In Ark Simulator, why do I always get a tough start?

Chapter 31 Gertrude's Subtle Changes?
That afternoon, Chen Qi took his private land boat and returned to Shi Tongling's tower, which was also his base camp, as soon as possible.

As soon as he stepped off the landship, the two Golden Law Guards responsible for defending the first gate of the tower almost immediately straightened their backs and raised their hands in high spirits.

"Greetings, Your Highness the Regent!"

"victory!"

"Ah."

Having already seen too many of his fanatical followers, Chen Qi was now used to the two Jin law guards who had been completely subdued by him.

He simply nodded, then asked the two Golden Law Guards a question before heading to the tower:
Have you seen Duke Gertrude? Where is she now?

"Reporting to Your Highness the Regent!" one of the Golden Law Guards immediately reported.

"Duke Gertrude arrived this morning and should be in Princess Viviana's room now."

"...Viviana?"

What does Gertrude want with Viviana?
In Chen Qi's memory, the two people, whose fates had never intersected and whose personalities were completely different, were now actually interacting, which gave him a vague sense of unease.

Gertrude, I hope you won't teach Viviana anything bad.
"...Take me to Viviana's room."

"As ordered!"

……

"...Afterwards, the last knight on this land, alone, launched a final charge against the giant waves as dark as night."

But inside Viviana's room, something that is hard for ordinary people to understand is happening.

Gertrude, the cruel official who struck fear into the hearts of everyone in the "Ministry of State Security" and even the entire "Son of the Witch King" faction, was known as the "Shadow of the Witch King."

Now, she sits smiling beside a pink bed filled with girlish charm, reading aloud the chivalric novel in her hands with great expression.

In front of her, a blonde little girl sat on a high chair, swinging her slender legs back and forth, listening intently to the story she was telling.

Until the arrival of someone broke this tranquil solitude.

"Click."

"Viviana, Gertrude, are you inside?"

As the door was pushed open, Chen Qi, looking slightly anxious, stepped into the room filled with a girlish atmosphere.

But when he noticed that Gertrude was actually reading a story to Viviana, and the two seemed to get along exceptionally well.

Even Chen Qi was stunned for a moment by this unexpected scene.

Fortunately, he had a sweet little girl who brought him back to reality.

“Father, Father… welcome back.”

Upon seeing Chen Qi's arrival, three-year-old Viviana's face clearly showed a hint of joy.

But perhaps Chen Qi's busy schedule left him with little time to spend with Viviana.

Therefore, although Viviana longed to be close to her father, she couldn't help but show a timid and fearful expression.

After all, Viviana didn't fully understand what "Elector" and "Regent" meant.

But she knew that inside the tower, there were both maids and men dressed in full armor.

They all seemed afraid, yet deeply respected their father.

Viviana's father, whom she occasionally saw on television, was often a cold and frightening figure.

This inevitably created a sense of distance between Viviana and Chen Qi.

Gertrude, who had closed her book, witnessed all of this.

"Oh my, my dear Regent, you've finally arrived!"

"Our new princess, Miss Viviana, has been eagerly awaiting your return today!"

As she spoke, Gertrude gave Chen Qi a wink and said teasingly:
"As the princess's father, shouldn't you also express your love for her?"

"—That's what I was thinking all along."

However, Chen Qi, having understood Gertrude's implication, immediately shed his royal dignity and reverted to his usual amiable self.

The next second, to Viviana's small gasp, the three-year-old was gently held in Chen Qi's arms.

"I'm sorry, Viviana, Daddy, I've been too busy lately."

Chen Qi stroked Viviana's smooth, long golden hair, making up for his mistake of neglecting Viviana due to his busy schedule.

Although he was a proper Chinese in his previous life, Chen Qi's expression of love inherited the Chinese people's reserved nature.

However, this might be because Viviana is not Chen Qi's biological daughter.

This, on the contrary, made Chen Qi more open with Viviana, allowing him to fully express his affection for her.

