Volume 5, Chapter 7 – The Beginning of Contradictions

Yisi had met the speaker once before. It was the guard named Boris, who had previously protected Andrea during her activities in the human world. His appearance was similar to that of a human male between thirty and forty years old. His nearly two-meter-tall frame was covered in metal armor, and his neat, short brown hair and the resolute lines of his face all declared to those around him that this was a strict swordsman who abided by the rules.

Following closely behind Boris, squad after squad of royal guards armed with weapons entered in single file, completely surrounding the entire courtyard.

“Release the Queen!”

Standing about ten meters away, Boris’s sharp, hawk-like gaze was fixed on Yisi as he drew the standard-issue longsword from his waist.

If he hadn’t seen the assassins lying on the grass, Boris probably would have attacked directly without a word. Yisi had this premonition. Right now, Boris was merely scrutinizing her. Although his gaze held hostility, it was filled with more suspicion than anything else.

As Boris commanded, Yisi released Andrea, who had been under her protection. The latter glanced around, and upon seeing Boris, her tense expression immediately relaxed. It reminded Yisi of a child at a parent-teacher conference spotting their parents.

Andrea trusted Boris deeply.

“Boris!”

“Your Majesty.”

Protecting the approaching Andrea, Boris had his soldiers form a line between himself and Yisi while he bent down to ask with concern.

“Your Majesty, are you unharmed?”

“I’m fine.” Andrea pointed at Yisi. “Yisi protected me.”

Boris’s gaze shifted to Yisi.

“Yisi?”

Just as Yisi was about to explain the course of events, another man she had seen before appeared before her—the gentle-faced magic chanter with short blue hair and glasses. If Yisi remembered correctly, the young man’s name was Augustin Riel, and he had just been selected as a Court Magic Chanter.

Augustin first gave Yisi a gentle smile, then turned to Boris.

“Lord Boris, some things are not suitable to be discussed outside. How about we first take Her Majesty to a safe place?”

“Mm. Your Majesty, please move to the side hall. I will investigate this incident thoroughly.”

“Wait, bring Yisi too. She’s the one who protected me.”

“Yes, but I must ask Your Majesty to inform me of the course of events.”

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Escorted by six guards all over Level 30, Yisi and Andrea moved to a large, white hall with an area of over two hundred square meters. Boris and Augustin accompanied them. However, as she had not gained their trust at all, it was less like she was accompanying them and more like she was being watched. Even a simple yawn would cause the escorting soldiers’ expressions to tense up.

Subsequently, Andrea stood on a high platform in the hall and explained the course of events to Boris below, starting from the moment she woke up to the details of her conversation with Yisi. She even brought up the fact that she had met Yisi before and had her blood drawn by her.

As Andrea explained, Boris’s expression was like a rollercoaster, moving from initial tension, to relief, to gratitude, and finally to an indescribably complex look.

“That is the entire course of events. Yisi is here to help me, not an assassin. Boris, you are not to be rude to Yisi. She is my friend.”

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Her words carried a tone of command. The instructed Boris bowed his head slightly.

“Yes, Your Majesty. Thank you, Lady Yisi, for your timely assistance. If you had not been present, it is hard to imagine how the situation would have developed. Please allow me to express my gratitude.”

The latter half of the sentence was spoken facing Yisi. Not only were his words filled with sincerity, but his body was also bent at a 90-degree angle in a very solemn thanks.

“I also wish to express my gratitude to Miss Yisi for protecting Her Majesty.”

Augustin also thanked Yisi, along with the six guards.

It would probably be troublesome if she didn’t accept this gratitude, so Yisi could only accept with a wry smile.

“I was just passing by coincidentally. I had originally planned to come see Andrea tomorrow during the day, but I saw a squad of soldiers acting strangely on the way, so I paid special attention. I didn’t expect them to actually be assassins. I’m just glad I could help.”

Jumping down from the high platform, Andrea came to stand before Yisi, her golden eyes filled with happiness.

“Not at all. Yisi is a great hero. If we announce this at tomorrow’s noble council, the nobles will definitely demand that you be decorated. So there’s no need for you to be so modest.”

“But…” A look of hesitation flashed across Boris’s resolute face. “Lady Yisi, why did you enter Her Majesty’s bedchambers? My men have been guarding the entrance to the bedchambers the entire time. Not even a fly could get through.”

“Well…”

I just climbed over the high wall using my physical abilities.

Although it was the truth, Yisi found it difficult to say. There were magical traps on the high wall. Not to mention anyone who touched it, even a passing bird would be blocked. If it were known that she had easily climbed over the wall, her motives would probably be questioned. After all, an ordinary person couldn’t possibly scale the high wall so easily without prior preparation.

As Yisi hesitated, Andrea inserted herself between her and Boris.

“Boris, I already told you, Yisi is my friend. Haven’t you always wished for me to make friends? Now that I finally have, you question her endlessly. Get out. I haven’t even held you accountable for your failure to protect me yet.”

