The third day, early morning.
Leona stood in front of the mirror, playfully twirling in Anna's little gown. The sky-blue puffy dress set off her porcelain-white skin, though it did not quite match her golden hair.
However, it was no big deal—her beauty would cover any flaw.
"You look so pretty, Leona," Anna praised, clapping her small hands.
A blush crept onto Leona's cheeks. She turned her head away with a touch of tsundere pride, trying to change the subject.
"Say, Anna, how did I end up in your bed this morning?"
"Because sleeping in bed is more comfortable."
Leona tilted her head, her expression asking what kind of answer that was.
Anna, however, continued with a look of complete earnestness. "I wanted you to get a good night's sleep."
"Uh..." For a moment, Leona did not know how to respond.
"Thank you, Anna, but there's no need. You know it's very dangerous to do this," Leona said while pretending to busy herself adjusting the clothes she had just put on.
"Alright, I got it," Anna said, her head drooping in mild disappointment.
"It's getting late. You should head out, Leona. Are you sure you don't want me to swap with you?" Anna asked, still worried.
"Your Highness, you wouldn't be any safer than me. Besides, Croll will be accompanying me."
"But in their eyes, the princess has already gone out, so they won't pay attention to me," Anna pouted, unfooled by Leona's lie.
"Rest assured, Your Highness. Staying alive is the greatest protection you can give me." Leona smiled faintly and left the room under Anna's gaze.
Leona walked to the doorway. Croll currently had her eyes closed, looking as if she were asleep, yet she stood bolt upright without swaying in the slightest.
"Let's go, Croll," Leona called softly.
Croll opened her eyes immediately, scrutinized the princess before her for a moment, and nodded slightly.
【Fake】
...
Outside the Queen's bedchamber.
An amusing sight unfolded: the Queen was barred from entering.
"What is the meaning of this? Who gave you the audacity to let a brat into my room?" Figreno demanded angrily, glaring at the guards blocking her path.
"This is all by the King's arrangement. We ask for Your Majesty's understanding," the guard leader replied, showing no fear despite facing the Queen.
"His Majesty?" Figreno frowned.
"His Majesty said that as long as you agree to this condition, perhaps he will give you what you want."
"Only perhaps?"
"Only... perhaps."
Figreno looked at the guard before her with a complex expression.
Just then, a cool, indifferent voice came from behind.
"Your Majesty the Queen, who were you referring to as a brat just now?"
Figreno turned around as Leona and Croll approached together.
The one who had spoken was none other than Croll.
Not only were the guards stunned, but Leona was equally shocked.
Normally, Croll seemed like a quiet bump on a log. How could she speak so sharply? Where did she get the nerve?
"Naturally, a mouse that snuck into my room. Who else could it be? It certainly couldn't be my lovely daughter," Figreno said flippantly, staring at Leona like a ravenous wolf eyeing a little lamb.
She did not dare lay a finger on Leona. Setting aside the fact that the three guards beside her were not her own people, even if they combined their strength, they would be no match for Croll alone.
What the Queen desired could only be obtained if the princess died, whereas what the King desired could only be obtained if the princess lived.
Assigning Croll to Anna's side had not been entirely Milan's idea after all.
"Does that mean the Queen is expecting a baby? Anna congratulates the Queen in advance, and hopes the child will be as kindhearted as her mother," Leona said, arching an eyebrow.
The meaning was crystal clear: I do not recognize you as my mother.
From beginning to end, I have only ever had one mother. Of course, these were words she said on Anna's behalf.
Figreno did not reply, only shooting Leona a fierce glare.
She turned back to the guards and said, "I can allow her inside, but not this traitorous minister's daughter. I won't have her dirtying my room."
Hearing this, rage boiled up irrepressibly inside Croll. She clenched her fists so tightly her fingers almost dug into her flesh.
Noticing this, Leona reached out and gently pried open Croll's palm, allowing Croll to finally regain her composure.
"The Queen is quite right. I wouldn't want my royal mother's room dirtied by filthy people, either," Leona said, putting deliberate emphasis on the words "royal mother."
As for which royal mother she was referring to, everyone knew full well.
"However, I do not believe that is for the Queen to decide," Leona said, shifting her gaze to the guards.
Truth be told, if she had a choice, she would definitely take Croll inside with her.
The guard leader maintained a cold demeanor toward both sides.
"His Majesty said that as long as Her Highness the Princess enters, it is fine. Your Majesty the Queen certainly has the right to forbid a maid from entering your room. However, His Majesty also stated that if Her Highness suffers an accident for any reason, the blame will fall upon the Queen."
Though somewhat disappointed, Leona found the arrangement barely acceptable. Under these circumstances, the Queen likely would not be able to make any major moves against her.
"In that case, please, my lovely daughter," Figreno said without blowing her top, stepping aside with a polite inviting gesture.
Without another glance at Figreno, Leona walked elegantly into the room.
Croll tried to follow, but Figreno blocked her path.
"What, Croll? Do you intend to defy His Majesty the King's decree?"
Croll stopped in her tracks, turning her head to gaze calmly at Figreno through her hair.
No matter how sharply Leona had provoked her with words, Figreno had shown little emotional fluctuation.
Yet the instant she locked eyes with Croll, her body shivered uncontrollably.
If she was a ravenous wolf, then at this very moment, Croll was a fierce tiger.
If she so desired, she could kill Figreno at any moment.
Unaware of what was happening outside, Leona began wholeheartedly searching for what she needed.
Searching for the relic left by Anna's mother was merely a cover; her true objective was the Magic Mirror.
Rule 3: The Queen possesses a Magic Mirror that only tells the truth to the Queen. Perhaps you can extract some useful information from its mouth.
It only speaks the truth to the Queen—she wondered if transforming her appearance would work.
Instead of searching for the Magic Mirror right away, Leona first used Shapeshift to take on the Queen's appearance to avoid exposing herself prematurely.
However, Anna's dress was noticeably undersized for Figreno's build. Figreno's figure was similar to Leona's true form, leaving her calves exposed beneath the puffy dress and her arms uncomfortably constricted.
Just as Leona was about to check the wardrobe for suitable clothes, a mirror beside her suddenly spoke with a human voice.
"My dear Queen, even if you covet the princess's beauty, there is no need to wear her attire. As I have said, unless you obtain the princess's heart, you will never be able to maintain your youth."
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