In the Name of Empress-Chapter 652 - 372: In the Name of the Empress (2)

Anthony’s voice suddenly grew somber. He opened his mouth, ready to entrust the last ember of the Magic Empire to Lisa, hoping she wouldn’t refuse given their mentor-student relationship.

However, before he could speak, Lisa gently asked, "Have you considered every possible solution? Yet you’ve forgotten to ask your disciple to serve you."

Anthony was stunned, looking at Lisa in disbelief.

Her eyes glimmered with complex emotions.

After a long gaze, Lisa said softly, "Teacher, without you, I might only remain a skilled Chef, eventually unable to keep up with Roland’s pace, completely falling behind."

"Teacher, do you truly believe that culinary skills can capture someone’s heart?"

Lisa casually lifted her long hair, and Anthony noticed that the roots of her hair had turned crimson, a sign of mastering Fire Magic to an extent that transforms one’s body.

He was gratified yet somewhat regretful; if Lisa hadn’t been so persistent, her achievements might have been greater, but without such dedication, she wouldn’t have mastered Flame Control to the extreme.

Anthony laughed with relief, even having the mood to joke with Lisa.

"Certainly not, I’ve never seen anyone prioritize choosing a Chef as a lover."

The two exchanged a glance, and the cheerful laughter dispelled the heavy atmosphere.

Lisa lowered her voice, speaking softly so only the two could hear:

"Teacher, Eden is with me."

Anthony’s body trembled, his pupils rapidly contracting.

He was so excited that he stuttered, "R-real, really?"

But as soon as he spoke, he laughed, knowing such a thing couldn’t be a lie.

His breathing became heavy. After an indeterminate time, he finally laughed. His hearty laugh made the glass windows buzz.

All these years, his mood had always been repressed.

Worried about having no successor, worried that the Magic Empire had no hope, worried that the final return would become a slaughter for the Goddess’s return.

Now he could finally feel somewhat relieved.

Though the future was still uncertain, at least there was hope.

"Teacher, I’ve never seen you laugh like this all these years." Lisa smiled, infected by her teacher’s joy.

"Nonsense, am I usually that serious?" Anthony deliberately put on a stern face.

"Teacher, your eyes have never smiled."

A false smile hung on his face; a genuine smile rippled in his eyes.

Anthony didn’t ask where Eden was, since the Super Divine Artifact was in Lisa’s hands, where it was kept didn’t matter.

He quickly pushed aside the bookshelf, revealing the hidden study behind, and searched the floating library index in the void, finally finding the location of "Eden."

Reaching into the void, an ancient parchment scroll slowly floated up to him.

Turning to the first page, a line of small words caught his eye.

"Eden is not a blissful paradise, but a seed of hope."

With some reluctance, Anthony perused the scroll but finally gritted his teeth and gently pushed it towards Lisa, watching the precious ancient text float to her.

"Lisa, the Magic Empire’s last secret is here. This scroll is the key to unlocking Eden’s secrets. Take it and explore slowly. By the way, what position do you aspire to hold in the Empire?"

"Empress."

Lisa pondered for a moment before speaking seriously.

She raised her hand to stop Anthony from explaining, her eyes shining with unprecedented determination.

"The true golden age of the Magic Empire was under the Emperor’s absolute rule. I admit the Governor system can concentrate collective wisdom, and it’s better for civilization development in the long run. But in times of life-and-death crisis, collective wisdom often turns into mutual shirking."

"Even internal strife," Anthony helped her finish the unsaid half.

The Magic Empire was once so powerful that there were no opponents anywhere in the world, which is why their gaze turned to the distant gods and themselves.

Internal consumption was always the biggest obstacle to the Magic Empire’s development.

"You’re right, monarchy is a regression from the perspective of civilization’s long-term development, but when decisions tough to make arise, if the orders come from someone wise, the effect will be better."

Under normal circumstances, Anthony, who grew up bathed in the light of civilization, would never accept such historical regression, but circumstances change.

If Lisa ascends to Empress, how could Roland idly stand by?

Anthony’s old face gradually relaxed, as if ironed smooth. He felt emotional but spoke differently.

