There were a total of one hundred shadow guards silently stationed around the Princess's Residence.
They silently protected the vast estate and served as both the blade and hounds of its master, who the world saw as cruel and depraved.
According to royal secrets, anyone who entered this special guard unit and carried a number after the name "Guard" was a master capable of fighting a hundred enemies.
Even in the martial world, they were on par with the most famous warriors.
Among the hundred guards, the smaller the number, the stronger the individual.
Someone like "Uno" meant he was the strongest of the current generation.
Elara looked Uno up and down using the original host's memories.
She felt the rumors were definitely true.
After all, with the original host's ability to make enemies, it was a miracle no assassination attempts had ever succeeded.
This meant those silently guarding her had made great sacrifices to surround the Princess's Residence like an iron fortress and keep her safe.
Elara studied Uno for a while and finally asked, "What was your original name?"
Uno paused slightly, clearly not expecting that question, but his face remained cold and emotionless.
He replied, "Your Highness, all memories before the age of five were erased. I do not know my original name."
Uno was tall, nearly as tall as Francis's older brother who stood close to one point nine meters.
But unlike the muscular build of General Qi, who had trained on battlefields, Uno's figure was lean and tough, like a bamboo stalk in the shadows.
His black tight-fitting uniform emphasized this strength and added a visual sharpness.
Elara believed the original host must have liked his face, which was why she ordered him to serve close to her.
As a shadow guard, Uno's original duty was to stay hidden in the dark.
But with someone so good-looking and loyal by her side, whenever the original host was in a foul mood with no one else to abuse, she would take it out on Uno.
Uno always endured it silently.
Once the original host was done venting, he would continue with his duties, just like a machine without feelings, obeying commands for over ten years.
The original host was satisfied with such a handsome and obedient "machine."
Sometimes she treated Uno like a dog, sometimes like a weapon.
She used him without hesitation.
Things like kidnapping the son of a court official were beyond most people, but Uno could do it silently and bring everything the original host wanted right to her feet.
Elara thought of Uno's words and recalled why the original host had been so fearless with such a cold and sharp weapon.
She didn't know where these shadow guards came from, but she knew they had all been fed a special drug from childhood.
The drug erased memories, destroyed their sense of self, and killed emotions.
They saw themselves only as weapons.
Weapons that would never rebel.
Elara looked at Uno for another moment before turning her gaze away.
"You heard what I said to the Qi brothers just now?"
"Yes."
"Then go invite their grandparents to the Princess's Residence.
Remember, I said invite."
"Yes." Uno lowered his head and left.
But the moment he disappeared from Elara's view, a faint sound of wind swept past.
She turned and saw another man kneeling silently behind her, dressed just like Uno and with a similar build.
Elara paused slightly.
"Dos?"
Dos lowered his head further. His voice was rougher than Uno's.
"Yes, Your Highness."
The original host was never without attendants.
If Uno left, Dos stepped in.
If Dos left, there would be Guard Three.
Elara nodded and said nothing more. She turned and walked back into the Princess's Residence.
Uno was fast.
Barely an hour had passed before he brought the two elders into the estate.
During that time, Elara had read through all the records she could find on the Plumera Kingdom.
She now had a basic understanding of the kingdom's structure and powers.
When Uno returned to announce their arrival in the side hall, Elara set down her book and walked out of the study.
With Uno back, Dos had vanished without a word.
Uno quietly followed behind Elara again.
When she entered the side hall, she saw two elders with sharp eyes and upright bearing.
The Qi family was one of the oldest noble families in the Plumera Kingdom and held great military power.
Though the previous emperor was foolish, he still understood the need to balance power and prevent military might from gathering in a single family.
So the Qi family was married not to another general's line, but to a mid-level noble of a civil family, a fourth-ranked official named Old Du.
Old Du, when he served at court, was rare among officials.
He was loyal and bold enough to speak the truth.
