“Are you a man or a woman?”
A crack appeared in Olivier’s smile.
There were certainly many people present who harbored doubts about his gender, but only Astria would dare to ask such a question in public.
‘Does this woman have no social awareness?’
Olivier did his best to maintain the smile on his face as he stood up composedly and performed a male courtly bow toward Astria.
“As you can see, respected Princess Astria. Although my appearance is somewhat deceptive, for the time being, I am indeed a man.”
However, Astria merely snorted at his words.
“A man is a man, and a woman is a woman. What do you mean ‘for the time being’? What, can you change your gender?”
The moment those words were uttered, the smile Olivier had been maintaining collapsed entirely.
The faces of the entire Alandin Kingdom delegation turned sour, while the members of the Robert Empire side looked triumphant.
If the atmosphere hadn’t been so tense, they might have even stood up to cheer and applaud the Princess.
Regardless of what everyone else was thinking, Astria herself only felt as though she had solved a nuisance.
She finally knew which of them was the leader of the imperial delegation her father had sent her to receive.
Fluttering her thin, transparent wings, she landed on the ground and stared at Isabella with a rather unfriendly expression.
“Father sent me to bring you to the Natural Forest. If you’re ready, come with me.”
Her words and attitude were quite flippant.
At this, the expressions of the Empire’s delegation also soured, while the Alandin Kingdom’s side actually relaxed slightly.
At least she was truly arrogant and foolish, rather than intentionally targeting them.
However, Isabella knew very well that for this haughty Elf princess, this was already a massive improvement in her interpersonal skills.
After all, when the two first met, this Princess had actually pointed at Isabella’s chest in front of all the Empire’s nobles and angrily asked how they had grown so large, leaving everyone in the hall speechless.
“Princess, we are the delegation from the Alandin Kingdom traveling to the Natural Forest. I wonder if we might have the honor of accompanying you into the woods?”
Seeing that the two were about to depart immediately, Olivier, who had been left aside, quickly asked with a smile.
But the only answer he received was a cold sentence from Astria.
“Father only told me the Empire’s delegation was coming. He didn’t say anything about you.”
Olivier’s smile slowly vanished, and a flicker of rage quietly ignited in his heart.
He felt he had shown more than enough respect.
Since this woman was so ungrateful, he couldn’t be blamed for whatever might happen in the Natural Forest later.
“In that case, please proceed first, Princess. My body is frail; I’m afraid I must rest for a moment before I can set out.”
Olivier covered his brow with one hand to shield his eyes, leaving only his pale face and slightly trembling body to testify to his words.
Unfortunately, Astria hated this kind of behavior the most.
“Sissy.”
Astria rolled her eyes.
Just as she was about to lead Isabella away, there was a sudden movement in her arms.
“Astria, the Alandin Kingdom is also an ally of the Natural Forest. Acting like this will make things very difficult for the Elven King.”
Vilda had just woken up when she heard her Princess calling an ally a sissy.
The shock cleared her head instantly, and she hurried to ask Astria to set her down.
However, Astria’s flight speed had been far too fast, and Vilda’s body was truly fragile.
When Astria supported her to stand on the ground, her long legs, encased in black stockings, were still trembling.
Even so, she managed to tidy her appearance and gave a regretful smile to Isabella and Olivier.
“My apologies, everyone. Astria is used to being willful in the Natural Forest. If she has offended any of you just now, please allow me to apologize on her behalf.”
“I am sorry.”
Vilda bowed deeply.
Seeing how sincere her attitude was, the resentment within the Empire and Kingdom delegations dissipated significantly.
At least there was someone among the Elves who could be reasoned with.
But a certain Elf who had been described as willful was not happy about it.
“Hey! Vilda!”
Astria pouted her pink lips in dissatisfaction.
Seeing this, Vilda could only pull her aside and comfort her in a low voice.
“Astria, the Alandin Kingdom’s strength is quite close to the Natural Forest’s. This Prince Olivier holds a very high status within their kingdom. If you anger him, the Elven race will receive far fewer supplies!”
“Especially those accessories you like—you won’t be able to buy at least half of them!”
“Hmph, those trinkets are the only useful things they have.”
Despite her words, Astria ultimately didn’t stop Vilda’s actions, turning instead to kick at a pebble by her feet.
Having soothed the sulking Princess, Vilda turned back to face the royalty of both nations.
“I apologize for the scene. My name is Vilda, Princess Astria’s personal maid. Before I lead the way for you all, please allow me to express my apologies for Astria once more.”