Ideal and reality are always vastly different.

After the Magic Empire entered a republican era, state power was divided among the Governors, but they didn’t dare change the country’s name. Just removing the surface remnants of monarchy cost too much effort.

"Sometimes stepping back is for better advancement."

Anthony could only comfort himself this way.

After talking freely with his disciple for a long time, Anthony finally asked the question he shouldn’t have.

"Lisa, how do you plan to handle the Talia Imperial Family?"

Lisa didn’t answer.

Silence is sometimes the best answer.

Although the whole of Talia was once the Magic Empire’s territory, times have changed, and there are owners here now.

With the Talia Imperial Family still around, Lisa’s ascent as Empress lacks legal grounds.

Anthony laughed self-deprecatingly, dispelling his worries, "You and Roland continue your journey; come back when you’re tired, and there won’t be any obstacles then."

Lisa nodded satisfactorily, but didn’t forget to remind him.

"Teacher, your hands must never be stained with blood. In future history books, you will be the wise one who changed the Empire’s fate."

After saying this, worried Roland was waiting impatiently, Lisa finally bid farewell and left.

Sending his disciple down to the Magic Tower in person, Anthony watched Roland outside the tower door, trying to maintain composure but betrayed by anxious eyes, feeling gratified yet melancholic.

It felt like an old father sending his daughter off for marriage.

Thinking of Roland having other wives, Anthony’s emotions were indescribably mixed.

But it was mutual consent; Lisa herself didn’t mind, so what could others say?

Did Lisa mind? Of course, she did, but there are too many things beyond one’s control.

Walking out of the Magic Tower, holding Roland’s hand towards Eden, she suddenly remembered when Roland first held her hand.

It was during a slippery snowy season, she accidentally fell, and Roland quickly grabbed her hand and pulled her, she then fell into his arms.

Recalling today, the accelerated heartbeat then wasn’t out of awkwardness from nearly falling, but a sort of unexpected heart-throb feeling.

If she had realized sooner, she wouldn’t have introduced those other women to Roland, perhaps they could have married long ago.

Work together at the post office, go home together, enjoying the busy yet pleasant life of ordinary people.

She also didn’t know which life she yearned for compared to now.

However, as long as the wheels of fate turn, they won’t stop.

As the keeper of Eden and the Last Emperor of the Magic Empire, she must lead the Empire through crisis and then relinquish power, or accompany this aging Empire to the grave.

Returning to the carriage, Lisa told Roland everything that had happened with nothing hidden.

Roland wasn’t very surprised, as if he’d already speculated everything.

Seeing Lisa’s confused look, Roland smiled and said, "What’s hard to guess? If the negotiations failed, you’d have been out long ago. Master Anthony couldn’t possibly harm you unless he intends for the Magic Empire to collapse now."

Roland’s domineering words might cause mature women from another world to laugh loudly, but Lisa wouldn’t.

She greatly enjoyed Roland’s protective and domineering speech.

In Roland’s arms, she murmured shyly, "I’m sorry, I made such an important decision without discussing it with you beforehand."

"This is the best choice. Rather than consulting me, I’m happier that you can make decisions independently."

That was Roland’s true thoughts.

A peculiar feeling surged in Roland’s heart.

Once Lisa ascends to Empress, there will be four Empresses in this world, three of whom are his wives and one his boss.

In the Name of the Empress, controlling the world, is somewhat of a subtle feeling.

Holding Lisa’s hand, he whispered, "Since your ascension needs time, let’s make the most of it. Start the journey from Talia, ending at the Magic Empire."

Roland’s words carried a double meaning, speaking of the journey’s plan and implying that soon the Talia Kingdom would turn into the Magic Empire.

"The Magic Empire has disappeared for too long; its glorious past is now legend, acceptance won’t be easy."

"To do good to the end, let me help you once more, the tour lectures on the glorious stories of the Magic Empire will start from the Eternal City."

Lisa lazily lay in Roland’s arms, softly asking, "What role do you want to play in the future Magic Empire?"

"Nonsense, of course, Prince!"

Roland laughed, holding Lisa tightly, and snapped his fingers.

"Tour lecture, start!"