"What a strange question."
Elashia feigned composure.
"In my eyes, you are... of course a reliable ally."
Alexandra maintained her playful smile.
"You should know that's not the answer I want."
Really! We've only just met for the first time!
Elashia's little face turned slightly red.
"What else do you want me to say..."
Of course I like you a lot, but we just met for the first time!
Elashia quickly became anxious.
She did indeed like Alexandra very much, but they had only met once after all. Her behavior just now was already suspicious enough; if she now acted as if she were familiar with her, wouldn't that make her seem even more suspicious?
Besides, she couldn't bring herself to express her feelings to someone she'd just met for the first time!
The more anxious Elashia became, the less she could speak, and the less she could speak, the more anxious she grew.
Seeing Elashia's flushed face, the playfully smiling Alexandra decided to quit while she was ahead.
After all, if she kept teasing Elashia, she might resist communication in the future.
Alexandra couldn't bear that.
From Elashia's expression just now, Alexandra detected a strong sense of embarrassment.
And it wasn't simple embarrassment.
That kind of embarrassment was like a young girl's spring-like shyness with a hint of attachment.
This already satisfied her greatly.
"Alright, alright, I'll stop teasing you. I need to go handle official business."
Alexandra cut off the communication.
"Hah~"
After the communication ended, Elashia collapsed directly onto Candice's bed.
Seeing Elashia lying on her bed, Candice just smiled indulgently and said:
"Communicating with her is indeed quite intimidating. You'll get used to it."
Indeed, Elashia, lying on Candice's bed, could clearly feel her back was soaked through.
She really owed Candice an apology.
She'd help her change the bedding later, since she had almost nothing to do every day anyway.
"Sorry for keeping secrets from you all this time, Aunt."
Candice just smiled.
"Everyone has their secrets, don't they? I've kept things from you too."
Elashia and she exchanged smiles.
She's so nice.
Compared to the intimidating Iron Empress, Candice, who was right in front of her, seemed more like a mother.
"I thought you would find it hard to accept, so I was shocked when Alexandra revealed your relationship."
Candice sat in a chair, looking at Elashia collapsed on the bed with gentle eyes.
"Your Majesty, have you thought about how to face her in the future?"
Candice was somewhat worried about Elashia.
After all, communicating with the Imperial Sister was indeed intimidating; her penetrating eyes and intimidating language weren't something an ordinary person could easily handle.
This was precisely why Candice was willing to cross mountains to come to Elasia.
She simply couldn't get along with this intimidating Imperial Sister.
But she also knew that beneath the Imperial Sister's intimidating exterior was a heart that had never changed from its original purity.
This could be seen from the changes in the Iron Empire after she took power.
The original Iron Empire was a country that, although powerful, had citizens living in extreme hardship. The old Iron Emperor would repeatedly exploit the people's resources without any consideration, repeatedly expand the army, and then repeatedly use that almost invincible military power to invade other countries or suppress uprisings from his own people.
However, just like the old Elasia Emperor, his seemingly impregnable rule met its end at an unexpected moment.
Military commanders controlled by the Iron Empress's [Soul Capture] joined her in staging a coup, ending his rule and his life.
When the coup had just succeeded, faced with Candice's question of "choosing between improving people's livelihoods or maintaining military power," she replied:
"Only old bastards make choices. I want both!"
Although her governance methods were quite violent, even savage, under her rule, the Iron Empire had indeed transformed from a "country of war" with only military strength into a truly comprehensive "dominant nation" where people lived relatively prosperously.
Honestly, Candice didn't dislike her Imperial Sister at all in her heart; she even liked her very much.
It was just too intimidating to interact with her every day.
So now Candice was very afraid that Elashia would develop disgust and fear toward Alexandra due to this abrupt meeting.
Elashia thought for a moment and said:
"Actually, I like her very much..."
Huh?
A hint of surprise appeared on Candice's usually calm face.
Seeing the change in Candice's expression, Elashia's already flushed face turned even redder.
"Ah, not in the way you're thinking!"
Feeling that Candice had misunderstood, Elashia suddenly sat up on the bed.
Candice nodded; she hadn't actually misunderstood, she was just surprised that Elashia hadn't developed disgust after her first meeting with the Imperial Sister.
"What I mean is... I don't think she's a bad person... and I do find her very reliable."
Candice nodded again.
Looking at Elashia lowering her head with a red face, Candice let out a long sigh in her heart.
It was really good that Elashia could think this way.
After discussing her views on the Iron Empress with Candice, Elashia quickly returned to her room to rest.
Tomorrow night she still needed to go to the Royal Garden... no, the Royal Magic Academy to continue treating Little Sophia.