After hearing Old John’s description, Ileil was almost certain that this robber named Carl was related to the heretics.
“Don’t talk about caravans or anything yet.”
Ileil signaled Prinshitt to listen to her first, and the princess unusually complied with Ileil’s idea, though she looked reluctant.
“You should at least know where that Carl lives, right?”
Old John rubbed the stubble on his chin, a hint of hesitation flashing in his murky eyes.
“Uh… I do know that.” He said slowly, “Carl lives near the old mill on the west side of town, a small house with a red roof.”
“Can you be more specific?” Ileil pursued unceremoniously.
Old John sighed and pulled out a yellowed parchment from under the counter, sketching a few lines with charcoal: “You know the mill on the west side of town? Follow the road from the mill to the end, turn into a weed-overgrown path; the house with the red roof is easy to find.”
Prinshitt took the map and examined it carefully.
Alyssa leaned over for a glance and raised an eyebrow: “Tsk. This place is remote enough.”
“He likes staying in such secluded spots.” Old John shrugged, “After all, the things he did in the past can’t see the light of day.”
Ileil stared into Old John’s eyes: “Besides his residence, does he have any places he often goes?”
Recalling Sister Emilia’s words, Ileil continued: “For example… places like abandoned barns?”
Old John nodded: “You know quite a bit, huh. That abandoned barn is on the north side of town. Every time Carl comes back from a quest, he spends a whole day in the barn; no one knows what he’s doing in there.”
“The location of the barn, please tell us in more detail.” Prinshitt said.
Old John added a few strokes to the parchment: “Follow the northern path, go through a birch forest, and you’ll see it.”
Alyssa seemed to think of something and interjected: “Wait, you said ‘every time he comes back from a quest’? So that robber has taken many such escort quests?”
“So you all know Carl was a robber before.”
Old John’s words plunged everyone into a brief silence.
“So besides taking escort quests, Carl usually just holes up in that red-roofed house?” Kaze scratched his chin, “That sounds really reclusive.”
But Alyssa didn’t seem intent on letting the old man off: “Old thing, are you sure you don’t know what he does in the barn every day?”
Old John raised his hands: “By the dawn, I swear to you—I really don’t know what that guy Carl is up to. The guild only handles quest registrations; we don’t meddle in members’ private lives.”
“Fine.” Alyssa gave Old John a cold glance: “You better not let me find out you’re lying.”
…….
Prinshitt looked at the sky outside the window; the setting sun had already dyed the clouds orange-red.
She turned to Ileil and asked: “It’s getting late; should we go to the barn first or check Carl’s residence?”
Ileil frowned: “It’s not early now, Your Highness. Logically, we should wait for Dorias to return before—”
“I must go.” Prinshitt raised her voice, continuing: “We’ve already wasted a week! Now that we finally have a clue, are we going to sit and wait for it to go cold?”
“Your Highness…” Ileil lowered her voice, “You should be aware that without Mr. Dorias, acting on your own, your safety—”
“I’ll take responsibility for my own safety!” Prinshitt interrupted her, her voice carrying a hint of anger, “I’m not a porcelain doll that needs constant protection, Ileil. I’m the princess of Aressto; I have the right to decide my own actions.”
Ileil was silent for a moment, her golden eyes staring directly at Prinshitt: “You’re right; you do have the right to decide. But as your guard, I also have the right to offer suggestions.”
“I say….” Prinshitt suddenly stopped, her red eyes staring at Ileil, “Do you think I’m in the way?”
“You’re overthinking, Your Highness.” Ileil said expressionlessly.
“Fine—then assume I’m overthinking. Then let me ask you—why do you always make decisions on your own?” Prinshitt’s voice suddenly rose an octave, “From the Adventurers’ Guild onward, you’ve been making decisions for me!”
Ileil sighed, a flash of helplessness in her golden eyes: “I’m just ensuring your safety.”
