Volume 4, Chapter 31 – The Double Misunderstanding

“Not at all!”

Seeing Erin Slate, who had appeared by her side at some unknown point, Anastasia immediately became flustered. While it was true that Erin Slate’s strength was greater than her own, even earning her the title of Sword Saint, the gap between them was not so large that she could sneak up on her without her noticing. She had been too careless.

It was all Dofilia’s fault for being too captivating.

My heart had long since flown to the heavens, and I had completely forgotten to pay attention to my surroundings.

Lady Erin Slate must have noticed my carelessness too, but had deliberately chosen not to say anything.

To be caught red-handed, how shameful.

A blush spread from her neck to the roots of her ears. Anastasia could only use the moonlight to hide her gaffe. If Dofilia knew what she looked like now, she surely wouldn’t have the face to look her in the eye for a long time.

Anastasia stammered, changing the subject.

“L-Lady Erin Slate, why have you come alone?”

Her gaze returning from Anastasia, Erin Slate looked back the way she had come, her tone like that of casual small talk.

“Oh, this. Didn’t Her Highness have a match with Lord Greyan this morning? The swordsmanship she displayed made me feel ashamed of my own inadequacy, to the point where I couldn’t sleep. So I thought I’d wander over here to see if I might run into Her Highness and ask for some pointers.”

With that, Erin Slate turned to Fia. Like a noble lady, she lifted the sides of her mature, black gauze dress and bent her knees slightly.

“Good evening, Your Highness Dofilia.”

The elegant gesture was perfectly natural, without a single flaw.

Compared to Erin Slate, my own etiquette is like that of a country bumpkin.

With this internal sigh, Fia, tightening her silver cloak, gave a slight nod.

“Yes, good evening.”

Erin Slate had not addressed her as “Your Highness the Eldest Princess,” but as “Your Highness Dofilia.” This was likely due to the Eldest Princess’s and Erin Slate’s close private relationship.

Come to think of it, she had been planning to find Erin Slate, but she had come to find her instead. Was this a kind of telepathy? On reflection, this was the first time she had met privately with Erin Slate since returning to Blossom. Perhaps Erin Slate also felt that the time had come when they had to meet in private. After all, her behavior was completely different from the former princess’s, and she had also declared that she had lost her memory. As the manager of the organization, Erin Slate was probably worried sick.

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Although she felt sorry for Anastasia, the princess must have had her reasons for not telling her about the organization. It was more appropriate to send Anastasia away first.

Fia held a fist to her lips and coughed twice.

“Ahem, it’s too cold outside. Let’s talk inside. Anastasia, please have the maids in the palace prepare the bath. I’ll go there after I’m done chatting with Erin Slate.”

“Do you want the water temperature to be hotter or warmer? As for the fragrances… you used to like the scent of lavender. Shall we do the same as before?”

“The same as before is fine.”

“Understood.”

After Anastasia had hurried into the palace, the moonlit courtyard was suddenly left with only Fia and Erin Slate. In just a few short seconds, Fia felt a dramatic change in Erin Slate’s aura. The previous ease and elegance had vanished, replaced by a serious, cold demeanor. This coldness was not directed at Fia, but rather gave the impression of a machine that only followed orders.

Although she was surprised by Erin Slate’s change, the courtyard was not the place to discuss secrets. Heaven knew if any of the maids were watching from the windows. Fia said coolly.

“Let’s talk inside.”

“Yes.”

…

The meeting place was chosen in the palace’s library. It was the quietest place, protected by as many as twenty different magic barriers. No one could enter and eavesdrop without being noticed. It was the ideal location.

Fia took a seat in the only chair in the library. She placed her hands on the table and sized up Erin Slate, who was standing opposite her. Just as Anastasia had described, Erin Slate’s demeanor was impeccable. She possessed both the elegance of the upper nobility and the authority of the Captain of the Imperial Guard. Even her appearance and figure were first-rate. From any angle, she was an ideal beauty. It was impolite, but her long, shapely legs, unadorned by stockings, were a work of art that was hard to erase from one’s mind after even a single accidental glance.

