I am on the Ark, a succubus, pure and innocent.

Amidst the myriad of thoughts and situations, Bai Yue devised a strategy.

"I...I didn't mean that! I just...I just..." He released her arm and waved it wildly in front of his face, almost incoherently.

Seeing his hesitation, Frostnova's already soft heart softened even more, almost melting into a cotton candy. She immediately and precisely caught his hand as he waved wildly in the air, revealing a helpless smile:

"Okay, okay, I know, I know you didn't mean it that way. I just... well, never mind. You look great in this outfit, it's just... if you weren't a nobleman, it would be even better."

"Really?"

"real."

Having received a satisfactory answer, Bai Yue immediately reached out and hugged Frostnova, turned her head to Vishdel with a knowing look on her face, and gave her a thumbs up.

"Hehe, this little guy is really unpretentious..." Vishdel immediately responded, giving him a smile full of affection.

Frostnova could see their little antics all too easily, but what could she do? That soft, adorable face was right there on her; was she supposed to push him away?

Jade and Amber, judging from the shadows on the ground and the sounds in their ears, knew that their prince was doing something dangerous again. They were about to risk everything to advise him against it.

Da da--

A sound came from the doorway, and Witt's voice came through the not-so-soundproof wooden door: "Your Highness, are you alright?"

Bai Yue looked up from Shuangxing's embrace and replied, "Right away, right away, just wait a little longer."

"Yes, Your Highness, but I must remind you that you must not do anything in the dressing room that would dishonor the royal dignity, otherwise His Majesty might send the Imperial Guards to 'invite' you back to Saint-Germain for re-education."

To receive education at Saint-Germain-des-Prés?

Bai Yue glanced at the Amber and Jade sisters, who looked more like objects than people, and the thought of receiving this kind of education sent a chill down his spine. He immediately replied:

"No, I didn't! Okay, okay, wait a minute, I'll get ready and head out!"

"Yes, Your Highness."

Witt is gone.

Bai Yue no longer dared to be so affectionate with Shuangxing.

Although he didn't quite believe what Witt said was true, he couldn't be sure it was false! If two or three guards really came to arrest him, tsk... then he'd have to sleep in a shared dormitory with his girlfriends from now on, and he'd have to sleep with one eye open every night!

So he quickly told the Emerald and Amber sisters to straighten their dresses, then opened the dressing room door and strode out.

Chapter 118 Such a Vision

Streets in the core city of Chernobog.

"Yes, that's it, Your Highness. Hold on, I'll take two more pictures."

Bai Yue posed in the sunlight, while Victor, like a paparazzi, searched everywhere for the perfect angle to capture the perfect shot.

And what about the subsequent filming locations...?

Ah... One moment he's caressing a hastily planted flower amidst the ruins, the next he's standing in front of a collapsed building comforting the poorly acting soldiers of the Second Army, and then he's walking alone down a desolate street, while the engineers beside him are working feverishly...

Soon, Bai Yue couldn't hold back anymore; heaven knows how he managed to suppress his laughter.

Just as Victor was about to continue with the customized event, Bai Yue stopped him with a wave of her hand, saying, "Alright, I'm tired, I'm not coming anymore. We've already taken enough photos of this outfit, haven't we?"

Witt flipped through the photo album and nodded, "Okay, then please go back and change into another dress."

"Oh..." Bai Yue drawled, completely uninterested, and said wearily, "Do we have to pose like this for the next three outfits too?"

If they filmed again, then I might... quit? How could that be? That cheap emperor uncle has given me so many empty promises, so I have to finish filming as a favor to him!

"Need not."

Fortunately, Witt shook his head, took out the film and put it in the box, saying:

"His Majesty only wants to see you as Duke Ulrich; everything else is irrelevant, especially your current status as Duke Belgaard. A few archival photos will suffice for that."

"Oh, all right."

Bai Yue perked up, stretched, then covered his mouth and yawned. After smoothly completing this set of movements, he lifted his foot and walked over to the four women who had been following him for a long time.

It has to be said that when they stood there, it looked like they were visiting their boyfriends on the set of a movie or TV series.

...

"Humph!"

Wei Yanwu looked at Bai Yue, who seemed to blend seamlessly into the group of women, with displeasure, but he had no choice but to send the photos he had just taken along the way to his niece, who had been bombarding him with messages for ages.