“I don’t need you to treat me like a fragile item!” Prinshitt clenched her fists, “I emphasize again. I’m the princess of Aressto, not a burden you need to protect!”
Alyssa watched the spectacle from the side: “Whoa, Your Highness, throwing a little tantrum? And Ileil actually coaxing her; that’s too funny.”
“Shut up, Alyssa.” Kaze nudged Alyssa’s arm.
Ileil took a deep breath: “Listen, Your Highness. Dorias entrusted you to me, so I have the responsibility to ensure your safety.”
“Responsibility?” Prinshitt sneered, “I also carry responsibility, a heavier one than yours—so sometimes I really envy you, Ileil…”
Prinshitt’s words stunned Ileil.
“Envy… me?” Ileil’s voice became unusually dry.
What a joke…….
Has this princess been kicked in the head by a donkey?
Ileil quickly recovered—in Prinshitt’s perception, she was just a mercenary under her ‘adoptive father’ Gro; she knew nothing of the hatred she carried.
“Yes, I envy that you can freely make choices, live for yourself. Not like me, carrying the heavy burden of ‘princess’….”
Prinshitt raised her head, the setting sun dyeing her golden hair like flames.
“From childhood to now, everyone tells me what to do, what not to do. What I get is always denial; they always think I’m just Aressto’s vase—even now, when I want to prove I can investigate this, you still block me!”
Ileil felt her throat tighten.
She looked at the princess before her, eager to prove herself, and for a moment didn’t know what to say.
Prinshitt had no idea what price the ‘freedom’ she envied had been exchanged for.
“Envy… huh…….?”
—Envy this life cursed by revenge?
—Envy these nights where even dreams are of killing?
Ileil’s fingers tightened and loosened on the sword hilt, her knuckles making a faint crack.
The afterglow of the setting sun stung her eyes, reminding her of eight years ago, the dusk similarly stained with blood when her father died.
……
But in the end, these could only be borne by the girl alone.
“Your Highness….” Ileil’s voice carried a weary hoarseness; in the end, she chose to compromise with the princess:
“You’re right; I overstepped.”
Prinshitt was stunned, clearly not expecting Ileil to suddenly yield.
“Follow your idea, Your Highness Prinshitt.” Ileil continued, her golden eyes appearing especially deep in the setting sun, “But before that, I hope you promise me two things.”
Prinshitt looked at her warily: “Wh… what things?”
“First, we must return to the manor before dark. Second…”
Ileil’s gaze swept over everyone present, “Everyone must stay vigilant, ready to retreat at any time.”
Alyssa nodded approvingly: “Yo…… actually learned to compromise. If that guy Gro saw you like this, he’d probably be happy!”
“Alyssa!” Kaze pinched the arm of the mischief-maker Alyssa.
But Ileil ignored the female mage’s teasing, just quietly looking at Prinshitt: “Do you agree?”
Prinshitt pursed her lips and finally nodded: “Fine, I promise you….”
“Then it’s settled.” Ileil turned toward the exit of the Adventurers’ Guild, her back straight as a sword.
“Um…. Miss Ileil’s expression is so scary.” Lily said weakly; from earlier, she hadn’t even dared to breathe loudly.
“Ha—what’s to fear.” Alyssa smiled and ruffled Lily’s head, “You haven’t seen the tense standoff when Ileil argues with that ‘Black Edge’… that’s exciting.”
“Exciting, huh…” Kaze held his forehead; his thoughts aligned with Lily’s.
When he heard Prinshitt say she ‘envied’ Ileil, he truly sweated for both of them from the heart.
But fortunately, Ileil controlled her emotions in the end.
……
“Wait, Ileil……” Seeing Ileil obediently follow her request with a gloomy expression, Prinshitt was somewhat unaccustomed; she asked a bit impatiently:
“I thought…… you were going to lecture me again.”
“I just figured some things out; don’t mind it.”
Ileil said without looking back, her voice calm to the point of indifference,
“Everyone has their own burdens to bear. You’re right; I shouldn’t make decisions for you.”