Unfortunately, the recent monarchs of the Plumera Kingdom hated hearing honest advice.
They also feared the Qi family's military strength.
With traitorous officials whispering in their ears, they took the chance to remove Old Du from office.
He was demoted to commoner and forbidden from leaving the capital.
Even now, though both elders wore plain clothing, they still carried the pride and grace of people raised in noble tradition.
When they saw Elara, they tried their best to hold back, but still couldn't hide the coldness in their eyes.
They stood and gave her a bow.
"Greetings, Your Highness."
Elara didn't care about their attitude.
She knew this Old Du had only one daughter, who married into the Loyal and Brave Marquis household and gave birth to Francis and his older brother.
Now the younger grandson had been taken into the Princess's Residence, and the older one was badly injured under her orders.
It was already remarkable that Old Du could contain his grief and anger.
Elara sat at the main seat and had tea served.
Then she took out a map of the Plumera Kingdom and said directly,
"I'm getting bored inside the Princess's Residence.
I want to leave the capital and find a peaceful place to relax and enjoy myself.
But I don't know much about the area outside the capital, so I've invited Old Du to come and explain it to me."
At this point, chaos had broken out all over the Plumera Kingdom.
Plagues, rebellions, and death filled the land.
Yet as the princess, she only wanted to find a place to play and enjoy life.
Old Du struggled hard to swallow the words at the tip of his tongue.
He forced his voice to remain calm.
"Your Highness, I have not left the capital in almost ten years.
I do not know where you can find a peaceful place.
You should ask Lord Ge and the others."
Despite his effort, anger leaked into his words.
Lord Ge, or Ge Huai, was the most powerful corrupt official in the court.
He was close to being the head of all ministers.
Ge Huai was cunning, good at manipulating people's hearts, and cruel in his actions.
He was an expert flatterer and always pleased Benedict with just a few words.
He also enjoyed torturing people and was skilled at giving Benedict exactly what he wanted.
By removing all his rivals in court, he had made most of the officials into his own men.
Elara quietly repeated Ge Huai's name in her mind.
If she wanted to restore the Plumera Kingdom, Ge Huai would be the first obstacle to remove.
But his power was deep and well established.
Removing him would not be easy.
Elara ignored the meaning in Old Du's words about asking Ge Huai.
She took a sip of tea and smiled faintly.
"No, Old Du.
I only want to ask you two.
After all, you're the only close family Francis and his brother have.
If I take them out of the palace for fun, I should know what kind of places they like, don't you think?"
"You—!"
Old Du was so furious and heartbroken he nearly fainted.
She had already taken their younger grandson and now aimed to make General Qi into her plaything as well.
Old Du and his wife were so overwhelmed by grief that their vision darkened.
But in the end, they held back.
His voice changed from repressed anger to trembling plea.
Old Du knelt before Elara and spoke with deep sorrow.
"Your Highness, please stop this.
The Plumera Kingdom is already in great danger.
General Qi is the only one left who can still lead troops against the rebels.
If you also take him into your residence, the kingdom is truly finished.
For the sake of your own royal blood and for the people of this land, please let him go."
His wife knelt beside him, wanting to stop him but knowing his stubborn nature.
So she stayed silent and knelt with him.
After they finished speaking, both wore expressions of resigned despair.
They knew that with the original host's past behavior, she would either execute them or lock them in a dungeon to be tormented.
The two elders waited in silence.
But what followed was only a soft laugh.
Elara spoke quietly,
"No wonder the Qi brothers speak just like you.
Old Du says no one but your grandson can lead the army to fight the rebels."
Old Du clenched his fists.
Elara gently traced her fingers around her teacup.
Her voice was calm and slow.
"So I made a bet with them.
I told them both to go to Marigold City and gave them ten days.
If they manage to suppress the chaos there within that time, I'll stop trying to take your grandson.
But if they fail, both of them will stay here in the Princess's Residence and serve me in the garden as my companions."