Volume 4, Chapter 72 – The Alexia Family

“There’s no way,” Fia began, and although she was reluctant to see her wish to reconcile come to fruition, she spread her hands. “I tried with Mizuki before. If I go in alone, I get transferred to that dim altar full of ancient elf script. If I bring her with me, we always end up at the altar that everyone can normally see. I guess only I am allowed in there.”

“Mmm…” A thoughtful grunt came from Yelido’s throat. “You won’t know the result without trying. Dofi, do you know why the Holy Tree won’t let anyone else in now?”

“I don’t.”

If only she knew. It was a huge problem that no one else could enter.

With that internal retort, Fia continued.

“I guess it might be related to the tree’s withering. I found a passage leading underground in that dim altar. It was full of monsters with no magic cores, their bodies burning with black flames. Their forms and intelligence became more advanced the deeper I went. The Holy Tree only started budding after I cleared them out. Do you know where those monsters came from, Father?”

“There are monsters in the Holy Tree?”

From that reaction, it seemed he didn’t know.

Fia couldn’t help but remember the warning Veronica had given her. She nodded lightly.

“Yes. Those monsters had no intelligence and there were many of them, but they didn’t seem to be able to leave the passage. By the way, why did the Holy Tree’s maidens disappear? For such an important role to just vanish, without even a single record left behind, is far too strange.”

Yelido was silent for a moment.

“…Was it Veronica who told you this?”

“Mhm.”

A sound like a laugh came from Yelido’s nose.

“For her to talk to you about these things… What did you do to her, Dofi? Has your relationship gotten better?”

“I didn’t do anything. I just took Anastasia to see her, and she suddenly apologized to me.”

“It seems that after a hundred years, she’s finally starting to have a change of heart…”

Veronica was definitely not having a change of heart. When she had heard the news about Clark, her expression, so emotional she was close to tears, was enough to show that her heart was still with him.

However, Fia did not tell Yelido this. On the one hand, she had said she would turn a blind eye, not helping Clark but not hindering him either. On the other hand, she felt that Veronica’s existence was Yelido’s stain. If she could leave the Royal Castle sooner, her Father could also move on from the shackles of the past sooner. Yelido was excellent in every aspect, but when it came to Veronica, his actions were utterly terrible. Her departure would be a release for both of them.

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Of course, this was just Fia’s personal thought. There were many, many problems with actually implementing it. For example, with Yelido’s personality, the moment he discovered Veronica had been taken away, he would surely fly into a rage and order the army to conduct a carpet search for her. Fia didn’t think Clark could evade the pursuit. Therefore, it was possible that only with Veronica’s death could Yelido move on from the past.

That being said, she didn’t want to get involved in the affairs of the previous generation. It was too complicated and left her at a loss. From an observer’s standpoint, she felt she should let Veronica and Clark leave, and let Yelido be with the consorts who loved him. However, from the perspective of a doted-on daughter, Fia felt that Veronica’s departure would likely make the story even more tragic, causing both sides to fight to the death, a lose-lose situation for everyone. It was a headache.

Yelido, unaware of her inner conflict, explained cheerfully.

“After several thousand years, the disappearance of the maidens has long since become a mystery. However, over the years, there have been some speculations in the royal family. It is very likely that the maiden at that time committed an unforgivable error like a coup, which is why she was uprooted by the royal family of that era. It is also possible that the royals at that time felt the maiden was in the way, hindering the implementation of their decrees, so they found an excuse to get rid of her. Unfortunately, our elf race has changed dynasties too many times. Those ancient texts have long since disappeared, and the matter can no longer be investigated.”

“In terms of results, the disappearance of the maiden is not necessarily a bad thing. Silvar became the most powerful nation in the northern continent even without one. If an order needs to be approved by two kings before it can be implemented, even a good thing can be done poorly.”

Fia had heard Anastasia explain about the Holy Tree’s maiden before. Thousands of years ago, the decrees issued by the Elf King had to be approved by the maiden before they could be implemented. The maiden’s status was no lower than the king’s. In that case, it was not an incomprehensible act for the king of that time to find an excuse to eliminate her and destroy the evidence.

Although doing so would cause the elf race to lose its connection with their god, with the power over ten thousand people right before them, as long as a person had selfish desires, it would be difficult to resist such a temptation.

Yelido continued in a deep voice.

