68: Chapter 68 The Princess's Roman Holiday! Brother, I feel useless now!

With the formal diplomatic affairs with Vatican City settled, Lin Zhou and his group finally had some breathing room.

The nerves that had been tense for several days could finally relax a little.

According to the itinerary, they would stay in Rome for two more days to engage in some informal cultural exchange activities, mainly to wait for the joint communique to circulate globally and see the reactions from all parties.

Lin Zhou simply handed this rare holiday entirely over to his sister, Lin Wan.

"Go have some fun."

Lin Zhou handed Lin Wan a solid black card. "Go wherever you want, buy whatever you want. There's no limit."

This card was opened under the name of official royal expenses.

"Consider it your first mission from the state—experience what life as a true princess should be like."

"Wow!"

Lin Wan cheered excitedly, almost jumping up, but as her small hand touched the card, she pulled back with a hint of hesitation on her face.

"Brother, is this... too extravagant? Will Grandpa Chen... will he scold me?"

She hadn't forgotten how the newly appointed Cabinet Chief, Chen Yuan, had scolded the logistics head into oblivion over a high-spec computer and a luxury lunch.

She still shuddered just thinking about that scene.

"Don't worry, I've already spoken to Elder Chen." Lin Zhou smiled and rubbed her hair; it felt as good as ever.

"You aren't just Lin Wan now; you are the Eldest Princess of the Cyber Freedom Republic. Your image also represents our country's face. Besides, you performed very well during this visit, so this is your reward."

Indeed, in those suffocatingly solemn diplomatic settings, Lin Wan had worked hard to play the role of a quiet and elegant princess.

Although she didn't understand most of the obscure diplomatic jargon, she didn't make any mistakes. Sitting there quietly, she was a beautiful sight in her own right.

This was enough to make Lin Zhou very satisfied.

To ensure his precious sister's safety, Lin Zhou also assigned her a small security team.

There were ten people in total, all recruited through special channels from the ranks of top-tier retired special forces back home.

Every one of them was a 'Soldier King'—exceptionally skilled and highly experienced.

While they might still be a step below true Zhongnanhai bodyguards, using them to protect a sixteen-year-old girl in a place like Rome was like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.

"Hello, Your Highness. I am your security lead, Zhou Kai."

A tall man with dark skin and an expression so serious it could freeze a fly gave Lin Wan a standard military salute, flanked by two team members.

His aura was even more intense than those seen in movies.

Lin Wan was startled by the display and waved her hands frantically like a pecking chicken.

"No, no, no! Just call me Xiao Wan! Please don't call me Your Highness!"

With her 'royal' driver and personal bodyguards, Lin Wan's Roman Holiday officially began.

She visited the Colosseum, standing amidst the ruins to feel the majesty and vicissitudes of a thousand years of history.

She went to the Trevi Fountain, mimicking Audrey Hepburn in the movie 'Roman Holiday' by tossing a coin into the pool with her back to the fountain, whispering her wish.

She also went to the Spanish Steps, sitting on the stairs without a care for her image to taste a delicious Gelato, her eyes curving into sweet crescents.

What she didn't know was that her every move was being recorded by the European media following her in secret and by the phone cameras of countless tourists.

Soon, a set of photos titled 'The Oriental Princess's Roman Holiday' went viral on foreign social media.

In the photos, the young girl wore a simple white dress, her jet-black hair cascading over her shoulders. On the ancient streets of Rome, her smile was bright and radiant, looking as pure as if untouched by a single speck of dust.

And by her side, there were always several burly men in black suits and sunglasses, following her with vigilant expressions.

This sharp contrast only added to the sense of mystery and nobility surrounding her identity.

When this set of photos circulated back home, it directly set the entire internet ablaze!

She occupied three of the top ten trending spots on Weibo all by herself!

"Holy crap! What kind of divine beauty is this? This is a real princess! She's leagues ahead of those mediocre girls in TV dramas!"

"To the person above, what do you mean 'like'? She is a genuine princess, okay? Her Highness, the Eldest Princess of the Cyber Freedom Republic! Noble blood!"

"Everyone, 'Brothers-in-law' assemble! If anyone dares touch my sister, they'll have to answer to the keyboards in our hands first!"

"Waaa, seeing Xiao Wan eating ice cream so happily on the streets of Rome, why am I wearing the relieved smile of a proud father? The child has grown up!"

"God Lin is amazing! Not only did he become a King himself, but he also made his sister the most beautiful princess in the world! This is literally a power fantasy coming to life!"

Lin Wan was completely unaware of the noise and revelry on the internet.

She was immersed in her first-ever trip abroad.

However, after a few days of novelty and excitement, an inexplicable sense of loss began to quietly creep into her heart.

No matter how beautiful Rome's scenery was, there would come a time when one grew tired of looking at it.

No matter how delicious the Gelato was, eating too much of it would eventually become cloying.

That evening, she returned to the hotel with little enthusiasm.

Passing by the meeting room, she noticed the door wasn't fully closed and the lights inside were bright.

Her brother, Lin Zhou, along with Chen Yuan, Qin Yue, and several experts she couldn't name, were gathered around a massive world map, discussing something intensely.

Their voices weren't loud, but every word was full of power.

"...According to Article 4 of the United Nations Charter, the establishment of a sovereign state must be recognized by the Security Council..."

"We must find a way to secure a seat in the International Monetary Fund; this concerns our future financial sovereignty!"

"Pay attention to this small island nation in the Caribbean Sea. Its geographical location is crucial; it's our first springboard into the American market..."

Those terms—United Nations Charter, International Monetary Fund, geopolitics...

Every single one of them was so far removed from her world.

She couldn't understand them at all, nor could she interject a single word.

She suddenly felt like a complete outsider.

Her brother and his team were strategizing and pouring their hearts out for a brand-new country and the future of countless people.

And what about her?

Aside from spending the country's money, traveling everywhere, and being praised by netizens as a 'beautiful princess,' she seemed to have no use at all.

A strong, helpless feeling of being abandoned instantly enveloped her.

She was like a beautiful porcelain vase, placed in the most conspicuous position for people to admire, but possessing no value beyond that.

"Brother."

Lin Wan took a deep breath and gently pushed open the meeting room door.

The group, who had been in heated discussion, stopped in unison and looked at her.

"What's wrong, Xiao Wan? Didn't have fun today?" Lin Zhou's tone was full of concern.

"No..."

Lin Wan slowly walked to his side, her fingers nervously clutching the hem of her clothes. After hesitating for several seconds, she finally summoned her courage.

She looked up at her brother, speaking word by word. Her voice wasn't loud, but it was exceptionally clear.

"Brother, am I... am I very useless?"

Lin Zhou was stunned for a moment, then laughed. "What nonsense are you talking about?"

"I'm serious!"

Lin Wan's eyes instantly reddened, and a hint of a sob entered her voice. "You are all doing such important, great things, while I... I only know how to eat, drink, and play! I only know how to spend money!"

"I don't want to just be a vase princess kept in a castle!"

She tilted her head up, tears welling in her eyes, but her gaze showed an unprecedented determination.

Everyone in the meeting room fell silent, looking in surprise at this usually obedient and cute young girl.

Lin Wan looked at Lin Zhou, and also at Chen Yuan and Qin Yue, as she announced a decision that caught everyone off guard.

"Brother, I've made up my mind."

"After we return, I want to apply for the Film Academy."