Though both were built upon the forest, Fenglin City and the cluster of buildings beneath the shade of the World Tree at the center of Mirror Lake’s Lake Heart Island each had their own distinct character and charm.
If the districts of Fenglin City, constructed upon the roots, branches, and hollows of the great trees, were creations that seemed almost divinely granted and naturally formed, then the buildings here were a ritual—carried out by later generations who, with reverence and caution, carefully realized it within the sacred ancient grove.
They used their exquisite skill to make these man-made dwellings, which should have clashed with the forest, completely hidden among the trees, without disturbing the sky-covering World Tree and the seemingly eternal forest scenery at its feet.
Interwoven covered bridges connected the dwellings that had almost become one with the ancient trees, and occasional white stone steps spiraled upward along the curved contours of the thousand-year-old trunks.
Slender leaf vines hung down from the covered bridges.
When the Forest Breeze blew, the rustling sound of leaves like shaking rattles filled the entire grove.
By all rights, this atmosphere should have brought those within it an unprecedented sense of tranquility… but at this moment, a murderous aura overwhelmed the peace and harmony that should have prevailed, spreading throughout the palace grove.
Iyue thought it must be caused by the Court Attendants and Guard Knights in full armor standing near the covered bridges and the Main Hall.
Those knights wore armor; some bore Swords, others carried bows. But unlike those in her memories, most of them were young faces.
They stood tall and straight, their expressions cold and stern… even more so than Iyue’s former comrades.
And she quickly understood that the reason for their seriousness was precisely the Trial of the Curse that had swept even her into its midst.
When Iyue approached, their originally tense expressions inevitably relaxed, revealing various attitudes.
“Lord Yi Yue! Greetings!”
The young knight guarding the covered bridge before the Main Hall first froze for a moment, then straightened his body and greeted her with vigorous energy.
The several knights on duty nearby also turned around and offered their Greetings in equally resounding voices.
In these knights’ Eyes, there was surprise, excitement, awe, and admiration… all of them positive emotions.
“…Greetings to you all. I have come to seek an audience with Your Majesty.” Iyue averted her gaze from their blazing stares and spoke slowly to a Guard who was not a knight.
“Your… Your Majesty and the Elders are still in council within this hall!”
That Guard replied hastily, looking somewhat flattered by the attention.
“And your colleague, Lady Waletidina, is also inside attending to the proceedings. If you wish to enter the hall, I shall announce your arrival immediately!”
“That won’t be necessary.” Iyue looked toward the tall, broad door of the Main Hall ahead and gently shook her head. “If the meeting has not yet concluded, I will simply wait here.”
The Guard and the several young knights beside him exchanged quick glances… They quickly reached a consensus, and then the Guard walked over:
“Please move to the Side Hall to wait. There are refreshments there, and the environment is more comfortable… You are a legendary Hero; we must not neglect you.”
“…Then I shall trouble you.”
The more fervently sincere these young people’s Eyes looked at her, the more lost and ashamed Iyue felt.
A Palace Maid arrived upon hearing the news and led her toward the Side Hall.
As they passed along the corridor, Servants, Lady Attendants, and Palace Servants cleaning the walkways and furnishings all paused to bow their heads in salute to her.
Several of them even suppressed their voices, whispering excitedly among themselves after she had passed.
“That’s Lord Yi Yue…!”
“The legendary Hero! Last time I saw her was at the Triumphant Ceremony… She’s this close to me!”
“Shh, keep your voice down!”
These fragmented whispers made Iyue’s ears twitch slightly… Her thoughts churned because of them.
These people’s attitudes only conveyed one thing—people only remembered the Elven Hero who had shot down the Demon King and saved the Empire, not a knight who had broken her oath and left when the Royal Court needed her most.
Since she had left the Royal Court and Fenglin City, forsaking her Knight’s Oath as a Guard Knight, Senia and Waletidina had never made her departure public.
Not only had they not made it public, they had neither issued a warrant nor pursued her.
