On Gwen's exquisitely beautiful face, which wore a half-smile, the smile was icy cold.
In the spacious main hall, there was a sudden silence.
"You're too nervous." She smiled and instructed the maid to change a cup of hot tea for Alan. "I don't think I'm that frightening, am I?"
"What I mean is that the royal family can appoint a capable assistant to help you… It's too hard for one person to govern such a large area, isn't it?"
She spoke softly, her words carrying a tone of concern.
The tense atmosphere that had just frozen instantly melted away. In Gwen's ice-blue eyes, there were gentle ripples.
Was this what she had meant from the beginning? Alan finally let out a sigh of relief, hearing his own heartbeat in his chest.
Knowing that such words would cause misunderstandings, she still said them. It showed that she deliberately wanted him to misunderstand.
Firstly, it was to warn him. If he couldn't govern well, the royal family could take back everything from him at any time.
Secondly, it was to place someone from the royal family by his side.
It was all about interests. Truly a cunning maneuver.
It seemed that the rumors in the capital weren't unfounded.
The rumor in the capital was: "Her Highness the Princess is the sharpest arrow in the hands of the Prince Tyr."
Alan had previously thought they were just flattery.
As everyone knew, princesses were the symbols of beauty in the kingdom. Most of them were made up of sugar, petticoats, and jewels. They were amiable, gentle, and charming… They were a collection of beautiful words, but they had nothing to do with "power".
However, facing Gwen, he truly felt a sense of crisis as if walking on thin ice.
"Hmm… Her Highness the Princess is so scary…"
Sia bit her lower lip gently, carefully listening to the conversation between Gwen and Alan, and thought to herself.
Although she didn't understand the serious topics like famine and public security that they were discussing, judging from her brother's frightened expression, Her Highness the Princess was reprimanding her brother, right?
Her brother had already worked very hard. Sia pouted, her little face wrinkling up.
"What's wrong with you?" keenly noticed the change in her expression and looked at her. "Are you feeling unwell?"
Sia was startled and was too timid to reply.
"Sia?" Alan quickly called her.
"Your, Your Highness, I'm fine…" Sia shook her head, trying her best to suppress her panic and put on a sweet smile.
"You haven't introduced her to me yet." Gwen looked at Sia. "Who is this young lady?"
Sia was very likable. She had a round face, doe-like eyes, and delicate skin. It was clear that she had been pampered.
"She's my younger sister. Sia Carlyle." Alan introduced. "She's young and doesn't know the proper etiquette. I hope you'll forgive her."
"If she hadn't been pestering me to meet you, I wouldn't have brought her here so rashly." He smiled apologetically.
Why did brother say that about her? Sia was a bit unhappy. Since meeting Her Highness the Princess, her brother's eyes had been fixed on her and he ignored her.
"Since she's from the Carlyle family, there's no reason for me to blame her. Besides, she hasn't offended me." Gwen said gently. "Do you understand what your brother and I were just discussing?"
Sia swallowed hard, frowned slightly, and nodded as if she understood but not really.
"Your Highness, may I ask you for a favor?" Sia made up her mind, looked up and stared directly at Gwen, her big watery eyes looking pitiful.
What was she up to? Alan was puzzled. Did she have something she wanted Her Highness the Princess to help with, which was why she insisted on coming?
Gwen didn't take her words seriously. What excessive request could a little girl make?
"Go ahead. I'll do my best."
"If it's Your Highness the Princess, you can definitely do it." Sia was overjoyed, her little face flushed.
"I would like to ask you to withdraw the expulsion order for the refugees."
As soon as Sia said this, everyone in the hall was shocked.
The "expulsion order" targeted the refugees who had illegally entered Linsey from the war-torn areas of Salir's and neighboring countries Verdala's.
As innocent bystanders got caught up in the cross - fire due to the long-term disputes between the two countries, a large number of refugees poured into Linsey, thus creating many problems.
In fact, the expulsion order for the refugees was one of the policies that Gwen had personally issued after inspecting the Wismin area.
Sia's "request" for Gwen to withdraw the "expulsion order" was no less than openly challenging the royal family, wasn't it?
Interesting… Lancaster arrived late, his emerald green eyes showing great interest.
How would she handle this?
He had changed into the black and red uniform of the knight corps. Standing beside Gwen; he looked more like Gwen's knight captain than Eli in terms of presence.
Meryl thought to herself: Well, this guy doesn't look too bad when dressed up and could barely match our Her Highness the Princess.
Seeing that Gwen didn't say anything, Sia thought she hadn't explained clearly and continued to explain.
Her tone was hurried. "Please… Those refugees are really pitiful…"
Sia thought of those refugees who were emaciated, homeless, and still being driven away by the army, and she was on the verge of crying.
They had lost their homes. Why couldn't they stay and live in Linsey?
Sia couldn't understand. She thought it was a too cruel order. Her Highness the Princess was so kind-hearted and shouldn't have issued such a wicked order.
Gwen quietly watched the teardrop about to fall from the corner of her eye and said firmly without hesitation.
"It's the king's decision. I have no right to change it."
The "expulsion order" for the refugees was one of the policies proposed by Tyr and her to Cepheus. How could it be cancelled just like that?
Looking at the innocent and lively Sia in front of her, Gwen suddenly felt a bit nostalgic.
She used to be like this too.
"But…" Sia still wanted to persuade her. Meeting Alan's warning gaze, she hesitated for a moment but still went on regardless. "Is Your Highness the Princess a cruel person?"
Gwen: …No, the cruel person is standing right behind me. That green-eyed one.
If it were Lancaster that Sia had offended instead of her, she would probably have been dragged away and beheaded by now. That tyrant was not one to show mercy to the fairer sex.
She didn't want to get entangled with Sia any more. But she didn't expect Sia to cry even harder and say more outrageous things.
The innocent and lively Sia was in tears.
"How can a cruel person rule Linsey?"
Alan was on the verge of a breakdown. He regretted bringing Sia here and even more regretted not shutting her mouth in time.
If these words angered Her Highness the Princess, he wouldn't be able to save Sia's life!
However, Gwen didn't get angry as he had expected.
Suddenly, she smiled, with a hint of desolation in her smile.
Gwen thought of Lancaster in her past life. Everyone said he was cruel, but it was this cruel man who swept across all human kingdoms and achieved unification.
She had also thought that Lancaster was unworthy of ruling the empire back then.
Until the flames of war reached the territory of Linsey. Dean died in battle, and Lancaster fought all the way to the capital…
She then woke up as if from a dream.
Wasn't she as naive as Sia back then? She had pinned her hopes on so-called "kindness" and "mercy" …
"Your sister is really cute." Gwen propped her chin on her hand.
Seeing her smile, Meryl stepped forward and handed Sia a handkerchief, asking her to wipe her tears.
I don't know how bold she is to tell Her Highness what to do.
Sia was sobbing.
Alan accidentally met her gaze and could only nod awkwardly.
It seemed that Her Highness wasn't angry?
"I can't explain it clearly to you in a short time…" Gwen opened the investigation report beside her that the knight corps had submitted yesterday.
"But I think you're a smart girl and should be able to understand…"
She flipped to a page, neatly tore it off, and placed it lightly in front of Sia.
It was about the news that the refugees had occupied land and disrupted public order.
Sia quickly wiped her tears. But before she could read the small, dense words on the paper clearly, Alan grabbed her and forced her to bow.
"It was my little sister who was rude, Your Highness."
Sia followed her brother's example and apologized. But in her heart, she was still unconvinced.
Wasn't she right?!