In the Name of Empress-Chapter 389 - 273: He Is Mine...

"Darling, are they really coming?"

The voice carried a hint of tremor, and the comb in hand inadvertently slipped, falling to the ground with a crisp sound.

The precious white jade comb broke into several pieces.

Too late to mourn the broken comb, the girl who was grooming herself stood up in a fluster, head lowered, not daring to turn around.

A gentle and rich mature male voice came from behind.

"Adina, although my daughter has become the new Emperor, her nature is still kind and simple. Don’t be nervous, she must be coming to give us her blessings."

Upon hearing her lover’s voice, the girl slowly turned around.

She had nearly perfect features and a slender figure, her skin white as jade with a faint hint of pale blue.

She was dressed in luxurious, gorgeous attire but lacked the majesty of a superior due to her evasive gaze.

This was the second time in Sea Witch’s life she felt so flustered.

The last time was when she confided her feelings to Edward.

Edward’s gaze, like a warm, gentle hand, soothed her chaotic heart.

Adina often wondered how there could be a man as perfect as Edward.

In all fairness, Adina had seen the world.

There were many outstanding young men among the Sea Demon People, but she simply did not fancy them.

The young Sea Demon People were too restless, not mature at all.

Adina, who grew up without a father, had a deep longing for a solid embrace, though she was unaware of it.

The first time Edward appeared before her, he was covered in blood, a sorry sight.

Yet even when at the end of his rope, he maintained a smile, even casually smoothing his slightly disheveled hair.

This calm of "the head may be severed but the hairstyle stays intact" stirred the heartstrings of the young girl.

She spent a fortune, fifty pearls, to buy Edward from the greedy General Nephropidae.

Only afterward did she learn that Edward was the Emperor of the Sussex Empire.

She was a bit flustered, afraid that Edward would leave her, so she simply paid to buy up all the surviving humans, settling them in Haidi Undersea City.

This was her kingdom; she was the queen here.

She carefully maintained Edward’s dignity, fearing that this fallen Emperor might choose to commit suicide in rage due to losing his freedom.

Little did she know, she was overthinking it.

Edward indeed possessed the elegance and composure of a top-level noble, but he was quite afraid of dying.

He was only in his forties, held a high position of power, and had much life yet to enjoy; how could he bear to die?

Thus, the two, with an age difference of twenty years, met mystically in the deep sea and ignited the sparks of love.

Adina, lacking fatherly love from a young age, found herself unable to resist Edward’s maturity and versatility.

Edward, after being captured by General Nephropidae and becoming a slave, had originally fallen into despair, but was saved by Adina, naturally feeling very grateful to this Sea Witch.

Sensing the Sea Witch’s affection for him, his heart also grew much younger.

In the first few months, he still had the ambition to return to the land, but after learning that his dear daughter opened new provinces overseas, the idea of returning gradually faded.

Sylph, though not officially ascending the throne, had already achieved far beyond him, showing she was much better than him at ruling.

An excellent emperor doesn’t pay much heed to familial ties.

It was better he didn’t return; if he did, it would be like forcing his daughter to commit patricide.

He couldn’t even blame her; that’s the game rule.

Understanding this, he decided to stay calmly at the seabed, enjoying the affectionate gaze of the Sea Witch.

Since there was mutual affection, some things were bound to happen sooner or later.

Just when the Sea Witch complained for the third time that she was already twenty-three and about to become an old maid, Edward, singing a gentle soothing song, knelt on one knee with a bouquet in hand and proposed to her.

The Witch’s tears flew in the sky, transforming into a string of pearls.

The pearls were strung together, held in Edward’s hand, and adorned around the white neck of the Witch.

They decided to get married.

The Sea Witch was the Queen of Petit, and no one opposed her marriage, even if the partner was human.

All her tenderness was reserved for Edward; in front of her subjects, she was a majestic and even cold queen.

The wedding was simple to arrange, with officials to handle it, but there was one problem.

Where were their relatives?

The Sea Witch’s father had died early, and her mother had also passed away several years ago, making her an orphan.

Since Edward had become Emperor, his father naturally was not around anymore, and his mother had also unfortunately died a few years later.

He was an orphan too.

He only had one last relative left, Sylph.

If Sylph didn’t come, the wedding would always feel a bit regretful.

Not having seen her for two years, he was somewhat missing his daughter.

