The Villain Princess survived the Imperial Riot

Then, Cynthia told everything she knew.

"Crocodile Bay? It's just north of Yunling. It's not very far by boat." Hestia nodded. "Very good, you can keep your life."

"Then Geno—"

"He's not dead."

When the princess spoke, Cynthia collapsed to the ground, relieved.

"But I haven't decided what to do with you siblings yet," Hestia said. "Two people who want to murder me, even if I'm kindhearted and willing to show some mercy, I won't let them go and continue to do whatever they want, right?"

"..."

"Someone has placed a bounty on my head. Since you have access to this information, you're definitely not traveling in pairs as you appear." Hestia sneered and said, "I'll give you a chance to pledge your loyalty to me. Tell me about the rebels you know of. The greater your contribution, the more freedom I'll grant you."

Cynthia's face turned pale as she stammered, "I, I've already betrayed Aphra! Isn't that enough?!"

"What do you think? Think carefully, lady. Whether you sever ties with those lawless rebels or face the darkness with Geno without a ray of hope, it's all up to you."

After saying this, Hestia left the prison without giving Cynthia a chance to ask further questions.

"Your Highness." Iyana was waiting at the door.

"Send someone to investigate Crocodile Bay. The purple-skinned puppy is very good at hiding and camouflaging. It's possible that she's dressed up as a human child. She definitely has connections in the local area, so she's not a clean slate. We can always find clues by following the clues."

"As you command," Iyana said gently, "Your Highness, General Ant's carriage has arrived outside the villa. Do you want to greet him now?"

"Of course! That's the sharpest knife in all of Yunling!" Hestia said without hesitation, a genuine smile on her face. "Let's go quickly, before the general gets upset with those 'heretics' and punches them into pulp."

……

The carriage left Yunting Villa and galloped along the winding mountain road towards the port.

The Li Lan family has moved out of Little Devil's Lane, but Mr. and Mrs. Li Lan have established deep friendships with their neighbors and co-workers. In addition, with the help of several prestigious ladies in the community, Mr. Li Lan bought a villa at the port near Little Devil's Lane. On the one hand, he can reminisce with old friends, and on the other hand, he can always look after the textile factory opened nearby.

Now everyone knows that the eldest daughter of the Lilan family is a maid for the princess. Although Viola once regarded being a slave as a shame, more people have always regarded it as an honor.

The Lilan family was now a large landowner, owning dozens of acres of land and holding three-digit serfs. However, the Lilan land was still in Ewan Bay, north of Yunling, and since they had never visited it, it was only a figure on the books.

The blonde girl stood in a daze under the lamppost opposite Lilan's "mansion", holding a basket of potions and fresh fruits in her hands, sometimes taking a step forward, sometimes retracting her foot.

It is really absurd and ridiculous that the Li Lan family has become the master.

In fact, she was not jealous of the Li Lan family's prosperity, but now, in addition to being a wealthy businessman, Master Li Lan also had another background - a lackey of Tianlong.

This is difficult to evaluate, after all, the Li Lan couple had met the princess no more than twice.

If this is considered Tianlong's lackey, then there are few people in the coastal ports who don't eat the emperor's food.

After the disaster, Domis stayed on Bailey Island for a short period of time. When she came back, even the members of the Chamber of Commerce who usually complained about the imperial bureaucracy began to speak well of the princess.

But as she walked along, the number of beggars and refugees on the streets had not decreased. It was just that winter was over, order had been restored in Yunding City, and it was less likely for people to freeze to death or starve to death.

These people are still increasing, and with the recovery of industry and commerce, more free people are beginning to flock to the cities. However, there are limited factories and shops. No matter how fast the princess prints money, there is a threshold for the speed of investment. This also leads to the fact that, except for some citizens with high employment barriers and decent jobs, more people can only desperately lower their wages for a bite of bread.

In response to the increasing number of refugees, the Governor's Office also has a countermeasure - following the example of the Thai elves, a large number of poorhouses were established, and combined with infant welfare homes, it can be said to be the dragon and phoenix of the charity world.

However, the newspapers and weekly magazines were full of praise, even elevating the princess who was behind the scenes to the level of a saint. The only shortcoming was that His Highness was too kind and insisted on keeping the poor guys to increase crime. If these people could be driven out, Yunding City would definitely be able to move to a higher level.

But in any case, the stability of citizens' lives is visible to the naked eye.

"The sky has never really improved, it's just that the praises have drowned out the silent suffering." Domis murmured, "You deserve to die, Hestia Lorraine Herbois."

What makes Domis even more painful is that her most beloved friend is still a slave to the Celestial Dragons.

After standing there for a long time, Domis finally did not cross the street and turned away.

"Domis!" Suddenly, a clear and pleasant voice called her.

The blonde girl's body trembled.

She turned her head stiffly, only to see a black-haired girl leaping out of a majestic, gilded and luxurious carriage and rushing towards her excitedly.

The best friend whose skirts were always washed white and who wore her college uniform as a dress, is now elegant and beautiful, wearing a well-made goose yellow long skirt that flutters in the wind as if dancing.

"Long time no see!" Viola hugged her friend and said excitedly, "I haven't seen you since the winter disaster. If Alice hadn't told me she'd seen you a few times, I would have thought you were in danger!"

“Viola, you’re hugging me too tightly…” Domis’ cheeks flushed and she turned her shoulders shyly.

