Beyond the towering city walls, people bustled up and down the purple-lit streets, but not a single person paid attention to the little girl weaving through the crowds.
She looked just over ten years old, her face lovely yet lacking the usual childish naivete.
Though dressed plainly, there was no way to hide her unique aura.
She slipped lightly through the throngs, entering a nondescript little tavern.
Inside, the tavern was full of heat and noise, but the little girl didn’t go through the main entrance. Instead, she slipped in through a back door leading directly to a secluded private room on the second floor.
A glass of juice had already been set out for her on the table. The little girl sipped it as she waited.
Before long, footsteps cautious and tense sounded up the stairs. At the corner of her mouth, the girl’s lips curled into a sly smile.
The curtain was quietly lifted, and a masked figure stepped in. The person was not tall, and seemed particularly tense.
“You’re here.”
The masked figure said nothing, just adjusted the mask on their neck and then sat down across from her.
“Using the city’s odd-jobs network to send me a message, you’re much more clever than that Ashan fellow,” the little girl rested her face in her hands, and went on, “The matters mentioned in your letter—are you sure about them?”
“No mistake,” the person replied in a low voice. “You… you are Her Highness Nori?”
“It’s me. The one and only Nori.”
“Proof… proof, please.”
“Ha! So cautious—just as I like,” Nori spoke as she stood up from her seat, brought her face close to the masked figure’s, and pointed to her own eye.
Her blood-red pupils began to emit a brilliant glow, like a fresh gemstone burning with vivid color.
“Isn’t this the best proof? The one and only Nori, the only young Blood Clan of Ansels.”
Nori proudly shook her head, as if displaying not just her eyes, but priceless rubies.
“Alright, I believe you,” the masked person sighed and fished out a complicated-looking insignia from their clothes, setting it on the table. “Here is my proof.”
“Got it~ Even if you didn’t show me this, Nori wouldn’t have doubted you!” Nori flicked the insignia back at them with her finger. Seeing no alternative, the person had no choice but to pocket it again.
In the little room, the candlelight flickered, shining on the nervous mask of the visitor.
“Nori, let’s get back to business. Regarding the recent situation of the Rebels, I must be honest with you about everything.”
“Mu Jin Elbor, that cunning fox, has been plotting all along, trying to catch us all in one net.”
“His scheme nearly succeeded, but fortunately we discovered the true identity of that blond man in time—a spy from Ansels, disguised as a messenger of Valivadan, trying to infiltrate and destroy our ranks.”
The person paused, struggling to control the tremor in their voice, and continued, “Under cover of darkness, we barely managed to escape, fleeing north while evading Elbor’s men.”
“In the end, we unexpectedly encountered a band of Rebels who had dispersed earlier for political reasons, in the upper reaches of the Kunbai River, in the Northern Breezewind Valley. Their captain reached out to us and provided a much-needed refuge.”
“However, the dead of winter has arrived, and conditions in the valley are extremely harsh. Our provisions are gravely inadequate; many fighters are suffering the twin torments of hunger and cold… we have tried everything, but the harsh reality makes every step a struggle.”
At this, the masked figure looked at Nori through the holes of the mask, their words brimming with hope.
“Your Highness Nori, you sent us a message of hope through Ashan before. It is precisely because of that that we have come to seek your help.”
“You are our last hope… If we cannot get any support from you, the flame of the Rebels may well be snuffed out in this bitter cold.”
“Our side needs supplies, weapons, and above all, your support and trust…”
Clearly unused to such situations, the masked person sat stiffly in the cramped little room, fidgeting and glancing about from time to time.
The more uneasy the visitor became, the more amused Nori seemed—she almost wanted to rush over, tear off their mask, and see their embarrassed face for herself—
“I can certainly help you,” Nori pressed her finger against the mask, “but, can I see what you really look like?”
The person shivered all over, grasped their sleeves tightly, and desperately shook their head.
“No?” Nori rapped her fingers on the table in disappointment, “If you won’t even show me your face, how am I supposed to trust you?”
For some reason, she felt the voice behind the mask was familiar, which only made her more curious about the face beneath it. She stared directly at the mask, not letting the person turn away.
“I… I can, but in exchange, I have one condition…” The masked figure pressed a hand under the mask, their voice low and uncertain, “as long as you…”
Their words grew quieter and quieter. Nori leaned in, cupping her ear to listen, and after a while, broke into a brilliant grin.
“What, just that? No problem at all.”
At night, the lights inside the city walls were few but warmly golden. Su Ling’s footsteps tapped softly along the long corridor, blending with the gentle rustle of clothes in the basket she carried, making the quiet seem even deeper.
A cold wind slipped in through a half-open window, carrying a chill to the bone. Su Ling couldn’t help but hug the bundle in her arms tighter.
Just as she hurried past a lavishly decorated pillar, a lively, slightly mischievous voice sounded in her ear: “Su Ling!”
Su Ling turned in surprise to see Nori poking her head out from behind the pillar, a playful smile on her face.
“Your Highness Nori, it’s so late—shouldn’t you be resting?” Su Ling asked warily, her heart hoping she wouldn’t be dragged into any trouble.
“Rest? Don’t even mention it, Nori is bored to death!”
Nori took her hand and stepped closer, eyes shining with expectation. “Su Ling, are you busy right now? Could you do me a little favor?”
Su Ling’s heart tightened, though she kept a polite smile on her face: “Your Highness, I still have some work to finish in the public library… I’m afraid…”
“Those chores can wait until tomorrow!” Nori cut her off, her tone bright with girlish willfulness, “Right now, Nori wants you to come with me outside the city to buy something. It’s very important!”
Su Ling hesitated, her thoughts racing.
Go out of the city at night? That’s against all the city’s rules.
What’s more, in this world, nighttime was no time for anyone to go out lightly—especially a girl like her, heading out in the middle of the night would only court trouble.
No, there’s something off about this.
Nori had clearly been waiting behind the pillar just for her.
She had deliberately picked such a late hour, and waited for her to be alone what on earth was the little princess up to?
“Your Highness, going out at this hour…”
She was just about to refuse when Nori suddenly grew serious, her voice icy: “Su Ling, don’t forget as Royal Family, Nori has absolute Mandate of Command over you. If you dare disobey me, I’ll make sure you pay the price.”