This necromancer is going to seduce the beautiful girls who are already dead.

“They’re incredibly audacious… If my father, after my grandmother’s death, also intends to use that money to help develop the empire’s medical services, just like I have, they might even dare to assassinate him.” Helen said in a low voice, her anger barely concealed.

Leona nodded. "If I were you, I would take immediate action to punish these guys. Has it been too long since anyone shed blood in the court, making them forget the temper of the Crepeus family?"

Helen raised her head, lost in thought.

The royal family of the Western Empire, the Crepeus family, are direct descendants of the royal family of the Minian Empire. When the empire was first divided in two, the Western Empress, decisive and ruthless, resolutely opposed the emperor who had ascended the throne through despicable means in collusion with the nobles. She resolutely rebelled and declared herself Empress. For the sake of freedom and the people's interests, she dared to fight against any force that stood in her way. It was precisely this spirit of the first Empress that allowed the Western Empire to gain a foothold, win the support of the people, and gain recognition from other countries on the continent. She was not labeled a rebel, but rather stood on equal footing with the Eastern Empire, both considered legitimate rulers.

Now, has the Western Empire's royal family become weak and easily bullied, indulging in a life of decadence? The royal family's power has not disappeared. Just look at the control the Empress Dowager had over the empire when she was alive. Perhaps what the royal family lacks is only a determination, the determination to step out of complacency.

Helen suddenly understood many things.

“If you intend to punish these nobles, I can also offer assistance, without asking for anything in return,” Abys said slowly after Helen finished reading the investigation report in her hand. “This short lady beside me is also very eager to help you.”

Leona nodded. Of course, she wanted to help her ambitious niece. Rather than having her two nephews, who followed the ministers blindly, become useless emperors, she would much rather her niece become an empress who was determined to do something meaningful.

Helen pondered for a moment, put the three pieces of paper into her pocket, and solemnly said to Abyss, "Mr. Abyss, you have helped me a lot so far without asking for anything in return, which makes me feel ashamed and also shows me my naivety and clumsiness. However, I hope that Mr. Abyss will leave me here and I can walk the rest of the way on my own."

Abyss and Leona both raised their eyebrows. Flora, standing to the side, nodded slightly.

“Your idea is quite surprising,” Abyss said. “You’ve never done anything like this before. Are you sure you can do it all by yourself? If those nobles dared to assassinate you once, they’d dare to assassinate you a second time, a third time. Are you confident you can win against these experienced schemers?”

“There has to be a first time for everything, and it’s time for me to face it.” Helen looked into Abyss’s eyes, her gaze filled with determination. “Next, I will use all the power at my disposal to thoroughly investigate these nobles. I will bring the most corrupt ones to justice and give them a good shock. Right now, my only trusted confidants are my own guards, but I will do my best to build my own power base and establish a firm foothold in Golden Griffin City. Miss with silver hair like me, although I still don’t know your name, I am grateful to you for reminding me that I will restore the glory of Crepeus and pull the empire back from the wrong path!”

Chapter 72 To Change the Future

Abis nodded approvingly: "If you really decide to go down this path, I will wish you well."

As he spoke, he took a ring off his finger and placed it on Helen's hand. He usually concealed his ring with an illusion, so to Helen, the ring appeared suddenly. This surprised Helen, and she looked at the Abyss with a questioning gaze.

"This ring is for you. If you encounter a situation you can't handle, rub this ring seven times with your palm. It can summon the spirits that helped you gather dirt on the nobles a few days ago. They know a lot and can help you with your plans. They will also be your most reliable partners. The spirits are not entangled by material desires. As long as you treat them with respect, they will repay you with love."

Abis explained with a smile.

Helen hesitated for a moment, then accepted the ring and held it tightly in her hand.

“Thank you, Mr. Abyss.” She stood up and bowed deeply to Abyss.

The owner, Dar, who was still mopping the floor, couldn't hear the conversation between Abyss and Helen. He only saw Abyss magically produce a ring from somewhere and give it to the beautiful girl. Then the girl stood up and bowed to him. Was it a proposal?

"I really don't understand human customs. They've only met a few times, and they're already talking about marriage. Even dark elves would have sex a few times to see if they're compatible." Dahl thought to himself, shook his head, and continued cleaning.

