Author: 唇亡齿寒 / Lips Gone, Teeth Cold
Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/
Chapter 113
“I am Alveira from the Unfallen Star.”
With that, Alveira descended the gangway unhurriedly. Casper put away the umbrella, loyally following her. The princess scanned the crowd, finding familiar faces—Alois Lagrange, a former Royal Guard at the White Palace, and the legendary assassin, Mourner (Alveira keenly noticed he was Alois’s lover, surprising her but making sense). Surrounded by strangers on this unknown planet, they were the only ones she could trust.
“Are you Alveira Chabais?” a tall man asked loudly.
Alveira met his gaze, striving to sound fearless. “Yes.”
The crowd buzzed, like a breeze over a field. Alveira heard whispers about why the Princess of the Empire was on this pirate-infested frontier planet. She stood tall, displaying the poise of a princess of the Galactic Empire, though her right hand trembled. She hid it behind her back, trying to cover it with her skirt folds, then thought it foolish.
“Why has Your Royal Highness come to Milantu?” the man asked again.
Alveira looked at him briefly, then scanned the crowd. Her mother’s teaching echoed in her ears. “When facing many people, look at each one without seeing all. Make them feel observed and understood.” Back then, Queen Noya I wasn’t as reclusive, occasionally showing concern for her daughter’s studies and teaching her the necessary etiquette and skills of a princess.
So, Alveira “generally” looked at the crowd, answering, “I heard Milantu was Joanna Begrel’s territory. I wanted to see where she lived.”
On the other side of the square was the legendary ship, the Lady of the Night, the pinnacle of Neo Athens technology, Joanna Begrel’s flagship. It was huge, elegant, sophisticated, and magnificent, just like its owner. Alveira thought, But it won’t sink, won’t fall like a meteor among the stars. It will forever soar in space, in the world of the living and the legends of the dead.
“I also want to see the Lady of the Night.” Alveira’s eyes couldn’t leave the black hull. “Can I…go aboard?”
She turned to the crowd, especially the man who had questioned her, as if seeking their permission. But she knew she didn’t need it. The Lady of the Night belonged to Joanna, and no one could decide for her.
Seeing no response, Alveira remembered the AI often seen with Joanna, managing the ship’s affairs, and Milantu in her absence.
“Leonard? May I board?”
After a while, the AI’s hesitant voice responded, “Do you know me, Your Highness?”
Alveira looked puzzled at Alois Lagrange. She could only rely on him now.
Alois cleared his throat. “Uh…Leonard has some data stored on a chip. We need to upload it to the Lady of the Night’s database.” He pushed through the crowd. “Go home! Nothing to see here! Go home!”
A short girl next to him said, “You should understand our desire to see the Princess.”
“If you want, I’ll bring her to your place for dinner tonight?”
“Oh, thanks. My brother wants to marry a princess.”
“Titia!”
The girl turned and gestured to the crowd. “Hey, go home! It’s just a princess, nothing to see!” Some people lost interest, returning home, but more stayed, watching Alveira Chabais approach the Lady of the Night.
Alois fumbled around the bridge console to find the chip slot. “This thing is too well hidden,” he muttered, inserting the chip.
Leonard’s hologram appeared. “That’s a slot, not an asshole. Why would it be exposed?”
Alois rolled his eyes. “Where’s the Princess?”
“I’m showing her and her little follower around the ship. I don’t understand her interest.”
A pair of arms wrapped around Alois’s shoulders. “I bet she’s more interested in the command chair,” Joshua whispered.
“I noticed.”
“What are your thoughts?” Joshua turned him around.
“My thoughts?” Alois felt uncomfortable under the assassin’s gaze. “What do you mean?”
“The princess wants the Lady of the Night,” Joshua said. “And Milantu’s ships and people. She wants us to join her army, to fight her enemies.”
“Is that wrong?”
“We are pirates.”
Alois felt dry-mouthed. They were too close, discussing such serious matters.
“I heard,” he swallowed, avoiding Joshua’s face, “Joanna was a soldier before becoming a pirate.”
“And you?” Joshua asked. “You were a member of the Royal Guard, tasked with protecting Prince Annot. You knew the Princess before me. Now she’s the Empire’s first heir. If she calls, will you follow?”
“I will,” Alois answered firmly. He held Joshua’s arm with his prosthetic. “What about you? Will you come with me?”
Joshua embraced him. “I once thought of taking you away.” The assassin kissed Alois’s ear. “Far from the Empire, war, pirates, loyalty, and everything else, to a distant planet, a peaceful place, building a house, raising a cat and dog, and living quietly. I once thought so.” He sighed. “But I can’t forgive those who hurt you. They almost took you from me. Then I knew, I couldn’t leave you…”
He kissed Alois’s forehead. “And, I must kill those who hurt you.”
“Together?”
“As long as you don’t mind me.”
Alois’s heart raced, like a war drum in his chest. He traced Joshua’s body, from his chest, collarbone, finally resting on his jawline. The beautiful lines made him want to kiss it. As he was about to act, Leonard (damn him! Always him!) interrupted again.
“Reminder, the Princess will arrive at the bridge in 10 seconds.”
The two separated quickly as if they were electrocuted, pretending to study Leonard’s program nonchalantly and not about to embrace.
The bridge doors rose, and Leo led Alveira and Casper in. The AI gave a knowing look, ignored by Alois’s glare.
“This is the bridge, Your Highness.” Leo bowed gracefully to Alveira, ignoring the flying glares. “You stand at the Lady of the Night’s heart.”
The princess surveyed the six evenly distributed consoles and the changing holographic screens, finally resting her gaze on the command chair in the center.
“Or rather, her brain,” she said.
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