Chapter 243 : Departure
(Hmph, what a fool.)
Looking at the sleeping Lonis, Elucia snorted coldly.
Just because she put on the princess's special attire? Was this guy so happy about that?
Risking the danger of being teased despite knowing it would happen, still coming to call her wife...
Really...
(Hmph!)
Thinking this, Elucia wanted to take out rope and tie up this silver-haired girl tightly. Then use a towel to gag her mouth and blindfold her eyes completely.
Make her unable to do anything, only able to curl up beside her, pitifully begging for forgiveness!
However, Elucia didn't do this.
Because if she did, she would be considered a tsundere by that Lonis again. So what needed to be done now was just preparing for tomorrow's journey...
(I'll spare you tonight, but if you use any more ridiculous forms of address for this princess, I'll put the tentacle suit on you.)
When she woke up the next day, everything was already prepared.
For ease of movement, Lonis put on fox ears and tail again, serving as Princess Elucia's attendant.
Since this was a meeting with the demon race, Elucia didn't have the senior students follow along. The accompanying party consisted of the most elite Sword and Shield Guards, led by that blonde little loli, Nalonaté.
Don't let this Sword and Shield Guard's petite appearance fool you—her skills were among the very best of all the Sword and Shield Guards... In fact, Nalonaté had always been personally by Princess Sethilu's side to ensure her safety. Now having Sethilu send her personal guard to protect them both was already showing great regard for Elucia.
Besides this, Elucia also changed into the princess's long dress and dyed her hair silver-white.
Now, the originally somewhat scheming and aloof beautiful girl became even more captivating.
Whether it was that flowing silver long hair or those naturally dignified beautiful features, they made her appear like an ice beauty, making people afraid to approach.
And Lonis was also stunned by this sight.
Although she had lived with Elucia for so long, this was the first time seeing the wife·princess dress silver-haired version.
"Hmph, what are you looking at? Lonis, kneel down and help this princess dress."
"Mmph..."
When putting high heels on Elucia, Lonis's movements were also very careful, afraid of causing displeasure to this princess.
After all, Elucia rarely wore white stockings normally, and now looking at those little feet like ice cream, Lonis felt her heart pounding, not knowing where to look.
After tying the straps, Elucia was fully dressed. The high heels made "tap tap" sounds on the floor, and looking at the fairy-like girl before her, Lonis suddenly noticed something...
Since Elucia could have played the princess by dyeing her hair from the beginning, why did she have me do it?
The girl had just looked up in confusion when she was met with Elucia's cunning smile:
"Hehe, weak submissive maid, did you just notice?"
"Princess..."
"Although this master could play the princess, sitting majestically on the throne and putting on airs is too tiring. How could it be as interesting as watching a silver-haired maid who, despite being nervous inside, still has to put on a proper appearance in front of others?"
"Wah?"
"Hmph, and I'll let you see the real difference between a weak submissive maid like you and this princess. Lonis, lead the way—we're departing!"
Just like that, Elucia confidently led the team out of Insolania.
Although this was an extremely important mission, Elucia didn't have anyone come to see them off... They took secret back roads, and aside from Sethilu and General Guyanis, no one else knew the route of this expedition.
After all, they had to guard against ambushes.
Although they were still within the Bright Ember Kingdom's territory, vampire spies had infiltrated the royal palace, so no one could guarantee there wouldn't be people with ulterior motives along the way.
And at times like this, Nalonaté demonstrated her level as a Sword and Shield Guard.
She knew almost every road within the Bright Ember Kingdom's territory, familiar with every inch of mountain and hill... This made Lonis very interested in her.
During their rest and camping, Lonis curiously asked: "General Nalonaté, may I ask you a question?"
"Just call me Nana."
"Huh?"
"After all, Miss Fox's portrayal of Princess Sethilu is very successful. To our royal family, you're not an outsider."
"Oh..."
Lonis keenly noticed that Nalonaté said "royal family" rather than "Bright Ember Kingdom."
So she said:
"Are Nana and Princess Sethilu sisters?"
"No, according to the family tree, I should be Princess Sethilu's maternal aunt... I'm one generation older than Princess Sethilu."
"Ah, so Nana... is already in her thirties?"
Lonis swallowed, unable to believe that the blonde little loli was in her thirties.
And this little loli frowned even more, saying: "Miss Fox, please don't joke around. I'm only 14 years old."
"Ah...?"
"It's just that I became an official Sword and Shield Guard when I was 11. So I'm considered a veteran now."
"S-so amazing..."
Actually, Lonis could still accept that Elucia was amazing... After all, that black-haired loli was over a hundred years old, right? Her experience and breadth of mind weren't comparable to ordinary people.
But Nalonaté was really only 14 years old. At such an age, she should be living in a greenhouse, being cared for by her parents.
So Lonis asked worriedly:
"Are the Bright Ember Kingdom's war situation so dire? Even Nalonaté has been forced to enlist?"
"Haha, I wasn't forced to enlist. Rather, aside from me, no one else could possibly have the ability to protect Princess Sethilu."
"Huh?"
"My family has been one of the guardians protecting the Colotia royal family for generations. Since my father died, I had to take on the responsibility of serving as the princess's personal guard."
"B-but even so, it's still too..."
...
If saying that Nalonaté officially enlisting at 14 wasn't too late, this little loli had become a Sword and Shield Guard three years ago!
And becoming a Sword and Shield Guard required passing trials—battles no less intense than those in the underground commercial district arena.
"Miss Fox, you don't need to worry about my affairs. In my view, there are many things in this world more important than life."
"Huh?"
"You've seen the underground commercial street and arena, right? Many of the undocumented people there live far more miserably than I do... And beyond the Bright Ember Kingdom, in those unknown dark depths, who knows how many people are struggling desperately to survive."
"..."
"Princess Sethilu once wanted to abolish the underground commercial street."
"Princess Sethilu actually did such a thing...?"
"Mm, but although this idea sounds wonderful, it's impossible to implement... In fact, the underground commercial street, gambling industry, arena industry, and R18 industry are all indispensable pillars of the Bright Ember Kingdom. Once they disappear, not only will those people lose their jobs, but we won't have the resources to fight against the demons."
"!"
"So we must rely on these seemingly unjust and dishonorable methods to maintain that precarious ray of light."
Nalonaté looked up and said to Lonis very seriously.