Death... and me

Once again, on Rean's side, Qia answered his question. 

"Hmm... there was something a bit strange about the event. The fact is that I don't know what happened to Vagro after that. I didn't hear about any execution or anything. Grandfather also didn't make any comments related to it. It was as if the event never happened in the first place."

Rean didn't know what to say. The normal thing to do in that situation would be to execute the main perpetrator and their allies. But if that happened, it would have been made public to serve as an example of what would happen to those who tried the same thing.

"What about his wife?"

Qia looked at Rean with a puzzled expression as she asked.

"Why would you want to know about her?"

"Isn't that obvious? She is part of the Chrole Imperial Family. If Vagro was killed or not, his wife probably suffered the same fate."

Qia pondered for a bit before saying.

"Well, she probably received the same punishment, right? You already know that the interactions between the two empires aren't going very well. It would be weird if she was left out. In fact, chances are that she might have been the one to instigate Vagro to do such a thing. Who knows?"

Rean narrowed his eyes after hearing that. Somehow, the story didn't seem to match. It was just way too quiet.

"This throne succession seems to be a lot more complicated than I thought."

It was then that he remembered.

"Oh, right! You are also a direct descendant of the family, aren't you? Are you not interested in becoming the next empress?"

Qia laughed in response to that question.

"Hahaha! Are you crazy? That would mean going against my Grandfather. Trust me, my Grandfather is anything but merciful. If I really try such a thing, he would immediately use all his powers and connections to fight me, just like what he's doing against the other candidates. Although the family members without rights to the Throne are several times bigger in number, those who have it are also plenty. Nonetheless, only a handful of them is still fighting for it."

"My own background is none other than my Grandfather, who is also contending for the throne. Do you think he would support me if I decided to enter the fight?"

Rean shook his head.

"There you go. Although I won't say I don't have my own contacts, it's far from enough to enter the fight for the throne. That being said, I might as well stay a safe distance away from it."

Rean understood.

"That makes sense."

Just as Rean was about to ask Qia something else, Droman contacted him through a Spiritual Sense message.

'Rean, what the hell are you doing? You already had enough time to rest. Come back inside so that we can continue your training.'

Only then did Rean notice that he and Qia had spent quite some time together.

"Well, my Master is calling me back. Princess, we will see each other during the next break."

Qia was taken aback.

"Wait! We need to talk about what others will think about us. We can't let it continue like this!"

Rean didn't mind, though.

"Leave them thinking whatever they want. It will serve as an excuse for us to meet each other again."

Before Qia could even complain, Rean had disappeared already. 

"Idiot! What fucking excuse?! People are thinking that I might be pregnant!"

Unfortunately for her, Rean was gone already.

Qia could only grit her teeth and come go back to the repository as well. However, she immediately noticed everyone's eyes on her... or her belly, to be more specific. 

'Qia! Come see me right now!'

Suddenly, a Spiritual Sense Message entered her mind, which made her entire body tremble.

'Ma-Master...'

Since Qia could enter the repository without being a member of the Formations Guild Main Branch, that meant that she was also helped by a member of them. This member just so happened to be her Formations Teacher. Her name was Tulia Sasamil, a member of the Imperial Family, but not a direct descendant. Different from Qia, she had no rights over the Throne. 

Tulia was in a separated chamber in the repository when she suddenly heard what happened in the tea shop. Naturally, she thought it was a joke. After all, she knew her disciple's mischievousness very well. However, when she heard about the kiss and Rean proclaiming that she might be pregnant, even she couldn't help but come out.

The master and disciple duo met each other in a private place.

"What the hell is that pregnancy story? Is it true? Did you also kiss the guy in front of everyone in the tea shop?"

Qia felt helpless.

"Master, it was not my fault. He was the one who grabbed and kissed me."

Tulia didn't seem to believe it at all.