Vilda slightly lifted her skirt in a curtsy.
Though she had grown up in the Natural Forest, her Imperial Etiquette was flawlessly executed.
According to Isabella’s observation, there were few young people in the entire Empire who could match her.
Furthermore, although Vilda claimed to be a maid, Astria’s behavior proved how much she relied on this maid.
“Of course. I have long known of Princess Astria’s frankness. To me, that frankness is part of her charm.”
Isabella was the first to respond.
She had known the Elven Princess’s personality for a long time and naturally didn’t hold much of a grudge.
However, her words still “accidentally” poked Astria’s sore spot.
“Hey! Who are you calling charming?!”
Astria’s face flushed with embarrassment.
Just as she was about to snap back, Vilda squeezed her hand, forcing her to endure her anger and continue kicking the pebble.
Meanwhile, Olivier’s gaze lingered on Vilda’s black hair for a long time—so long that Vilda began to show curiosity.
Only then did he smile and bow.
“It is our honor to be personally greeted by the Elven Princess. It is just that my body has always been frail. Particularly when that sudden gale blew through just now, I accidentally caught a chill. I must ask the two of you to wait for a moment.”
“Is… Is that so?”
Vilda blinked, her tone somewhat awkward.
After all, everyone knew exactly where that “sudden gale” had come from.
If she couldn’t make amends, the Alandin Kingdom would naturally hold the moral high ground over the Elves.
‘No, this won’t do! I have to make it up to him for Astria’s sake!’
Vilda lowered her head, looking troubled.
“I actually possess some Healing Magic. If you are willing, Prince, I can treat you.”
“Vilda!”
“That won’t be necessary. Our delegation is equipped with priests; we have no need for your—”
Astria and Gaius shouted simultaneously, but the latter was barked down by Olivier before he could even finish.
“Gaius, I am the member of the royal family here. You should not speak over me.”
“Your Highness!”
“Step back.”
Gaius wanted to say more, but Olivier clearly wasn’t going to give him the chance as he took a step forward to stand before Vilda.
“What do you think you’re doing?!”
Astria strode forward and shielded Vilda behind her.
The Battle Qi and Mana within her body erupted simultaneously, causing the observing Empire party’s expressions to freeze.
It was hard to imagine that this elven princess, who looked so young, had actually reached the eighth rank in both Battle Qi and Mana!
“Princess, please stand behind me.”
At this point, their previous agreement no longer mattered.
Arns hurried forward to protect Isabella as they retreated, while the Empire’s guards quickly formed a perimeter around the pale-faced Isabella.
In just that brief instant of contact, the powerful Battle Qi and Mana had shaken the Princess, making her feel exceptionally unwell.
This was merely the aftershock.
If she had faced that aura directly, the blood in her body might have uncontrollably exploded.
As Isabella received treatment from a priest, she stared directly at Olivier, who was confronting Astria.
His face remained as pale as ever, and his thin frame looked as though it might collapse at any moment.
But he stood firm.
Not only did he stand firm, but he also had the composure to command the Kingdom’s guards not to move.
The difference in strength between the two sides was far too great.
Isabella clenched her fists, then released them with a sense of resignation.
It was precisely because she knew her greatest flaw that she was heading to the Natural Forest.
Now that she was only a few steps away from her goal, she couldn’t allow any factor to jeopardize her success.
“Astria…”
Vilda’s heart raced from behind the protective shield.
A surge of love flooded her heart in an instant, making her long to merge as one with her Princess right then and there.
But it wasn’t time yet.
Vilda composed her flushed face and took advantage of Astria’s distraction to step out from behind her.
Fearing she might hurt her, Astria could only resentfully withdraw her power, though her eyes remained full of wariness as she glared at Olivier.
Even Vilda hugging her didn’t diminish her suspicion.
“It’s all right, Astria. Prince Olivier won’t hurt me. I’ll be back soon.”
“Of course. Maintaining etiquette toward a beautiful lady is a required course for the Alandin royalty.”
Vilda took the hand Olivier smilingly offered.
It felt soft, much like her own.
“Vilda…”
Astria pouted heavily, but this time, Vilda didn’t stay to comfort her.
“Astria, stay with Princess Isabella for a while. Once I’ve treated Prince Olivier’s injuries, we will return to the Natural Forest immediately.”
With only a brief word of comfort, she followed Olivier toward his carriage without looking back.