She ranked on par with Lily and Selene.
However, she had a rather eccentric and solitary personality, staying secluded in her Moon Cold Palace all year round. Unless summoned by Aurelia, she couldn't be bothered to show her face for any major event in the dynasty.
Knox deliberately went outside the palace and bought several exquisite pastries. With these in hand, he instantly felt a surge of confidence.
Lyra was aloof and cold, seemingly devoid of worldly desires.
Yet she had one singular weakness: she was a massive glutton. She loved tasting all kinds of delicacies and had absolutely no resistance to good food.
Knox had long harbored the intention of building a good relationship with this foodie.
He had previously managed to pry the name of her favorite pastry shop from Selene.
He didn't expect it would come in handy so perfectly today.
Carrying four full boxes of pastries, Knox arrived outside the Moon Cold Palace. Just standing outside the gates, he could feel a bone-piercing chill.
He shivered slightly and lifted the pastry boxes.
"Princess Moon, this junior Knox requests an audience!"
Whether Knox's face was big enough, or the four boxes of pastries carried more weight, after two or three seconds a cold, clear female voice echoed from within.
"Enter."
Knox's heart settled, he walked into the palace with a joyful expression.
The decor inside leaned entirely toward cold tones.
The walls on all four sides were made of eerie blue ice. With every step, waves of biting, bone-chilling cold swept over him. Suspended from the ceiling was a crescent moon shrouded in thick white mist. Bright, pure moonlight illuminated every corner of the grand hall.
Stepping into the Moon Cold Palace for the first time, Knox couldn't help but look around in shock.
That cold, clear female voice sounded again in front of him.
"What business do you have with this Princess?"
Knox focused his gaze. His eyes instantly went wide.
Standing tall before him was a slender beauty. She wore a deep blue robe draped in translucent silk, exuding a hazy, ethereal beauty. Long, straight legs paired with blue boots covered in a layer of frost. Exquisite, picturesque facial features. An icy, indifferent gaze, she looked even more like an Ice Queen than Empress Aurelia herself.
Knox swallowed a mouthful of saliva. "You... are Princess Moon?"
"Indeed." Lyra nodded.
"What business do you have with this Princess?"
"This junior has been in the Heavenly Flame Capital for a long time but never came to pay his respects." Knox forced a sycophantic smile.
"Today, I specially prepared some pastries to show my respect to Princess Moon."
"Pastries?"
"Pastries from Honey and Heaven Bakery?"
Looking at the boxes in Knox's hands, Lyra's eyes instantly gleamed. A tiny drop of drool faintly slipped from the corner of her fiery red lips. Her Ice Queen persona shattered on the spot.
Knox laughed inwardly, princess Moon was indeed a massive foodie.
"Correct. This junior deliberately bought these four types of crispy pastries from Honey and Heaven Bakery. Please have a taste, Princess Moon!"
Unable to wait, Lyra directly tore open all four boxes.
In just a few short minutes, she swept through them like a whirlwind, wiping them completely clean. Still looking entirely unsatisfied, licking her lips.
"Princess Moon, was the taste to your liking?" Knox asked with a fawning smile.
"How could the pastries from Honey and Heaven Bakery ever be bad?" Lyra cut straight to the chase.
"You want this Princess to teach you how to deal with the Hale family, don't you?"
"Exactly, exactly!" Knox nodded hastily.
"How did Princess Moon know?"
"Lily and Selene both came looking for this Princess." Lyra said indifferently.
"They told this Princess not to interfere in the grievances between you and the Hale family. Specifically, not to provide you with any assistance whatsoever. Otherwise, it would invite misfortune upon myself."
Knox's expression instantly stiffened.
He cursed profusely in his heart, wishing he could strangle Lily and Selene to death.
It was bad enough that these two useless women failed to help him. To actually run over to Lyra and badmouth him behind his back. They were simply cutting off his every path to survival.
Knox cautiously observed Lyra's expression. "Then... what is Princess Moon's intention?"
"If this Princess didn't want to help you, I wouldn't have eaten your food." Lyra smiled faintly.
"Dealing with the Hale family is not difficult."
"Really?" Knox was instantly ecstatic.
"Then... Princess Moon, when will you accompany me to the Hale family?"
"Why would this Princess go to the Hale family?" Lyra asked in return.
"Uh... Princess Moon, didn't you just say you were going to help me?" Knox looked bewildered.
"Aren't you going to accompany me to the Hale family to help me deal with Alex?"
"This Princess does not know Alex. I have no past grievances or recent enmity with him."
"I can't exactly barge into his home and cause a scene just to vent your anger, can I?" Lyra said calmly.
"Even if Her Majesty were to mobilize troops, she would need a righteous cause. Let alone this Princess."
Knox deflated slightly. "Then... how does Princess Moon intend to help me exact my revenge?"
"The Heavenly Flame Dynasty is a land of fairness and justice. To punish anyone, we must abide by the laws of the dynasty."
"Alex is deeply scheming and cunning. He can exploit every single loophole in the law."
"If you want to deal with him, the only way is to find a villain even more wicked than he is."
Knox nodded thoughtfully. "The wicked villain Princess Moon speaks of is...?"
"To the north of the Heavenly Flame Dynasty lies the Five Poisons Valley. Countless venomous insects and vicious beasts reside within it. Ordinary people dare not step even half a foot inside."
"The Master of the Five Poisons Valley, named Leo, is one of the most wicked villains in the world. As long as you give him enough benefits, he will help you with absolutely anything."
Knox's face lit up with joyful realization. "Princess Moon, I understand!"
"I will head to the Five Poisons Valley immediately to find Leo. I'll hire him to help me kill that old man, Alex!"
He turned around in high spirits, ready to leave.
"Wait." Lyra stopped him.
"Leo's abilities are renowned throughout the northern borders. The number of people who want to hire him as an assassin are countless."
"Without heavy profits, it will not be enough to move him."
Knox froze. "Then... what should I do?"
"Take this for now." Lyra pinched two slender fingers and removed a hairpin from her black hair.