Later, she joined the Brave’s Party and stepped onto the battlefield, until the Demon King’s fall and the end of the War—her name had since resounded across the Empire.
It was their leniency that had allowed her to have today… She had always known this in her heart. For a long time, Guilt had weighed upon her soul.
But the glittering Eyes of those young Guard Knights and Palace Servants only magnified that Guilt… Once again, she became acutely aware of her own Sin and their magnanimity.
Not only had they concealed her crime for her, they had even displayed all the glory she once possessed and now possessed before the world, allowing it to endure in people’s hearts.
She had not been nailed to the pillar of shame as an Oathbreaker to be reviled, but was instead the object of admiration for these children.
Even though she did not regret her choice, she still felt that her oath-breaking back then was shameful to the extreme.
She sat down in the Side Hall, and a Palace Maid served her tea. The rising steam brushed against her cheeks.
Just as she had confessed to Waletidina in the Illusion Realm… she had always treated that past as mere words that had to be spoken in exchange for power and position.
What she regarded as her soul had always been only that Cabin, and everything in it that waited for her return.
“Lord Yi Yue… Could it be that the tea is not to your liking?”
The Palace Maid, seeing her silent and grave, asked with some trepidation.
“No, it’s fine.” Iyue smiled at her, then slowly drank the tea to the last drop.
Between the Side Hall and the Main Hall lay only a circular passage, a long corridor, and two carved wooden doors, so occasionally muffled voices drifted over from the Main Hall.
The voices rose and fell, too indistinct to make out the specifics… but anyone could sense that the conversation taking place there was anything but lighthearted.
After finishing her tea, Iyue waited quietly.
Time passed minute by minute… The Guard outside the hall changed shifts.
The Palace Maid repeatedly refilled the empty teacup.
Finally, when even the light outside the hall had shifted with the passage of the sky, the wooden doors of the Main Hall opened at last.
Iyue thanked the Palace Maid, then rose and walked out of the Side Hall, just in time to see the departing group rounding the circular passage of the Main Hall and heading toward another covered bridge.
At the front were several Elders of the Elder Council and the High Priestess.
The Elders wore varied expressions—some frowned deeply, others conversed in low voices.
Behind them followed the Royal Palace Steward and several Lady Attendants, and further back were Senia and Waletidina.
Senia had changed back into the Queen’s formal attire, her expression appearing very calm.
Waletidina, standing at her side, remained as Cold as she had been that day when Iyue encountered her at the Company’s office… guarding the Queen’s side without leaving so much as a step.
“Your Majesty—”
“Isn’t that Iyue? Our Hero!”
Iyue strode toward the corridor… Senia noticed her faster than she had imagined, waving at her before she could even finish speaking.
The Elders, Servants, and knights all turned their gazes toward her at those words. Those Eyes fell upon Iyue, and for a moment, she felt at a loss.
“Iyue, did you come specifically to see me?”
She seemed to have already escaped the daze from which she had emerged from the Illusion Realm—back then, the two had only exchanged simple greetings.
Now her voice was still so gentle… as if the old days of the Royal Court had returned.
Iyue intended to kneel on one knee.
Even though the relationship between monarch and subject no longer existed, she still had to beg for her forgiveness face to face.
But the moment she bent her knee, Senia quickly stepped forward and reached out to grasp her arm.
“Don’t.” She said with a Smile, “You are a Hero who saved the world and the Kingdom of Salvation… You need not perform such rites for me anymore.”
Iyue looked up at her. Within her gentle gaze lurked an unyielding authority.
“The Elders should be returning to the city, yes? Then let us part ways here.”
Senia released her hand and turned to address the Elders beside her.
“I will rest at the Royal Villa. If anything comes up, just send someone to inform me.”
“Your Majesty—”
The Elders wanted to say more, but Senia was no longer paying them any attention. She looked at Waletidina and added:
“You should come along as well. You and Iyue haven’t seen each other in a long time—you must have much to say to one another.”
“Everything as Your Majesty wishes.”
Waletidina merely bowed in compliance… She did not look at Iyue.