The villainous prince who bullied Feng Aotian was actually myself.

Page 61

"Take this and leave now. If you don't leave, all the efforts that everyone has made for you will have been in vain."

Leon took a step forward and pulled Helena's delicate, pretty hand, which was resting on her trouser leg.

This wasn't the first time Leon had touched this hand; it was soft and smooth, with a slight coolness that made him want to take good care of it.

“Live a good life. If you are captured and taken to the palace and lose your freedom, you will never see the scenery of this world again.”

Leon smiled and slipped the envelope into Helena's hand.

Hazel and Ella remained silent.

In fact, they all knew that there were only two possible outcomes: either one would be sacrificed to save everyone, or everyone would protect themselves and let Helena be captured and taken back to the palace.

The second result was clearly unacceptable to the other three, except for Helena.

Therefore, only the first option is possible.

And the person who sacrificed himself...

Bella won't do; Bella isn't high enough status to stop it.

Hazel is no good either; she has Hayden House, but Hawkeye Chad and his crew don't need to give Hayden House too much face.

Only Leon has this status, because his surname is "Hoyle"!

Looking across the world, the mention of the Hoyle family, who wield the Sealed Sword, sends a chill down everyone's spine.

Helena accepted the envelope. She was a smart and sensible girl from a young age, and she knew that if she insisted on staying at this point, she would only be putting everyone in danger.

But Leon—did he deserve to take the blow for him?!

I clearly have no relationship with him at all!

He has absolutely no obligation to take care of himself like this.

Just because he likes me?!

Why do things exist in the world...?

There are such foolish people.

Aside from Anna, Leon is the second biggest idiot Helena has ever met in her 19 years of life!

You are an absolute idiot!

"Mr. Leon, may I have one last hug?"

Helena tilted her head slightly and smiled sweetly.

Hmm?

Before Leon could react, Helena took the initiative to get close to him.

Her hands gently embraced Leon's waist, and her face was buried in Leon's chest. A faint fragrance, unique to girls, instantly filled Leon's nostrils.

I……

Leon's mind went blank, his hands hovering in the air, unsure of what to do.

This was the first time in his life he had ever been hugged by a girl!!!

Back on Earth, there were girls around who were attracted to him, but Leon's interactions with them were limited to verbal flirting, like calling each other "baby" in the game...

“Leon…”

Helena's hot breath, as she spoke and her rapid breathing, brushed against Leon's chest. Even through the black tie and the white shirt underneath, Leon still felt a ticklish sensation, as if a foxtail grass were swirling around his heart. For a moment, Leon wanted to hold Helena tightly, to let her stay nestled in his arms like a kitten.

But Leon restrained himself from the impulse. He simply embraced Helena gently, carefully, as if he were protecting some fragile, beloved possession.

"Besides the Ice Plains, Moonlight City, and Coral Sea, there are also the misty peaks of Illusion Valley, the raging sea where mermaids sing amidst the thunderous roar, Peach Blossom Island floating in mid-air with its fragrance spreading for miles, and so many more... I want to see these landscapes with you."

Tears soaked through her white shirt, but Helena was smiling.

"So you really have to live a good life, okay?"

"Don't do that, it makes me feel like I'm really going to die."

Leon gently patted Helena's fair and soft shoulder.

"I'm serious! Say yes!"

Helena broke free from Leon's embrace, her pretty face puffed up with anger, her beautiful rose-colored eyes seemingly about to burst with tears.

"Okay, I promise you."

Leon nodded slightly.

Chapter Seventy-Two: The Regent

The wind is particularly strong on the border of the Yiling Grassland.

Because of the flatness of the grassland, Helena could see the white phoenix flag, symbolizing justice and bloody struggle, swirling wildly in the wind from three kilometers away. The white phoenix flag was the national flag of the empire.

Two hundred thousand elite troops of the Fchester Empire are stationed on the border of the grasslands. They used to be stationed in Snow City, but since Snow City declared independence, they have been forced to retreat to the other side of the Izero Mountains.

Losing the Snow Capital is equivalent to losing the entire Izero Mountains, and for the Fchester Empire, the loss is naturally incalculable.

Fifteen years ago, the war between the Empire and the Icefield Dragon Clan resulted in the Empire's defeat. This battle continuously hindered the Empire's army's northward advance and even directly affected the fate of the entire Empire.

It can be said that if Caesar had not fought that war with the dragons fifteen years ago, the empire fifteen years later would be far more prosperous and powerful than it is now.

Although the empire is still one of the world's top powers.

Seeing that the dragons were too tough to be tamed, Caesar headed west to the Coral Sea, expanding the empire's influence westward. If the empire unified the western nations, it would be difficult to say whether it would lose again when challenging the dragons, given its current strength.

The weather was bitterly cold. Even with the car window slightly opened, a blast of cold air rushed into the vehicle. Although everyone had already changed into thick cotton-padded clothes, Helena's beautiful nose was still a little red from the cold.

"The weather is terrible today."

