Stunningly beautiful yet wicked, she begins by conquering eight beast husbands.

Chapter 98 Worth It or Not
Riley arrived at Scarlett's bedroom.

Scarlett slumped on the sofa, utterly dejected, her legs propped up on the coffee table, her eyes open but unfocused and vacant.

She didn't even notice Riley walking up to her; she was staring at one spot, her breathing sometimes rapid, sometimes slow.

"Your Highness."

Scarlett, hearing this unfamiliar yet familiar address, lifted her eyelids slightly, looked at Riley, and asked in a nonchalant tone, "What is it?"

Riley said softly, "Something's wrong."

He sat down next to Scarlett, a smile playing on his lips. His gentle, warm face was kind and approachable. He said softly, “Your Highness is under house arrest, but we are not. If Your Highness has any requests, you may simply give them. There is no need for you to do it yourself.”

Scarlett paused, a glint of light gathering in her eyes, and asked in surprise, "Riley, you knew?"

Riley nodded. "Okay, I understand."

Scarlett pursed her lips, wanting to say something, but said nothing.

He pulled his legs back from the coffee table, picked up a cushion and hugged it to his chest, saying, "Riley, what are you trying to say?"

Riley smiled, a surge of joy welling up inside him.

He did have something else to say.

He felt an unprecedented joy at being seen through by Scarlett.

It was as if this was a unique understanding between them, requiring no many words, a single glance was enough to comprehend it.

It belongs exclusively to him and Scarlett.

[Beep beep——]

[Detection of male attraction to host]

[Affection Points +5000]

[Affection Points +5000]

Riley lowered his eyes, concealing his barely concealed joy, and calmly said, "Your Highness, the 403 Research Institute is the Empire's premier pharmaceutical research institute, with its drug research far surpassing that of other empires and federations. They are deeply rooted and as solid as a rock, and cannot be shaken overnight."

"If it really was someone inside who committed the murder, the investigation would come at a high price. Is Your Highness willing to accept that?"

Scarlett looked into Riley's eyes, thought carefully for a moment, and then gave her answer: "Yes."

Riley looked into her eyes, "The throne, Your Highness, you're also willing?"

Scarlett never thought about that; her life motto was, "As long as you have money, that's all that matters."

Besides, Sofia is the future emperor.

Scarlett nodded, her eyes resolute. "I'm willing."

Riley's eyes crinkled slightly, as if he were smiling, but there was little joy in them. He said, "The relationships behind the 403 Research Institute are intricate and complex, and the composition of its personnel is not comparable to that of ordinary research institutes. They are all wealthy and powerful, from prestigious families, and a single move can have far-reaching consequences."

"I think that's why His Majesty doesn't want you to investigate."

Scarlett listened and nodded.

She had reviewed the research institute's staff files and knew their identities and positions.

That's why she asked Catherine for an investigation.

She knew she would fail.

But she would be even more upset if she didn't try.

Scarlett thought for a moment, then asked curiously, "Why is it related to the heir apparent?"

Riley analyzed rationally: "Your Highness, the powerful families enjoy high prestige and status in the empire. If a crown prince stands against them, he will certainly not be liked by them, and naturally he will not gain their support."

"The Oranrosa Empire has had twelve emperors, and the ascension of each emperor was inseparable from the support of powerful families."

“Children of prominent families possess the wealth and connections accumulated over generations. They are involved in politics, business, the military, education, medicine, and literature, and are inextricably linked to society.”

"Their relationship with the imperial power was one of cooperation and competition, a mutually reinforcing one."

After saying this, Riley paused for a few seconds, his expression suddenly becoming serious. "Therefore, for Your Highness's future, I urge you to think carefully before making a decision, and not to act impulsively."

Scarlett listened intently to the first few sentences, thinking that Riley was analyzing the current situation for her.

The last sentence.

She snapped out of her daze and looked at Riley warily. "You're here to persuade me?"

Riley smiled and said coldly, "I just think that she is just a commoner in the underworld, like an ant, not worth mentioning. There is really no need for Your Highness to go to so much for her."

