Chapter 65: I need it, and I can no longer run away from it

Flora was still in her disguised form, with brown hair and dull gold eyes.

She did not want to change her appearance again, so she decided to head to the Security Department just like this. Regardless, no one here knew who she was.

Walking to the entrance of the Security Department, she noted that the building was significantly larger than those around it.

As the official department responsible for the security inside and outside the city, it naturally employed a large number of staff.

Flora tidied her clothes — or rather, “disarranged” them — to make herself look disheveled. This would help convey her supposed sense of urgency.

Taking another deep breath, she broke into a light jog and ran inside.

The lobby was quite spacious, but it was currently empty, making it feel rather cavernous.

Flora rushed toward a staff member at the front desk. The worker immediately noticed the flustered demon girl.

“Hello, miss. Is there something I can help you with?” the staff member asked with a professional tone and demeanor.

“It’s — it’s just — I have a human friend who went to the North Forest last night and hasn’t come back yet. I heard you arrested a human last night, and I’m worried. I wanted to see if maybe the wrong person was caught.”

“I see. Why don’t you describe your friend?” the staff member said.

“He’s a man, about this tall, and he was wearing a green coat. He has black hair and a small mole near his left eye. I don’t know if he’s the one you caught…” Flora’s voice trailed off intentionally as she spoke.

Flora had purposely lied about the coat. Kaan had been wearing a dark gray coat, and he certainly didn’t have a mole near his eye.

“Understood. Please wait a moment while I go check.”

After a short while, the staff member returned and spoke patiently.

“The person we arrested has black hair and is roughly that height, but he’s wearing a dark gray coat and has no mole near his eye. He isn’t your friend.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry! I was just so worried. He hasn’t been back all night, and when I heard the news this morning, I panicked. I’m sorry for the trouble! He probably just hasn’t made his way back yet.”

Flora apologized quickly, her face flushed with embarrassment.

“It’s no problem. If he doesn’t return after a long while, feel free to come back,” the staff member said with a dismissive wave.

Flora walked out of the Security Department with stiff movements, only relaxing once she was clear of the building.

‘Faking it is so exhausting, but it’s quite effective. This “anxious and shy girl concerned for her friend” image is quite useful. Now it’s certain; the one arrested is definitely Kaan.’

The next step was figuring out how to “rescue” him.

Using her identity as a local was out of the question. She didn’t even have residency status here.

She was a princess who had been suddenly relocated; where would she get local identification? She didn’t even know anyone in this city.

Even if Lena had an identity she could use, it wouldn’t work. Even with status, one would have to explain why this human didn’t have a pass. Every human entering the demon race territory required one.

A pass was a necessity for any ordinary human coming into the demon race territory. It contained the human’s information as proof of identity while recording their arrival and departure times.

Neither the demon race nor the humans allowed ordinary citizens from the opposing side to reside in their territory for long periods.

Using the excuse of being a close friend was a dead end. ‘What else can I do?’

Flora walked with a furrowed brow. Was there any other way?

She considered many possible methods, but none could bypass the issue of the missing pass. It seemed that the fact “Kaan has no pass” blocked every possible path.

According to demon law, a human without documents could be detained unconditionally.

The situation this time seemed even worse; Kaan wasn’t just undocumented; he had been categorized as a threat to the demon race and a danger to the town and its people.

In such a case, it was impossible to proceed without proving he was harmless.

So, what method was left?

Flora’s pace gradually slowed.

A concept she had once resisted and fled from, but now had to face, surfaced in her mind.

Her true identity as a princess.

Those words were like a massive blade that instantly cut through all the tangled knots.

Yes, if she was Princess Flora Vilantia, then none of these problems remained problems.

She wouldn’t need a reason. She would only need to say a single word to make them release him.

He wouldn’t need a pass. A single word from her would grant him the highest level of transit clearance.

She wouldn’t need to follow any procedures. Her will was the procedure.

This was the power that came with the status of a princess. It wasn’t a shackle meant to bind her; it was a sharp blade that could solve her problems.

But…

Flora looked at her own hands. Today, these hands would exercise the authority of a princess for the first time. Using this identity meant she accepted everything “Princess Flora Vilantia” represented.

It meant she had to shoulder the corresponding responsibilities, and it meant she could no longer run away from it all.

All for… a former close friend.

But Kaan couldn’t afford to wait.

Flora closed her eyes and took a deep breath.

When she opened them again, her gaze was filled with resolution, devoid of any hesitation.

‘After all… we promised to keep going.’

Next, she needed to find a place to remove her disguise and take a set of clothes out of her ring to change into.

Once she had finished, Flora was back to her noble appearance: long, white-purple hair and golden eyes.

“Sigh.” Flora found a hooded cloak in her ring and threw it on. This would make it harder for her to be recognized or spotted on the street.

Flora walked back out onto the street and headed toward the White Stone City Security Department once more.

When she walked inside, the same staff member was there.

Flora walked toward her with a steady, composed gait.

“Go and call your minister. I have something to discuss with him.”

“And who might you be — ” The staff member looked at Flora and could faintly see an exquisitely beautiful female face beneath the hood.

“Go tell him that I am Flora Vilantia and that I wish to see him in person.”

The staff member’s entire demeanor shifted the moment she heard “Vilantia.” Her expression froze, and her face turned pale. It was obvious she had never encountered such a situation.

“M-my Lady…” She began to stammer.

Flora watched her silently.

“Right, right, I understand.” After saying that, the woman practically ran toward the back of the building.

A moment later, Flora saw a middle-aged man hurrying out behind the staff member.

Flora walked toward them, and they noticed the hooded figure.

“You are…”

Flora made a gesture for silence.

“I see… Then please follow me. We shall speak inside.”

The minister led Flora into his office.

“May I ask, are you truly Her Highness the Princess?”

Flora didn’t offer a verbal explanation. She slowly lowered her hood, allowing her long, white-purple hair to flow down. She looked up at the minister, her golden eyes seeming to glimmer in the indoor light.

“What is your name?” Flora asked calmly.

“I am… Davis. May I ask what brings Your Highness here today?”

“Very well, Davis. Regarding what happens next, pretend none of it occurred. Act as though I was never here today. Do you understand?” Flora said in a flat voice.