Swear Fealty To Me, My Subjects!

Chapter 76.2: Good Sister, Let Your Brother Give You a Hug! (2)

In a daze, the grand prince felt as though a cold knife was pressed against his throat.

He could not help but shudder as he looked at Edaline in surprise…

What's going on?

Did I say something wrong again?!

Edaline said indifferently, "I can help you ascend to the crystal throne, but you have to follow my arrangements."

"Fufu, I can't just listen to your arrangements completely. However... alright, if you have any suggestions, I'll be sure to consider them."

The grand prince wanted to put on a tougher front.

However, at the thought of his niece's apocalyptic combat strength… he gave up eventually.

…

Finally...

Edaline decided to take the grand prince with her to meet Rayne.

The grand prince asked, "Meet Rayne? Together?"

Edaline replied, "Yes."

The grand prince smiled. "I see. You want to express your stance through this method to let that lad understand his situation, right?"

That was about it.

Although she wanted to kick Rayne off the throne...

It would be meaningless if Rayne was killed because of that.

Therefore, Edaline decided to let Rayne know openly that she was backing the grand prince right now.

Presently, apart from Histia, Edaline was the strongest existence in the territory of Haines.

If she announced that she was on Edgeworth's side, Rayne would probably back off.

She had also heard that Rayne had been very close to Hela recently.

However, that was useless. Even Thea, Hela and Lilia combined were not a match for Edaline.

The mere fact that Edaline was going to support the grand prince had already determined Rayne's defeat in this political game.

Therefore, please give up.

She would let her stupid brother grit his teeth and curse her for betraying him before living out the rest of his ordinary and boring life peacefully.

After that decision…

A teleportation gate had already opened in front of the grand prince.

Edaline said, "Let's go."

The grand prince was stunned. "What's with the rush?"

Edaline said, "We'll do it while Hela is still around. That way, she can be reminded to behave herself in the future."

…

Rayne returned to the capital after settling the issue with the evil gods.

He decided to rest well in the capital for a few days.

After returning from the monastery, he felt that he was… a little tired.

Those monks would never know what was happening right under their noses in the past month amidst their sincere daily prayers and dedicated chanting of sutras.

Ah...

Right.

At this moment, Rayne suddenly recalled.

He had been out for more than a month and had yet to visit the Empress.

The Empress probably knew about everything that happened in the Desolate Tundra and Gold Village.

Rayne felt that his mother should have many questions for him right now.

Therefore, he made a move immediately, prepared to meet the Empress.

However, the moment he opened the door, he saw a dimensional rift that had just healed.

Two people appeared at his doorsteps.

It was the grand prince and... Edaline?

Rayne froze for a moment.

Rayne asked, "Your Highness? What are you…"

"Dear nephew, I'm here to pay you a visit, of course!"

The grand prince seemed very warm today. He smiled brightly and said happily.

"I heard that you've just returned from overseas. Coincidentally, I've also just retreated from the front line. That's why I'm here to see you. Rayne, as your senior, I have to say something about you. Recently, you've left the capital for an entire month for no reason and missed all your classes. Your teachers say that they're very disappointed in you. Everyone thought that you offended Miss Hela in some way and that she killed you and dumped your corpse."

Rayne smiled.

"I definitely wasn't killed and dumped by Hela. I merely went to Gold Village with her and checked your loan records there. At the same time, I helped the dwarves resolve a small problem."

At the mention of the loan, the grand prince's expression turned stiff immediately.

He squeezed out a chuckle. "I'm afraid your investigation won't go smoothly then. Right now, Gold Village has already been destroyed by the fiends… Furthermore, you should have only stayed in Gold Village for a couple of days. You must have been having a good time elsewhere, right?"

Rayne smiled and did not reply right away.

On the other side, at the mention of Gold Village, Edaline's expression changed.

That's right…

When Edaline went to Gold Village to deal with the fiends of the Nether Realm, she met Rayne.

Everything that happened in Gold Village was unbelievable to Edaline.

That was because she witnessed Histia and Rayne standing together and activated the spell to summon the evil gods, giving Justice a taste of her own medicine and repelling her.

Later on…

Edaline asked Histia about it seriously. However, the latter also told her explicitly that she had never been to Gold Village or the territory of the dwarves in the past six months!

In that case, who was that Histia that Edaline saw in Gold Village?

Edaline felt that the answer to that question...

Would most likely come from Rayne.

