Constantinople, the Golden Governance Palace.

The Divine Emperor Suleiman of the Seljuk Empire sat on the Ivory Throne of past Emperor Solomons, staring blankly at a letter.

This letter was written by his rebellious daughter, Princess Camellia, who had been out of contact for four years. She advised him not to indulge in the glory of capturing Constantinople, but to quickly realize the shift in power dynamics and withdraw forces back to the Bosphorus Strait, focusing on defending Asia Minor.

In other words, Constantinople was destined to be lost.

For Suleiman, claiming he had no feelings for this daughter would be deceitful... Back when he was still the Governor of Damascus and not yet the Divine Emperor, he adored this daughter excessively, even setting aside half an hour every night after his heavy workload to patiently read her bedtime stories.

However, since he chose the path of power, his relationship with this daughter had drifted apart.

Or rather, the imperial system of the Seljuk Empire decrees that any emperor would become a solitary figure.

When he first heard of his daughter's betrayal, Emperor Suleiman was furious, even contemplating placing a bounty on her head with the Caucasus Assassin Organization for defying him.

Yet he quickly retracted the bounty, not out of consideration for the Queen (in reality, the Enchanting Demon Queen had no real affection for her husband or daughter), but because he suddenly remembered that unfinished book, "One Thousand and One Nights."

He recalled the warm moments spent with his daughter.

To be honest, since becoming emperor, although his power and influence had soared to the peak, his happiness as a person had diminished, to the point that every joy from past memories was treasured as a rare gem, often revisited in savor.

Now, upon receiving this unexpected letter from his long-absent daughter, Suleiman was taken aback, more by the sense of being ridiculed and provoked than anything else.

However, once he calmed down, he began to seriously contemplate his daughter's suggestions.

What persuaded him to reconsider was the fact that his long-estranged daughter had become a Demigod—meaning Camellia indeed had the qualification to converse with him as an equal.

And according to Camellia, in her team alone, there were five other Demigods besides her...

This news was rather startling. Six Demigods would become a formidable force in any faction; even in the extraordinary Seljuk Empire, the number of Demigods loyal solely to the Emperor was about the same.

That is to say, if Camellia wished to return, she could even challenge him, her imperial father of sorts. If that were the case, at least she would stand on the Seljuk side...

However, as the letter described, the reality was that Camellia was in the Crusader camp. Therefore, the Empire's original war plans against the Crusaders were immediately overturned, with these six emerging Demigods becoming a massive weight tipping the scales of war.

Now it was no longer about how to hold Constantinople, but how to withdraw from it gracefully, preserving Asia Minor.

Suleiman looked up at the young Guard Commander in front of him. This was a young man from Syria, astute and wise, usually held in high regard by him.

Yet just moments ago, it was this young Guard Commander who brought him the letter from his daughter, and according to the Mind Mage under his command, he was manipulated by a Demigod Rank Law rather than deliberately betraying His Majesty.

That Law... resembled some parasitic mental organism, deeply embedded into his Mind Body, unable to be resolved through ordinary Mind techniques. If forcibly removed, the young Guard Commander would become a fool with a damaged Mind Body—it would be kinder to end his life swiftly.

"Take him away." Emperor Suleiman rubbed his brow, announcing the fate of the Guard Commander: imprisonment.

Once the young Guard Commander was taken away, a widespread Mind investigation began in Constantinople, to prevent more people from being secretly manipulated by his well-behaved daughter, Camellia.

Emperor Suleiman silently paced into the inner study. After a long silence, he took out a candle.

Lighting the candle, soon, from the flickering flame came a vague, alluring silhouette.

"Coneopetra!" Suleiman said gravely, "I've received a letter from Camellia."

"Oh," the other person replied, "what of it? Finally remembered my good daughter?"

"She sent a letter from the Crusader camp, urging me to surrender Constantinople quickly," Suleiman said solemnly.

"Then you should surrender it." The other person replied.

"Is that your suggestion?" Suleiman asked coldly.

"No." The other person replied.

"Then Camellia acted on her own accord." Suleiman stated with authority.

"My dear Emperor, you seem to have misunderstood something." The other person couldn't help but laugh, "You think Camellia is still that little girl running back and forth between us?"

"She has become a Demigod and succeeded my position as the Enchanting Demon Queen, inheriting all my ventures in Lingbo City. Even Marquina bows to her will; do you think I can still influence her?"

"But she's still with that Mercenary Group named The Azure Longsword." Suleiman frowned.

"Perhaps she enjoys playing house," the other replied indifferently, "Didn't I once play the role of a slave, Your Majesty?"

Suleiman: .........

Indeed, when he met the Enchanting Demon Queen, she was pretending to be a slave in the market, waiting to be purchased by any man, whether "fortunate" or "unfortunate," to take her home.

Considering this perspective, indeed, these Demons possess peculiar habits.

After concluding the communication with the Enchanting Demon Queen—or rather, the former Enchanting Demon Queen—Suleiman returned to the Ivory Throne, pondering for several hours before instructing the guards stationed beside him:

"Bring the Guard Commander back."

Soon, the formerly imprisoned Guard Commander, with shackles, returned to the hall of the Golden Governance Palace.

Despite his imprisonment, his face still wore an indifferent smile or, more precisely, the Demigod behind the scenes had stripped away all his normal reasoning abilities.

"Camellia, what do you want?" Suleiman stared at the Guard Commander and asked seriously, "I know you're listening!"

After a moment, the Guard Commander's stiff smile slowly vanished, and he spoke, now in a soft, alluring female voice:

"I want nothing, father. What I desire, you cannot give."

"You don't strike me as the kind who cares for familial sentiments," Suleiman tapped the armrest of the Ivory Throne, "So why warn me?"

"It's simple, because if the Seljuk Empire suffers a disastrous defeat in the Holy War, someone will gain the most benefit, which doesn't align with my future expectations," Camellia laughed, continuing, "So, I just hope you don't lose too quickly, lest it disrupts my plans."

"Someone?" Suleiman's eyes squinted, "Olympia City, Apilius?"

"There's no need for further speculation." Camellia replied in an ethereal voice, "Go, leave Constantinople, head to Asia Minor, and do your best to stall her pace."

"Then set your sights on Ilania, prepare an exit for yourself. Father, you consider yourself a capable Monarch, so you should know that when the tide of history is set, it's no longer within human will to stop it."

"I don't wish to see your head on the walls of Constantinople, nor do I want to hear years or decades later that you've died in battle or been assassinated by the Imperial Guard. That would be too cruel for me as a daughter."

"Live well, perhaps someday we'll have the chance to meet, maybe even cooperate."

"I look forward to that day."

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