“From this perspective, we should be grateful to the former kings who destroyed the maidens thousands of years ago. If not for them, the elf race might not be where it is today.”

“Former kings?”

Shouldn’t it be ancestors?

Fia’s question made Yelido frown.

“Have you forgotten even this, Dofi? Only the royal family can receive the blessing of the Holy Tree. So the dynastic changes of the elf race have, for the most part, only occurred among those with the royal bloodline. In history, only a few dynasties have had kings without it. In other words, we are of the same family as the king who destroyed the maidens thousands of years ago, and even the Elf Saint from ten thousand years ago. The Alexia family is an ancient family with a history of ten thousand years.”

So there was such a past.

“Then is the withering of the Holy Tree related to the maiden? The two happened at the same time, right?”

“Do you think there is a connection, Dofi?”

“I do.”

For example, the maiden fled to the Holy Tree while being hunted down, and before dying, cursed the royal family that the tree would surely wither. A common story.

“Then let’s assume there is. These are all things that cannot be verified. Besides, even if there is a connection, you can now make the tree bud again. You will become a more outstanding king than me.”

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I have no intention of becoming king at all.

Although she thought this, Fia did not say it out loud. Yelido’s appearance was similar to that of a human man in his thirties, which was considered young among elves. By the time she took the throne, it would probably be several hundred years later. She had a long time left.

Before long, Fia and Yelido arrived at the base of the Holy Tree. Just as before, she could see the petite figure of Mizuki in her shrine maiden’s attire from a distance. Although they were far apart, she could still hear the crisp sound of her shaking her kagura bell.

From a distance, Mizuki had already become one with her surroundings. Even the flow of the wind changed with her dance. Faintly, Fia could even see a layer of barely perceptible golden light flowing on her body, somewhat like Claire, whose skin emitted a faint silver glow under the moonlight. Except the light Mizuki emitted was a brilliant gold.

As if not wanting to disturb her, Yelido stopped when he was about ten meters away. He asked Fia in a low voice.

“Have you tried to restore the Holy Tree Dance, Dofi?”

“The old me… did the princess not do it?”

“Perhaps. But I have never seen it.”

His answer made Fia pause for a moment. With the princess’s cold personality, it was indeed difficult to imagine her dancing in front of others. No, to be precise, Fia couldn’t even imagine the princess dancing at all. Even if it were her, she would feel very embarrassed and would at most only try it secretly where no one was around.

Fia answered honestly.

“No.”

“…The royal family’s affinity with the Holy Tree is far superior to others. You can try it if you’re interested. Your mother, Veronica, had a very excellent affinity, but for some reason, she was unwilling to continue after just a few attempts.”

That was because the Holy Tree Dance gave Veronica a very bad feeling.

Mizuki’s progress in restoring the dance was much faster than Fia had imagined. Although Fia didn’t know the exact movements, she could judge her results from the sacred aura around her.

The last time she had seen her, Mizuki had only seemed to be one with her surroundings, the flowers and grass swaying with her. But now, she was like a divine messenger, commanding the plants in her environment to sway with the shaking of her kagura bell. It seemed that even the glow of the Holy Tree pulsed with her dance. The sacred aura around her was so thick it was hard to ignore, even materializing into a golden light.

Normally, this should have made Fia feel excited and joyful. However, now she only felt a hint of the bizarre. Mizuki’s sacred aura had indeed grown much stronger, but in turn, that inhuman feeling had also become more obvious. If Fia had to describe it specifically, she would feel that the current Mizuki had changed into a different person.

It was just like the mysterious and cold eyes she saw every time Mizuki finished her dance, which made one feel uncomfortable.

After observing for a while longer, Yelido abruptly took a step forward.

“Dofi, get behind me.”

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“?”

Before Fia could ask why, Mizuki’s dance gradually slowed down. As the dance came to a complete stop, she lowered the kagura bell in her hand and opened her emotionless, ice-blue eyes, which were as cold as a machine’s, her gaze piercing straight at Yelido.

Although this was not the first time she had seen it, a strong sense of foreboding rose in Fia’s heart. She could see something like hostility and hatred in those ice-blue eyes. And because she had just finished the dance, she could feel that everything in the surrounding environment was rejecting her and Yelido. The wind blowing over the hillside became frenzied, making the few leaves on the Holy Tree rustle loudly.

「Alexia—」

A language she couldn’t understand.