"Then how come I heard that you were the one who said he was your boyfriend first? Not only that, but you even hugged him on your own volition before that kiss happened."

"That..."

That was the biggest problem. The fact that the one who started this confusion was Qia and not Rean. It's just that she didn't expect Rean to take a step forward and do that soon after. Up to that moment, everything was under her control. At most, it would become a rumor that could be resolved later. Unfortunately...

"Forget about it. We need to resolve this issue before your Grandfather finds out. Don't forget that he's extremely busy with the fight for the throne. If a scandal like this appears right now, it could affect his work in getting the other clans on his side."

"First, tell me, who was this guy who kissed you? As long as we get rid of him, we can salvage the situation. As for the baby in your belly, I will deal with it later."

Qia couldn't help but shout.

"I'm still a virgin! I have no baby whatsoever!"

Tulia narrowed her eyes in response.

"Are you sure?"

Qia felt like crying already. Can her hymen be faked? No, wait! Rean said that he can! But can he really do it? Nevertheless, Qia nodded. After all, they really never had a sexual relationship. In fact, they have never had any relationship at all.

"I'm 100% sure. Master can even check my hymen if you want."

Tulia finally sighed in relief before returning to the main topic.

"That's good, then. So, who did it? I'll have the Imperial Family Guards ready when he steps out of the Formations Guild."

Qia shook her head.

"But Master, I still need him."

"Need him? Wait, are you really in love with him?"

"I'm not! But his abilities are too important to me."

"Abilities?"

Tulia couldn't see where Qia was going with her explanation.

"Forget it. Tell me his name. I'll hear your explanation after confirming his identity."

Qia nodded.

"His name is Rean."

Tulia pondered a bit but really couldn't remember anyone who had such a name.

"Is he someone's disciple?"

"Yes. Do you remember that guy who invented the Communication System? The old man called Droman from a sect Called Dalamu? He's that man's direct disciple. Droman got a free month to visit the guild's repository with his disciple, so they are here now."

Tulia was taken aback.

"Wait! That Droman? His Communication System has been the talk of the Formation Master Guild in the entire Empire! Not only that, but his Router Formations that came one after another right after stirred the Formations Guild even more! The boy you got involved with was his direct disciple? For real?"

Qia sighed before nodding.

"Yes. It seems like he was present during the entire process of the development of the Communication System. See, it would be a bad thing to have him captured because of what happened. Especially since it was my fault that things went out of control."

Immediately, Tulia understood what was happening... or so she thought.

"I see... You were trying to get the boy for yourself since he was directly connected to Droman and might know more secrets of the Communication System."

Qia was taken aback for a moment. That was not the reason she glued to Rean at that time. 

'Oh well, that will do.'

Qia then looked at her Master.

"Sorry, Master. I know what I did was not right. Don't worry, I will fix everything very soon. So just go and tell my Grandfather that this is all just a misunderstanding. Father and Mother will also want to hear it from you as well."

However, contrary to her expectations, Tulia began to laugh.

"Hehehe... Hahahaha! Great! You did a good job, Qia!"

Qia was surprised to hear that. However, a thought suddenly appeared in her mind right after. Following that, Qia felt a chill on her back.

"Wait, Master couldn-"

Before Qia had the chance to finish her sentence, Tulia enveloped her with Spiritual Energy and pulled her away. It was so fast that Qia even felt somewhat dizzy. Sure enough, Tulia's cultivation was several times higher than her own.

When she finally came back to herself, Tulia stopped right in front of Rean and Droman, who resumed their training. Obviously, the two of them were taken aback by the two girls' sudden appearance—especially Rean, who had just separated from Qia a few moments ago.

Droman then saw the badge on Tulia's clothes and asked. Different from him, she was a real member of the guild.

"Errr... Is there something we can do for you?"

Qia finally recovered her bearings just in time to hear her Master's voice.

"Your disciple violated my girl. I demand a marriage."

Rean and Qia almost vomited blood.