Although she knew Jessica’s identity, the other party didn’t trust her very much.
“You’re no different from that tyrant. After Aunt Eliana died, the entire empire was thrown into chaos by you people!”
“But hasn’t the empire already implemented many tax reduction policies?”
Upon hearing Jessica’s words, the little girl couldn’t help but sneer.
“The tax reduction you speak of is nothing more than squeezing the last bit of value from us poor people. You despicable people don’t care about our lives at all! You don’t even know how many of us have starved to death on the streets. What difference is there between your father and that tyrant?”
“Then you could go find proper jobs…”
“Jobs? Who would take in a group of vagrants? Every time we appear on the streets, they drive us away like stray dogs! According to them, beggars all over the streets only affect the city’s appearance.”
Jessica didn’t know how to respond to her words.
She opened her mouth, wanting to explain, but then shadows sprang out from various corners.
Jessica instinctively placed her hand on her sword hilt, but when she saw clearly the faces of those shadows, she froze in place.
They were a group of children.
They were pale and thin, their eyes filled with wariness toward Jessica.
Each of them even held sharp objects in their hands.
“You all live like this? Why don’t you go to the orphanage?”
Upon hearing the words ‘orphanage’, the faces of those children instantly turned pale as if they had heard something terrifying.
Even the little girl’s body couldn’t help but tremble.
But she still forced herself to endure her fear and explained.
“Your Highness The Princess, if you really knew about the ‘orphanage’, you wouldn’t say that. We all escaped from there. The people inside can’t be called human at all—they’re no different from beasts!”
Although the other party didn’t explain what happened, Jessica keenly sensed the meaning in her words.
She was somewhat shocked but couldn’t refute it.
She lowered her head, not even knowing how to persuade this group of children.
Just then, a lazy voice sounded behind Jessica.
“Children, it’s getting late. It’s time to go home and sleep.”
Jessica turned around sharply, only to see Henry striding toward her with a swagger.
Just as Jessica was about to ask how he found this place, Henry’s index finger pressed against her lips.
“Shh, little friend, I know you have many questions, but please don’t ask too much.”
Henry looked past her to the children behind.
“Stealing is bad behavior. You attach your misfortune to innocent people—is that right?”
The group of children, seeing Henry suddenly appear, didn’t know how to react for a moment.
The girl caught by Jessica also silently stepped back.
“If there are problems, you can tell Jessica. She will definitely do her best to solve them, because these sufferings shouldn’t be borne by you.”
Hearing Henry’s words, the little girl couldn’t help but ask one more question.
“Can we trust her?”
“Of course, because she is Queen Eliana’s own daughter.”
Upon hearing this familiar name, surprise appeared on the faces of those children.
“Aunt Eliana’s daughter?”
“They really do look alike.”
“We should trust Aunt Eliana’s daughter.”
Hearing so many children calling out her mother’s name, Jessica could no longer contain her inner doubts.
“Do you know my mother?”
“Of course, Aunt Eliana used to come to the orphanage every day. Sometimes she would secretly give us candy to eat. We loved her the most.”
“In our eyes, she was like a mother to us.”
In Jessica’s memory, her mother had always been so gentle.
Although she was very busy, she would still take time to spend with her.
She still remembered that on the day her mother died, the entire sky was filled with gloom, and an unexpected heavy rain kept falling.
People constantly came and went in the palace. Her father was busy handling state affairs, leaving only those people constantly telling her by her ear.
Telling her to become a pillar of the country in the future and not to disappoint her mother.
She had never thought of replacing her mother. She just felt that it would be good if she could catch up to her mother’s footsteps.
An unprecedented sadness swept up from within her heart.
Jessica’s tears flowed down from her eyes without warning.
The little girl opposite her was also frightened by Jessica’s tears.
“Are… are you alright? We trust you, please don’t cry.”
Just as the group of children was at a loss, Henry suddenly reached out and pulled Jessica into his embrace.
He showed a gentle smile on his face and said to those children.
“Go back. Let adults handle adult matters.”
Henry could feel the girl in his arms was crying.
Perhaps for Jessica, her mother was the motivation for her to persist until now.
In the end, she was just a girl pretending to be strong.
“Jessica, let me take you somewhere.”
Henry’s voice sounded in Jessica’s ear.
Jessica looked up from Henry’s embrace in confusion, but the next moment, a mask was placed on her face.
Then Henry took her hand and walked in a certain direction.
Jessica didn’t know what Henry wanted to do, but her body instinctively followed Henry forward.
Her gaze lingered on Henry’s hand tightly holding hers.
They passed through streets and alleys, running freely under people’s puzzled gazes, like a couple fleeing together.
****
Sunset’s afterglow.
Henry and Jessica walked on the vast beach.
The two had been holding hands since the street and hadn’t let go.
It wasn’t that Henry deliberately wanted to take advantage of Jessica, but Jessica was gripping Henry’s hand tightly and refused to let go.
Henry mainly wanted to bring Jessica here to relax and lift her spirits.
You know, when doing business, you must serve the boss well.
“Henry, why did you appear there just now?”
At this moment, Jessica had wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, and her emotions had returned to normal.
It’s just that she was somewhat greedy for the warmth of Henry’s palm, which gave her a great sense of security.
“I came to find you.”
“To find me? What for?”
Jessica was somewhat puzzled, not understanding why Henry would suddenly come looking for her.
But Henry suddenly stopped, turned around, and looked at Jessica seriously.
This made Jessica’s heart suddenly skip a beat!
The current scene felt like people who had mutual feelings were about to confess.
Could it be that Henry liked her?
“I missed you, so I came to find you! Isn’t that allowed?”
The undisguised direct attack almost knocked Jessica out!
Whether it was because of the sunset or because she was blushing, Jessica’s face was now as red as a tomato.
Even her speech became stuttering.
“Wait… wait! You need to let me have some psychological preparation, okay? We… we haven’t known each other for long, and we haven’t gotten to know each other well. If you say things like that, I’ll be very troubled.”
Oh no! Jessica, if you can’t speak properly, just shut up!
What if you scare Henry away?
No, Henry, you must persevere!!
Jessica’s heart was extremely conflicted at this moment, her brain was about to overload.
Upon hearing Jessica’s words, Henry was first stunned, then carefully asked.
“Are you afraid of physical contact?”
“Ah? Not… not really, mainly afraid of being seen by people.”
“Then shall we get a room?”
Henry’s one sentence directly broke Jessica!
She was so frightened that she immediately let go of Henry’s hand, covered her chest with both hands, and shouted excitedly.
“This… this is progressing too fast! I haven’t even agreed to you yet!”
“Hiss… then what do you want?”
“At… at least we need to date first, then get engaged before we can do that kind of thing!”
“Huh? Getting a massage has this many procedures?” Henry asked in confusion.
Upon hearing Henry’s words, Jessica’s expression froze on her face, as if she had been petrified.