Ileil returned to the mansion where the princess was staying. Most of the mansion’s lights had already been extinguished, with only a few corridors still lit by weak candlelight. The night-shift guards saw Ileil and let her into the mansion without any trouble over the argument with the princess. This actually surprised Ileil somewhat—she had been prepared to sleep on the street.
She walked into the mansion and came to the residence where Prinshitt was temporarily staying. Ileil had thought everyone would be asleep at this hour, but she heard the reception room still lit and faint conversation coming from inside.
Prinshitt hasn’t gone to bed yet? Ileil recognized the princess’s highly distinctive voice. Clearly more than one person was speaking in the reception room.
Originally Ileil had planned to go straight back to her own room, but after calming down and thinking carefully—returning silently after offending the princess did not seem right. She hesitated for a moment before deciding to apologize to the princess sincerely.
Ileil lightened her steps and walked to the reception room door. Just as she was about to knock, the soft, gentle voice coming from inside made her stop her hand.
“Your Highness, I respect your decision. For the next while, I’ll use the Dawn Goddess’s power to protect you with all my might! Also… please don’t be too angry with Miss Ileil. I asked around the mercenary group, and Miss Ileil is simply not good with words. The mercenaries all think Miss Ileil is very reliable…”
If Ileil remembered correctly, this soft voice belonged to the cat-eared priestess Lily.
Speaking up for me? Someone like me… what is there worth speaking up for?
Eavesdropping on others’ evaluation of oneself was a truly subtle feeling. Ileil was a person with self-awareness and knew her temper was as hard as stone. But what surprised Ileil was that her reputation in the group… was surprisingly not bad?
“I know…” Prinshitt spoke at this moment.
“Although that guy speaks terribly, when I calm down and think carefully… she wasn’t wrong.” Prinshitt paused, then said in a low voice, “As the princess… I’m far from qualified. Whether in combat or in strategy.”
?
Ileil grew even more confused. In her expectation, Prinshitt should have loudly refuted Lily’s words and gotten angry. How had it turned into self-reflection?
For Ileil, who had dealt with many arrogant noble young ladies, this was like hearing something strange.
“Please don’t blame yourself too much, Your Highness. When facing unmasked criticism, even if the other party’s view is correct, it is human nature to be unable to accept it immediately—please do not be harsh on yourself. No one’s growth happens overnight.”
This steady, gentle voice should belong to the Saint, Dorias. “If there is a suitable opportunity, Your Highness, you can talk it through with Miss Ileil face to face.”
Dorias deliberately emphasized his tone, as if he had noticed someone approaching outside the door.
Discovered? Sharp man…
Being caught eavesdropping was not good. But from Dorias’s tone, he was probably giving her a way out. Ileil knocked on the reception room door—three times, neither light nor heavy.
“Who?” Prinshitt asked vigilantly.
“Your temporary guard, Your Highness.”
“……” Silence fell inside the door for a moment, followed by Prinshitt’s permission. “Let her in first.”
“All right, please wait… I’m coming.”
The reception room door opened quickly. The cat-eared priestess poked her head out, her amber eyes widening slightly when she saw her.
“Ah, Miss Ileil… you’re back.”
……
In the reception room, Prinshitt was sitting in an armchair by the fireplace, a thick tome spread across her lap. The princess’s golden hair looked like flowing honey under the firelight, but when she raised her head to look at Ileil, her crimson eyes flashed with complex light.
“You still know to come back?” Prinshitt closed the book, her tone stiff. “I thought you were going to wander outside all night.”
Ileil bowed slightly, her attitude sincere. “I am truly sorry, Your Highness. As you can see, I have returned.”
Calm golden eyes met the princess’s gaze. Prinshitt stared into Ileil’s pupils and inexplicably read a sense of exhaustion from the silver-haired girl’s eyes.
Lily’s cat ears twitched uneasily. The cat-eared priestess knew what kind of argument had occurred between Ileil and Prinshitt… although the princess was a good person in Lily’s heart, daring to say such presumptuous words to Ileil’s face, no matter how good Prinshitt was, she was still a princess!
The two simply stared at each other, falling into a silence that made Lily feel afraid.
Mr. Dorias, why are you just watching! Help!
But luckily, Prinshitt spoke first. “About this afternoon’s matter… I may have overreacted.” She stared at the flames in the fireplace, her voice growing smaller. “You were not wrong on this point—I really do not have a clear awareness of my current strength. Willfully following my mentor and thinking I could help… instead caused trouble for everyone.”
“Your Highness…” Lily was almost crying from the princess’s magnanimity. She had thought Prinshitt’s silence was the calm before the storm.
Your Highness is great—no need for more words.
“Thank you very much. I will remember Your Highness’s tolerance in my heart.”
Ileil raised an eyebrow. She had not expected the lofty Prinshitt to apologize proactively.
“However, this does not mean I approve of your attitude!” Prinshitt raised her head, her cheeks flushing. “I am Aressto’s princess, and you as my guard should at least… should…”
“Point out your shortcomings in a more tactful way?” Dorias lightly supplemented, the corners of his mouth carrying a faint smile.
“Mentor!” Prinshitt glared at him, then lightly coughed. “In short, Ileil. I hope in the future you will recognize your position. Next time I will not tolerate your rudeness again!”
“There will not be a next time. Please rest assured, Your Highness.”
Prinshitt looked at the unusually obedient Ileil. Seeing her attitude so respectful today, Prinshitt did not know what to say.
“It is very late. I am going to rest.”
Prinshitt stood up, holding the thick tome to her chest like a shield. As she passed Ileil, she stopped. “Please appear on time for morning training tomorrow. Same as usual.”
The princess left quickly without waiting for Ileil’s response, her golden hair drawing a dazzling arc behind her.
“See you tomorrow… Mr. Dorias, Miss Ileil.”
Lily bowed to the two and followed the princess to retire.
The reception room was left with only Ileil and Dorias. The fireplace firelight cast dancing shadows on his resolute face.
Dorias did not follow Prinshitt as Ileil had thought. Instead, he chose to remain alone in the reception room. From the moment Ileil had entered the reception room, Dorias’s gaze seemed never to have left her.
“Miss Ileil.” After Prinshitt and Lily had walked a certain distance, Dorias finally spoke.
“Your full name is Ileil Claude, correct?”
Ileil tensed all over. Claude—this was her father’s surname.
“Mm… correct.”
Dorias walked to the window side. Moonlight plated a silver edge on him. “Do not be nervous. I simply wanted to confirm your identity. If I am not yet senile, ‘Blade Ghost’ Isende Claude should be your father?”
The saint actually knew her father’s “Blade Ghost” title…… Ileil pursed her lips.
She had heard rumors of her father’s youth from people in her hometown. It was hard to imagine how her usually mild and taciturn father was connected to the title “Blade Ghost.” And Ileil’s father had always avoided the topic of “Blade Ghost.” Even her easygoing mother had smilingly said these matters were to be kept secret.
As for Gro, who had personally killed her father, there was no need to mention him. Every time she asked about her father’s past, he would either say he did not know or play dumb.
“Mr. Dorias.” Ileil’s tone trembled slightly. “You know about my father?”