“Then I will give my handkerchief to Mr. Abyss.” Helen held the ring Abyss had given her and took out a pale blue handkerchief from her bosom. The handkerchief was of the finest quality, made from the finest silk imported from the elven kingdoms, and its delicate patterns and elegant colors clearly showed that it was made by a royal workshop.

Abyss reached out and took the handkerchief, still warm from Princess Helen's body, and tucked it into his robes under Leona's murderous glare.

“Mr. Abyss is a powerful mage and may never need my help, but please accept this handkerchief as a token. In the future, if you ever need my help, please come to me, or have someone else bring this handkerchief to me.”

Helen's face flushed slightly. In the customs of the Western Empire, it was customary for an unmarried noblewoman to give a handkerchief to a young man as a sign of affection. However, she had left in a hurry and had not brought any other personal belongings with her.

"As long as it is within my power and does not harm my people, I will do my best to help. This is my way of repaying Mr. Abis!"

The Abyss only helped her with this funding issue and incidentally resolved the problem of the assassins involved, but this was of great significance to Helen.

Without the Abyss's help and encouragement, she might have lost her fighting spirit after her first complete failure, becoming like her father and two brothers, someone who craved comfort and lacked independent thought. It was the Abyss's help that brought her victory, allowing her to discover that the meaning of her life was not to apply beautiful makeup to the royal family, but to change this country that was gradually deviating from its former path and slowly declining, to do something for the people who supported them, and to let the empire regain its former fighting spirit.

Now, she doesn't want to be the wife of some handsome prince; she wants to be an empress. Having mustered her courage, she believes she has the power to change everything.

Abyss carefully observed Helen. Helen's eyes were now different from those of the somewhat bewildered and self-assured young girl he had met a few days ago. Abyss knew that Helen had now completed a significant step in her development. The children of the imperial family were never lacking in vision; what they needed was courage and tempering. A golden carp is no ordinary fish; it will transform into a dragon when it encounters favorable winds. Abyss had given her that opportunity, and she had soared to new heights, heading towards a new future.

"We will be leaving Golden Griffin City soon. I have a lot to do. I hope you can stick to your ideals and always keep the same heart."

Abis also stood up and picked up his wine glass.

"Come on, let's have one last toast. Who knows when we'll meet again?"

Helen emotionally picked up her wine glass, gently clinked it with Abyss's, and then drank the fine wine in one gulp.

When she left the tavern, she did not hesitate or look back, but her firm steps brought smiles to the faces of the three Abyss members.

……

As night fell, Abyss and his party left the tavern, but this time not to leave Golden Griffin City to avoid affecting the people in the city, but to find a place to stay.

Even with tents and blankets, the living conditions in the wild still led to numerous complaints from Leona. In her words, it was practically torture for a princess to sleep in a tent every day, unable to bathe, not being waited on to sleep, and not being able to wake up in a five-meter-wide bed.

Although Flora has a knack for adapting to any situation, it's clear that she still prefers sleeping in a house rather than crammed into a tent in the wild.

To be considerate of the two girls' feelings, Abys abandoned his plan to continue out of town that night and find a good place to spend the night. Instead, he gathered the last bit of cash he had and decided to take them to a more upscale hotel.

Golden Griffin City is a thriving commercial city with a large population and many luxury hotels. As long as you can afford it, you can enjoy a luxurious bed, a dinner of delicacies, the service of professional maids, and most importantly, a warm bath filled with flower petals and spices on a cold winter night.

Abyss didn't care how long the remaining money would last. After finding a decent-looking upscale hotel, he ordered all the services offered to reward Flora and Leona for their fight with a powerful opponent. The more than ten thousand Imperial Coins he'd earned from Reiner had been spent, leaving him with only a few coins.

First, there was a rewarding dinner.

The waiters laid out more than a dozen exquisite dishes on the table, opened a bottle of fine white wine, and then left the private dining room for three, waiting outside. Expensive scented candles burned on the table, casting a soft glow that made the meal romantic and elegant.

"Really! Can we eat all of these?" Leona asked Abyss quietly as she stood by the table.

