The Princess And The Lord-Chapter 1413: A New Life

Inside the King’s study at Cestine Palace, Lory sat in front of the computer, her eyes fixed on the screen as she clicked through the report from the intelligence department, Noxcra. The report detailed the situation in Wellington City following their departure.

Among the information, she noted that Arlo Cawtorn had been seen entering and leaving the Elysium, specifically, the Vicenzio Building, where Alexander Behrenn was staying.

The situation in Wellington had become increasingly chaotic after the Elysium incident. The news had been dominating headlines across every major news outlet for days. At first, the organization attempted to downplay the scandal, claiming the perpetrators had been apprehended and were part of a terrorist group aiming to attack the Saintess and the S.A.I.N.T. organization. They even released photos of the supposed attackers, and for a brief moment, the public believed them.

However, the narrative quickly unraveled when reports surfaced that the individuals shown had no connection to the incident at all and, worse yet, some of them weren’t even in Wellington when it happened.

Leaked CCTV footage confirmed their alibis, showing they were nowhere near the Elysium during the explosion. The footage quickly spread online, igniting public outrage. Accusations flew, suggesting that Elysium and the Dolza government were conspiring to cover up the truth.

Soon, conspiracy theorists began to emerge, spreading countless theories about what might have actually taken place. As a result, rumors spiraled out of control, feeding further distrust and chaos, and for the first time in a long time, the credibility of the S.A.I.N.T. organization was shaken.

Lory knew the ones behind the leaked CCTV footage and the swirling rumors were Stephan and a Noxcra agent as part of a calculated move to keep their enemies distracted. And truthfully, they were doing a great job.

She blew her cheek then picked up her mug and quietly sipped her hot lemon tea. Her eyes drifted to her phone. Still no message from Zhao Li Xin. Thankfully, Leon kept her updated, so at least she knew Zhao Li Xin was still safe, it just, she missed him so much she started having it hard to sleeping alone in the bed.

Leon, on the other hand, was in high spirits. He had discovered numerous rare materials and a few valuable treasures in the underground dungeon. He’d already called for his subordinates to retrieve everything and bring it back to Harland. Lory had told him he could keep whatever he found for himself, but Leon had refused.

He said he only needed a few items and insisted the rest be sent to the Kingdom’s treasury, convinced it would serve the people better. Lory couldn’t change his mind, so in the end, she simply accepted it with gratitude.

Suddenly, a knock came on the door, snapping Lory out of her thoughts. Stephan’s voice followed, "Your Highness, Miss Hamilton is here."

Lory’s face lit up instantly. "Come in!"

Stephan opened the door with the poised manner of a gentleman and stepped aside, allowing Lilly to enter first. Her eyes sparkled with excitement, but a flicker of nervousness lingered in her expression.

This was her first time setting foot inside the legendary Cestine Palace that she could only see on television. A place she had never imagined herself visiting, let alone being invited to. Her family had been summoned discreetly to discuss recent events, as they had become unexpectedly entangled in matters beyond their comprehension.

Lilly had prepared herself to meet Lory as soon as possible. She missed her dearly and hadn’t seen her since arriving in Herriond. But the moment she stepped into the grand halls of the palace, her confidence wavered. The sheer opulence and majesty of the palace overwhelmed her senses. The soaring ceilings, glittering chandeliers, and finely woven tapestries all whispered of power and history.

Then she saw Lory.

Seated behind an elegant, carved desk, draped in noble attire and surrounded by the quiet dignity of the royal chamber, Lory looked every bit the figure of grace and authority. She exuded the kind of presence that made others instinctively fall silent. Suddenly, all of Lilly’s prepared words slipped from her mind.

A lump formed in her throat as doubt crept in. The contrast between them—the simple girl from Herriond and the poised royal figure before her, somehow made Lilly feel small, like a child trespassing in a world too grand for her.

"Your Highness," Lilly said respectfully as she gave a graceful curtsy.

Lory chuckled and rose from her chair, stepping out from behind the enormous desk. Her regal presence softened with warmth as she walked over to Lilly.

"Hi, Lilly. How are you? You’re finally here!" she said with a bright smile, reaching out to take Lilly’s hands and gently helping her stand upright.

