Chapter 196
Fetal Sentinels Obey Only Her
Chapter 197 Tangled Powers.
Finished
But power carried risks. That blade meant to strike external foes could just as easily pierce its wielder. The shield meant to protect could also lock him in place.
The tense, push–and–pull dynamic between the blade and shield spoke for itself.
The prime minister headed the Administrative Cabinet, yet candidates for the office faced joint vetting and election by the Judiciary and Legislative Council.
The prime minister held veto power over bills drafted by those two branches.
Meanwhile, the Legislative Council possessed the authority to impeach the prime minister and controlled the Federation’s critical financial resources. Without full approval and funding, none of the prime minister’s policies could move forward.
The Judiciary maintained the right to investigate personnel from both the Administrative Cabinet and the Legislative Council. As long as it complied with the law, they could directly take people away for investigation.
Nine supreme judges sat at the Judiciary’s helm, and those judges were jointly selected by the Administrative Cabinet–the prime minister’s office–and the Legislative Council.
All in all, the three highest governing bodies were tightly intertwined. They bolstered one another, yet constantly checked each other’s authority.
Now, the prime minister of Core Prime was seriously ill and unable to handle government affairs.
Key matters fell to his subordinates. Under joint oversight from the Judiciary and Legislative Council, a temporary governing committee had formed to execute duties in accordance with federal statutes.
Everyone understood the prime minister was on his last legs and would not survive much longer.
His underlings hungered to seize his position.
worke
On one hand, they presented themselves as diligent, selfless workers to build favorable public reputations.
On the other, they schemed behind closed doors, scrambling to recruit powerful allies.
Their primary targets were influential figures within the Judiciary and Legislative Council.
Plenty of self–serving officials were willing to conspire with them for future benefits.
Others quietly stirred up chaos, hoping to stay out of sight and reap all the rewards once the dust settled.
The unyielding military commander had been reassigned away from Core Prime amid this rotten political quagmire.
The commander burned with resentment, yet he had no viable options.
First and foremost, obedience was every soldier’s sworn duty.
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Chapter 197Tangled Powers
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Second, refusing the transfer would spark accusations that rebel forces had twisted his loyalty. He would lose his authority and risk being placed under house arrest under the guise of an official investigation.
No one wanted to bear the stigma of treason.
Worse still, he could be quietly eliminated to clear the path for rivals. He would die disgraced, and every loyal follower under his command would suffer ruin alongside him.
So while the reassignment felt like a bitter humiliation, it also pulled him away from the toxic political arena. It kept him from becoming a stepping stone for power–hungry competitors.
It was, at its core, a way to protect himself and his loyal men long enough to survive.
Lyra’s head spun as she listened.
Core Prime, the destination drawing near, struck her not just as a den of hidden dangers, but a tangled knot of competing factions.
She frowned and pressed her fingertips to her temples.
Hadrien leaned forward slightly, concern etched on his face. “Headache p>
Lyra lowered her hands and slouched lazily against the wide, plush sofa. She rested her chin on her forearms and typed out a reply.
“ A little.
“Just listening to all of this p>
Her typing halted mid–sentence.
Warm, dry fingertips lightly dusted with calluses settled onto her temples, kneading slowly.
Lyra’s body went rigid.
She stared upward at Hadrien, caught completely off guard.
He still wore his crisp, simple black uniform. One leg planted firmly on the floor, the other knelt half–up on the sofa. His normally straight frame bent down as he tended to her in quiet silence.
The whole world seemed to grow still. The starship traveled so smoothly its movement barely registered. Only the endless stream of stars rushing past the viewport revealed the staggering speed of their voyage.
He met her gaze, catching her wide, clear eyes reflecting his own silhouette.
Hadrien spoke softly. “Feeling any better? ”
His low, gentle voice hummed against her ears, and heat flooded Lyra’s cheeks.
She quickly dropped her gaze. Her eyelashes trembled uncontrollably, matching the wild thud of her
heart.
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Chapter 197 Tangled Powers
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Lyra wanted to type that she could manage on her own. But when she lifted her hand, her fingers shook helplessly.
Hadrien noticed the tremor.
He naturally wrapped his warm palm around her cool, small hand, brushing his thumb gently across her skin.
“Why are you so cold? Are you feeling unwell p>
Enclosed by his hot palm, Lyra froze. It felt as if her mind had drifted away from her body, stripping her of all ability to move.
Watching her sit there dazed, Hadrien realized how close they had drawn.
Even if such proximity was acceptable between a Guide and her personal guard, he pulled back at once.
Pink tinted the edge of his ears.
“…My apologies p>
Lyra hung her head shyly and shook it gently.
She set the hand he had held casually atop her lap, yet every finger burned as if submerged in warm water.
Neither spoke. An awkward silence settled thickly across the suite.
“…I should fetch you a blanket.” Hadrien was the first to break the quiet.
Lyra’s face flushed deeper as she stared at the floor, too nervous to meet his eyes.
She nodded hastily.
Thick soft carpeting muted every footstep inside the suite. The climate control maintained air as pleasant as a mild spring day.
Even so, the instant he stepped away, Lyra inexplicably felt a cold draft sweep over her where he had sat.
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Feral Sentinels Obey Only Her
Chapter 198 Ambush in Deep Space
Finished
Lyra darted a quick glance toward the doorway where Hadrien had left,
Ruby Walker
Ruby Walker is a rising voice in the world of romance and spicy fiction. With a gift for weaving deep emotions, sizzling chemistry, and unexpected twists, her stories are a blend of passion and drama that captivate readers from start to finish. Ruby’s writing style is bold and irresistible—perfect for those who crave intense, addictive love stories.