The Queen's Affection (2)

Knock, knock, knock!

Just as Queen Medusa was still immersed in her own world, a burst of knocking sounded at the door, crisp and abrupt, like a pebble dropped into a tranquil lake, shattering the silence filling the room.

"Who?!"

Her voice instinctively carried the authority befitting a queen, but on closer listening, it seemed to hold a little less of its usual coldness and a faint, barely perceptible... tension?

"Your Majesty, Mr. Su has arrived!" the maid respectfully reported from outside.

At the words "Mr. Su," Queen Medusa's heart inexplicably skipped a beat. She hurriedly checked herself over once more, carefully studying her reflection in the mirror.

Her dark hair, usually coiled into a bun that symbolized power and maturity, was instead draped softly over her shoulders, with only a few strands loosely gathered by a simple jade hairpin.

She wore an outfit she had favored in her younger days, one that outlined gentler curves unlike her usual appearance.

She turned slightly, ensuring every fold of her clothes was smooth and flawless. Even the drape of the silk sash at her waist was adjusted to its most pleasing curve. Only then did she cough twice, trying to restore her usual composure.

Cough, cough!

"Show Mr. Su in!" she ordered, doing her best to make her tone sound no different from usual.

The door was gently pushed open, and Su Baichen entered at an unhurried pace under the maid's guidance. Yet the instant he stepped into the room, his feet halted. He stood frozen in place, as though someone had cast a binding spell on him.

The maid behind him sharply sucked in a breath, her eyes widening in disbelief at the sight before her.

Even the guard dutifully stationed outside caught an accidental glimpse of the scene within. His hand loosened in shock, and with a clatter, his heavy spear fell directly onto the polished floor. Yet he did not even notice.

"Th-this is Her Majesty the Queen?!" The guiding maid's heart churned violently as her gaze involuntarily darted back and forth between Queen Medusa and the familiar furnishings around her, trying to find some proof that her eyes were deceiving her.

Was the graceful woman before her, with features like a painting and a gentle air about her, truly their decisive, domineering queen—the queen whose very presence made people afraid to meet her gaze?

"Where is our queen, whose aura is so overwhelming that her eyes alone could freeze someone to death?!" The guard outside rubbed his eyes instinctively, almost believing that he had stood watch so long he had begun hallucinating.

The difference was more absurd than a lotus suddenly blooming in the desert!

Su Baichen was even more shocked than they were. An utterly ridiculous thought instantly filled his mind. Damn! Did I accidentally walk into the wrong room and end up at Caidie's place?

Almost instinctively, he swept his gaze around the room. The familiar enormous serpent sculpture, the throne symbolizing the queen's authority, and the distinctive folding screen decorated with flame patterns... No, this is clearly Queen Medusa's bedchamber and study!

"My heavens!"

Su Baichen felt as though his understanding of the world had suffered a severe blow. Is this really Queen Medusa—the woman whose name could stop children from crying at night and strike fear into the forces of every neighboring nation?

"This style is completely wrong! Could I have gotten too absorbed in artifact refinement last night, accidentally triggered some spatial teleportation, and ended up in some bizarre parallel world?!"

While everyone stood petrified, their thoughts racing wildly as they wondered whether the Queen Medusa in the room had been replaced by some strange creature—

Queen Medusa, at the center of all those gazes, took in everyone's undisguised astonishment, especially Su Baichen's.

Not only did she not become angry at their breach of etiquette, but a secret delight quietly rose in her heart, one even she herself had not noticed!

It seems... this outfit really does have quite the effect. Even the worldly Mr. Su looks this surprised. The faintest smile nearly broke through her restraint and crept onto her lips, only for her to force it back down.

Hehe! she secretly giggled to herself.

Cough, cough, cough! She had to cough even harder to conceal her momentary lapse in composure, while also snapping everyone back to their senses. "Mr. Su, please come in. Everyone else, wait outside. Do not disturb us!"

Though her heart was churning with emotion, she was still the queen. She quickly made the most appropriate arrangement for the situation—a private meeting. As for these subordinates who had lost their composure... she would settle accounts with them later.

"Yes!" Hearing that familiar, unquestionable command, the maid and guard finally confirmed that the person before them truly was the genuine Queen Medusa. She was simply... exceptionally different today. Neither dared look or think further, and they hurriedly responded.

The maid respectfully led the still somewhat dazed Su Baichen into the room, then quickly withdrew and gently closed the heavy palace doors.

The instant the doors shut, the maid recalled the queen's unusual behavior today—especially that attire so unlike her usual clothes, as well as the faintly revealed, almost girlish mannerisms. She immediately sensed that this was no trivial matter, certainly nothing ordinary.

Not daring to delay, she immediately broke into a near run toward the Great Elder's residence. She had to report this at once!

As for the guard who had picked up his spear, just before the doors fully closed, he received a meaningful, "especially kind" look from his queen through the narrowing crack. He shuddered and instantly understood.

He immediately picked up his spear and shifted farther down the corridor, consciously distancing himself from this troublesome place, determined to "see no evil and hear no evil."

The atmosphere at the Great Elder's residence had originally been solemn and peaceful.

The maid raced all the way there, panting heavily. She did not even bother with the formalities of announcing herself, nearly stumbling as she burst into the council hall.

"Great Elder! This servant has an urgent matter to report!"

At that moment, the Second Elder was also seated nearby, discussing the Snake-People Tribe's recent allocation of supplies and border defenses with the Great Elder.

Seeing the maid so flustered and recklessly barging in, the Great Elder's graying brows furrowed slightly in displeasure.

"What has you in such a panic? Have some decorum! Speak slowly. The sky is not falling." The Great Elder's voice carried its usual steadiness and authority.

At his words, the maid dropped to her knees with a thud. Having run too fast, she was still out of breath, and her words came in broken fragments. "G-Great Elder! H-Her Majesty the Queen, she... she..."

Listening to her breathless state, the Second Elder sitting nearby shook his head, feeling that she was making too much of it. He lifted the teacup beside him and blew away the foam, soothing her in a rather relaxed tone. "Don't panic. Speak slowly, there is no rush. Everything in our tribe is going well now. What major incident could possibly happen?" With that, he calmly took a sip of tea.

Recently, the Snake-People Tribe's development had been rising in a straight line, and Su Baichen's relationship with the Snake-People Tribe had also been steadily deepening.

It was truly a double blessing!

Life was sweet!

The maid drew a deep breath and finally managed to put her words in order. "It's... it's that Her Majesty the Queen suddenly changed into the dresses she often wore when she was young. She is now in her room... discussing important matters with Mr. Su! And, and Her Majesty's words and behavior are completely different from usual. It feels... it feels like she has become another person!"

Upon hearing this, the Great Elder initially did not pay much attention. The queen often discussed affairs with Mr. Su; that was perfectly normal. Perhaps she had merely changed into a different outfit today...

Pfft—cough, cough, cough!

The Second Elder, who had just taken a sip of tea, heard the latter half of the maid's description. In particular, the phrases "dresses from her youth" and "behavior completely different from usual" instantly made him think of a certain possibility. He sprayed out his tea in shock, coughing repeatedly as disbelief covered his face.

He abruptly set down his teacup, no longer caring about propriety as he urgently demanded:

"What did you say?! The queen... she wore her old clothes to meet Mr. Su? And she is behaving strangely? What exactly happened? Tell us everything, quickly!"