What? I Actually Reincarnated As Stepping Stone In Another World?

in the Imperial Palace Garden

A man in a luxurious golden robe stood, gazing at the carefully planted imperial flowers.

The man had a very handsome face, with his blond hair flowing in the wind.

His facial expression remained calm, without any noticeable fluctuations.

"Father?" The soft voice of a little girl was heard behind him, causing a small smile to appear on his face.

He swiftly turned around and spotted a little girl in a plain but luxurious pink dress.

The little girl had short, blonde hair that bore a striking resemblance to the handsome man\'s.

"Lucia? Is there something you need?" The handsome man smiled and tenderly stroked her blonde hair.

"Hehe, I just wanted to see you, Daddy." Lucia giggled, her small hand covering her mouth.

"You truly resemble your mother, my little girl." Emperor Alex shook his head lightly, a helpless smile playing on his lips.

"Hehehe, do I truly resemble Mom?" Lucia\'s eyes sparkled with delight upon hearing that she bore a strong resemblance to her mother.

After all, she had never seen her mother at all and did not know her thoroughly.

"Of course, your looks and even your nature are really very similar; seeing you makes me think of her." Emperor Alex smiled gently, and his tone contained a deep sense of nostalgia.

Somehow, after her father said that, she sensed a subtle but powerful shift in her father\'s demeanor, a profound expression of love and longing.

However, undeterred by the shift, she asked curiously, "Then, do you love Mom that much?"

Upon hearing this, Emperor Alex paused, smiling gently, and replied, "Of course, your father loves her dearly."

"Your mother is the woman I love most in the world."

Lucia\'s eyes sparkled with delight, and she was overjoyed to hear the previous conversation.

Just as she was about to continue her inquiries, a concerned bodyguard approached her with an anxious expression.

"Your Highness, I apologize for interrupting your time," the guard said with a panicked countenance and an anxious tone.

Observing this, Emperor Alex\'s expression immediately turned indifferent, and he inquired, "What\'s wrong?"

"Well, the second lady wishes to see you soon," the guard relayed.

"She mentioned that there are matters she needs to discuss."

The guard explained respectfully, yet his face revealed fear as he felt remorseful for interrupting the precious father-son time.

Lucia\'s expression shifted to one of annoyance upon being interrupted by the guard, but her irritation quickly dissipated as she listened to his explanation.

"Second mother?" Lucia\'s eyes sparkled with excitement and joy.

The second lady referred to Emperor Alex\'s second wife and Lucia\'s stepmother.

It was noteworthy that Emperor Alex had never remarried since his first wife, and Lucia\'s mother was still alive.

However, following the death of the Empire of Empress Balka, Emperor Alex found himself compelled to remarry in order to consolidate his political position within the Empire.

His second wife happened to be the sister of Emperor Savaran from the neighboring Savaran Empire in the western region of the human continent.

This marriage also served as a symbol of the truce between the two empires, which had been engaged in a war for the past two decades.

"Owh?" Emperor Alex\'s eyes narrowed slightly upon hearing this, but his expression swiftly returned to normal.

He paused for a moment, deep in thought, before nodding decisively and saying, "Very well, bring her in." Emperor Alex\'s voice carried a calm tone.

Yes, Your Majesty the Emperor!" The guard bowed respectfully and swiftly departed from the palace garden.

"Father, is the second mother coming?" Lucia\'s eyes gleamed with anticipation as she asked eagerly.

Emperor Alex arched an eyebrow and gazed at the excited Lucia before inquiring, "Indeed, why are you so thrilled about it?"

"It\'s because, after I was kidnapped, I never had the chance to see the second mother again," Lucia explained, her voice filled with longing.

"She didn\'t seem eager to see me either," Lucia expressed in a somber tone, elaborating on her experience.

Emperor Alex\'s expression remained unchanged upon hearing this, and he offered consolation: "Perhaps she has been occupied with her responsibilities."

He provided a gentle excuse, choosing not to disclose the true circumstances to Lucia.

"Ohh~" Lucia lowered her head sadly upon hearing her father\'s response.

Initially, her relationship with the second mother had been affectionate, and Lucia had been showered with care.

However, ever since her return from the abduction, she has noticed a significant shift in her stepmother\'s attitude.

Furthermore, Lucia could sense a distinct change in the second mother\'s gaze—a peculiar animosity that hadn\'t been there before.

Being highly perceptive to others\' emotions through their expressions, she possessed a sensitivity that allowed her to discern their well-being or lack thereof.

This innate ability was also why she had been able to let her guard down when she first met Arthur, viewing him as the hero of her story.

Had it not been for Arthur\'s remarkable acting skills, Lucia might have easily detected an obvious falsehood in his demeanor back then.

Lucia\'s mind immediately conjured up the memory of the handsome boy\'s smile and gaze, causing her to break into a silly smile. "Hehehe~"

Unbeknownst to Lucia, Emperor Alex\'s attention had shifted, and his gaze was now fixated on the blue sky above, his expression distant and indifferent.

It was unclear what thoughts occupied his mind.

Before long, the sound of footsteps reached their ears, drawing their attention.

