Although Selena had always considered herself the most beautiful princess in the world, her beauty was cursed, a presence that should not manifest in this realm.
However, after observing Viviana at close range, even the incomparably narcissistic Snow White had to admit one thing.
She took a sharp breath—this woman's beauty was actually not inferior to her own?
Selena would not display an ugly, jealous, or hypocritical facade; she saw things as they were. In all fairness, she truly did not feel that this knight girl's beauty was significantly weaker than her own.
Of course, it was impossible for her to be superior either. While everyone's aesthetic tastes differ, any sentient being with a concept of "aesthetics" would surely judge these two girls to be neck and neck.
To describe them with human vocabulary, both could only be called "exquisite." At most, there were slight differences in temperament, which belonged to the realm of purely subjective preference.
Selena couldn't help but recall what Faust had said before—that his childhood friend possessed beauty equal to Snow White's. At the time, the princess had merely dismissed it as a man's boast.
Looking at it now, Faust was indeed an honest man; he really hadn't lied to her.
But she would have preferred if he had lied.
Seeing the foreign princess before her spacing out for some unknown reason, the pale-blonde girl waited for a moment before taking the lead to break the silence.
"Viviana Roselin, Lord Faust's knight commander of the royal guard."
Even her voice is so pleasant; it seems she is a formidable rival...
Selena pulled her attention back, placing one hand behind her back and extending the other with a ritualistic smile.
"Viviana... is it? I've noted it. Speaking of which, I've never heard your name from Faust's mouth."
The implication went without saying.
Hearing this, Viviana's eyes, which always held a faint hint of melancholy, flickered for an instant before she spoke calmly.
"Because in His Highness's heart, I am like his other half. Naturally, there is no need to mention me at every moment."
Other half?! Can that term be used so casually?!
No one understood the existence of an "other half" better than Selena, the 【Snow White】. It was a bond that transcended friendship and kinship, a connection difficult to sever regardless of life, death, love, or hate.
You're just childhood friends; rounding that up makes you strangers. How do you qualify to be called an other half?!
The black-haired girl lowered her eyelids slightly, her smile widening just a fraction.
"Is that so? However, in my view, your relationship hasn't reached such intimacy yet. Otherwise, why wouldn't Faust have brought you along? He had to come to Midwinter to face danger alone."
Viviana remained composed.
"His Highness came to propose to you. Bringing another woman with whom he shares an intimate relationship would be too rude and would fail to demonstrate his sincerity."
An intimate relationship?! What kind of intimate relationship?
Selena scrutinized the Viviana before her seriously.
Beneath the knight's cloak was a dignified and brisk black uniform, pulled taut and smooth by her high, full chest without a single wrinkle. Silver light armor covered key areas like her forearms and knees.
Although the pale-blonde girl's attire was very conservative, showing no unseemly skin, Selena had already keenly caught a familiar scent from the other's delicate and languid charm.
It was a fragrance that sometimes emanated from Faust's body... It felt as if he had been marinated in it. Selena had originally thought it was some kind of perfume, but it turned out the source of the fragrance was this person.
Connecting this to Faust's incredibly intense, beast-like sexual desires, one didn't even need to think to know what would happen with such a childhood friend by his side.
They've slept together. They've absolutely slept together! And it's the kind where they've played together since they were kids!
How frustrating! I haven't even slept with Faust yet!
I also want to completely dye Faust with my own scent!!
However, seeing this royal guard knight's elegant and quiet appearance, Selena estimated she wasn't the type to be insatiably greedy. In that case, Faust could probably still be considered in near-mint condition for her own use. Otherwise, after all these years, there wouldn't be only that faint trace of scent.
Whatever. What happened in the past was in the past. At the very least, in the future, Selena would strive to dye every bit of Faust's scent into her own.
The long-suppressed princess made a silent vow in her heart.
At this moment, Viviana stood up, surveyed the surroundings, and said, "By the way, where is His Highness? He hasn't come over yet, so it seems he isn't with you."
Speaking of Faust's whereabouts, Selena retracted her smile and said seriously, "You've indeed come at an inopportune time... Not long ago, my moth—no, my other half, the Queen of Midwinter, took Faust away. But don't worry too much; the Queen shouldn't do anything harmful to your prince."
"However, before we fight our way into the royal capital, I'm afraid it will be difficult to see him."
Snow White had thought Viviana would fly into a rage upon hearing this, or even use it to criticize her weakness. Regarding that, Selena really had nothing to say; she could only accept that it was caused by her own incompetence.
As for excuses like "the high warlock was too strong, I had no choice," she wouldn't look for them.
Incompetence was incompetence, nothing more to be said! She would take the blame!
However, Viviana's reaction was beyond the princess's expectations.
"Is that so?"
The pale-blonde girl said calmly, "This is an unexpected situation. Since that's the case, our common goal is to rescue His Highness."
Selena raised an eyebrow. "I've just finalized the attack plan. Come with me, for the sake of rescuing my fiancé."
Hearing this, Viviana stopped in her tracks, quietly gazing at the exceptionally beautiful princess of Midwinter before her. The latter's smooth, long black hair draped over her shoulders, and her absolutely flawless face was like the physical manifestation of a forbidden fruit.
Then she spoke.
"...Please do not speak to me in that tone of a main wife."
"I don't deny that your beauty would infatuate His Highness, but you are not the type he likes most."
The knight girl spoke bluntly.
"Your chest is too small."
"!!!"
Selena's beautiful eyes widened.
No, this size that an ordinary person couldn't even grasp with one hand—how exactly did it get associated with "small"?
With my current figure, anything larger would destroy the harmonious sense of beauty, you know?! I see you aren't much larger than me either!
Is there something wrong with you people from Qingxi?
Selena clenched her fingers until they cracked. "Even so, Faust is the one proposing to me, isn't he?"
"Yes. If given the choice, His Highness would certainly choose you as his marriage partner."
Viviana admitted it frankly with an expressionless face, but then immediately added:
"But your advantage isn't because he likes you more, but rather your status as a foreign princess. His Highness places his hopes for the kingdom's prosperity on the strength of a personal union. The strength of the Midwinter Kingdom is your greatest reliance."
"In the end, your advantage is nothing more than that of a foreign dignitary."
Selena was almost moved to angry laughter by the words. "Ha? You really dare to say it..."
For some reason, Selena felt that she and Viviana were naturally at odds. Despite being clearly defined allies, they felt a sharp hostility the moment they met, always wanting to attack each other with words.
Coincidentally, Viviana felt the same way.
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