The beauty of elves was simply unfair. From the small ones like Liti and Mizuki to the older ones like Anastasia and Erin Slate, they were all idol-level beauties.

No… Now is not the time to be marveling at elves beauty. The problem at hand is how to start.

Faced with the silent Erin Slate standing before her, Fia was at a bit of a loss. After reading the note left by the princess, she had some understanding of this organization.

Erin Slate was its manager. When the princess was absent, she was the highest-ranking person. Nearly half of the organization’s affairs passed through her hands. She was, in every sense, the princess’s right-hand woman.

And Erin Slate had a virtue just like Anastasia’s: she was worthy of absolute trust, the type who would keep a secret to her grave. Although the princess’s note hadn’t specified what kind of feelings Erin Slate held for her, Fia could sense from Anastasia’s words that because the princess had brought her back from the Land of Exile and cured her madness, she trusted her deeply.

It was precisely because of this that Fia found it difficult to speak.

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This feeling was very close to the predicament she had faced with Anastasia. Setting aside whether she was the former princess or not, one thing was certain: she did not have the princess’s memories. How to explain the reality in a way that Erin Slate could accept, without plunging her into excessive grief and panic, was a difficult problem.

Fia stole a glance at Erin Slate. She was silent, clearly waiting for her superior to speak first.

As the silence stretched on, the atmosphere became somewhat oppressive. Fia had no choice but to look away and rack her brains.

Her memory loss was common knowledge, and Renee had surely already contacted Erin Slate. There was no point in hiding it. She should just say it directly, and then, based on her reaction, comfort her, say that they could start over, that they could search for the former princess together. Perhaps that would lessen her grief.

After all, from all the current phenomena, it was very likely that she was indeed the former princess. It was just that because she had an extra set of memories in her head, her self-perception was skewed.

With that thought, words began to form in Fia’s throat. She steepled her fingers under her chin, trying her best to act like the former princess, and said slowly.

“You should have heard what I said. I’ve lost my memory.”

“Yes. You’ve lost your memory.”

Don’t be too sad—huh?

The thought had not yet reached her lips when Fia was slightly stunned. Erin Slate’s reaction was far too calm, as if she hadn’t understood what she had said. She couldn’t help but glance at her face, but there was no change in Erin Slate’s expression at all.

Fia had no choice but to rephrase and emphasize it again.

“I’ve forgotten everyone around me.”

“Yes.”

“…Including you, Erin Slate.”

“I understand.”

Hey, what’s going on here?

Fia’s frown deepened. Erin Slate’s performance was like that of an emotionless machine. Could it be that the princess had wanted a puppet that had no ability to think and only knew how to obey orders, and had deliberately modified her to be this way? But if she were just a puppet, she could never have become the manager of the entire organization, because a manager had to have the ability to think and make decisions independently.

After a moment of thought, Fia continued.

“Has your expression always been like this?”

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“Uh…?”

Finally, a slight hesitation appeared in Erin Slate’s expression. This was clearly not the reaction of an emotionless puppet. Fia let out a long sigh of relief. If Erin Slate had been turned into a machine by the princess, it would have been nothing but trouble.

Of course, the current situation wasn’t much better.

Since she was not a mindless puppet, it meant Erin Slate had understood that she had lost her memory. As for why she hadn’t shown any surprise, sadness, or anxiety, it was possible that she had already been sad or anxious before Fia arrived in Blossom, and now, after several days, she had slowly accepted the reality. To think so would be too naive.

Unable to understand why Erin Slate was so calm, Fia had no choice but to ask directly.

“Aren’t you surprised?”

“I was already surprised, a few days ago.”

So it was like that?

But then, what about Renee’s reaction?

Before Fia could press further, Erin Slate suddenly took out a stack of documents from her storage bracelet and respectfully placed them on the desk before Fia with both hands.

“These are the events that have occurred in the two months since you left Silvar. They include changes both within the kingdom and in the surrounding countries. I have filtered out some trivial and false information not worthy of your attention. As for the news whose authenticity cannot be judged, as always, it will be up to you to decide.”

“Renee has already informed me of your encounter in Byrne City yesterday. It seems The Sovereign has indeed infiltrated the areas surrounding Silvar. Coupled with Prince Schain’s unusual movements, I believe their claws have extended deeper than we know.”

