Princess, kidnapped?
Meifei blinked in confusion, trying to read from the young woman before her whether this was a joke through her expression.
But even after eight hours of sensory deprivation, which had taken a toll on her mental state, she was not so disoriented as to fail to smell the expensive incense the girl wore.
【Ice Dragon Essence? A royal court exclusive fragrance, no doubt. Considering I’m a supplier, would they have blocked my senses if I couldn’t detect it?】
With this reasoning, she confirmed the girl’s identity without a doubt.
As a commoner, her respect and reverence for the royal family surged, and Meifei hurriedly bowed deeply.
Before she could complete the courtesy, Lisette steadied her and said helplessly:
“Don’t be nervous, Miss Meifei. I’m here to question you, not to put on airs. And the kidnapping—that was my mistake. I’ll compensate you afterwards. Right now, I just need you to cooperate and answer my questions.”
“Y-Yes!”
Such a humble attitude left Meifei utterly flattered.
Yet, thinking it over, Princess Lisette was rumored to be approachable and down-to-earth, which made the girl before her all the more believable.
Being connected to a member of the royal family was every merchant’s dream.
Naturally, Meifei was no exception, though she wished the connection wasn’t under such circumstances.
She glanced around nervously.
Though she saw no one else, she could tell invisible attendants were watching closely.
She still remembered what had happened during her kidnapping.
The scene before her suddenly froze, and then a churning feeling rose from her stomach.
It was probably the result of high-speed movement.
If she showed even the slightest disrespect toward the princess, her head might just roll.
The thought made cold sweat drip steadily down her forehead.
Lisette caught the full spectrum of Meifei’s inner turmoil without missing a beat and smiled.
Her innate talent was mind infiltration—capable of reading thoughts, causing illusions, and a series of mental effects.
But to maintain stable control, the other party’s mental strength had to be weaker than hers and unguarded, or they had to be extremely sincere with no hidden agenda.
Meifei was clearly the latter.
Those in high places preferred people like her.
Lisette was no exception.
“If you don’t believe my identity, besides the scent you detected, I have other ways to prove it. But on the other hand, don’t even think about lying.”
Her teasing tone made Meifei even more flustered.
“Eh? Wait, um… I…”
How was she supposed to stay calm with a mind-reading princess?
But seeing Lisette’s kind smile, Meifei realized it wasn’t a warning.
【Her Highness means I don’t have to worry about saying the wrong thing and being misunderstood.】
“Please ask whatever you wish. I will answer honestly.”
She responded obediently.
“That’s better. Tell me about your dealings with Fros. Before coming for you, I learned through some channels that you once collaborated, but later your merchant guild accused him of selling counterfeit medicine.As a princess, I care deeply about this counterfeit drug matter. The empire’s laws clearly state that such a crime deserves the harshest punishment—soul and body destroyed.”
Lisette switched fully into her princess mode, opening the conversation with the usual royal tactic of appealing to the public and the greater good.
Though she disliked these roundabout questions and the constant emphasis on royal dignity, with this responsible and sincere young woman before her, using big principles as her reasoning would surely yield the most truthful answers.
After all, mind-reading wasn’t a guarantee of honest answers.
Against those skilled at hiding their thoughts, it could become a hindrance.
Lisette had long regarded it as just a supplementary tool.
Upon hearing this, Meifei’s expression darkened.
“Yes, soul and body destroyed wouldn’t be too much. I can’t understand why he was framed like this. He’s such a good person.”
“Framed? Sounds like there’s more to this?”
Lisette wasn’t fond of counterfeiters, but being falsely accused was a different matter.
The question was, why would Moliya’er go to the trouble of framing him?
With this doubt, Lisette listened carefully to everything Meifei knew.
To the supplier Miss, Flora was a trustworthy partner, unconcerned with profits, honest, stubborn in the way of a straightforward, decent man, yet not rigid—humble and gentle.
It was obvious Meifei admired him.
Without this incident, she might have pursued Flora herself.
【Putting aside her feelings, it’s clear Mr. Fros was framed, but how does Moliya’er plan to handle the witness problem?】
She couldn’t just conjure up a batch of victims out of thin air.
Just as she thought this, Lisette realized Moliya’er was indeed capable of such a thing.
She immediately sent a mental message to her guards.
【Liz, Luokale, has anyone from the Emerald Heart squad left the city recently?】
She quickly received a reply and frowned deeply.
The squad’s scholar, Tatashimi, had left Doren City and was unaccounted for.
Lisette’s analysis said it was almost certain he was off to create witnesses.
There was no way to investigate further for now.
She would have to wait and see what Moliya’er’s specific plan was.
She shifted her focus to another matter.
What exactly was the relationship between Fros, Meifei, and Flora Emerald?
This blue-haired girl’s identity was unclear.
As Emerald Heart’s new healer, she showed recognition and interaction toward Meifei when they met.
Yet Meifei never mentioned her.
Was there some secret between them?
Following their parting agreement, Lisette straightforwardly asked:
“Do you know Miss Flora?”
“Who?”
Meifei, lost in thought, was silent for a moment.
This sudden question didn’t rouse any abnormal reaction, confirming to Lisette that she did not know the person.
“The new healer of the Emerald Heart squad, Flora Emerald. I thought you knew her.”
She dropped the topic and shifted to the matter of the note.
“Your father said Fros has already been found, yet you received his note, probably delivered by Moliya’er’s maid. A prisoner managing to send messages like this—maybe things aren’t as bad as they seem.”
“Your Highness thinks so?”
Meifei’s knowledge was limited compared to Lisette’s, so she asked tentatively, hoping for reassurance.
But she also found it strange.
Lisette asked back: “If you were told someone had died, wouldn’t you think it was a way to protect them?”
Meifei was taken aback.
She hadn’t considered that.
If it was to deceive others and protect Fros, then the note made perfect sense.
But then again, it sounded like the princess was trying to comfort her.
“But it’s more likely that someone who knows about me and Fros wrote the note to lure me to the ball and cut off my hopes.”
She voiced the more probable scenario.
Lisette didn’t refute it but turned her gaze toward the square with a grim suspicion.
“Who knows, Miss Meifei. I hope you’ll return to the merchant guild and prepare to attend the ball. Meet the person who wrote you that note. You might gain something special.Let’s end it here. Don’t tell anyone we met. Liz, escort her back.”
“Your Highness?”
Meifei wanted to ask more, but Lisette didn’t look at her as she was led away.
Instead, she stared at the hand she had held not long ago—a hand belonging to someone whose mind she couldn’t read—and murmured softly: “I don’t have concrete evidence. Maybe this is all just to boost your reputation, and he’s probably long dead…”
Did the young woman so well cared for by Moliya’er willingly inherit Fros’s “legacy” and position, becoming a beneficiary who willingly covered this with lies?
Lisette didn’t know.
All she knew was this: Moliya’er was definitely a madwoman.