"So, my little princess, have you had any interesting experiences while Daddy's away?"

"--Um!"

Viviana, who was being held in Chen Qi's arms, initially showed a slightly surprised expression, but her cute face was quickly filled with a sweet smile.

“Father, I understand you’ve been busy lately.”

“I complete the homework assigned by my tutor on time every day, and Mother Gertrude also comes to teach me to read.”

When Gertrude was mentioned, Viviana's mood visibly brightened.

She didn't even notice how subtle her father's expression was when she called him "Mother Gertrude."

"Also, Gertrude's mother would read me chivalric romances to lull me to sleep."

“Gertrude’s mother also often brings me all sorts of dolls. These are all brought by Gertrude’s mother, and they’re all by my bedside!”

"……Yeah?"

Chen Qi gently rubbed Viviana's head, then casually turned his head and gave Gertrude a rather serious expression.

Although he didn't speak, Gertrude understood what the regent meant.

Did you teach me to use that title?
"Oh dear, my princess, it seems your father really doesn't like me."

Under Chen Qi's wide-eyed gaze, Gertrude deliberately put on a rather hurt expression and said to Viviana:
"Sigh, it seems that even though I take such good care of the little princess, she is still not as important as your mother in your father's heart."

"But don't worry, Gertrude's mother will still love you as always. I'll always be with you until you inherit your father's position~"

"--dad."

However, in Chen Qi's eyes, Gertrude's performance was probably as fake as could be.

However, three-year-old Viviana took it seriously and said to Chen Qi quite earnestly:

"You must be good to Mother Gertrude."

"...Okay, I've got it."

Chen Qi, both amused and exasperated, had no expectation that three-year-old Viviana could distinguish the difference in feelings between herself, Gertrude, and the mace.

Especially since Gertrude had deliberately distorted Viviana's understanding, his rebuttal would be of little use.

Well, the child will understand in the future, let's leave it at that for now.

"Alright, Viviana, I brought you a gift this time."

"Gift?"

"Hmm, Daddy put it on the land ship that came here. Go and find it with the maid." "Daddy, I have some little things to talk to you about, Gertrude... Mommy."

"Good~"

With a few words, Chen Qi persuaded Viviana to leave the room temporarily, and he maintained his friendly smile until he saw Viviana off.

However, as the door closed, Chen Qi turned around and asked Gertrude in a low voice:

"...What did you teach Viviana?"

"Oh dear, our Regent, now that you've become second only to the Emperor, can't you be a little more benevolent?"

"In Letania, even counts have more than one mistress. Or am I really that unsightly?"

Unfazed, Gertrude casually admired her newly done nails, a wicked smile playing on her lips, and softly replied:

"Besides, Miss Jian and I are women under your control."

“Viviana isn’t your biological daughter either, and you’re such a busy person that you haven’t had time to spend with your daughter in a long time.”

"Shouldn't I, 'your woman,' give her some maternal love?"

"Otherwise, aren't you afraid that in the future, when your adopted daughter finds out that you are the culprit who killed her father and separated her from her biological parents, she won't want to kill you?"

"I won't let that happen."

As for Gertrude's concerns, Chen Qi, who was already prepared, couldn't help but turn his gaze to the spot where Viviana had left.

After a long while, when even Gertrude found it strange, Chen Qi revealed a truth that surprised her as well.

"I already told Viviana about this."

"Varied--"

After a brief silence, Gertrude stood up from the bed in surprise.

But Chen Qi showed little interest in Gertrude's reaction, simply finding a seat and calmly explaining:
“When Viviana was two years old, I felt that she already had a certain ability to distinguish right from wrong, so I told her the news.”

"Of course, Viviana can't understand these things yet."

"But I think that when Viviana grows up, she will gradually understand this."

“I am not her biological father, but I have never lied to her, nor have I let her live in a false world.”

Under Gertrude's slightly stunned gaze, Chen Qi, who rarely showed any genuine emotion, continued his monologue with a long sigh.