“Of course you can eat. I’ve spent all the money I have left, so let’s enjoy ourselves tonight.” Abyss very gentlemanly gestured for Leona and Flora to eat.

Leona, who had been looking forward to a decent, high-class dinner for a long time, pulled Flora, who was also craving it, to sit down at the table and immediately started eating.

"Ah... this fish fillet is so fresh and fragrant... it's comparable to what a royal chef would make..." Leona said, her mouth full, praising the food.

Flora ate in small bites. As an undead, she didn't feel hungry; she simply wanted to savor these delicious dishes that she had never been able to eat before.

As she ate, she watched Abis leisurely munching on a chicken leg across from her.

The observant Flora noticed that Abyss was also watching her and Leona, and she seemed to see a strange emotion in his eyes.

There was a hint of nervousness in his eyes, but also a touch of excitement.

Flora forked a small piece of fruit and put it in her mouth, tilting her head strangely.

Chapter 73 This is what life is all about!

"This is the bath you've been longing for these past few days." Abyss's maid pushed open a door that smelled of wood, revealing the scene behind it to Leona and Flora.

This was a luxurious bathroom, with wisps of steam rising from a bathtub carved from a single piece of wood in the center of the room. The air was filled with the sweet fragrance of flowers, the scent of petals floating in the hot water. Beside the bathtub was a small copper table, upon which sat a bottle of spiced spirits made by the dwarves and several small crystal glasses. Meanwhile, next to the central bathtub, stood a smaller stone tub, from which wisps of cool air drifted to the floor; it contained many ice cubes.

Located in the northwest corner of the continent, the Western Empire has a unique bathing method: first, soaking in hot water that can scald the skin red, then drinking a glass of strong liquor, and finally rinsing the body in ice water. It is said that this can dispel physical fatigue and allow one to completely relax.

"This...this is the life I've always wanted!" Leona jumped up in delight. This way of bathing—so elegant! So refreshing! This is the life a princess should live!

“You…you and Flora can take a bath together. This bathroom is specially opened for the two of you.” Abyss said to Leona and Flora with a smile. “Since you came with me, you haven’t had a chance to take a bath. Today you have the time to relax.”

"Great job! ABC! You did a great job!" Leona patted Abyss's hand excitedly. "I'll remember this and reward you when the opportunity arises!"

"If you want to reward me, there's actually a chance tonight..." Abyss said softly, then put on a gentle smile, "You can stay here as long as you like. After you're done, there will be a maid waiting at the door. Just follow her to your room tonight. Don't worry, I spent a lot of money to rent the room tonight, so I guarantee it will be luxurious and comfortable enough."

"Alright! You can go now, Flora and I are going to take a bath!" Leona cheerfully pushed Abyss out, had the maid close the door, and then pulled Flora to take off her clothes.

“I have a feeling that Abyss is hiding something from us today…” Flora said strangely as Leona pulled her toward the basket of clothes. “Don’t you think he seemed a little nervous for no reason?”

"Nervous? Really? Oh, he's just a wandering rogue mage, he probably rarely comes to such high-class places." Leona quickly stripped herself naked, then came over to help Flora remove the mage robe that was harder to take off.

After Flora was also completely naked, like Leona, Leona grabbed Flora's arms and carefully examined her body.

Although Leona was also a girl, Flora still became shy: "Eh... what...?"

"The Vatican is truly amazing, managing to sculpt such a perfect figure for you. If I remember correctly, you're only seventeen, right? My goodness, you're perfectly proportioned, with curves in all the right places. If I were a boy, I would definitely be unable to resist by now."

Leona observed Flora as if admiring a work of art, nodding repeatedly.

Flora became even more shy. It wasn't that she hadn't bathed with girls before—as a saintess of the Holy See, she always had four maids serving her when she bathed. However, none of the maids dared to say such a thing to the great saintess.

“Look at me now. Although my figure is also very impressive, my skin is obviously not as good as yours.” Leona unconsciously puffed out her plate-like chest and patted her upper arm. “Look at my skin here. It’s very tough. It could bounce a bull away. And look at yours. My god, it’s as smooth as pudding. It feels like it would break if you poked it.”

