“Aren’t you curious? I thought you would try to tail or eavesdrop on the conversation between Her Highness the Princess and Alberke.”
“After all, you don’t seem like someone who has no interest.”
Such respectful words undoubtedly came from Viseliane lying on the bed.
After the incident at The Hollow, Grin could now see a trace of humanity and interaction in his exchanges with this elf lady, who had always been quite aloof in both emotion and speech in the past.
This wasn’t necessarily a bad thing. After all, besides being the princess’s personal maid, Viseliane herself was a top-tier powerhouse in terms of her own abilities.
She had social connections, she had abilities, and her appearance wasn’t lacking either. Sometimes, those elf ears of hers even gave off a unique feeling.
The elves in one’s impression were often blond. It was rare to hear of a purple-haired one like Viseliane. She had a distinct charm.
Addressing Viseliane’s question, Grin answered honestly:
“Because Alberke is there. For important conversations, she would definitely set up some magic. Also, Alberke’s intuition and abilities are more acute than I imagined.”
“I’m not confident I wouldn’t be discovered. Once discovered, it would make my relationship with both of them somewhat awkward.”
Viseliane nodded and then lay back down, seemingly preparing to sleep and replenish her energy.
But her open eyes clearly refuted that possibility.
“Mr. Grin, both you and Dolores spoke lightly of the price for saving me. But in reality, items that can temporarily dispel a Divine Curse are few and far between across the entire Surand Region. If the Land Kingdom had such an item, I should have heard some rumors about it long ago.”
Viseliane’s words seemed like she was talking to herself, but they were actually meant for Grin.
Viseliane was much smarter than Dolores. When not blinded by impulse, she was generally quite reliable.
“Among the elves of our region, stories of Price and Gift are passed down. As those born with the Curse, we have tried countless methods. We have always firmly believed in the creed that everything gained must be paid for.”
“The Land has its legends, and we of Aihexie have our own legends as well, and like those of the Land, they run through our history.”
As she spoke, Viseliane narrowed her eyes slightly.
“Just like the Wish in your hand, Mr. Grin. In the process of searching for a cure for the Curse, we have already paid too much. We have never received any effortless gifts. Even if there were, they would be but a layer of sugar-coated wrapping paper.”
“Mr. Grin, judging by your reaction, it seems you have something to say?”
Viseliane keenly noticed Grin’s unusual expression. He had sympathy and pity, but why was it mixed with a strange hesitation?
It was as if he had a possible solution, but for some reason, it was inconvenient to tell her.
Could it be that he had other ways to obtain items that could treat her Curse, or similar methods?
At this thought, Viseliane’s eyes began to shine, and her newly healed heart started pounding rapidly.
If that were the case, she would have a compelling reason to get along well with him.
Although there were already quite a few reasons. Grin avoided Viseliane’s gaze.
The System had unlocked a bunch of strange functions and also completed many tasks, including the one to add Viseliane as a Strategy Character.
The tasks indeed covered parts that might cure the Curse, but… those tasks were unlocked on the premise of strategizing Viseliane.
Grin hoped to discuss it with Dolores before giving Viseliane an answer. Otherwise, rashly telling her and then dashing her hopes would be terrible.
Most importantly, he always felt the System’s influence wouldn’t be that simple, even though Dolores showed almost no signs of abnormality.
But not everyone was Dolores.
“It seems you don’t want to respond to a young lady’s request right now. Is it because I’m not as petite as Her Highness and the others?” Viseliane blinked.
“Cough… ahem.” Viseliane’s words nearly choked Grin.
“Why would you think that?” Grin’s gaze drifted somewhat.
“Because from what I’ve seen so far, Her Highness, Saintess Hilberu, and Alberke all have petite figures, and they’re all gathered around you.”
“Coincidence,” Grin said, somewhat evasively.
Actually, there were some other strange commonalities, like none of them seemed to grow up, but there was no need to tell Viseliane that.
Otherwise, she’d just think he was even more of a pervert. Viseliane just snorted and didn’t continue teasing Grin, and Grin took out that diary he had found again.
Grin knew some of Dolores’s past habits for hiding things. In the same room, prompted by Viseliane, he tried searching.
And he had an unexpected find.
He opened the book and showed it to Viseliane, asking if she could understand it.
Viseliane also shook her head and told Grin some of her observations:
“Her Highness sometimes uses these incomprehensible characters to write her diary. I know it’s a diary because she once mentioned to me that it was her diary.”
“The earliest I saw Her Highness writing in her diary was when she was about… six years old. Even when she was tiny, she could write these characters. I went back to my homeland once, but even in the ancient texts there, there was no record of this kind of writing.”
Grin was now someone trusted by both Viseliane and the princess, so Viseliane finally had someone she could confide in about the princess’s past.
In a way, it was like a mother who liked to show off how cute her child was.
“This might be writing from another world. If even you can’t understand it… then those who can, besides Dolores, would only be…”
Grin paused, thinking of a name.
Alberke, who, like Dolores, was an Otherworld Visitor.
“It seems you have a clue,” Viseliane smiled. Grin now had too many doubts. He was actually still hesitating about whether to return the diary to Dolores.
“What do you think, should I return this diary to her?”
“I don’t advise you to do that. Since Her Highness can’t find it now, it means it wasn’t left for her.”
Viseliane shook her head and then lay back down again.
“After experiencing death, I’ve come to understand many things from before. It’s not that I didn’t know, it’s just that I deliberately avoided those anomalies.”
“Mr. Grin, please let me rest alone for a while now. I suggest you try to go find Her Highness.”
Grin walked out.
Given the current situation, Dolores should have already met with Alberke.
—
In her expectations—her past self’s expectations—Alberke should have hurriedly brought the item she needed.
After all, when she made the promise, Alberke had that look of finality and confidence.
Dolores walked up to Alberke. The latter’s expression was somewhat evasive when she saw her, but when Dolores was right in front of her, she mustered the courage to speak:
“I’m sorry, Dolores… there was an accident. I didn’t get the promised item.”
The item had been taken by an unexpected person—Hagel—something no one had anticipated. Dolores reached out and patted Alberke’s little head, comforting her:
“It’s okay, Xiao Huayu. You did your best.”
Huh… huh?
What did she just call me?
Alberke jerked her head up.
She saw Dolores slow down her speech, repeating word by word.
“Lit-tle… Flo-wer… Fish…”
Thanks for translating