"I’m good," Lilly replied, her smile a little stiff as she tried to push past the nervousness tightening in her chest. "Thank you for everything you’ve done. I hope I’m not disturbing you."

Lory let out a soft, amused laugh at Lilly’s formal tone. "Of course not," she said, giving her hands a reassuring squeeze. "I’m really happy you came. Come, let’s sit and talk."It worked.

Lory’s gentle kindness gradually helped ease Lilly’s tension.

Her expression softened, though a trace of nervousness still lingered in her eyes. With a warm smile, Lory guided her toward a plush velvet couch and gestured for her to sit down.

Meanwhile, Stephan moved with quiet efficiency, preparing a cup of tea for both women. Lory’s presence in the palace remained an absolute secret, so well-hidden that even the palace staff had no idea she was here. They had only caught whispers about an ’esteemed guest’ staying in the private wing, someone with peculiar habits and an unusually strong love for sweets. Though, it feel familiar still none if them would ever dream that the guest was, their beloved Princess Lorient.

After setting the tea on the table, Stephan straightened and said calmly, "The rest of the Hamilton family are waiting in the privy chamber with Lord Elkhandt and the others. We’re only waiting for a few more to arrive."

"Let me know when everything is ready," Lory said calmly.

"Yes, Your Highness," Fredhardt replied with a respectful bow of his head before turning to leave the room in silence.

Lilly felt much more relaxed once Stephan left the room. It wasn’t that she had a bad opinion of him, on the contrary, she respected stephan very much since he is the legendary Archknights. However, facing gace to face with Stephan make her feel like a student facing the principal. It feelt intense and intimidated.

"How is your family settling in Herriond?" Lory asked as she picked up a porcelain teacup and handed it to Lilly.

Lilly accepted the teacup with a sweet smile and replied, "They’re very happy. Father said there’s a lot of potential in Harland. He also mentioned the bureaucracy there is more transparent and straightforward, which makes doing business so much easier. Oh—and he’s been really busy managing the project with the Poko-Poko Company. I think he actually got busier after coming here."

She tilted her head thoughtfully, then added with a soft laugh, "Grandfather’s also enjoying life in Herriond. He says the parks, the art galleries, and especially the clean air make a huge difference. He’s been feeling healthier lately."

Then, with an almost embarrassed chuckle, she added, "He even started a vlog to show off to his old friends."

Lory blinked. "A vlog? Your grandfather?"

Lilly sighed, shaking her head. "Yes. Imagine my shock when he told me about it. There he was, giving an art tour while reviewing the architecture of the city and even the lifestyle of people in here. Since when did the ever-dignified Hamilton patriarch become so... trendy?"

Lory burst into laughter, eyes sparkling with amusement. "Now I have to know—what’s his vlog called?"

Lilly looked mildly horrified. "Ugh... Do I really have to say it?"

Lory leaned in eagerly, grinning. "Yes. You absolutely do."

With a reluctant sigh, Lilly unlocked her phone and began scrolling. "Alright, alright... I’ll show you," she muttered, cheeks flushing slightly as she handed the phone over to Lory.

Despite her embarrassment, a soft smile tugged at her lips. Deep down, she was genuinely happy, proud, even. Seeing her grandfather embrace life again meant more to her than words could express. She knew how much of a blow it had been for him after her grandmother passed.

For a long time, it was as if the light had gone out in him. He had become quiet and withdrawn, spending most of his days alone, as though he were simply waiting for time to run out.

But now... now he looked alive again. He smiled more. He talked about the future. He explored parks, visited art galleries, tried new food, and recorded every moment with a spark in his eyes she hadn’t seen in years.

He once told Lilly that there’s still so much left to see in the world. Therefore, he wanted to capture every moment, so that one day, he could show it all to his wife when he returned to her side.

Lory scrolled through Hugo’s vlog with growing curiosity. Though he never showed his face or even spoke directly in the videos, only brief glimpses of his back or close-ups of his hands, but still, his enthusiasm came through clearly, especially during his visits to art galleries. His gestures, the way he lingered on certain paintings, and the gentle piano music playing in the background made it clear how deeply he appreciated every moment.

