In the Name of Empress-Chapter 520 - 329: Scar or Holy Mark? (2)

Just as he was about to exit the room, Sif softly said, "Rupert, I’m very pleased with your work ability and loyalty, but please restrain some occupational habits that don’t belong to intelligence personnel."

Rupert inexplicably broke into a sweat on his forehead, he didn’t dare to wipe it, and just trembled as he replied:

"I, I, follow the orders!"

He really wanted to explain, but thinking of Sif’s style, he held back.

Perhaps feeling the attitude was a bit harsh and afraid to chill the heart of a loyal subject, Sif softly said:

"Rupert, the age of the Elves is over, even if the descendants return, they must recognize reality; this is the era of a new epoch, and the old tribes are merely background."

"I will lead the people to the end, but they cannot be immersed in past glory and unable to extricate themselves."

Rupert had long confessed to Sif the reasons for his loyalty, and Sif did not hide her identity.

She was once the Grand General of the Elf Race, also the last descendant of the Imperial Family, and with all the other members of the Imperial Family fallen, she was the highest-ranking heir.

With Roland’s endorsement, all living Wise Men (Roland being the only one) acknowledged her.

She also unexpectedly became the Empress with the highest support rate in Elf history.

Because of the exceptionally high support rate, she enjoyed benefits that previous rulers never had. She did not intend to avoid her identity nor shirk responsibility.

Although Rupert was somewhat assertive, his loyalty was commendable, and Sif had never minded his absurd reports and gossip.

But before was before, now is now.

Seeing Rupert’s disappointed eyes, Sif had a sudden idea of how to comfort him.

"Rupert, if you want explosive sales, I suggest you consider writing about an Empress neglected by her husband, lonely with nowhere to turn, having countless lovers."

"How to grasp the scale, you’re the professional, handle it yourself."

Rupert was crying and laughing, had no choice but to bow, and then left.

Sif’s meaning was clear, like gossip? Find Sofia for that. If you dare not, then it’s indeed a stance issue.

Her words also indirectly showed her attitude; she was determined to confront Sofia directly.

After the confrontation in the hall, Sif completely gave up on reconciling with Sofia.

Borrow Roland for five years?

Pff!

Sofia was a very capricious person, she often made decisions based solely on personal whims.

A high emotional intelligence version would say she’s authentic, a low emotional intelligence version would say she’s a case of intermittent mental illness.

Moreover, her promises weren’t necessarily reliable.

She once committed murder before the party to which she made the promise could find her to fulfill it, killing them. With the promisee dead, breach naturally didn’t exist.

Sending Roland there would be standard aiding an enemy behavior. Besides exposing her own weakness, there was no benefit.

Sif understood Roland best, he possessed the ability to turn the mundane into magic; let him go over, in not just five years, even five months, there would be earth-shaking changes.

What if Sofia, the resentful lady in her boudoir, fancied him?

Even though the possibility was slight, it was never zero, and just thinking that this possibility existed made Sif shiver in her bones.

Absolutely not!

Sif recalled what Roland had said more than once, only peace achieved through struggle is real peace; peace obtained by pleading is like a sand sculpture on the beach, erased by a single wave.

Sif casually checked the intelligence Rupert had prepared, skimming through it randomly.

She originally didn’t have much expectation for Rupert’s intelligence, but upon seeing the analysis, she frowned.

She didn’t care much about Rupert’s other analyses, but only the last suggestion made her heart tremble.

"Christine is on Sofia’s must-kill list; as a fanatic, she can be severed when necessary to seek compromise."

Sif paused, sighed, then tore the intelligence into pieces, set it aflame, letting it turn to ashes.

To be fair, her relationship with Christine was quite good, she even suggested to Roland that he let Christine join the Soul Blood Link to fill the final gap.

She even fantasized that Roland’s charm could surpass the nebulous Goddess of Light.

After all, the Goddess of Light could only offer emptiness, while Roland offered something very tangible.

But after yesterday, she truly wanted to thank the heavens she hadn’t pulled Christine into it.

Christine’s piety was somewhat crazed even among fanatics.

In the current circumstances where the identity of Saintess was being played to the brink of excess, Christine was definitely an anomaly. She honestly had no interest in men and was wholly devoted to the Goddess.

Yesterday, she dared to confront Sofia openly, what she might do tomorrow was simply unimaginable.

If the Goddess of Light issued a Divine Oracle for her to murder Roland, would she hesitate?

No need to doubt her unwavering execution of the oracle, she probably wouldn’t hesitate even for a mere second.

Thinking about having an unpredictable bomb hiding nearby, and almost treating the bomb as a Holy Image and inviting it home, Sif felt horrified.

She couldn’t sit still; she had to find Roland.

Roland had everything good, except he was easily soft-hearted towards people around him.

Housing Alina was like that, which was why he also heavily relied on Christine.

He used sincerity to gain great rewards from Alina, so he wanted to replicate this with Christine as well.

However, Sif was still too late.

When she reached Roland’s chamber, the maid told her he had been caring for Christine all night.

Sif had spent the whole night sleeplessly in her office.

Christine had struggled painfully throughout the night.

Roland had accompanied the Saintess through a night of agony.

In short, they were all quite busy.

Sif was silent for a moment, then abandoned the idea of seeking out Roland and Christine.