"Uh, sorry." Viola smiled calmly and tucked her messy hair behind her ears. "How are you doing recently?"

"It's okay..." Domis observed her beloved friend.

Calm, elegant, and generous, she seemed to have been reborn after receiving an aristocratic etiquette education. When she went out, she truly had the demeanor of a young lady. Although a little reserved and awkward could still be seen inadvertently, this only added to her innocence and loveliness...

Thinking of this, Domis's eyes fixed.

Her keen intuition made her feel that Viola had undergone some unusual changes, but she had no way of telling.

It was as if her Viola...had matured?

If she were this excited in the past, Viola would definitely chatter and talk a lot. But now, Viola has become reserved and introverted, different from her previous reservedness. In the past, it was her introverted personality, but now, it is a shrewd and shrewd person who knows how to move forward and retreat.

A fifteen-year-old girl naturally wouldn't be very cunning, but Domis clearly felt the subtle barrier brought about by the high wall.

Viola treated her as kindly as always, considering her a good friend, but there was a difference.

"Wei..." Domis opened her mouth, but her throat seemed to be choked by something and she couldn't speak.

"Ok?"

"You and that princess," Domis said with difficulty, showing a forced smile, "She didn't give you any trouble, did she?"

"Oh, you mean His Highness..." Viola smiled, with a sweet shyness in her smile, "His Highness treats me very well, you don't have to worry."

Domis was struck by lightning. Her face turned pale and she took two steps back. If there had not been a lamppost behind her, she might have fallen to the ground.

She had seen that look on Gregor's face before.

This is what happened when Commander Asuka fell in love with a girl who raised horses.

"Didn't I tell you—"

"Domis, please don't speak ill of His Highness," Viola sighed and rubbed her friend's head lovingly. "It is because of His Highness that the city is better now than before, isn't it?"

"You didn't notice the homeless people on the street—"

"Your Highness said this is a reflection of the city's progress. Cloudtop City is profitable, attracting poor people to flock in. But the pain is short-lived. The world will always move forward. It just takes time." Viola rubbed Domis's head and said, "Alright, stop speaking ill of Your Highness. I've heard about the actions of some imperial bureaucrats and know that some people exploit merchants. It's normal for you to have a bad impression, but things are different now."

“…” Domis opened her mouth, but there was only a ball of hot, stagnant air in her throat, and she couldn’t speak.

Do you like her? Domis really wanted to ask.

However, she was afraid to hear the answer.

"Come in and sit down. I haven't seen you for a long time." Viola took Domis's hand and walked towards the villa across the street.

At this moment, Domis looked at the majestic coachman who looked like an iron statue on the carriage and shuddered.

"I have something else to do. These are for you. They are your mother's medicine and some fruits!" Domis stuffed the basket into Viola's arms and ran away like the wind.

"Well……"

Viola looked at her dream friend's back as she left, feeling a little lost. She walked to the front of the carriage and handed Clara an apple.

"She's not rejecting your invitation, she's just afraid of me," Clara said, pointing to her uniform. "There's no businessman who isn't afraid of the Iron Army."

"Thank you," Viola said. She knew Clara was trying to comfort her. "Actually, Clara, you're not scary at all."

"Probably." Clara said nothing more.

On the coast, Domis hid under a big tree in a daze, fell down and stared at the grass at her feet with a confused mind.

She likes her!

She likes her!

She likes her!

Why!

Domis couldn't understand how a person could like someone who bullied him.

At some point, she discovered that she had developed strange feelings and longings for her best friend. She had always hoped that there would be a better time to open her heart to Viola, but now, that time seemed far away.

"Viola has been deceived by her disguise," Domis muttered to herself, trembling.

Suddenly, she remembered something and took out a bottle of pink potion from her pocket.

Desire potion.

It can make people fall into desire and be unable to extricate themselves, but in addition to this, it has another function——

Make users full of charm.

Venting desires and enduring desires are the essence of the potion of desire.

She could use it on Viola, letting her best friend indulge in desire and taking advantage of her misfortune.

But will that really change Viola's mind?

But if... I use it on myself...

Domis had always believed that Viola liked her, given their closeness and harmonious relationship. Besides, the fact that Viola fell in love with the dragon meant she was already interested in women, didn't it?

The potion of desire made her loved... Domis gave a bitter smile, she only felt sadness.

Tentatively, he opened the bottle cap, took a drop with his index finger, and put it on his tongue.

She is a blade cultivator who has undergone arduous training, and her will is not as fragile as her appearance. Moreover, the lady in the red cloak will definitely consider unexpected situations and will not give her any potion that would put her in danger.

The potion tasted sweet, like peach blossoms dipped in honey.

Domis found that she seemed to desire Viola even more, but the desire was not so intense that it was uncontrollable - although she was already hopelessly longing for her best friend.

Spring butterflies fluttered over and landed on her shoulders.

"It works." Domis murmured.

But this was not enough to affect the blade cultivator's will.

She is a self-centered rebel and will not fall for a bottle of potion.

However, she hoped to prove that Viola had desire for her, and that would be an opportunity for her best friend to love her.

The blonde girl put the potion back into her pocket, dispelled the butterflies around her, used her power to disperse the temptation, grafted it onto the sapling beside her, and then took out the invitation from her bag.

This is an invitation from the Chamber of Commerce, a banquet that brings together celebrities from all walks of life, aiming to connect all parties and formulate new industry rules.