In the Isu Imperial Palace, all the guests had already been driven out. Even the automated attendants controlled by Gospel were only allowed to remain in the front hall. The Thirteenth Witch, Hapi, was not even permitted to report to the Chief; only Chief Annan, second seat Qinna, and Seventh Seat Nona remained in the palace. Everyone suspected that the Chief and the second seat were currently dividing up the spoils, and that the cake known as Gospel would be redrawn between the two Legendary Arcanists. The Councilors hurriedly contacted their Conglomerate Families, and countless signals laden with schemes streaked through the night sky. For many, this was destined to be an unforgettable sleepless night.
But the truth differed slightly from what they imagined. The Chief Witch was indeed doing something very important, and far more important than they imagined—she was tucking the little Empress in.
Annan looked at Dia, who was sleeping quietly on the bed. The exquisitely pretty little Empress did not like lying on her back; she curled up on her side into a tiny ball, like a koala clinging to a tree. Her brows trembled faintly, and no one knew what she was dreaming about, but it probably was not a nightmare. Annan had never seen anyone drool like a waterfall while having a nightmare.
The witch sat by the bed and reached out to gently stroke the Empress's hair.
Thinking about it carefully, their relationship was actually quite strange. At first, Annan had not felt much toward Lysithea. She was not like Ash, who longed so desperately for family. Although her father had died young and her mother had been less than human, she had Bange to look after her, and both her childhood and youth had been very happy. After reaching adulthood, she had