“Little sister, once you’re outside the Empire, the Trenton family can no longer provide you with any protection. In fact, the name might even bring you danger. If you can, try not to reveal your identity.”
“With how I look, Brother, do you think it’s even possible to hide it?”
Winnidith rolled her eyes.
Silver hair, blue eyes, and stunning features… plus traveling with the royal family to the Natural Forest.
Unless people were idiots, they would definitely guess who she was.
Theodore noticed the issue too and rubbed his little sister’s head helplessly.
“Then remember to listen to the Princess in the Natural Forest. Don’t wander off.”
“I think it should be her not dragging me around,” Winnidith muttered in protest.
If Isabella hadn’t used schemes to trick her into this delegation, she would still be enjoying her luxurious life in the Trenton Duke Mansion.
“Then you should…”
“Fine, fine! Brother, hurry back to your wife! The convoy is about to leave, so I won’t chat with you anymore. Bye-bye!”
“Wait, little sister!!!”
Winnidith couldn’t take any more of his nagging.
She used magic to fly toward the diplomatic convoy while he wasn’t looking, leaving Theodore staring after her with the melancholy of an old father seeing his daughter off to marriage.
“No one likes being restricted by sermons. Didn’t you celebrate for a long time when you first arrived at Windwhisper Fortress from the Imperial Capital, just because you escaped the family’s restrictions?”
Eleanor, now dressed in light, casual attire, came to his side and looked out at the convoy about to depart.
“Besides, if there are no accidents, the delegation will return from the Natural Forest in one month. You’ll see Lady Winnidith again then. Whatever you want to say can wait until then, right?”
Theodore remained silent, turning to stare into her eyes.
Eleanor’s figure was clearly reflected in those clear blue eyes.
“Wh… what is it? Did I say something wrong?”
Under his gaze, Eleanor grew shy.
She endured the embarrassment and looked out toward the fortress.
“I was just thinking, Eleanor, you look exactly like a Trenton right now.”
Theodore burst out laughing.
“That bottomless tolerance and affection for that girl.”
“Is that a bad thing?”
Eleanor glared at him.
It wouldn’t even be an exaggeration to say Lady Winnidith deserved the affection of the entire world.
If he dared say one bad word about her, she… she wouldn’t talk to him for half a day!
“Of course it’s wrong!”
Theodore’s face stiffened, but he suddenly wrapped his arm around her waist before she could get angry.
“You’re my fiancée now. You should be calling her ‘sister’!”
Theodore showed his white teeth and suddenly picked the girl up in his arms amidst her cries of surprise.
He headed toward the main tent under the stunned gazes of the soldiers.
“Ah—it’s over, finally. I remember my brother wasn’t like this back in the Imperial Capital. How did he become so nagging after coming to Windwhisper Fortress?”
Winnidith naturally didn’t know what was happening back on the fortress.
If she knew that her brother and sister-in-law were showing off their affection the moment she left, she might have questioned her life.
“You haven’t seen each other in one year, so he naturally wants to see more of you. Besides, this is your first time leaving the Empire. Master Theodore’s worries aren’t without reason.”
Isabella placed a cup of warm sweet tea in front of Winnidith and spoke with a smile.
“Also, I think Master Theodore is already quite remarkable. If I didn’t see you for one year, I would probably go crazy.”
“Stop with the unrealistic talk.”
Winnidith rolled her eyes.
She was completely desensitized to such mushy words; they didn’t touch her heart at all.
Compared to those words, the sweet tea Isabella placed in front of her was far more pleasing.
‘Sweet and delicious—so good.’
“Have you arranged everything for the Emerald Army? If you plan to publicly join the race for the throne when you return, the Emerald Army will be your biggest military support, right?”
Winnidith looked at her, her voice tinged with worry.
“Is it really okay to spend only one day with such an important army?”
There were issues, of course, but telling the girl in front of her wouldn’t help.
So, Isabella reached out a finger and doted on the girl by tapping her forehead.
“Don’t worry. The various systems of the Emerald Army are the result of years of hard work. For the most part, there are no problems. Minor issues can only be fixed during implementation.”
“And for the proxy of the Emerald Army, I chose Grandpa Adrian, who used to be a court mage. He was the magic tutor for Father and us princes. He also served as the commander of the magic corps at Windwhisper Fortress for three years. I’m very at ease leaving the Emerald Army to him.”
“Besides, Grandpa Adrian’s requirement is very simple. Whenever a new type of magic appears in the Imperial Capital, I just have to provide him with a Magic Array as soon as possible.”
Since Archmage Moledi pioneered the path of magic, it had undergone hundreds of years of development.
Traditional Magic had long since stagnated.
Therefore, most new spells appearing now were the Life Magic spells pioneered by Winnidith.
Getting one was as easy as pie.
Winnidith knew she was being used as free labor again.
She grumbled a bit but didn’t make a fuss.