Helena glanced at the receding grassland and closed the window.

She is now in a carriage, with Ella and Hazel sitting with her.

Driving outside the car was an adventurer from Izero City named Maisie Brondy. She often warmed drinks at Ella's tavern, and the two became close friends. She had traversed the Izero Mountains alone many times and had extensive experience in safely crossing such mountains. She was Helena's guide on this journey to the Snow City.

"It's okay, the sun will always shine again. At least it's not raining now, so it's not the worst yet."

Hazel hugged Helena's arm and comforted her.

"Hairo, I'm sorry, I'll have to trouble you to come with me to climb the snow mountain."

Helena felt somewhat guilty.

"What's the big deal? Actually, I'm also quite looking forward to visiting the peaks of the Illusion Mountains. Besides, I've never been to the Snow Capital before!"

Hazel smiled slightly, as if she were truly very happy.

"My little darlings, it's so much fun on the snow mountain, really, you can ask Ella if you don't believe me."

Maisie, who was rushing to catch a train outside, overheard Helena and Hazel's conversation and immediately chimed in.

She loves adventure, especially the Yiling Mountains, a mysterious mountain range that separates humans from dragons. It has many magical places and beautiful scenery that she has yet to see.

"Yes, the snot freezes into icicles as soon as it comes out, it's really quite fun."

Ella joked.

"Ella!"

Hazel winked at Ella.

This……

Glancing at the dejected Helena, Ella suddenly realized something and quickly tried to salvage the situation, saying, "But, don't you think that's funny?"

Uh……

Soon, the carriage arrived at the checkpoint set up by the border guards, where it was intercepted by the knights.

"Ladies, this area is currently closed to traffic."

The person who stopped the carriage was a middle-aged man with a burly build, dressed in dark black armor.

Helena, Hazel, and Ella all had their appearances altered using Helena's "optimization" skill, so they are virtually undetectable without special intervention.

“Sir Knight, we are travelers from the Snow City to Fchester, and we are now returning to the Snow City. We have already obtained Prince Leon’s permission.”

With a smile, Ella took out the travel document from her coat pocket and handed it to the black-armored knight.

The black-armored knight didn't speak. He silently and quickly opened the envelope, then froze.

This document—it seems to be genuine.

But didn't Prince Leon just order that no one be allowed to pass and that all those who recently passed be brought back as soon as possible?

Although it felt very strange, the document in my hand had a stamp and a signature, so it seemed to be genuine.

"Excuse me, ladies, this is a special time. I need to check with my superiors. Please wait a moment."

The knight bowed apologetically and then ran off quickly, leaving Helena and the others waiting anxiously.

Inside the main tent, the charcoal fire was burning brightly, and on the blazing flames, beef was also sizzling and dripping with oil.

Border guard commander Rezsänle was sitting by a charcoal fire with another man who looked much younger than him, drinking local milk wine and eating grilled beef.

Razor Smedley, in his early forties, is a blue-haired, brown-eyed man who, while not particularly tall, exudes a unique air of authority.

The man sitting opposite him looked to be in his early thirties, tall with a strong, angular face and bright, piercing blue eyes.

However, these are not the main points. The main point is that he has the same brilliant blond hair as Caesar, Leon, and Lyon.

He was the younger brother of Hoyle II, a son born to Hoyle I and his mother late in life. He was the regent Naiden Hoyle, who was twenty years younger than Caesar.

"Reporting to the commander, someone wants to pass through the checkpoint and has brought a letter in his own handwriting from Prince Leon."

The black-armored knight entered the camp.

"Oh? Nephew!"

The regent's eyes lit up.

"Hmm? It's Prince Leon again. Let me see it."

Lei Zhe waved to the black-armored knight.

Immediately, the black-armored knight handed the letter to Razer with both hands.

After examining it briefly, Reizhe complained, "I really don't know what His Highness Leon is up to. A few days ago he told me to bring back all the caravans..."

“My nephew doesn’t have any political ability, so it’s normal for him to have some confusing behaviors.”

The regent smiled and asked curiously, "Who are the people my nephew wants to let pass?"

"Your Highness the Regent, they say they are travelers heading to the Snow Capital."

The black-armored knight thought for a moment and then answered.

"Travelers? There probably aren't many of them."

Lei Zhe asked.

"Yes, just four ordinary-looking women. They didn't look very old, probably close to thirty."

The black-armored knight paused for a moment before answering.

"An ordinary-looking woman?"

The Regent suddenly became interested. "Why did Leon write a special travel document for four women? Interesting. Bring them all to me."

"Your Highness, this is not a proper thing to do."

Lei Zhe immediately reminded him.

Now Leon is the highest spokesperson for the royal family and the commander-in-chief of the imperial political arena. If the regent ignores his orders, it will likely have a negative impact.

"Stop talking nonsense and bring him here."

The Regent's expression darkened slightly.

P.S.: Thank you to all the readers who are still following along. I will try my best to get back on track and finish writing this book.

Chapter 73 I'm coming clean.