The whisper was as if from hell, yet the movements were exceptionally stiff. Mizuki, her ice-blue eyes now rendered golden, took a step towards Yelido. Suddenly, the rustling of the leaves grew louder. Fia could even feel a strong wind coming towards her with her approach, causing her long black hair to fly backwards.

“Something’s wrong with her.”

“I know.”

As if she hadn’t heard their conversation, Mizuki continued to walk towards them.

「Those who blaspheme shall pay the price!」

With that, she suddenly threw the kagura bell in her hand at Yelido. However, she herself was only at the Second Rank. Even if she threw it with all her might, it had no offensive power. Yelido just raised his hand and firmly caught it. Then, Mizuki, like a kite with a broken string, went limp and collapsed.

“Mizuki!”

Ten meters was not a long distance. Fia first used [Telekinesis] to prevent her from falling, then took a step and was by her side, supporting her upper body with both hands. At this moment, she was as limp as if she had a high fever, and her body was burning hot. However, she had not lost consciousness. In just a few seconds, she winced and opened her drowsy eyes.

“Hiss… My head hurts. Eh? Fia? What are you doing here? Y-you, why are you holding me?!”

“Be quiet. You almost fainted just now.”

Fia actually wanted to use words like “possessed” or “attached,” but she felt it would scare Mizuki, so she changed her words.

“You’ve overworked yourself.” Unlike his easygoing manner with Fia, Yelido put on his usual stern and authoritative look. He handed the kagura bell in his hand back to Mizuki. “You go back and rest. You don’t have to come today.”

“Your Majesty is here too?!”

Mizuki clearly did not remember what had just happened. She had a panicked and uneasy expression and tried to struggle out of Fia’s embrace. However, as she had no strength, she could only squirm a little before having to give up, her hands twisting together in awkwardness, her cheeks blushing shyly.

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“Dofi, you take Mizuki back to the Royal Castle. After you’ve sent her back, come and find me here.”

“Mhm.”

Although she didn’t know why he wasn’t pursuing the matter, judging by his meaning, he probably wanted to explain after Mizuki had left. Fia just gave Mizuki a “be quiet” look and then helped her walk away from the Holy Tree step by step.

It wasn’t until they had walked some distance away that the weak, sweat-drenched Mizuki dared to turn her head to look at Fia’s face. More than Yelido’s sudden visit, she was more concerned about him having seen her and Fia “hugging.”

“Fia, for your father to see us like that… is it alright? And when were you holding me? I don’t have any impression at all. We’re mother and daughter…”

“Hah, Father won’t mind. You can rest assured.” If she didn’t think Mizuki would struggle randomly, Fia would have wanted to use [Telekinesis] to lift her and carry her away. Her steps were simply too slow. “And your engagement with my Father has already been annulled. Everyone will know the news tomorrow.”

“Annulled? But didn’t His Majesty just come back?”

As if she had remembered something, Mizuki was suddenly stunned.

“Just now, His Majesty said I don’t have to go to the Holy Tree… was I fired? I was clearly working very hard to restore the dance…”

“I know you’ve been working hard,” if she hadn’t, she wouldn’t have had that possessed-like performance. Fia comforted her helplessly. “Father had no feelings for you to begin with, so when I proposed to annul the engagement, he agreed very easily. In the future, he will create a special position of maiden for you. You can do your own thing with peace of mind from now on.”

“Is that so…” Mizuki finally breathed a sigh of relief, but a hint of regret soon appeared in her ice-blue eyes. “I won’t be able to hear little Fia call me ‘Mother’ anymore. To have such a capable and considerate daughter after all this time…”

Why are you so obsessed with me calling you ‘Mother’? You look about the same age as me.

Fia couldn’t help but pat her head.

“Alright, alright, Mother Mizuki, Mother Mizuki. Hurry back and rest. By the way, if you can, I’d like to ask you to help me sort out the Holy Tree Dance. I also want to know what that feels like.”

“You want to try the dance too, Fia? Mmm… indeed, it is also necessary for the royal family to learn it. Rest assured, leave it to me.”

I’m not learning it because I’m a royal.

She would tell Mizuki what had happened to her after she had recovered. In any case, it was very likely that the dance was no longer suitable for her to continue, at least not alone.

Her heart finally settled, Fia smiled and nodded.

“Mhm. I’ll be counting on you then.”