As the last guest was led away by the accompanying officials, Alvain was finally the only one left in Yaoguang Palace.
He could finally abandon his slumped posture and properly stretch his neck and waist.
He actually disliked sitting this way, but the previous generations of Elven Kings all claimed that this was the sitting posture that best reflected the majesty of a king.
‘Fortunately, Light Elves only have a lifespan of about 100 years, so I do not have to worry about scoliosis or cervical spondylosis,’ Alvain thought with a bitter smile.
‘I hope Leah breaks this bad habit in the future; otherwise, it would be quite unsightly for a girl to suffer from those two conditions.’
Alvain stood up from the throne.
However, instead of returning to his bedchamber to rest, he took a detour and found his esteemed golden guest in a side hall.
“Thank you for your hard work, Elven King. It must be a burden for you to accompany a weak woman like me in a side hall so late at night.”
Isabella was sitting on the sofa, resting with her eyes closed.
Beside her, the fully-armed Arns did not dare to relax in the slightest.
This was true even though he knew that even if he went all out, he could only delay Alvain’s movements for a few seconds.
“However, I heard from Uncle Leonhardt that once one’s strength surpasses the Ninth Tier and reaches the Saint Realm, the body no longer feels fatigue, and one only needs to rest for 1 hour a day. In that case — “
“It is always better to get more rest. The Saint Realm still belongs to the mortal realm, and one cannot have an immortal spirit like a true god.”
Alvain sat opposite Isabella and suddenly broke into a smile.
“But I am the leader of the Natural Forest after all. If the Imperial Princess invites me to a private meeting, I have to agree, do I not?”
Isabella sat there calmly.
Her last meeting with Alvain had been at her 12-year-old birthday banquet.
‘But after thinking about it, how could the man who slapped his own daughter unconscious at a banquet and then apologized to a 12-year-old girl be the same person I saw in Yaoguang Palace today?’
Isabella began to re-examine the Elven King.
In terms of appearance, as one blessed by the gods, Alvain possessed impeccable features.
However, his beauty was not as dazzling and overbearing as Leah’s; instead, it held a hint of gentleness.
When he returned to nature, this gentleness was particularly prominent.
‘No wonder he always wore such a stiff expression while in Yaoguang Palace.’
“I thought Miss Winnidith would be waiting here with you, but it seems I have missed her again.”
Hearing Alvain’s words, Isabella’s expression turned bewildered.
‘Did he say “again”?’
But they had only arrived at the Natural Forest today.
If there had been any chance for a meeting, it could only have been at her 12-year-old birthday banquet.
“Did you come to the Empire seven years ago just to see Wendy?”
Isabella’s expression was slightly strange.
Seven years ago, Winnidith was only 8 years old.
Although she was famous within the Imperial Capital for creating Life Magic, her reputation was far from what it was today because all the other mages besides her were unable to create Magic Tools.
Furthermore, her father had intentionally kept the matter a secret.
Most people only treated it as a joke fabricated by Trenton.
‘Could Alvain really have come to the heart of the Empire with his daughter just because of a joke?’
Of course, that was impossible.
“No, but it is related to her.”
Alvain had sat on the throne for a long time and felt his throat was dry.
He picked up the juice on the table to lubricate his throat and said with a smile, “One day, she will understand the truth of the world and take up her mission. This world has already waited for her for far too long.”
“What exactly are you all hiding?!”
Isabella was instantly shocked.
She used the word ‘all’ because she often saw her father looking at Winnidith with an indescribable expression.
She had never been able to figure out what kind of look it was.
But today, from Alvain, from the Elven King, she saw that same expression!
This time, she saw it clearly.
‘It was the guilt of having no choice but to place all hope on a little girl!’
Just what kind of mission did Wendy have?
To the point where even the Emperor of the human race’s largest Empire and the ruler of the Natural Forest could only place their hopes on her!
Isabella felt a wave of powerlessness.
She had thought that by ascending the throne, she would be able to protect Winnidith and ensure she had a worry-free life.
But now, Alvain’s gaze was like a heavy hammer that shattered her fantasy, and he even stood beside her, mocking her naivety.
“Do you really want to know? Once you know the truth, your life and death will no longer be in your hands. Your fate will become murky because of it. Perhaps the next second after you find out, your body might swell uncontrollably, explode, and turn into flying bits of mangled flesh.”
Alvain’s words were light, yet they seemed to carry a hint of magic.
