Chapter 26: Mother and Daughter

“Ellie, are you there?”

As Ellie was lost in her thoughts, a familiar but somewhat weak voice sounded softly in her ear.

Hearing this voice, Ellie immediately stood up in excitement, rushed to the door in just a few steps, and opened the palace doors.

“Mother Empress, why are you here?!”

Outside the door stood a beautiful woman with a gentle, charming smile.

Although she was already a mother, she still looked very young.

Standing before Ellie, the two looked more like sisters than mother and daughter.

Yet, that elegant and serene face was now tinged with paleness, and she walked unsteadily, appearing as delicate as a willow in the wind.

The wind was still blowing outside, so Ellie quickly stepped aside and led her mother into the hall.

Once seated at the edge of the bed, the Empress of the Roland Empire let out a sigh, stroked her daughter’s hair, and said, “You were gone for so long this time, and I heard you even ran into danger. Of course I had to come see you.”

Ellie’s eyes grew misty.

In front of her mother, she couldn’t hide a single bit of the grievance in her heart.

Hadn’t she been in danger?

If not for the timely help of Lord Extreme Frost Sword Saint, she might have already lost her life.

Even now, she was still injured.

She had used the best medicine for her wounds, but she had yet to fully recover.

“Tell me, why did you sneak out this time without saying a word to anyone?”

There was a hint of reproach in the Empress’s voice, but even more worry and helplessness.

“I…” Ellie lowered her head, biting her lip, unable to put her grievances into words.

“Did you believe some malicious rumor and go looking for that so-called Anhun Fruit?”

The beautiful woman tapped Ellie’s little nose helplessly.

Her daughter had gone missing, and she had frantically searched everywhere.

Though she hadn’t found her, she had managed to uncover the reason for Ellie’s departure.

“…” Ellie fell silent, fiddling with her fingers, head lowered.

“Silly child, there is no such thing in this world.”

With another long sigh, she pulled her daughter into her arms, hugging her tightly, her eyes full of affection and reluctance.

“Mother Empress…” Ellie could no longer hold back her tears and hugged her mother even tighter.

“From now on, don’t believe such rumors so easily, and don’t go out on your own, understand?” The Empress’s tone grew very stern.

“But Mother Empress, your health…” Ellie bit her lip hard.

She understood these things, and she had thought that perhaps she shouldn’t have been deceived, but she simply had no choice.

If there was no other way, then her mother’s health…

“My health, I know it well. Don’t worry, it’s not that urgent yet.”

Though she said this lightly, there was too much sorrow in her voice.

Indeed, she knew her own body best.

In her current state, every extra day she lived was a gift from the gods.

Even with every possible method to delay it, she likely only had a few months left.

It was precisely because of her health that the entire Roland Empire was in turmoil.

Many greedy people were watching from the shadows, putting her daughter in danger as well—Ellie was the last royal bloodline.

If this line was cut off, the royal family would be finished.

Without the royal family, the Empire would fall into other hands.

Once she died, and if Ellie died, those people’s goals would be achieved.

Fortunately, for now, the Empire still had Lord Elvis and the Ace Mage Corps guarding it.

Those petty villains dared not act recklessly.

Otherwise, the Imperial Capital would have been thrown into chaos long ago.

Even so, that didn’t mean everything was fine.

After all, Lord Elvis had his own affairs to handle and needed to train.

He was already quite old.

If she died and only Ellie was left, could Elvis protect her?

No one knew how long even he could live.

She understood all this, knew it all too well, but what could she do?

The situation was what it was.

Those lurking villains could never be tracked down.

If even Elvis couldn’t do anything, what could she do?

All she could do was hold on, drag things out as long as possible… to win more time for Ellie, for this Empire.

Maybe, just maybe, there was still a chance for things to turn around.

But how long could she keep dragging it out…?

Up to now, she still couldn’t see any hope.

It was as if a shadow hung over the Empire, dark and impossible to dispel.

“Oh, right, Mother Empress, let me tell you, I almost couldn’t make it back this time, but then suddenly someone appeared—”

But weighed down by her worries, the Empress had no mind to listen to her daughter’s stories.

Her mind was filled with concerns and plans for the Empire and her only daughter’s future, and she couldn’t help but feel a bit lonely.

This was supposed to be his Empire, and yet, he was the first to pass away, leaving the two of them behind.

All these years, she had worried herself sick for the Empire.

She’d lost count of how many times she dreamed of having someone to rely on.

But sadly, she was long past the age for such dreams.

Even using such hopes to comfort herself seemed far too pale.

She hugged her daughter even tighter, secretly hiding her tears, then stood up to say goodbye.

There were so many state affairs to handle.

Even as her health declined, she couldn’t let go.

Taking time out to see her daughter was already her limit.

It was getting late—she had to return.

Ellie watched her mother’s departing figure, biting back her bitterness and swallowing it down.

At the same time, her hope grew stronger than ever—if only she could find that great person…