As the officials finished counting the supplies and baggage, the Imperial delegation stepped out of Windwhisper Fortress and headed north in a grand procession.
***
Almost the moment the delegation set off, Elvain, the Elven King near the Sacred Tree of the Natural Forest, received the news.
Relying on the wind and trees, Elvain also clarified the identity of the delegation’s members.
“That lady from the Robert family is coming? Hmph, it seems Victor kept his promise to me.”
“If the prophecy is true, then she is the key to the Elven race surviving this crisis.”
Elvain stroked the bark of the Sacred Tree.
As the fruit neared ripeness, the bark was no longer dry but as delicate as the skin of a young girl in spring.
Glug… glug…
The massive tree began to writhe.
The area covered by his palm turned into a soft vortex, gently enveloping his hand.
Tsk!
In the next moment, the vortex tore away its gentle mask.
Countless tentacles turned into razor-sharp serrated teeth.
In an instant, golden blood sprayed out.
Golden Blood was a gift from the Sacred Tree, but it was also where the lifespan and power of the Light Elves resided.
As a noble Light Elf, Elvain should have been immortal.
But with the loss of so much Golden Blood, his face began to age rapidly.
In just a few seconds, his life aura was nearly gone.
His figure swayed like a fallen leaf drifting in the autumn wind.
Whoosh!!!
Countless vines rose from the ground, intent on taking the dying Elvain back to the Mother Goddess’s embrace.
However, at that moment, a brilliant light suddenly erupted from Elvain’s cloudy eyes.
He looked at the vines waiting for their chance and moved his bark-like lips.
The King said: “Go. The time has not yet come.”
Hearing the royal command, the vines quickly retreated into the earth, leaving only the aged Elven King and the increasingly active Sacred Tree.
Huff…
Elvain looked up at the increasingly plump fruit.
He gritted his teeth and suddenly pulled his hand out from the Sacred Tree’s grasp.
Hiss… waaah…
Losing their food, the tentacles let out a cry like a child’s wailing.
They tried to expand outward but were ruthlessly beaten back by Elvain.
They could only retreat into the Sacred Tree, waiting for the next feeding.
Only then did Elvain have the mind to look at his palm.
The flesh and blood had long been absorbed, and even the white bones were covered in black spots.
Fortunately, he was still alive.
The Golden Blood in his body was still flowing.
With one breath, Elvain returned to his usual young and handsome appearance.
Ignoring the Sacred Tree, which had turned back into an ordinary-looking tree, he resolutely returned to his palace.
“Father, you called for me?”
A moment later, the Elven Princess, Astria, dressed in a short emerald skirt with four thin wings on her back, flew into the palace and bowed respectfully to her father.
Looking at his daughter, a trace of tenderness flashed in Elvain’s eyes.
He beckoned her forward and rubbed her head dotingly.
“The Imperial delegation will enter the Natural Forest today. Could you help Father receive them?”
The Imperial delegation?
Astria furrowed her brows.
Frankly, she didn’t like the Empire.
More accurately, she didn’t like any race other than elves.
She believed elves were the only perfect race, while all others had flaws.
Thus, she couldn’t understand why her father was so dedicated to living in harmony with outsiders.
Especially that Empire.
He was even willing to set aside the pride of the Light Elves to actively seek cooperation with them!
Because of this, he had offended several elders in the clan and nearly became the first Elven King in history to be impeached.
However, Astria had been a good daughter since childhood.
Even if she was full of dissatisfaction, she wouldn’t refuse her father’s request.
But she couldn’t help sighing after returning to her room.
“What’s wrong, Lia? You look like you’re in a bad mood. Did the Elven King scold you?”
Her personal maid and childhood companion, Vilda, immediately approached with concern.
Faced with her friend’s care, Astria wanted nothing more than to pour out all her misunderstandings.
“I really don’t know why Father wants me to receive them. They’re just humans with short lifespans.”
After hearing her complaint, Vilda only comforted her with a smile.
“Perhaps His Majesty has his own plans.”
“Ugh… true, but just thinking about having to act friendly in front of those outsiders makes me want to puke!”
Astria clutched her head in frustration.
Suddenly, an idea struck her.
While Vilda wasn’t looking, she hugged her tightly.
“Why don’t you come with me, Vilda? With you there, maybe I’ll be able to control my emotions!”
“Eh? That… that’s probably not good. This is a task the Elven King gave to Lia. How can a maid like me…”
“What’s there to be afraid of? Father didn’t warn me that I have to go alone anyway. Bringing you along won’t be a problem at all!”
Seeing Vilda still hesitating to refuse, the frustrated Astria immediately made the decision for her.
“It’s settled! If you don’t come with me, we won’t be friends anymore. Hmph!”
“This… all right…”
Vilda could only comfort the angry Lia first.
She was indeed worried as well.
If Lia couldn’t control her temper and messed things up, what would they do?