After Graces’s disappearance, the fighting on the front lines intensified. The Rebel Army, as if the floodgates had been thrown open, flew into a complete frenzy. In just a few days, they had fully conquered the mining stars on the Empire’s border.

Left with no other choice, Admiral Snop personally went to the front lines.

Her Majesty the Queen had been in a foul mood for several days straight.

As a result, she denied Lu Xia’s request for a meeting.

Lu Xia, however, was not in a hurry. What Lady Dain and Victoria had done couldn’t simply be forgotten. Her Majesty the Queen would have to give her an explanation sooner or later.

While she was waiting, Lady Daina brought her some news.

The attendant from Victoria’s public banquet for main husbands—the one who had led Lu Xia to the lounge in Lady Daina’s name—had been found.

The attendant had been clever; after the plot was exposed and he realized things had gone south, he had secretly slipped away.

If he hadn’t, Lady Daina would never have had the chance to find him. ’Lady Dain must be terrified by his disappearance,’ Lu Xia thought. ’After all, that attendant is a key witness.’

Lady Daina learned from the attendant that after she and Lu Xia had left, Lady Dain and Victoria had brought the other guests and burst into the room, intending to catch Duke Lu Xia and Dong Ke in the act. However, when they stormed in, they found no trace of Duke Lu Xia—only Dong Ke, who was soaking in a fish tank.

However, all the guests who followed them in had inhaled the Imperial Secret Medicine, and the scene had nearly spiraled out of control. Fortunately, Lady Dain reacted quickly, isolating them before using a seductive fragrance to make them forget the incident.

That was how the news was kept from getting out.

But the seductive fragrance was not without its side effects. After returning home, the guests who had inhaled it all experienced physical reactions to varying degrees. They didn’t say much, out of deference to Lady Dain’s status as a member of the Imperial Family. Inwardly, however, they all began to wonder what she had used on them. Private doctors throughout the Empire had been in particularly short supply recently.

Lu Xia was not surprised to hear this. The purpose of the trap Lady Dain had set was already abundantly clear. She said to Lady Daina, "Her Majesty the Queen has yet to grant me an audience."

"I’ve heard Her Majesty the Queen has been preoccupied with the front lines recently. She probably can’t attend to your affairs at the moment. It’s best to wait a little longer."

Lu Xia agreed. "Alright."

Then she asked, "Is there any news from the Daferno family?"

"You’re asking about Dong Ke, aren’t you? He was already in poor health, and this time, after being drugged by Victoria and not receiving timely treatment, he’s still in the hospital. What can the Daferno family say? He’s just a male, even if his gene fusion degree is a bit high. Since he’s with Victoria, she, as his Female Master, can do whatever she wants to him. They were originally scheming to use you, thinking you were friendlier toward males, but now that their plan has failed, they can only accept reality. Even if the Daferno family truly values Dong Ke, a male with an 80% gene fusion degree, they would never offend the Imperial Family for his sake."

Lu Xia was well aware of this. Even so, she couldn’t accept the Daferno family’s scheme against her.

After finishing her conversation with Lady Daina, Lu Xia was about to head to the No. 2 Institute to check on the progress of the Ice Spirit Gene when she received a call from an unknown number.

Lu Xia hesitated. A flicker of hope rose in her heart, but it turned to disappointment the moment the call connected. She had thought it might be Graces, but it was actually Sivier from the Daferno family.

She wasn’t surprised that he knew her contact number. After all, the Daferno family was one of the influential noble houses; it was normal for them to have their methods.

"Duke Lu Xia, good day. My apologies for disturbing you at this hour. I believe you’re already aware of what happened the other day. The Daferno family wishes to make amends for the incident."

Lu Xia hadn’t expected the Daferno family to admit to their actions so readily. It made her see them in a new light.

"Then how do you intend to make amends?"

"As long as Duke Lu Xia is willing, we are prepared to offer any form of compensation. And the request I made last time still stands."

Lu Xia recalled Sivier’s previous request to become her secondary husband. For a moment, she couldn’t tell if he was trying to make amends or take advantage of the situation. The man’s audacity made her laugh in exasperation.

"Lord Sivier, you truly are a schemer. Since the Daferno family is being so generous, I won’t be polite either. Compensate me with three hundred million."

There was a pause on Sivier’s end. He seemed surprised by how direct Duke Lu Xia was. Three hundred million was certainly not a small sum for the Daferno family, but having a path to reconciliation was better than having none at all.

"Very well. We will gather the funds for you as soon as possible."

At this, Sivier paused for a moment before speaking again. "Are you certain you won’t consider my offer to become your secondary husband?"

"Then tell me, what benefits are there in you becoming my secondary husband? I don’t believe I require the Daferno family’s assistance."

"Does the Duke know much about the Daferno family? The Daferno family controls the Empire’s Starship manufacturing technology. In other words, 80% of the Empire’s Starships are built by us. The Queen’s decision to personally arrange the marriage between my younger brother, Dong Ke, and Victoria was also a move to bind the Daferno family more closely to the Imperial Family.

The Daferno family cannot oppose the Imperial Family, so we had to accept. But my brother’s health is extremely fragile, and it will only worsen after this incident. If you are willing, Duke, the Daferno family would like to form an alliance with you."

Lu Xia was genuinely surprised by Sivier’s words.

’Does the Daferno family have some sort of misunderstanding about me?’

Thinking this, she voiced her question aloud: "What does the Daferno family want from me? Or rather, what sort of false impression have I given you? Why choose me? As far as I know, I have no connection to the Daferno family, nor have we ever had any dealings."

That’s why none of this made any sense to her.

Sivier’s steady voice continued, "Because Duke Lu Xia possesses a gene fusion agent that can increase a person’s gene fusion degree, turning even defective males into Gene Fusion Experts. This is something the Empire hasn’t been able to achieve in centuries. Is the current delay in the gene fusion agent’s release related to Her Majesty the Queen?"

Hearing Sivier’s words, Lu Xia had to marvel at his astuteness.

She didn’t deny it. Instead, she asked, "So the Daferno family chose me for this reason alone?"

Sivier chuckled. "Perhaps Duke Lu Xia underestimates her own influence. From the beauty cream and hair growth liquid to the gene fusion agent, every one of your products benefits the Imperial Citizens. Your public credibility is already incredibly high. If you are willing, the Daferno family will become your staunchest and most reliable ally."

Lu Xia was not swayed by his flattering words. She remained as calm as ever. "So, what does the Daferno family hope to gain from me?"

"You may not believe me if I say we want nothing, but the Daferno family simply wishes to focus on manufacturing Starships. We have no desire to become anyone’s tool."