Riley said solemnly, "Your Highness, you are His Majesty's daughter, and you may inherit the throne and become the ruler of a country in the future. Is it worth it for an insignificant commoner?"

Riley shook his head with a sigh, answering himself, "It's not worth it! Not at all. Your Highness, please consider this carefully."

"civilian?"

Scarlett was stunned, her eyes welling up with tears, but her face darkened. "Do you see her as just an ordinary person? Isn't she a life, a human being?"

Riley's heartstrings were plucked at that moment, and his heart trembled slightly.

He met Scarlett's angry gaze and said rationally, "Your Highness, I have said that compared to you, they are insignificant and they are not worthy of you giving up anything."

Scarlett hated hearing that sentence the most.

Every life is incredibly precious; how can it be measured by status?
Her eyes were red as she pointed to the door and snapped, "Shut up! I don't want to hear it, get out!" Riley didn't get up, but said coldly, "Your Highness, don't forget, you are His Majesty's daughter, and your beast husbands are all from noble families. If you make the wrong decision, they will all become sharp swords piercing you, leading to your utter ruin!"

Scarlett was about to get angry when her expression suddenly froze, her pupils trembled, and she quickly glanced at Riley.

Riley's expression was like this, but his eyes moved slightly, as if he were hinting at something.

Scarlett blinked and instantly understood the meaning of those words.

Riley was reminding her.

She was confined to her quarters by His Majesty.

His Majesty's spies around her will surely keep an even closer watch on her.

Riley couldn't say it directly, so he could only hint at it to her in a subtle way.

She also has powerful families supporting her.

That was her beast husband's family.

They share both prosperity and adversity.

Scarlett didn't laugh, but her eyes softened. She kept pointing to the door, her anger undiminished. "Get out."

Riley rose and bowed. "Yes, Your Highness."

Riley got up but didn't leave. He thought for a moment, then suddenly bent down, put his hands on Scarlett's shoulders, and stared at her intently with his dark green eyes. Countless black threads seeped from between his eyebrows and flew toward Scarlett.

The incident happened so suddenly that Scarlett was startled and instinctively tried to dodge.

"Don't move, it'll be over in a second," Riley said gently.

Riley's voice is very textured, slightly husky, with a lingering resonance that can keep you listening.

Let it go.

Scarlett remained frozen in place.

But she dared not look into Riley's eyes. They were too beautiful, like a treasure box containing countless secrets. She feared that once she opened them, she would be lost in them and unable to close them.

He could only stare blankly with his eyelids drooping.

Her thick, bushy eyelashes trembled, her dark figure fluttering like butterfly wings.

One minute passed.

Riley withdrew his hand, straightened up knowingly, and said, "That's enough, Your Highness."

Scarlett nodded, her cheeks slightly flushed.

Her heart wasn't beating fast, but it made her feel a tingling, numb sensation, as if countless electric currents were coursing through her chest.

Riley withdrew his hand, but not his gaze. He looked at Scarlett, her neck bowed, her cheeks flushed, and the usually composed Riley rarely showed such a mischievous expression.

He bent down again and whispered in Scarlett's ear...

His warm breath kissed her pink and white earlobe.

Her mind went completely blank for a moment, as if it had been turned into mush.

She didn't hear what Riley said.

It took me a long time to come to my senses.

Take a look.

Riley was nowhere to be seen in the room.

Scarlett cupped her burning cheeks.

I despise myself again for being so ignorant and naive!

……

……

Scarlett was grounded.

But her personal terminal was not locked.

In the dead of night, she tentatively stepped out of the gates of Herda Palace and found that she had not been electrocuted and could go out.

Scarlett worried that things might change if she delayed.

After giving Lilia some instructions, she slipped out that very night. Halfway through her escape, she remembered Riley's words and quietly went to find Gela.

She asked Gella, "Can you fly a spaceship?"

Grala had just woken up and was still a little dazed. After a moment's pause, she said, "Yes."

"Okay, come with me."

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(End of this chapter)