With a warm smile, Lory gave the video a thumbs up.

She glanced back at Lilly. "And your mother?"

Lilly chuckled and sipped her tea before answering, "Mom was thrilled to finally reunite with Ethan. But after she found out what happened between him and Elena, and how he got caught and had to be rescued by you at the Aeon, well... let’s just say he didn’t get a warm welcome." Her smile turned sly. "She gave him quite the beating—verbally, of course."

Lory laughed as she imagined Ethan shrinking his neck while the ever-graceful Marsha scolded him incessantly.

"But she’s doing fine now," Lilly added. "She already had a few friends in the socialite circle here, so settling in wasn’t a problem for her. Honestly, I think she’s enjoying herself way too much."

"And you... How do you feel about living here?" Lory asked gently, her voice soft with concern. "You must have left a lot behind when you moved from Eagle Rock City. Your friends...your life"

Lory didn’t say it out loud, but a hint of guilt crept into her expression. She knew that uprooting Lilly hadn’t been easy. But it was the only way to keep her safe.

Lilly took a slow sip of her tea, then shook her head lightly. "It’s fine. I didn’t have any real friends there anyway," she said with a small, almost dismissive smile. Then her cheeks flushed slightly as she added, "Besides... you’re here. And so is King Lucas."

Lory’s lips curved into a knowing smile. Of course. She still remembered how Lilly’s room used to be filled with items plastered with Lucas’s face, screen saver, posters, mugs, even a limited-edition cushion that she never kne exist. No wonder she hadn’t hesitated when asked to move to Herriond. Lory felt a wave of relief knowing Lilly was adjusting well.

But her expression turned a touch more serious as she asked, "What about Sean Lockwood? Has he tried to contact you?"

Lilly chuckled, setting her teacup down as a mischievous grin spread across her face. "He did...once. But after that video of me crying during the interview went viral, people absolutely tore him apart online. He got scolded left and right, and some even accused him of emotional manipulation. After that, his reputation got hit quite a lot. Perhaps that’s why he made an appearance with the Saintess." Lilly shrugged

Lory raised an eyebrow, both amused and satisfied. "Well, it seems I have to give the Royal public relations team a raise."

Lory leaned back slightly, a subtle breath of relief escaping her lips. A moment later, her smile faded as she grew quiet, immersed in her thoughts, no wonder she saw Sean at Dolza at that time.

It seemed he wanted to use the Saintess’s image to prop up his damaged reputation. A clever move—manipulative, calculated, and exactly what Lory expected from someone like him.

Still, a thread of unease tugged at her. Sean Lockwood’s motives were never driven by affection, but by clear, calculated purpose. That’s what made him dangerous. Seaan Lockwood wouldn’t hesitate, wouldn’t care how his actions affected Lilly, as long as they served his goal. And people like that rarely walked away easily.

Just to be safe, she made a mental note to assign one of the Noxcra agents to discreetly monitor Lilly’s phone activity, not too intrusive, just enough to catch any weird contact from anyone connected to Sean.

"Don’t worry about him," Lory said calmly, offering a reassuring smile. "With everything going on in Wellington, he won’t have time to bother you."

Lilly’s eyes lit up with curiosity and excitement. She leaned in, her voice lowered but full of energy. "Oh! I heard about that—it was you, wasn’t it?" she said, clearly convinced.

Lory gave a small, noncommittal shrug, her expression unreadable. "So you heard it too."

Lilly grinned. "Please, you’d have to be dead not to hear about that."

Lory chuckled softly, lifting her teacup and taking a delicate sip, her posture calm and composed. She didn’t confirm anything, but her silence spoke volumes.

Lilly’s eyes sparkled with excitement. She had suspected it, and clearly, she wasn’t the only one. Both her father and grandfather had come to the same conclusion: aside from Lory and the Archknights, who else had the power and boldness to turn Dolza upside down?

Before the moment could stretch further, a knock came at the door. Stephan stepped inside with his usual composed manner. "Your Highness," he said with a polite bow, "Everyone has gathered in the privy chamber."

"Okay," Lory gave a slight nod.

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