’ The voice responds.

Jiaoying doesn’t allow herself to speak again. She would not be goaded by the spectre.

But that doesn’t prevent it from speaking to her.

’I think it would be so easy to do it. All you have to do is say you’re showing him one little move and pop! His head can just come right off and we can enjoy the little spoils after… No one even has to know what happened. You know what kind of place this is.’

“…”

’Oh, I know you’re not happy about it, but what else are you going to do? It’s a direct order from a recognized princess of your lord. Have you no honor? No sense of duty or patriotism?’

“….”

’If you don’t care about these things, then you should at least think about protecting your son’s position. You certainly didn’t do enough for your daught-’

Jiaoying stops in the middle of the hallway. Her fists are clenched so tightly that her bones crack within her flesh.

Her rosy, flawless skin begins to change color.

The voice is dripping with amusement and venom.

’Oh? Did I perhaps strike a nerve?’

A demented laughter fills Jiaoying’s head.

She clutches her hair and begins slamming her head into the nearest wall that she can find.

Distant echoes fill her mind. They curse, scream, and threaten without rest. They make her want to be weak. To cry.

It takes everything Jiaoying can muster to maintain hold of her sanity.

But her nailbeds are gradually turning darker. And her body is slightly larger than it was just a few minutes ago.

“Commander Xu..?”

’Drat… fun’s over.’

Jiaoying freezes. Suddenly, it is as if everything that has just happened is no more than a bad dream she can’t wake up from fast enough.

She knows the voice that has called out to her all too well.

Jiaoying steps away from the wall and hides her face.

“P-Prince Andros, you need to-”

“It is fine.” Andros steps out from behind the commander and stares directly into her face. She does not look like herself. And yet, he seems completely unsurprised.

“I read the reports with Father’s oversight. I am quite aware of your condition.”

His words do not necessarily make Jiaoying feel better. In fact, for a moment, they make her feel even more ashamed. Something she had not known was possible.

It takes several moments for her to regain control of herself.

When she finally returns to normal, she offers the prince a deep bow.

“I apologize, Prince Andros. I’ve unintentionally shown you something horrific.”

The prince cracks a very rare smile. “…You do remember who my father is, yes?”

“…The existence of one monster does not disprove the existence of another.”

“No, but it does provide perspective. And in that proof, the pinnacle seems to render all existences beneath it as lesser than itself. I fear that in my eyes, you are no more of a monster than a stray dog.”

“…” Jiaoying finds herself feeling just the tiniest bit better. “I thank you for your words of consolation. Though I am ashamed to have needed them.”

“Think nothing of it.” Andros waved his hand dismissively. “I did not come find you in order to catch you within a vulnerable moment.”

Jiaoying’s posture became more rigid.

“Of course not. What do you need, my prince?”

The poise and sophistication that Andros had mere moments ago seems to disappear.

“Well… about that thing… my sister said she asked you to…”

Jiaoying tilts her head; her expression one of genuine confusion. “…Yes..?”

–

Solomon paces in the hallway like a man possessed.

His brow is seemingly permanently furrowed with worry. His lips move, but produce no sound as he mouths to himself that he is fucked.

Of all of the women he could have pressed himself against while naked, it had to be his advisor and the single most dangerous woman in the realm.

Jiaoying looked as if she were going to murder him the last time they saw each other. He could scarcely blame her.

Even though she had told him not to worry about the matter, Solomon wasn’t quite willing to believe that someone who rose to the position of knight commander wouldn’t have a ruthless streak.

She couldn’t kill him, but she could slice off his manhood until her arm got tired.

Which, for someone as powerful as Jiaoying, would have probably taken a full three weeks at the shortest.

There was no way around it. He was fucked.

“What are you doing wandering around out here like a bum?? Come in, kid, I wanna take a nap after this!”

As soon as Solomon hears the voice of his advisor come from within the room, he knows that he is out of time. His death is here.

Preparing himself to rush into the room and say another apology, Solomon takes a deep breath and turns the doorknob.

As soon as he enters, he is attacked. Jiaoying wraps her arm around his neck and wraps him in a firm headlock.

Solomon, who had learned to wrestle as a boy, felt like he was once again a bone-thin ten-year-old being suffocated by Emmanuel’s bicep.

Jiaoying was so strong. He doubted he could overpower her even if he shifted.

“My lady, wait! I can apologize for-”

Jiaoying places her knuckles on Solomon’s head and gives him the noogie of a lifetime.

“You brat.” She grins. “Never really took you for the hero type. Maybe you truly will make a fine knight after all, if you can survive this place that is. Ever thought about coming under me when it’s all said and done?”

“…What?”

Jiaoying finally releases Solomon and holds out her hand for him to take.

“As a recognized bastion of the Eirbaine Royal Family, I want to thank you personally for your aid to one of the direct lineage. Of course, I am not in a position to reward you… But I would be remiss if I did not commend you in some way.”

Solomon remains completely silent.

His gaze switches back and forth between Jiaoying and her hand.

“…What?”

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