757: From Chapter 757 onwards, we're sisters!

The assembly hall quieted down.

The Empress slumped in her chair, gazing in the direction where Euphemia and Ye Chen had disappeared, her eyes filled with complexity.

After a long while.

She spoke slowly, asking.

"Butler."

The butler quickly stepped forward and bowed, saying, "Your Majesty."

The Empress looked up at the massive crystal chandelier on the vaulted ceiling, as if asking the butler, or perhaps asking herself.

"Does the title of Princess... really put so much pressure on her?"

The butler's body trembled slightly.

He looked up, hesitated for a moment, and then spoke.

"Your Majesty, this old servant has served the royal family for forty years and has watched Her Highness the Princess grow up since she was a child."

"Her Highness... has lived a very tiring life since she was young."

"Learning etiquette at three, foreign languages at five, equestrianism at seven, court rules at ten..."

"When other children were out running and playing, Her Highness was practicing the piano."

"When other children were making friends at school, Her Highness was at home learning all sorts of knowledge."

"She has never lived a single day for herself."

The Empress's eyes reddened slightly.

The butler continued, "Your Majesty, do you remember when Her Highness was fifteen?"

The Empress nodded.

Of course she remembered.

That year, Euphemia locked herself in her room for three whole days, refusing to eat or drink.

She had people break down the door and found her daughter sitting on the floor with a photo album in front of her.

Inside that album were nothing but candid photos of ordinary people's lives that she had taken.

There were children flying kites in the park, couples eating ice cream on the street, a family vacationing at the beach...

Euphemia pointed at those photos and asked her, "Mom, why can they live so happily, while I have to live like a puppet?"

At that time, she didn't answer.

Because she didn't know how to answer.

She only knew that a princess should act like a princess, and the royal family should have royal rules.

As for whether her daughter was happy, she had never seriously thought about it.

The Empress closed her eyes, and two lines of clear tears slid from the corners of her eyes.

"Did I... do something wrong?"

The butler lowered his head and said nothing.

He dared not answer this question.

Nor did he want to.

Because he knew that the Empress didn't love the Princess any less; she just loved the royal family too much.

Loved it so much that she forgot that the Princess was first a daughter, and only second a princess.

The assembly hall fell into a long silence.

Only the Empress's low sigh echoed in the empty hall.

...

As soon as they left the palace, Euphemia let go of Ye Chen's arm, turned around, and began walking backward, a bright smile on her face.

"Ye Chen, it's rare for you to come to Eagle Country, let me take you to eat something delicious!"

Ye Chen glanced at her, "You're treating?"

"Of course I'm treating!"

Euphemia patted her chest, looking full of bravado, "In this part of Eagle Country, there isn't a guest I can't afford to treat."

Qian Duofu, following behind, heard this and his eyes lit up, "Your Highness, can I order the most expensive thing then?"

"Order whatever you want."

Euphemia waved her hand grandly, "Since you came with Ye Chen, if you can't finish it, you can even take it to go."

Qian Duofu was so excited he almost jumped on the spot.

Great, great, great!

An import-export trader like him had really made it; not only was he being treated to a meal by the Princess of Eagle Country, but he could even take leftovers home?

This was some serious bragging material that he could talk about for the rest of his life!

Yi Yue walked beside Ye Chen, the corners of her mouth curling up slightly, but she didn't speak.

Euphemia walked backward for a few steps, then suddenly turned around, leaned in front of Yi Yue, and blinked her azure blue eyes.

"Sister Yi Yue, you won't be jealous, right?"

Yi Yue looked at her and smiled faintly, "No."

Euphemia was stunned for a moment, "Really?"

"Really." Yi Yue nodded, "Because my man has me in his heart, and that's enough."

Euphemia's smile stiffened slightly, then immediately became bright again, "Sister Yi Yue, you're so nice! From now on, we're sisters!"

Ye Chen rolled his eyes.

"Who's sisters with you? I haven't agreed to that yet."

Euphemia pretended not to hear him, linked her arm with Yi Yue's, and skipped forward.

Ye Chen watched her back and sighed.

This princess really had thick skin.

After walking along the road outside the palace for less than ten minutes, the group arrived at a bustling commercial street.

Both sides of the street were filled with all kinds of restaurants and cafes, and the air was filled with the aroma of coffee and toasted bread.

Euphemia pointed to an elegantly decorated restaurant on the street corner and was about to speak...

"Euphemia?"

A man's voice came from behind them.

The group paused and turned around.

They saw a young man, around twenty-seven or twenty-eight, walking toward them.