Isabella and Arns seemed to actually see such a scene before their eyes.
Blech!
Arns felt fine, but Isabella was, after all, a delicate flower raised by the Imperial family.
At this moment, she could not help but feel nauseous.
She looked at the reflection of her beautiful face in the tea with a complicated expression, then suddenly pursed her lips and gave a bitter smile.
“In other words, will Wendy have to face such a terrifying power in the future?”
“Exactly,” Alvain answered casually.
“Can it not be someone else? For example, me?”
“No. To this world, she is the one and only salvation.”
“But she clearly just wanted to live the life of an ordinary noble, sleeping for 12 hours a day and not having to worry about food, clothing, housing, or transportation?”
“I am sorry.”
Isabella’s body suddenly lost all its strength.
She regretted it.
She regretted bringing Wendy to the Natural Forest just for her own selfish desires.
‘If not for me, she would have continued her peaceful life in the Trenton household; if not for me…’
Isabella’s nails pierced her palms, and crimson beads of blood dripped from her fingertips, but she seemed not to feel it, merely biting her lip hard.
Gradually, blood began to drip from her lip as well.
“You do not need to blame yourself for this. In fact, the situation might have been even worse if you had let her stay in the Empire.”
Alvain’s words timely stopped Isabella’s self-harming behavior.
But even so, her beautiful crimson eyes had never been as dim as they were tonight.
Her bloodstained lips trembled several times before she spoke.
“Tell me everything you are hiding.”
“If you ascend the throne, you will learn these things sooner or later,” Alvain said.
Isabella ignored him and continued to stare at him.
“Do not look at me that way. This is part of the agreement I made with your father; I cannot help it either.”
Alvain spread his hands and reminded her, “Rather than the truth, you should focus on the matter at hand, young lady. For instance, you are not here today just to listen to my stories, are you?”
Prompted by this, Isabella finally remembered that she had stayed here to make a deal with the Elven King.
He was right.
No matter what kind of monster Wendy would have to face in the future, she could only stand by her side and protect her if she increased her strength as much as possible!
“I want the Sacred Fruit produced by your Sacred Tree.”
Isabella was no longer in the mood for pleasantries.
Her goal for this trip was the fruit produced by the Sacred Tree.
For this, she had prepared for ten years.
Money, treasures, combat techniques, magic, and power…
Before she could even list her conditions, Alvain nodded first.
“Fine.”
Isabella fell silent.
Alvain had agreed too simply.
He had not even hesitated for a second before casually giving the most important sacred object of the Elf race to an outsider like her.
Why?
In her 19-year-old life, Isabella had never been as confused as she was tonight.
Even on the night her mother died for no reason, she had only felt incomprehension and sadness, not the powerlessness she felt tonight.
But she had a prediction — Alvain’s actions were related to Wendy.
Isabella clenched her fists.
“However, the fruit is not yet ripe. You will need to wait for another half a month. Is that a problem?”
“That is not a problem.”
She had waited for more than ten years; half a month would make no difference.
Isabella stood up.
Since the deal was complete, it was time for her to leave.
But before she stepped out of the hall, a wisp of pure Wood Element suddenly rested on her lips and palms.
“Be sure to take care of your body. It would not look good if a girl were left with scars.”
Isabella’s crimson eyes brightened for a moment.
She suddenly turned her head and asked, “Your Majesty, were you aware that Priest Elaril of the Sacred Wood Monastery is proficient in using the Dark Element?”
A hint of bewilderment appeared on Alvain’s face.
But it was this momentary lapse that allowed the Imperial Princess to catch a clue.
“Thank you, Your Majesty. I shall take my leave now.”
Isabella’s lips curled into an arc as she led the expressionless Arns and walked quickly back toward the Silver Moon Palace.
***
“Humans truly are cunning; one can easily be tricked if they aren’t careful.”
After Isabella left, Alvain retracted his bewildered expression and crossed his fingers.
With a snap, he appeared at a stone pavilion in the back garden.
There were two cups of steaming red tea and two stone stools.
Alvain sat on one of the stone stools, while the space opposite him was empty.
“Since the Prince has already arrived, please show yourself. Or, should I address you as Princess Olivier now?”
A beauty in red standing in the shadows smiled without a word.
‘Another troublesome princess,’ Alvain thought, feeling a bit of a headache.
‘How is it that, even though they are both princesses, mine is so foolish?’