“Your Majesty, this is not me being nosy. It is just that the timing is too coincidental, making one have to be suspicious. It is Lady Yisi’s first day in the Royal Castle, so why would she come straight to your bedchambers? Furthermore, to fight against multiple assassins alone under those circumstances, not only did she eliminate them all before we arrived, but she also came out completely unharmed.

Even I would find it difficult to achieve such a near-perfect result in such a short time. And besides, she committed the great disrespect of drinking your blood. Even if it was because of a blood frenzy at the time, it cannot—”

“Get out! If Yisi wanted to kill me, none of us could have escaped back in Celtic City. You should be well aware of that, right? I don’t want to hear you say these things anymore. With the time you’re spending questioning Yisi, you’d be better off using it to interrogate those assassins.”

There was already anger in Andrea’s voice. After hesitating for a moment, Boris could only nod in agreement and lead the six guards out of the hall.

“Since Her Majesty is safe and sound, I shall go and attend to my own affairs as well.”

“Ah, you are permitted.”

Augustin left as well, leaving only Yisi and Andrea in the empty hall.

As if a heavy burden had been lifted, Andrea let out a long sigh. She then reached out to touch Yisi’s arm with a worried expression, carefully checking her wound.

“Honestly, Boris doesn’t know how to be flexible at all… Lady Yisi, are you alright? There’s a bloodstain on your shoulder, but you don’t seem to have noticed.”

“It must be the assassin’s blood.”

The wound had long since healed itself. She had forgotten about her own powerful regenerative abilities.

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Looks like I’ll have to suppress my healing ability next time, otherwise, I’ll face the same kind of suspicion as Boris’s.

Thinking about it carefully, Boris’s suspicions were not without reason. A person visiting the Royal Castle for the first time just happens to encounter assassins, and just happens to save the Queen from them, and even annihilates the enemy without a single scratch. If she were in Boris’s position, she would definitely suspect that she was in cahoots with the assassins, and might even think that the assassins were hired by her as a means to get close to the Queen—that the two parties were putting on a show.

To be honest, Yisi herself felt it was very suspicious. Boris had already shown great restraint by not saying it out loud just now.

Ignoring Yisi’s words, Andrea carefully lifted the torn fabric of Yisi’s clothes and examined her arm. As if still worried, she began to chant an incantation, and a layer of pale red magical light covered Yisi’s arm.

Since she didn’t feel anything, Yisi didn’t know what kind of magic Andrea had used. But seeing Andrea’s slightly relaxed expression, Yisi guessed that she had probably used a diagnostic or healing-type magic.

“Phew… I’m glad you’re not hurt, otherwise I wouldn’t know what kind of face to show you, Lady Yisi.” A bright expression appeared on Andrea’s face, her pink pigtails looking particularly striking at this moment. “Thank you for saving me.”

“I only did what I should have. As a member of the Blood Clan, it is my honor to be of service to Her Majesty the Queen.”

Although it was an impeccable answer, Andrea became displeased.

“Could I ask you not to use a title like ‘Her Majesty the Queen,’ Lady Yisi? After… after all, you pounced on me directly at the very beginning and did that thing to me…”

That thing probably referred to drinking her blood, but the expression was so ambiguous that Yisi had to think for a moment to understand.

“If you say things like that so casually, the guards will put out a warrant for my arrest.”

“Then I’ll just give you a status that allows you to say such things, Lady Yisi.”

What kind of status would allow one to be disrespectful to the Queen?

Yisi couldn’t help but feel a bead of sweat on her forehead. Although she wasn’t afraid of being wanted, it was naturally better to have one less trouble.

As she spoke, Andrea walked toward the entrance of the hall, and Yisi followed.

“Let me say this first: back in Celtic City, I didn’t know Her Majesty’s identity, which is why I did something so disrespectful.”

“No, I didn’t mind. In fact, I was relieved that you didn’t become my thrall after drinking my blood. Besides, you can just call me Andrea, Lady Yisi. No one my age has ever treated me like a normal person. You’re the first, so I’m very happy.”

For some reason, when Andrea said this, her face was not happy or relaxed, but rather a pitiful expression filled with a deep sorrow.

Yisi had originally thought it was because everyone around Andrea used honorifics with her that she was interested in Yisi’s disrespectful behavior. But it seemed that was not the case. There must be a hidden story here that she didn’t know.

Yisi couldn’t help but recall how Andrea had been when she stole her necklace. Although Andrea had resisted, it wasn’t very fierce. The moment she took it, there was even an indescribable emotion in Andrea’s eyes. Looking back now, it was as if she felt a sense of relief.

“I have a question.”

“Please ask, Lady Yisi.”

“Why do you use an honorific like ‘Lady’ for me, Andrea?”

It had been normal at first, but after Boris left, Andrea had started using an honorific for her. At first, she could tolerate it, but now it had reached a point where she had to point it out.