The handwritten letter and invitation were sent out, with Edward feeling somewhat anxious inside.

He feared that his daughter would think him absurd, even more so worried that she had become a mature ruler, and would no longer be constrained by familial ties.

If this day was destined to come, could it come a few days later?

He prayed to the heavens, but no one answered.

Just when Edward thought there would be no response, good news arrived.

His daughter and his lover had come.

Edward was somewhat curious about who exactly was the guy helping his daughter secure the throne.

Roland?

The name was nice, and he was a bit curious.

...

Outside the Witch Palace, watching the grand welcome ceremony, Sif squeezed Roland’s hand, her palms sweaty.

"Roland, I’m a bit nervous."

"Don’t worry, the Sea Witch shouldn’t be hostile, and even if the guide and shore staff lied, those purchased supplies wouldn’t deceive." Roland comforted softly.

Sif’s voice trembled slightly, "I, I’m so worried about Father. What if he insists on going back?"

"Rest assured, he might not be an excellent king, but he surely understands the basic reasons."

Roland held Sif’s hand back, gently saying, "There are some things you find inconvenient to say; I’ll handle it."

Sif nodded silently without speaking.

Roland was right; there were certain things she couldn’t say, but Roland could.

The long sound of a horn echoed, with hundreds of soldiers lined up neatly, welcoming Roland and Sif with diplomatic ceremony.

Sif’s eyes widened, and her lips trembled uncontrollably.

The soldiers parted, and standing in the middle of the passage was her father, who had been missing for two years.

She could no longer control herself, rushed forward, and threw herself into her father’s arms, crying uncontrollably.

All the grievances and doubts vanished at that moment.

She wasn’t an orphan; she had her father, and that was enough.

Edward prepared countless words, but they all stayed at the tip of his tongue, unable to be spoken.

He could only gently stroke Sif’s hair, tenderly comforting, "My dear daughter, don’t cry. We are still alive and can meet again; this is the Goddess’s blessing."

Sif quickly wiped away the tears on her cheeks, sobbing, her voice unclear.

"Father, you’re so cruel, not even willing to write a letter. If it weren’t for the marriage, would you have kept it from me forever?"

Edward sighed softly, not knowing what to say.

He wanted to write, but what could he write?

The Emperor of The First Human Empire, trapped in the Undersea City, relying on the Sea Witch’s favor to live safely?

Saying it out loud would be a disgrace.

Moreover, would his dear daughter really come to save him?

He didn’t want to face the issue.

The cruelty of the power struggle would tear all family bonds apart.

Roland appeared at the right time, comforting Sif, "Don’t cry anymore, your father has his difficulties. You should try to understand him more."

Edward’s face changed slightly.

He read between Roland’s lines.

He was no longer the Emperor of the Empire.

Roland’s address for him was not His Majesty the Emperor, but Sif’s father.

He felt a flicker of anger, but it quickly vanished.

If he didn’t want this last familial bond to disappear, it was best to forget he was ever an emperor.

Edward smiled and said, "My dear daughter, I’m old now, the Empire’s future depends on you. And this young man..."

"Roland, he is my..." Sif was about to introduce Roland, but suddenly didn’t know what title to use.

She wanted to announce with a hint of defiance that Roland was her fiancé, but Roland hadn’t officially proposed to her, so it wasn’t considered.

He still owed her a romantic proposal.

Sif was dazed, but Roland couldn’t be.

"I am Sif’s Guardian, Roland. I will protect her for a lifetime with my life."

This response was neither servile nor overbearing and hinted at his relationship with Sif, a perfect answer.

Edward’s eyes lit up.

Roland, right? A very good young man, indeed deserving of his daughter.

His daughter was the most beautiful girl in the world.

However, beauty wasn’t always fortune; being beautiful to this degree was more like a curse. Even if she was a Princess, her marriage was likely to be a tragedy.

Fortunately, she was born into the Imperial Family; even without love, she could live comfortably.

Edward had always been reluctant to arrange a political marriage for his daughter and had even granted the Tyrone Earl’s Domain to her, wanting her to marry into a family.

Although he was a monarch, he still had some affection for his children, naturally not wishing his daughter to suffer.

At first glance of Roland, he felt a bit unhappy that his daughter was taken away, but he quickly came to terms with it.

Love never makes sense.

Just like he couldn’t foresee that his destiny would lie with the Sea Witch.

Since his daughter liked him, that was the best.