Lucia swiftly turned around and laid eyes on a woman dressed in a stunning red gown, the garment subtly revealing her flat stomach.

She elegantly draped a sheer fabric over her long, brownish-blonde hair, which cascaded down to her curvaceous waist.

The woman\'s face was exquisitely beautiful, highlighted by a mole beneath her right lip, adding a touch of allure to her features.

Her countenance exuded a seductive and mature allure, while her captivating eyes held an irresistible charm capable of ensnaring even the most steadfast hearts.

Despite hailing from the Savaran Empire, often referred to as the Barbarian Empire, there was no trace of barbarism in her demeanor whatsoever.

Lucia\'s eyes lit up, and she wanted to run excitedly towards the woman, but remembering her second mother\'s changed attitude immediately made her undo her intention.

Your Majesty~" The woman addressed him respectfully, offering a slight bow that inadvertently revealed a glimpse of her ample cleavage.

Evidently, her intention was to entice Emperor Alex, yet his expression remained unaffected as he merely nodded lightly.

"So, what brings you here?" he inquired nonchalantly.

Undeterred, the woman smiled seductively, her voice laced with flirtation.

"Your Majesty, may I have a private conversation with you?" she requested, her tone oozing with allure.

It was evident that the woman deliberately disregarded Lucia, feigning ignorance of her presence, which only deepened Lucia\'s sadness and stirred a hint of resentment within her.

"Why is she behaving like this, even though I haven\'t done anything wrong?" Lucia pondered silently, her cute face contorting with annoyance.

Emperor Alex glanced at the woman\'s face and responded calmly, "Not at the moment."

"I am currently engaged in a conversation with my daughter."

"You may approach me again tomorrow morning," Emperor Alex replied in a composed manner, causing the woman\'s expression to freeze abruptly.

The woman shifted her gaze towards Lucia, standing beside Emperor Alex, her eyes filled with a flicker of hatred.

However, she swiftly concealed it and adorned it with a charming smile.

"Very well, Your Majesty~" she responded.

"I shall take my leave, Your Majesty~" The woman offered a slight bow and respectfully acknowledged him, then turned to depart without uttering a single word to Lucia, who stood beside Emperor Alex.

Upon witnessing this, Lucia clenched her fists tightly, her face contorting with sadness.

Observing Lucia\'s pained expression, Emperor Alex refrained from offering her comfort and swiftly shifted the conversation. "By the way, have you awakened the light core?" he inquired.

Lucia\'s eyes immediately sparkled with excitement, and she responded gleefully, "Hehehe, yes, Father!"

"I awaken the same core as you~" Lucia revealed herself with excitement, her eyes shining.

Emperor Alex\'s gaze subtly shifted, but he swiftly regained his composure.

"You are truly a remarkable daughter of mine; I am immensely proud of you," Emperor Alex commended, gently caressing her head.

Indeed, the inheritance of special elemental abilities through bloodlines had been deemed impossible until Lucia shattered that notion as the first to achieve it.

"Hehehe~" Lucia giggled, her stepmother\'s mistreatment seemingly disappearing in an instant upon hearing her father\'s praise.

"Alright, you can go back to playing, but I have something to attend to first," Emperor Alex informed Lucia in a gentle tone.

"Yes, Father!" Lucia nodded, showing no signs of disappointment at being dismissed by her father.

She understood that, as the Emperor, he must have important matters to attend to.

Just as Lucia was about to leave the garden, Emperor Alex\'s voice called out from behind her. "By the way, in two days, we will attend the coronation of Duke Asvold\'s crown prince, and I would like you to accompany me."

"After all, it wouldn\'t be appropriate for you to not attend the somewhat disrespectful awakening ceremony, but it would be fitting for you to witness his ascension as the crown prince of Duke Asvold\'s estate."

"Besides, since you and the crown prince are of the same age, perhaps you can become friends," Emperor Alex remarked with a faint smile, his tone carrying underlying meaning.

Upon hearing this, Lucia paused and nodded slightly, responding, "Very well, I shall attend as an honored guest at Duke Asvold\'s invitation this time."

"And as for making friends, I don\'t mind as long as the new crown prince isn\'t arrogant and spoiled like those Luvic noble heirs," Lucia replied in a monotone voice, her mind focused on the fact that Arthur was the only one she felt she could truly be close to, aside from her father.

"Well, there might be a surprise in there that will leave you quite astonished," Emperor Alex said with a peculiar smile, offering no further explanation.

Confused by her father\'s enigmatic statement, Lucia tilted her head in perplexity.

However, upon noticing her father\'s continued smile, she decided not to inquire further.

She swiftly sought permission to depart, bid her father farewell, and left the palace garden.

As Lucia departed, Emperor Alex\'s countenance swiftly transitioned from a gentle expression to one of indifference.

He gazed up at the blue sky above and whispered, "Soon, in twelve years\' time, all of this will come to an end, and I will be able to see you once more, my dear." Emperor Alex murmured softly, his eyes emanating a brilliant golden light.

The immense pressure he exuded caused the palace garden to tremble violently, though no one outside could perceive it.

It was as if he had enclosed the space around him, rendering it impervious to external perception!