After saying this with a grave expression, her shoulders relaxed, and a look of trouble appeared on her bewitching and elegant, demon-queen-like face. If the Erin Slate just now had been a mindless puppet, then the current Erin Slate was full of a girlish air, a living, breathing elf.

“My experience is still shallow, not enough to handle so many things on my own. During your absence, Loca was almost exposed due to my mistake. Not only that, but I couldn’t even refine the intelligence, handing you so much complicated information. I am deeply ashamed that I could not ease your burdens. I hope Lord Thanatos can forgive me.”

“No, rise. You have already done an excellent job. In the future, I will have to learn from you.”

“L-learn from me? How could I compare to you, Lord Thanatos? I could not even see the threshold of your knowledge in my entire lifetime. You are too humble!” The kneeling Erin Slate looked up, her golden eyes filled with panic.

Fia was at a loss for words.

Even if you say that, I have no idea how much knowledge my past self displayed. She had no idea who she was in Erin Slate’s eyes, nor could she remember what had happened between them.

However, this did not prevent her from figuring out what needed to be done. Erin Slate had specially compiled the recent major and minor events for her, which meant that she had already understood that, rather than panicking about the memory loss, it was more important to grasp the past as quickly as possible.

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This level of calmness was far beyond that of an ordinary person. In Fia’s scenario, Erin Slate should have been in a panic over her memory loss, even bringing the entire organization to a halt. Yet, not only had she not lost her direction, but she had also made timely remedies, preparing the necessary materials to guide her even before she returned to Blossom. From this one point alone, it was clear that Erin Slate was an extremely capable subordinate.

The tension in Fia’s expression eased a little. She waved her hand lightly, telling her to rise.

“That’s enough idle talk. Do whatever you like, Erin Slate. I need to look at these materials.”

“Yes.”

With that, Fia picked up the stack of documents, which was a finger thick, and began to read through them one by one. Erin Slate, in turn, expertly walked around the desk to stand behind her, watching her read.

Just as Erin Slate had said, these documents recorded only the important, filtered events. For example, Prince Schain had not come to the capital alone, but with a group of elite soldiers of unknown number. These soldiers had disguised themselves as ordinary people and blended into Blossom, their purpose unknown.

And compared to domestic events, Erin Slate had recorded more foreign affairs, such as the Midnight-Sun Magic faction claiming to have found a Saint, the escalating civil war in the beast-kin’s Cold Moon Alliance, and the appearance of an Abyss in the Alfrieg Kingdom due to an earthquake.

Among them, the most worthy of note was the repeatedly mentioned “The Sovereign.” When Fia had first met Renee, she had not been interested in what she said about it, thinking it was just a product of chuunibyou. But the fact was, The Sovereign did exist, and like the Darkborn under the command of Absolute Evil, had even mastered the method of controlling chaos, and had almost destroyed Byrne City.

Not only that, but the demon called Balor by the Demon General of Knowledge had told her that the Eldest Princess had met him ten years ago when she had stopped his master’s resurrection. At that time, she had thought he was too weak and had spared his life, causing him to hold a grudge and secretly see her as an enemy. This also confirmed that the princess’s organization had been pursuing The Sovereign for a long time.

With the help of [Hyper-computation], Fia quickly imprinted the contents of the documents in her mind. She closed the last page and let out a light breath.

“I have a general understanding now. It’s just this last part… Erin Slate, you suspect Kalsey is up to something?”

Standing behind her, Erin Slate nodded seriously.

“Yes. At first, I thought it was just a coincidence, but after confirming it several times, I am certain that the Second Prince’s strength is likely far greater than what we have seen. No matter how our people tail him, the end result is always losing him. This is too abnormal.”

“Is there no other evidence that he is problematic?”

“No. That is why I could not make up my mind.”

“Then let’s put this matter aside for now. Don’t act rashly, so as not to alert him.”

“Understood.”

The room was silent for a moment. Fia, who was confused after reading the documents, subconsciously asked.

“Why don’t these documents mention anything about the past? Like what we do, or what happened between you and me?”