Honestly, to ask me to do something like this in such a serious diplomatic setting is simply outrageous.

But the next second, Yueyue, who was particularly concerned, sent a message: Yanwu, when Speaker Witt was taking pictures of Xiaoyue, you secretly took them, didn't you? Don't hide them, send them to me so I can see.

Boss of Longmen: Alright! Madam, please wait a moment, I'll pack it up right away, high definition and uncensored!

Even though Wen Yue wasn't around, Wei Yanwu's expression immediately became as attentive as his words, and he even sent the handsome photo that he hadn't dared to send to his niece to his wife.

Witt watched Wei Yanwu's unabashed actions and remained completely unconcerned. If Wei hadn't acted this way, he would have been in a real hurry! Without this 'well-informed person' leaking information within Yan, many subsequent steps would have been difficult to carry out.

For example, the blood relationship between His Highness Dmitry and a certain true dragon of the Yan Kingdom in the past.

This is not just idle talk.

The Royal Records clearly state that, with the dual confirmation of Empress Catherine and the late Emperor Vladimir, during the brief years of Empress Catherine's reign, the posthumously honored Empress Ulrich was indeed a direct descendant of the former Yan Kingdom's True Dragon and Imperial Noble Consort Meixi.

This matter is neither a major nor a minor one.

The late Emperor Vladimir had considered using this as a pretext to wage war against the Yan Kingdom, but he was truly powerless to do so. Even if he hadn't died after the Battle of Blood Peak, given the state of the country at that time...

send troops?

This is outrageous! I'm just hoping Yan doesn't use this as an excuse to attack us.

But things are different now. Times have changed. Unlike the war-mongering former emperor, the current Ursus emperor, Feodor, wants to embark on a path of peace.

Moreover, for Ursus and Yan, two behemoths, trade is clearly much more profitable than war.

And that's when this relationship comes in handy.

Is the bloodline of His Highness Dmitri legitimate in Ursus?

The answer is, orthodox, but not so orthodox.

Empress Catherine's ascension to the throne was an accident. After taking the throne from her husband, she was overthrown by the previous emperor after a series of questionable actions.

This has led to some minor dissatisfaction with Her Majesty Catherine within Ursus.

This small observation led to the conclusion that if the emperor were to be chosen by both nobles and commoners, it might only be possible for Catherine's bloodline to be chosen after the legitimate Ursus royal bloodline had died out.

Bai Yue might become the Emperor of Ursus, but it's somewhat unlikely.

After all, there are countless descendants of the Ursus royal family now, and no matter which one you choose, you won't be among them.

The same goes for the Yan Kingdom's royal family. Even disregarding his rebellious ancestor, the True Dragon, there are at least eight hundred members of the royal family with higher succession rights than him, making him someone who would never be able to rank among them in eight hundred lifetimes.

But precisely because of this, a perfect bridge (tool) for peace, bearing the bloodlines of both countries and not threatening their legitimacy after becoming powerful, was born.

For a great power like Wuyan, sometimes all it takes to ease tensions is a gesture, and His Highness Dmitry's gesture is perfect.

Using him as a springboard, trade between the two countries of Wuyan will inevitably surge. Wusus's national strength will increase significantly due to peaceful trade, completely shattering the illusion of the previous emperor's era...

With this vision in mind, Witt stood there stunned for a long time.

It wasn't until Wei Yanwu went up and patted him on the shoulder that he said, "Hey, Speaker Witt, snap out of it! What are you thinking about so intently?"

"Thinking about the future," Witt said, unusually candidly.

Wei Yanwu scoffed: "You and I both know that your Prince Dmitry is nothing more than a lucky young upstart. What makes him worthy of your high expectations?"

Witt gave a stiff smile: "Indeed, Mr. Wei, I don't think he can do it either, but I think we old guys can give it a try."

"Oh?" Wei Yanwu raised an eyebrow. "You mean..."

Witt looked back at the country, where the old nobles were concentrated, and said with certainty, "When the benefits of peace far outweigh those of violent plunder, even the most stupid beast knows how to choose."

“What if they don’t change?” Wei Yanwu asked.