He was wearing a dark blue suit, and his leather shoes were polished so brightly you could see your reflection in them.

When Euphemia saw him, her brows furrowed slightly, "Felix? What are you doing here?"

Felix walked up close, his gaze lingering on Euphemia for two seconds.

Then.

He swept his gaze over Yi Yue, a flash of amazement in his eyes, and finally landed on Ye Chen.

His brows furrowed sharply.

White T-shirt, casual pants, sneakers.

This whole outfit combined probably wouldn't even buy one of his neckties.

"Euphemia, who are these people?"

Felix's voice carried clear displeasure, "Why are you associating with this kind of person?"

Euphemia's expression darkened instantly, "Felix, watch your mouth. What do you mean by 'this kind of person'?"

Felix snorted coldly, lifted his chin slightly, and looked down at Ye Chen condescendingly.

"Dressed like that, it's obvious he's not anyone of status."

"Euphemia, you are a princess of Eagle Country, how can you mingle with such low-class people?"

"It's so embarrassing for the royal family if word gets out."

Before Ye Chen could speak, Qian Duofu couldn't hold back anymore.

"Wait... who are you? Just because you're wearing a suit, you think you're something special?"

"I'm wearing a floral shirt!"

Felix glanced at him, his eyes full of disdain, "And who are you?"

"I'm your elder!" Qian Duofu stiffened his neck.

Felix's face turned black instantly, "Insolent!"

The two black-clad Bodyguards behind him immediately stepped forward, glaring at Qian Duofu like tigers eyeing their prey.

Qian Duofu shrank his neck in fear, but remembering that Ye Chen was behind him, he straightened his back again.

"You're the one being insolent!"

"Do you know who is behind me? If I tell you, it'll scare you to death!"

Felix sneered, "Who? Let's hear it."

Just as Qian Duofu was about to speak, Ye Chen reached out and pressed his shoulder, shaking his head.

Then.

He looked at Felix and said indifferently, "Who I am is none of your business."

Felix's smile turned even colder.

"None of my business? You're a low-class person walking with the Princess of Eagle Country, and you say it's none of my business?"

He took a step forward, staring down at Ye Chen.

"My name is Felix. My father is a Duke of Eagle Country, my mother is from a branch of the royal family, and my grandfather is a member of the House of Lords."

"Tell me, does you walking with the Princess of Eagle Country have anything to do with me or not?"

Ye Chen looked at him, expressionless, "So what?"

Felix sneered.

"So I'm asking you, who are you?"

"What right do you have to be with Euphemia?"

Euphemia's expression sank completely.

"Felix, that's enough!"

"Who he is doesn't need to be reported to you, and who I associate with is none of your business!"

"Please leave immediately, or I will call the guards!"

Felix didn't move.

His gaze darted back and forth between Ye Chen and Euphemia, a hint of malice flashing in his eyes.

"Euphemia, don't tell me you've taken a liking to this poor kid?"

"What kind of taste do you have? Does this kind of person deserve you?"

"You are the Princess of Eagle Country! The future Queen!"

"Your husband should be someone like me, from a prestigious family, a perfect match!"

"Not some hillbilly who wears cheap rags and crawled out from some godforsaken corner!"

Euphemia was trembling with rage.

She would not allow anyone to insult her benefactor! Her hero! The person she wanted to pursue!

But before she could speak, Ye Chen had already spoken first.

"Are you finished?"

Felix's expression turned cold, "I'm finished, so what?"

Ye Chen nodded.

"Good, then."

He lifted his right foot.

And kicked Felix in the stomach.

"Bang!!!"

Felix's body suddenly curled up like a shrimp, his feet left the ground, and he flew backward.

He flew a good seven or eight meters before crashing to the ground, rolling several times, and finally stopping only after hitting a street lamp post by the side of the road.

"Ah!!!"

Felix clutched his stomach, tears streaming down his face from the pain, curled up on the ground, his whole body twitching uncontrollably.

The two Bodyguards behind him turned pale and rushed toward Ye Chen simultaneously.

Ye Chen didn't even look, just casually slapped them twice.

"Slap! Slap!"

The two Bodyguards spun around in place, then collapsed to the ground and passed out.

Pedestrians on the commercial street stopped one after another, watching this scene in stunned silence.

Some people took out their phones to take pictures, others whispered, and some recognized Euphemia and exclaimed aloud.

"Oh my god! Isn't that Her Highness the Princess?!"

"That person who was beaten... looks like Felix! The eldest son of the Duke's family!"

"Who is that man in the white T-shirt? How dare he hit someone from the Duke's family? He's crazy, he's crazy!"

...