"You..." Veronica wavered for a moment, then spoke sternly, "Stop talking nonsense. How could the chief be so easily bewitched by you?"

"Even the most upstanding gentleman’s thinking ability is incomplete in dreams, lacking in self-control. Isn’t it the same when you dream?" Fille said, a triumphantly superior smile on her face.

Veronica’s face changed slightly.

"Hehe, that was quite a passionate night, huh." Fille held her face and began to twist her body non-stop.

"Chief, Chief?" Veronica suddenly turned to look at Aiden’s face.

"Well, it seems like I had a strange dream," Aiden maintained an embarrassed yet polite smile and shifted his gaze down the corridor, "But I completely forgot it upon waking up... Let’s continue the patrol."

The rule he used to catch the dangerous person approaching him still had some flaws; Fille’s nocturnal visit using dreams didn’t trigger any hostility until she tried to take pictures to blackmail him, which then triggered his power.

"Wait, wait a moment!" Veronica couldn’t hold him back and just puffed her cheeks in frustration.

"Eh, you guys haven’t confirmed your relationship, have you? That’s perfect, as the saying goes, a flower with an owner smells sweeter, and it’s even better if it belongs to someone else! Stealing another person’s man is the most thrilling!" Fille laughed arrogantly, her expression a perfect image of a villain, "Don’t be so sulky, sis. It was just a dream, it doesn’t count as cheating! Though, who knows what might happen in the future after having a taste of the forbidden fruit? Wahaha! Missy here will eventually win over Lord Aiden! I’ve said I’d make you experience the pain of a stolen love and I’ll definitely keep my word! What Fille loses, she must take back herself—er..."

Her laughter stopped abruptly because she saw Veronica, with a chilly expression, beginning to transform, even growing beast ears.

"Uh, sis, you’re not going to start something here and break the rules, are you?" Fille joked nervously, raising her hands, "Hey, if you do that, wouldn’t it just mean you admit defeat in terms of feminine charm to me? Don’t be so impulsive. Now that Lord Aiden has become so authoritative and charming, do you really think bad women like me are the only ones interested in him here? With me around, I might help eliminate some of the competition, right? We’ve got a long road ahead..."

"I just had a bit of an emotional stir, rest assured, I definitely won’t break the prison’s rules. Not to mention others, but you, I, Remember, You!" Veronica’s face was expressionless, her eyes piercing as she glared at Fille.

Not far away, in cell number twelve, Daili shook her head with a smile: "Still the same, always testing the boundaries of danger. Did you hear that? She actually went and attacked the prison warden at night."

"After all, she wasn’t there that day, she probably doesn’t realize that she’s facing a deity now, does she?" Presia said indifferently with a sigh, "But I guess..."

"Even if she knew, she might still be the same," Daili said with a shake of her head and a smile, "When all is said and done, we’re all the same. We are prisoners, and that man is our prison warden—no matter if he’s some kind of ruler, our relationship is still the same, isn’t it? There’s still a long way to go."

...

A month later, Aiden was once again cornered by the press at the prison entrance.

"Mr. Gallo, could you comment on the recent statements made by the pop star Sophie Carter? How did you come to know her?"

"Mr. Gallo, are the interview contents in ’Empire Entertainment’ true? Have you been secretly dating Miss Deborah Awen, who has returned to the stage?"

The camera shutters clicked repeatedly as the chattering group of reporters surrounded Aiden, fielding a barrage of questions at him from every direction.

"Please step aside, I need to get to work," Aiden smiled calmly as he responded.

It was a simple phrase, yet it instilled a sense of inexpressible authority in the journalists. When they came to their senses, they realized they had already neatly made way for him, as if welcoming Aiden to his job.

Aiden didn’t take a deep breath until he walked into his office.

The reason he was being bombarded with questions by reporters today was mainly because the best-selling monthly magazine "Empire Entertainment," which is distributed throughout the Empire and neighboring regions, had released a special supplement featuring interviews with several actresses voted for by readers. As a returning singer, Sophie Carter and recently returned to the Southern Continent Deborah Awen were included.

During the interview process, there was a question about the opposite sex whom they particularly respected or had a fondness for—and both gave the same man’s identity and name.

However, that alone wouldn’t have drawn so many reporters to the prison’s gates.

In fact, many reporters were here today to "incidentally" interview Aiden because there was a significant political figure visiting Rose Iron Prison on a diplomatic visit from the Kingdom of Gistas—the special visit to a prison was mainly because this figure had a past connection with the prison, and those who keep up with international news would know this bizarre story: a princess once sought refuge in the prison to avoid a political assassination.

Two hours later, a prison guard came to notify Aiden: "Warden, it’s time."

Aiden got up and went to the appointed reception area, only to find a solemn-looking Earl Heinz Hoffman and a group of diplomatic personnel from both sides.

"Oh, I heard the Grand Duchess has already arrived?" Aiden asked in confusion.

"Well, she said she wanted to take a tour of the prison first, so I let the prison administration guide her... Okay, mainly, she said she wanted to meet with the inmates here." Heinz stood erect with his hands behind his back, "Please forgive our caprice."

"Oh?" Aiden laughed, "It seems she still has fond memories of this place."

The attendants couldn’t help but look on in surprise as the warden and the senior government official from the continent’s second most powerful nation bantered so easily.

"She’s here to reminisce, but I’m not," Heinz said to Aiden meaningfully, "It seems you’ve been making good progress, haven’t you?"

"And you as well," Aiden replied politely with a smile.

"We’ve managed to secure our position and balance the power of the King’s faction. His Majesty the King has also toned down a bit and doesn’t dare to be so aggressive anymore," Heinz spoke slowly, "If both sides could make concessions, perhaps there is a chance to resolve the issues with the new policy more peacefully."

"To be honest, I’m not much interested in the politics of other countries," Aiden shrugged.

"Okay, let’s talk about something you are interested in," Heinz lowered his voice a bit, "I’ve had reports from my subordinates, saying you want to learn more about the ’Cursed Land’?"

"Let’s talk about that in detail over there," Aiden smiled and gestured with a "please" motion.