After dinner that evening, Simon approached Lu Xia. "Do you have time tonight? There’s something I’d like to discuss with you in private."

Lu Xia’s heart skipped a beat. She had a feeling she knew what Simon wanted to talk about, but she hadn’t expected him to have uncovered it so quickly.

She nodded and rose to her feet. "Come with me to the study."

Watching the two of them leave, Cecil looked at Smelian in confusion. "What does Simon want with Lu Xia?"

Smelian shook his head. "He didn’t say. How would I know?"

Cecil gritted his teeth. ’That guy... I always feel like he’s using every chance he gets to get closer to Lu Xia.’

Hearing this, Smelian gave him a faint look, his silent gaze seeming to say, ’Aren’t you the same? We’re all old foxes here, so what’s with the act?’

Cecil didn’t seem to notice the mockery in Smelian’s eyes. Annoyed, he picked up his wine glass, took a sip, and then curled his lip. "I’m heading back to my room. You can take your time eating."

Smelian had actually finished eating long ago. After Cecil left, he didn’t linger either and went out to the garden.

A new batch of roses had bloomed in the garden over the past few days, looking delicate and alluring. It had just rained, so Smelian plucked a few to take back to his room and put in a vase, thinking he would give them to Lu Xia later. She would surely love them.

Meanwhile, in the study, Simon accepted the black tea Lu Xia had poured for him herself, cradling the cup in his hands.

"You must know what I’m here to talk about, Duke?"

Lu Xia didn’t beat around the bush and asked directly, "Do you have the results of your investigation?"

Simon nodded. "Thanks to the direction you provided, some evidence does indicate that Graces is likely with the Alliance Army."

He didn’t use the term "Rebel Army" to define Graces’s current situation and identity, instead using the name "Alliance Army," which made Lu Xia glance at him.

Hearing this result, Lu Xia wasn’t particularly surprised. Thinking back on Graces’s strange behavior before he left, it seemed everything now had an answer.

She just didn’t understand why Graces would choose such a path. As a Major General of the Imperial First Military District, he had to have known there was no turning back. Yet he’d still charged ahead without hesitation. What truly concerned her was his reason for doing so.

Seeing Lu Xia’s silence, Simon asked with some concern, "Are you all right?"

"I’m fine. Besides this, is there anything else you have to report?"

Simon paused for a moment, his fingers gently tracing the side of the teacup. He spoke hesitantly, "The investigation also revealed that both Smelian and Cecil have been in contact with him."

That answer was rather unexpected for Lu Xia. She raised an eyebrow and looked at Simon. "Are you certain?"

"Some leads point to it, but I can’t guarantee they’re authentic. It’s also possible our investigation went in the wrong direction." 𝗳𝚛𝗲𝕖𝕨𝕖𝗯𝚗𝚘𝕧𝕖𝗹.𝗰𝗼𝕞

Simon didn’t state it as an absolute, but Lu Xia knew he wouldn’t have said such a thing without some credible evidence. ’So, Smelian and Cecil have really been in contact with Graces behind my back?’

"Well, those three are really something..."

For a moment, Lu Xia didn’t know what to think. She was a little angry, but she knew their characters. She didn’t believe any of them would do anything to harm her, so she wasn’t afraid.

She looked at Simon and nodded. "I understand. Thank you for your hard work. By the way, after your gene fusion degree increases, you can choose a gene you desire. I’m sure that won’t be difficult for you."

After all, Simon had already successfully found two Alien Genes for her. Finding a third was likely just a matter of time.

"Understood. I’ll keep an eye out."

Simon hadn’t expected to get such an opportunity himself.

"After you leave, send Cecil in."

Hearing this, Simon knew she probably intended to get the answers she wanted from Cecil.

Thinking of Cecil’s personality, Simon glanced at Lu Xia. It was clear Lu Xia knew their personalities well and understood who would be the easiest to get a breakthrough from.

Not long after he left, Cecil came in from outside, looking cheerful.

"Lu Xia, you were looking for me?"

He was very happy that Lu Xia had sought him out personally.

He moved closer, sitting right beside Lu Xia with a smile on his face. Lu Xia glanced at him. "Cecil, is there anything you want to tell me?"

Cecil paused, slightly taken aback. "Tell you what, Lu Xia? I don’t understand what you mean."

He thought back carefully, but he couldn’t recall anything he needed to tell Lu Xia.

"Then let me give you a hint. Graces. Is there some sort of deal between you?"

The smile on Cecil’s face froze the moment he heard the name "Graces." He clearly hadn’t expected Lu Xia to call him in for this.

’So what exactly does Lu Xia know? How much does she know? How did she find out? Did Simon tell her?’

In that instant, a torrent of thoughts flooded Cecil’s mind. His heart tightened, his throat went dry, and he looked at Lu Xia with trepidation in his eyes.

His anxiety was obvious. Lu Xia knew just by looking at him.

"You don’t want to say, or you can’t say?"

Lu Xia’s voice was still gentle, as if she wasn’t about to blame him for this. But for that very reason, Cecil’s sense of crisis deepened.

He pressed his lips together. "Lu Xia, I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to hide it from you. It’s just... it’s better for you not to know about this."

He knew very well that continuing to hide it now would only make things worse.

"So you’re admitting you’ve been in contact with Graces, is that right?"

Cecil nodded. "Yes, I have been in contact with him. But our original intention was always for your own good."

"For my own good?" Lu Xia let out a small scoff. "Then tell me, what exactly are you all planning to do?"

Cecil bit his lip. "Graces doesn’t want you to continue being suppressed by Her Majesty Queen and suffering those injustices, so he chose to forge a new path. I thought he was right, and so did Smelian. That’s why the three of us have been in touch. But rest assured, Lu Xia, we absolutely have not done anything against the people or crossed any moral lines. We just want to change all of this."

Hearing this, Lu Xia went along with it. "Since Smelian is also involved, go and call him in too."

Soon, Smelian appeared in the study. Cecil had already found him and quickly explained everything. Looking at Lu Xia now, Smelian’s expression was not as calm as usual. He was the first to speak. "Xiaxia, if you’re angry, you can punish us. Just don’t harm your own body."

Lu Xia looked at him. "Who said I’m angry? And there’s nothing wrong with my body, so don’t worry. Are you two going to explain everything clearly now, or should I go ask Graces myself?"

Cecil looked at Smelian, but Smelian didn’t respond to him. Instead, he spoke to Lu Xia. "Whatever you want to know, Xiaxia, we’ll tell you everything."

Cecil nodded vigorously as well, showing he felt the same way.