Flora was at a loss after Leona's words, so she simply ran to the bathtub, plunged in, and blew bubbles while half of her head was sticking out.

Leona had finally had enough of admiring Flora's perfect body, and she jumped into the bathtub with satisfaction, like a vaulting horse.

The bathtub is not simply a water container. There is a partition at the bottom with a heating magic circle running inside. Water flows in through a small hole at the bottom and then circulates back from the other side, keeping the water in the bathtub at a constant temperature of over 50 degrees Celsius.

Soaking in such hot water, Leona and Flora, two undead with low body temperatures, immediately felt the comforting heat seeping into their bodies through every pore. Like rain after a long drought, Flora and Leona felt the long-lost warmth return to their internal organs, as if they had come back to life.

"Ah...my goodness...this is so comfortable." Leona was too short to sit in the bathtub without being submerged, so she half-squatted in the water, leaving only her head above her mouth above the surface. She held a flower petal to her nose and looked at Flora, who was diligently washing the dust off her body, with a blissful gaze.

The undead don't sweat, have no metabolism, and the powerful preservatives of high-level necromancy prevent bacteria from growing on their bodies, so they don't smell even without bathing. What they need to wash away is the dust that has accumulated on them over forty years in their graves. It's not particularly difficult to clean, but these two pampered and noble young women, out of good hygiene habits, still want to thoroughly cleanse themselves.

Leona and Flora washed each other's backs and long hair in the bathtub until their faces were flushed and their flesh and blood were fully awakened by the hot water.

"Come on, have a drink. Today has been an unforgettable day." Leona leaned over the edge of the bathtub, poured two glasses of strong liquor, and then turned around to hand one to Flora.

The fiery dwarven spiced wine burned through the throat as soon as it touched the tongue, then reached the stomach. The rich aroma of the spices exploded in the nasal cavity, rising upwards and stimulating the scalp. Even the docile Flora couldn't help but cover her nose and let out a long hum, while Leona beside her opened her mouth wide, exhaling happily as if trying to expel all the loneliness of the past forty years.

"Finally, it's time for the essence of the Western Empire's unique bathing experience!" Leona stepped out of the hot water tank, prepared herself briefly, and then crawled into the ice water tank with floating ice cubes, burying her head in it as well.

The aura warrior's body was impervious to heat and cold, but a chill still captivated Leona after a moment's delay.

"Ugh... Hah..." Leona closed her eyes and raised her head, her pink lips slightly parted as she breathed rapidly. She felt as if her muscles and bones were melting, her whole body feeling light and airy.

That's it! Only those who have taken a bath like this are true Westerners!

After a slight hesitation, Flora lifted her long, beautiful legs and stepped out of the hot water tub into the cold water tub. As a saint, she was not allowed to take cold baths by the Church, as it would damage her skin. But now that she was a ghost, her skin would forever remain at its most beautiful, and she was no longer bound by the Church's rules. So, with excitement, she took an ice bath, something she had never done in her entire life.

"Ah..." Flora buried her body in the ice and couldn't help but let out a mournful cry.

It's so cold! But my body really feels relaxed! It feels so good!

……

Flora and Leona spent a full two hours in the bathroom, washing their clothes before changing into the bathrobes provided by the hotel. They seemed to glow, their skin fair and radiant, their wet hair flowing freely, their lips soft and pink from the moisture, making them appear dazzlingly beautiful. The former charm of the two young women was on full display at this moment.

A maid who had been waiting outside led the two through a long corridor to a luxurious suite.

"This is your room, ladies. Please rest assured. If you need anything, please call me from inside the room." The maid respectfully opened the door made of precious wood for Leona and Flora.

"Where did Abyss go..." Flora wondered curiously.

"Boys usually shower very quickly. He'll probably finish showering early and go to his room for a good night's sleep. He'll probably come to find us tomorrow. Hurry, I can't wait to roll around on this soft bed!"

Leona happily grabbed Flora's hand and ran into the room.

Inside the room, several magic lamps cast a soft glow, illuminating the ornate tables and chairs, the bookshelves filled with various books, the exquisite and expensive oil paintings, and the handicrafts imported from the elven kingdoms.