Witt gripped his cane tightly and said firmly, "As long as I am here, and His Majesty is here, they will have to change things whether they want to or not. The wheel that drives Ursus forward can be war, or it can be peace."

"Anyone who tries to stop the chariot will inevitably face the wrath of the Empire. Ursus will not tolerate betrayal."

Wei Yanwu clapped his hands: "Hehe, what boldness! So, Speaker Witt, can I take this as you making a promise to me with your political career?"

Witt said calmly, "Mr. Wei, for us, a promise is a two-way street. If you consider this my promise and agree to it, then from this moment on, our lives belong to each other."

Wei Yanwu laughed and waved his hand: "Hahaha, then forget it. I don't want to make such a promise to anyone other than my wife, especially a man. It's disgusting."

“Speaker Witt, I think we should maintain our old understanding; it’s better for both of us.”

"Of course, Mr. Wei, that's what I think too. Mutual understanding is very important."

"Good, spacious and bright!"

"I'll say the same to you, Mr. Wei, you're quite forthright!"

Chapter 119 Wealth and honor not returned to one's hometown, like...

Click!

Witt's camera captured photos of Bai Yue wearing a grand ducal uniform full of Belga family characteristics—in short, a military uniform, monotonous and...not ugly, but rather boring.

If Bai Yue's looks weren't truly top-tier, people would probably mistake her for one of those pot-bellied military officers taking a stroll and randomly grabbing a couple of men if she wore that dress out.

.......

Click!

Bai Yue, dressed in high-ranking civil servant attire, sat at her desk, holding a quill pen and taking a picture of some document (whose identity was unknown) into Witt's camera.

I also took a headshot and a full-body photo in front of the backdrop, which will be needed for the archives later.

It must be said that the civil servants' uniforms in Ursus are much better looking than their military uniforms. The dark fabric is trimmed with silver thread, and the design of the collar and cuffs exudes an old-fashioned yet sophisticated feel.

It's just a bit too old.

Even though the civil official's uniform was well-tailored and suited his physique, it still felt awkward to wear, giving off a strange sense of asceticism, like some kind of uniform play.

This outfit would be very suitable for a slick and gloomy middle-aged or elderly person; it would give off a very bureaucratic vibe.

...

locker room.

Bai Yue raised his hand and foot, and Amber and Jade removed his civil official robes.

After changing his undergarment into a silk lining, the two maids then methodically dressed him in the Earl of Chernobog's custom-made formal attire.

Its main material is still silk, with a dark green background, and intricate patterns embroidered with gold and silver threads, including thorns, swords, shields, and what appears to be beasts carrying loads.

Like his ceremonial uniform, which represented Duke Ulrich, this uniform was soft and comfortable, with only a few places reinforced to ensure it remained crisp.

The two rows of buttons on the front of her clothes were all carved into shield-shaped sapphires and set in a red gold shell.

Finally, the attire was complete.

Amber and Jade, they knelt on the ground, one holding a saber adorned with various gemstones, the other holding a scepter interwoven with gold and silver, quietly waiting for their true owner to take them.

Looking at these two items, Bai Yue was somewhat dazed.

Compared to the dreamlike title of Duke Ulrich and the series of royal legacies that followed, there was also the vast fiefdom left by the Duke of Belgaard, who was 'temporarily in charge' by his cheap uncle, and the astronomical amount of physical wealth.

These powers belonging to the Earl of Chernobog were almost negligible, yet they were things he could easily reach.

By acquiring these, one's legal rights as Earl of Chernobog are complete. One truly possesses ownership and jurisdiction over the core city of Chernobog and its main surrounding mobile areas, and the right to govern the entire territory of Chernobog and its dependent domains.

From this day forward, in theory, even the emperor will not be able to interfere with his actions within his territory.

It should be noted that since the Great Rebellion, new nobles have risen and old nobles have been gradually weakened, and very few nobles have possessed such enormous power.

When I finally rebuild Chernobog, then...

Ha ha.

By then, all those dukes in the Ursus Empire who were nominally appointed but not given much real power would not necessarily be more authoritative than his earldom.

It's practically a country within a country.

However, it's obviously too early to think about these things now. Chernobog is in such a terrible state that rebuilding it will take a lot of manpower and resources. Will my cheap uncle really give me what the decree promised?

Bai Yue was skeptical of this.