Irina looked up at the city before her with a hint of fear in her heart . Time in the North seemingly froze when winter came to the North, thereby engulfing the North in the darkness and bleakness that it once was with the snow . Even the most prosperous city in the North was enshrouded in a smoke screen from flames used to keep warm ascending into the air . The new city walls, which looked particularly pretty underneath the sunlight, appeared dark due to the scattered snow and black smoke .

Irina felt confused . She observed the group of people and horse carriages gathered near the city . She wasn’t too sure if she was at the Imperial City of the North . The Imperial City was supposed to be the liveliest city in the North, yet there was no sign of life in the city– courtesy of the smog .

Lots of people were gathered outside the city . In fact, people had set up count on both of the expansive s.p.a.ces and set up fires . All of them wore warm clothing and covered their face with woollen masks, rendering only their eyes visible . There was an odd lonely and tense atmosphere there .

Irina pondered, “They must be humans from the South . Why are they gathered here instead of entering the city if they’re so cold?”

The path into the city wasn’t sealed, while the doors were still open . The guards with white coats and square hats – a sign that they were in uniform – checked everyone’s ident.i.ty when they wanted to enter . That was became a custom in the city .

Irina couldn’t figure out why the people didn’t enter and why they gathered there . Also, the city guards didn’t drive them away despite them gathering there . It was as if Troy implicitly approved of them staying there . From an outsider’s perspective, however, they didn’t give the vibe of ordinary folk .

Irina gently moved took a whiff . She smelt an irritating smell . She said to herself, “I’ve smelt this scent before . I once chased the smell to find the hot spring . Nonetheless, these people couldn’t have come here for a hot spring, could they? If they were after a hot spring, they should go to Troy City or farthest north in the North . There’s a hot spring there . ”

Irina followed the group toward the city interior . The closer she got to the city, the more her nervousness heightened . As a matter of fact, she was so nervous she stopped paying attention to the group of strange people .

It was her first time at the Imperial City . She didn’t come to the Imperial City in the past due to her dragon nature, which could spell trouble for the man she liked . This time, though, she had something important to notify the man she liked, who was also her child’s father . He never allowed her and his child to lack anything on a materialistic level, but he never fulfilled any duty of a father . Nonetheless, she still wanted to tell him about his child’s future .

Dragon’s didn’t put any emphasis on their eighteen years of age . Dragons grew into male dragons who were capable of combat at a young age . They also remained dominate as such for centuries to tackle any threats . As such, Troy’s child could be considered mature at his current age .

In front of Irina was an anthropoid . She found that quite surprising . Ever since Troy’s rule, the anthropoids were no longer the main population due to the influx of elves and humans to the North . The pure anthropoid in front of her was an even rarer breed to come by . To add to that, she was a beautiful female anthropoid .

The female anthropoid remained very polite and patient despite lining up . She wasn’t dressed extravagantly, but her soft and delicate clothes displayed her superior demeanour and graceful body . Her pointy ears on her head twitched . She held the hand of a young anthropoid, who bore a striking resemblance to her .

“That must be her daughter,” thought Irina .

Clearly, the woman was already married . Consequently, she wrapped her tail around her waist and didn’t reveal it . Her daughter evidently didn’t have the same awareness . Her daughter cheerfully wagged her tail . She excitedly told her daughter about her father . Seeing the two, Irina recalled the times she spent with her child . Although it was somewhat tiring and worrisome to raise her child, it was all worth it when she saw her child’s smile . Irina couldn’t stop herself from imagining the day when she could bring her child to see his father .

“Ah!! Your Majesty, how come you are here?! If you have business, you should just head straight in; there is no need for you to line up . Hurry on in . Men, bring a carriage to take Her Majesty to the palace!!”

A team soon arrived before the red fox’s family . Irina froze . She didn’t expect to hear her addressed as “Your Majesty” .

“Doesn’t that mean that she’s not a simple n.o.ble, but a relative of the imperial family? Is she related to the man I like? Or is she also his wife?” Irina mused .

“No need . This is not my place to begin with . Had my anthropoid friends not invited me to come join a meeting, I wouldn’t have come here . If I make a scene, the elves and humans will probably be angry . I, therefore, won’t attract trouble to myself,” Ling Yue replied with a head shake . However, when she looked at her daughter, she smiled and added, “In saying that, I will accept your kind offer to offer me a carriage . Liu Yue looks tired . ”

“Understood . I shall arrange a carriage for you . ”

The guard quickly arranged for a carriage to take Ling Yue to the Imperial Palace . While she rarely appeared at the Imperial Palace, she was one of the women who their King loved . Most importantly, she had Liu Yue . Everyone around the King knew that Liu Yue was most probably the next ruler of the North . Thus, n.o.body dared to disrespect Ling Yue despite her status as a mistress .

“All right, next . ”

Irina walked up to the guard, who let out a breath of relief . The guard didn’t think he’d meet Ling Yue . He glanced at Irina . Then, he took the pa.s.s and letter Irina handed him . With his eyes on the items, he asked, “May I ask what the purpose of your visit is?”

“Oh, I want to go to the Imperial Palace . ”

“I am very sorry, but without King Troy’s invitation, you cannot enter the interior of the Imperial Palace, especially since there is a conference being held at the moment . Not everyone is permitted into the Imperial Palace . If that is your purpose, please show me your invitation from King Troy . ”

Irina lingered for a moment . She sadly replied, “I… I didn’t receive an invitation . ”

“You cannot enter the Imperial Palace in that case . Alternatively, you can wait in the city for the conference to end…”

“Can I use Troy’s chest pin…? He gave me one . Here… I, mm, I am one… of his lovers…”

The guard was totally stupefied . Troy only had a few chest pins . n.o.body else besides the elves in Duargana could carve the pattern . Furthermore, Troy loved to give his chest pins to the women he liked . Put another way, women with his chest pin were always his lovers…

“But does he not have too many lovers or what?! How many more are there that don’t I know about?! Why did the group I inspect have two of his mistresses?!” the guard raged in his mind .

“Hurry, hurry, hurry!! Bring another carriage to take this Consort to the Imperial Palace!”