As if surprised, Andrea’s mouth fell slightly open.

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“Does it displease you?”

“It’s not to the extent of being displeased. Rather, it has nothing to do with being pleased or not. It’s just that as the Queen of the Blood Clan, even if you consider me a friend, you don’t need to use an honorific like ‘Lady’.”

Besides, Yisi still felt that this friendship of hers was baffling, the progress so rapid that it felt strange.

“Is that so… Then how should I address you, Lady Yisi?”

“Just call me Yisi. Where are you going next, Andrea?”

“Barbara should still be in the garden. I’m going to find Barbara.”

“Barbara?”

“Ah, I forgot to tell you, Yis—… I forgot to tell you, Yisi, Barbara is the pet you gave me.”

The Hydra that I tied in a living knot and threw into the bushes?

She wondered what Andrea would think when she saw it.

Yisi cleared her throat guiltily. “Ahem, I still have my own things to do, so I’ll be leaving now. I’ll come and see you again later, Andrea.”

“Eh? You’re leaving already? But we just met. I was hoping to prepare a tea party…” Andrea looked up at Yisi with a very expectant gaze, her wings fluttering energetically.

Yisi’s mental resistance -10.

Mmm… I can’t let Camilla worry too much.

“It’s already very late toda—” For the Blood Clan, a new day had just begun. Yisi quickly corrected herself. “My companions are waiting for me to return. I’ll come see you again tomorrow, Andrea. Although I’m of the Blood Clan, because I’ve lived in the human world for a long time, my habits are still to be active during the day and sleep at night.”

Along with the pink strands of hair sticking up on her head, Andrea’s wings drooped.

“…Alright. I will await your visit tomorrow morning, Lady Yisi.”

She still hasn’t broken the habit of using honorifics.

Yisi felt a bit of a headache coming on.

“No, no, that would be like pulling an all-nighter for you, Andrea. I’ll come and see you with my companions during the noble council tomorrow night, so you should rest well during the day.”

The drooping wings spread out energetically again, and the night-colored formal dress, tied with many ribbons, fluttered along with them.

“Okay! I will prepare a tea party to welcome you, Lady Yisi!”

“‘Lady’ is unnecessary. Also, what about the assassins? It’s not my place to interfere, but if word gets out that the Queen was attacked by assassins, it should cause a commotion in the Royal Castle.”

Yisi’s words brought a faint sorrow back to Andrea’s face.

“I will have someone suppress the news. If the public finds out that I was attacked by assassins, everyone will surely point the finger at the rebel army. Then the calls for war will grow louder and louder…”

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Halfway through her sentence, Andrea stopped talking, biting her lip tightly, her shoulders trembling slightly.

Could it be that Andrea doesn’t want to annihilate the rebel army?

Although a question arose in her mind, another of Yisi’s inner questions was resolved. Andrea’s previous behavior had always made her think she was a naive and simple-minded person. Now it seemed that her head was actually working very well, and she thought about things a lot.

But this wasn’t surprising. Seeing that vibrant Royal Capital should have been enough to know just how wise the Queen who implemented the new policies was.

It’s just that Yisi still felt an indescribable contradiction.

There were probably many hidden circumstances here.

“Then I’ll be heading back now, okay? The life of a queen must be hard. Do your best, Andrea.”

“Well, thank you for your blessing, Lady Yisi. May the protection of the Royal Ancestor be with you always.”

Waving at Yisi, Andrea watched her leave.

Soon, Yisi returned to the first courtyard, where Camilla and Edith were waiting.

Edith did not look very happy, her brows slightly furrowed.

“Where did you go? I’ve been waiting here for you for at least an hour.”

“Sorry, sorry. I got held up by something. Did you get to see the Queen, Pepe?”

How could she have? I was with Andrea the whole time. The only reason she asked was because Andrea said not to let the matter of the assassins get out.

Edith pouted, her wings flapping wide with dissatisfaction.

“No. Her Majesty the Queen refused all audiences today. She even refused me, the representative of the Pescia Territory. What on earth is the Queen doing?”

Yisi patted Edith’s shoulder.

“There, there. Let’s go back for now. It’s no use staying here any longer. We’ll try again tomorrow night during the noble council.”

“Hmph. You seem pretty relaxed about it.”

In contrast to Edith, Camilla simply moved closer to Yisi, sniffed lightly, and asked with a smile.

“Onee-sama, did you interact with another noble lady? Although you changed your clothes, there’s still an unfamiliar fragrance on you.”

“Er… I just talked with someone for a bit longer, nothing special happened. Let’s just hurry back, hurry back.”

Yisi pushed Camilla and Edith, preparing to leave the courtyard. But she felt the sensation of being watched from behind. Yisi subconsciously looked back, toward a spire in the castle—the young man named Augustin was smiling and waving at her.

Yisi returned the same smile, then left the Royal Castle and boarded the carriage with Camilla and Edith.

It’s probably best to bring my companions to the Royal Castle less often in the future.