"In that case, she will be more likely to accept the truth, and her hatred for me, her father's killer, will probably lessen considerably."

"I... don't expect her to respect or love me much in the future."

"But at the very least, I feel that she won't betray me, and that's enough."

"...She will love you like your own father."

However, to Chen Qi's surprise, Gertrude, who had been silent for a long time, spoke to him solemnly at this moment:
"I promise."

"……Thanks."

Although I don't know why Gertrude's emotions were fluctuating so much, I still smiled and accepted her blessing.

But then, Chen Qi couldn't resist his curiosity and asked Gertrude in a slightly teasing tone:

"To be honest, I didn't expect you to be so close to Viviana."

"The Ministry of State Security isn't idle, is it? You came to see Viviana, are you planning to cultivate a good relationship with the next leader?"

"...I wasn't born that vicious."

However, Chen Qi, who deliberately spoke in a humorous tone, was met with Gertrude's soft murmur.

The resentment contained in that murmur even made Chen Qi wonder for a moment if it was the voice of a third person in the room.

But just as Chen Qi turned his horrified gaze toward Gertrude, Gertrude realized her lapse in composure and awkwardly turned her head away.

But Gertrude's rosy cheeks, though partially obscured by her dark hair, still betrayed her inner turmoil.

"Alright, alright, let's get down to business!"

"Do you still want the information? If not, I'm going back."

Gertrude, somewhat annoyed and embarrassed, asked Chen Qi.

Fortunately, Chen Qi was an understanding person, and he didn't dwell on this point and tease Gertrude too much.

Moreover, it must be said that this little accident just now also made Chen Qi see another side of Gertrude.

As a time traveler, he already had stereotypical impressions of these familiar characters.

Even though Gertrude was an elder who had shared so many hardships with him, he always remained wary of her.

After all, in the story, she is always portrayed as a vicious woman consumed by lust for power and blinded by greed.

But all of this just now caused a slight shift in Chen Qi's thinking.

This is not a game, after all.

The people here are truly alive.

Their lives will undergo dramatic changes due to different life trajectories.

This applies even to Gertrude.

However, Chen Qi must put this matter aside for now.

What interests him more now is the intelligence Gertrude possesses regarding the Twin Queens' potential harm to him.

"Your Grace, where is the intelligence?"

"Oh, here you go."

Looking at Chen Qi, who regained his royal dignity in a second, Gertrude was unusually caught off guard and didn't have time to adjust.

Fortunately, she still managed to present all the intelligence and evidence she had already gathered to Chen Qi.
"The Gemini Queen sent her loyal hound, ah, the one we met before, the one named Brant, to deliver a letter to me through my men."

Gertrude explained to Chen Qi the source and authenticity of this intelligence, saying:
"This letter contained a lot of things, such as that I had been stripped of my military power and was now idle and had nothing to do, and that although I was called a duke, I had long been sidelined and had no real power."

"To put it simply, it seems our Gemini Queen is planning to win me over."

"Then how did you reply?"

As Chen Qi quickly scanned the evidence in front of him, he asked in a deep voice.

"Of course, it's about casting a long line to catch a big fish."

A wicked smile crept across Gertrude's face.

“I didn’t refuse them, but I didn’t agree immediately either. Instead, I dealt with them for a while.”

"Our twin queens seem to be losing patience too. They actually promised me that if I help them get rid of you, they'll give me your regent position!"

"With such a huge temptation, I had no choice but to reluctantly agree."

"—Well done, Gertrude."

Looking at the letters from the Twin Queens in his hand, and the contents that proved that the Twin Queens intended to assassinate him, Chen Qi's lips curled into a cold smile.

"In that case, let's also respond to our beloved Empress in our own way."

"...Go and call Fremont over. We need to discuss the final assault on Her Majesty the Queen."

This is the second chapter today~ Please give it your support and vote!
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(End of this chapter)