In the Name of Empress-Chapter 420 - 294: Is This Also Part of the Humiliation?
But she quickly realized that her anxiety was pointless, only leaving her sleep-deprived with puffy eyes.
Since she couldn’t escape, she might as well settle in peacefully.
Though Roland was a scoundrel, he maintained a decent facade, accommodating her with the highest-ranking prisoner treatment and even thoughtfully arranging for a Rurik chef skilled in making her hometown cuisine.
In just a few days, her sadness magically became an appetite, and she even gained two pounds.
She was only under house arrest, not really imprisoned, and she was even allowed two newspapers a week and could borrow three books.
Unfortunately, she couldn’t choose the newspapers freely and couldn’t see firsthand news from her homeland.
Roland designated her newspapers as the overseas edition of "The Sun" and "Rodinia Weekly."
The book selection was also meticulously curated by Roland.
Today, she was reading an encyclopedia about the Undersea World.
The various new and fascinating knowledge immersed her so much that she almost forgot this world.
However, the world had not forgotten her.
The one who came to see her was Roland.
Angelina bit her lip, her face somewhat grim.
She originally thought she wouldn’t have to see Roland, who seemed harmless to humans and animals but was actually shameless, but he had come nonetheless.
Was he here to inspect his spoils of war or to toy with her like a cat with a mouse?
If this was two days after she had first been captured, Angelina might have been emotionally distraught, but now she felt quite calm.
Her Majesty the Empress had often said that reading brings peace, but she could never quite calm her mind — it was only as a captive that she had the opportunity to read.
She had indeed failed to meet the Empress’s expectations.
With a light sigh, she inserted a bookmark at the half-read section and closed the book. Before she could return it to the shelf, Roland appeared at the study door.
Since he was already here, Angelina couldn’t be bothered to put away the book.
She stood up and was about to salute Roland when her hand, raised halfway, froze in the air.
What identity should she use to greet Roland?
A military salute was definitely out of the question.
The face of an Imperial soldier had been utterly lost by her.
After a moment of confusion, Angelina pinched at an imaginary skirt, performed a curtsey.
Her knees were somewhat stiff, making the motion quite awkward, causing Angelina’s lips to twitch slightly.
Fortunately, Roland didn’t care and casually gestured for her to sit down.
Roland easily settled into another chair, smiling as he greeted her.
"How are you finding the stay here?"
A few days ago, Angelina might have lost her temper and argued with Roland.
Now she just smiled calmly, "I’m good, the chef you found is very authentic, and the food tastes like home."
"That’s good. If you have any difficulties in life, feel free to tell the maids. Sussex is a civilized country; we don’t mistreat prisoners of war."
Angelina bit her lip and swallowed her words.
Catching a glimpse of the book’s cover on the table, Roland’s lips curled into an attractive smile.
This was a book he had brought back from the sea, becoming a creation of his after being processed.
Spreading knowledge to the high-ranking officials of the barbaric Rurik People could earn him an Inheritor Badge, and the thought of the upcoming badge almost made Roland laugh outright.
His purpose this trip was not for this but to recharge the ring.
After some small talk, Roland removed the Ice Crystal Blue Ring from his left ring finger and slowly raised it.
"This is the trump card Sofia gave you, right?"
Angelina didn’t speak, her face slightly red.
Holding the ring bestowed by the Empress yet captured by Roland was a shame she couldn’t cleanse.
Angelina’s feelings were written all over her face, no need to guess — it was obvious.
Roland indeed couldn’t figure out the thoughts of a proper girl, but fortunately, Angelina was just a neutral soul hiding in a girl’s body.
As long as he didn’t regard her as a girl, it was easily understandable.
"Angelina, if you were my subordinate and experienced such a catastrophic failure, how do you think I would handle you?"
"Kill." Angelina’s answer was succinct.
Roland almost laughed out of anger; was that how she viewed him?
Silently noting this grudge, he shrugged and calmly said, "Assigning tasks beyond a subordinate’s abilities should lead to the leader bearing the major responsibility."
Angelina suddenly looked up, her eyes wide.
She comprehended three foreign languages, and Roland’s Sussex Language was flourished and precise, an authentic Imperial Capital accent, all of which she heard clearly.
Yet, although she understood each word Roland said, she couldn’t grasp the meaning when they were combined.
Roland was tired of babbling, so he stated directly, "You have an intelligence network; you should know I’m not lying."
Angelina tried to recall, indeed thinking of a few minor incidents.
Under Roland’s command, the cavalry officer Jes, due to his overzealous handling of a warehouse arson case, was apprehensive, and it was indeed Roland who took full responsibility.
He wasn’t bragging; if a command error occurred, he indeed would take responsibility.
Would the Empress do the same, or possibly be less than Roland?
This terrifying thought just emerged, startling Angelina greatly.
She hurriedly dispelled this terrible notion and screamed somewhat angrily.
"What do you mean? Are you trying to take this opportunity to belittle Her Majesty the Empress? I’ll tell you, Her Majesty would do the same, and so would every excellent leader!"
Watching Angelina’s face twist in anger, Roland was initially startled, then relieved.
He was merely speaking casually, yet it angered Angelina.
It seemed Sofia wasn’t so forgiving, or at least not always forgiving.
Noting this critical information, Roland nodded and agreed with a smile, "I believe that; it’s a basic quality of an excellent leader."
Although Roland verbally gave in, Angelina had no mood to waste words with him, her tone also gaining a touch of coldness.