After all, if Histia was not present at that time…

In that case, the only one who could possibly use a spell to summon the evil gods was Rayne of that mixed breed buried in the ground.

Could it be…

Suddenly, Edaline felt a little emotional—could Rayne have finally regained his strength?

However, when Edaline secretly scanned Rayne's entire body with a detection spell…

She realized that she was wrong.

Apart from signs of the Nether Realm corruption on his body…

She found nothing.

Alright then…

Time to continue with the plan.

Today, Edaline had to let that useless Rayne understand that the crystal throne was not his.

The grand prince still had a kind smile on his face. "Actually, apart from worrying about you, I'm also here to inform you of some new developments. Right now, my dear niece, Edaline, seems to have something to tell you…"

He cast his sights on Edaline.

Edaline nodded gently.

Yes.

It was time to lay the cards on the table...

"Rayne Haines, I..."

"Edaline!"

However, before Edaline could finish, Rayne walked forward excitedly and opened his arms, pulling her into a deep embrace.

Rayne's voice was extremely gentle and there was no hint of pretense in them. "It's been a long time! I've missed you so much...!!!"

Edaline's body stiffened completely in Rayne's embrace!

Instantly, her mind was in a mess and she could not say anything.

She had imagined Rayne's reaction after she laid her cards on the table with him.

Rayne might hate her, fear her, be disappointed in her or even reveal a cold expression as though he had expected it…

However, this reaction was completely beyond her calculations!

To think that Rayne would actually...

Hug her!

Furthermore, his tone was so gentle and warm…

After giving his sister whom he had not seen for a long time a huge hug, Rayne let go of Edaline and hurried back to his room. He took out the golden crystal and placed it in Edaline's hands.

Rayne said, "Well, this is a protective amulet that I obtained from the lake giant in Remembrance Pure Land after cultivating for a month. Edaline, keep it safe. It should be useful in the future."

Edaline asked in disbelief, "Y-You even prepared… a gift for me?"

Rayne smiled, as though he could not understand why Edaline was so surprised.

He revealed a pleading expression. "This gift might not be that precious, but please promise me not to lose it, okay?"

"G-Got it…"

Edaline received the golden crystal in a daze. Right now, she could barely think!

W-What was the meaning of this?!

M-My brother...

Did my brother leave the capital for a month to pray and obtain this thing just for me?!

In order to get a protective amulet for me, he…

Edaline was extremely touched.

However, she tried her best to maintain her composure.

Right now, Edaline merely looked at Rayne expressionlessly, stiff as a block of wood.

Rayne looked at the grand prince and then at Edaline, asking in confusion, "Right, you're here with the grand prince because…?"

Edaline blurted, "I was just passing by. I have nothing to do with him!"

Rayne asked, "Is that so?"

Edaline replied, "Yes!"

Rayne smiled. "Alright then, Edaline. Have a good rest now that you're home. I have something on and will leave first. I'll visit you tomorrow."

Edaline said, "Yes, brothe—I mean, prince. Take care."

Rayne bid farewell to the grand prince politely before turning to leave.

Edaline's gaze followed Rayne as he departed.

For the longest time, she could not calm down.

Rayne...

He actually hugged me?

How many years had it been since he did something like this?!

Edaline could not understand why Rayne, who had always been in a cold war with her, would suddenly be so friendly today.

Furthermore…

He even gave her a gift.

Edaline was flustered and did not know what to do with the golden protective amulet given to her by her brother.

Eventually, she noticed the begrudging gaze of the grand prince.

At that moment, there was panic, confusion and resentment in the prince's eyes.

"Miss Edaline, can you explain what 'passing by' means?"

You were the one who suggested the plan to pay a visit to Rayne, wasn't it?!

"Erm… my bad..."

Edaline blushed and avoided the grand prince's resentful gaze.

"I… misspoke. It won't happen again."

The grand prince double-checked. "… For real?"

Edaline nodded awkwardly.

"Don't worry, I-I'll definitely let that guy u-understand his situation next time."

Rayne gave her a long-awaited hug and was so gentle to her…

However…

That cheap warmth was child's play for Edaline who was an Imperial Guard!

Edaline did not have time to engage in a game of playing house with this mortal brother of hers!

She was a cold-blooded and heartless Imperial Guard, one of the strongest demigods in the mortal world.

Right now, Edaline merely wanted to help her stupid brother out of a sense of responsibility towards her blood kin so that he could recognize reality.

Next time!

That's right, next time!

Edaline would definitely make Rayne give up on his greed for the crystal throne on his own accord!