Volume 9, Chapter 16 – The Empire’s Eldest Princess

“Ailis?”

A name that was very familiar, yet she couldn’t immediately recall where she had heard it.

Seeing the thoughtful frown on Yisi’s face, the look of hope on Gore’s face instantly intensified, even revealing an irrepressible joy. He looked as if he was about to jump up from the sofa.

“Y-You know this name?”

“Just a moment, let me think where I’ve seen it…”

He fell silent instantly, but Gore’s restless fidgeting betrayed his inner agitation. If anyone familiar with Gore were to see this scene, their jaw would surely drop to the floor. No one had ever seen Gore show such an uncalm side after becoming a general.

She had indeed seen this name before. It was a very distant, almost forgotten memory.

That name was carved on a nearly-rotted wooden plaque, and that plaque was lying in her storage. Yisi rummaged through her storage for a moment and then placed the item in front of Gore.

On the wooden plaque, the name “Ailis” was carved in the language of the Hels Kingdom.

As if struck by lightning, Gore froze on the spot. His lips quivered, and his shoulders trembled. His face was a mask of disbelief, ecstasy, and distortion.

“I… I actually… I actually found her… The Eldest Princess… Your Highness, Princess Ailis… I… I always thought you had… in that disaster…”

Rеаd оո ΚαtRеαⅾіոɡСαfе

He reverently picked up the wooden plaque, his eyes glistening with turbid tears. He gently caressed the grimy grooves on its surface. It was clearly something no one would spare a second glance for if it were dropped on the street, but in Gore’s hands, it now seemed to be a treasure more precious than his own life.

Yisi did not interrupt, waiting patiently until Gore awoke from his memories of the past. This process took a full twenty minutes.

He reluctantly placed the wooden plaque, now warm from his grip, back on the table. Gore took several deep breaths, wiped the tears from the corners of his eyes with his fingers, and slowly composed himself.

“My apologies, Your Eminence the Cardinal. Please excuse my display. I lost control of my emotions for a moment. If I had been stronger back then, the Eldest Princess would not have been displaced. It’s because of my failure that…”

Feeling this would go on forever, Yisi, exasperated, changed the subject. She really didn’t know how to react to a man in his forties crying in front of her.

“I don’t know what happened, but this wasn’t your main purpose for coming, was it, General Gore? Who is this Ailis? And why do you call her the Eldest Princess?”

“Ah, yes.” Gore took a deep breath and explained in an exceptionally earnest tone, “Her Highness Ailis is the eldest daughter of the previous Emperor of the Norta Empire, her full name being Ailis Carol Gloria. She is also the elder sister of the current Emperor, His Majesty Adonis Eli Gloria. For… reasons I cannot disclose, Her Highness Ailis was lost on the continent a long time ago, her whereabouts unknown. Although we have expended great effort to find her, we have never had any results… Your Eminence the Cardinal, could you please tell me where you found this wooden plaque? I promise on behalf of the Empire that you will be handsomely rewarded!”

“Well…”

Yisi was slightly troubled.

It wasn’t that she couldn’t tell him, or that it would cause trouble if she did. The problem was that her answer would likely shatter Gore’s hopes. This plaque belonged to Mary. As a half-elf, Mary couldn’t possibly be the Eldest Princess of the Empire. Furthermore, Mary was only 15 years old, just reaching the age of adulthood in human kingdoms. If Mary were the Eldest Princess, then the current Emperor would have to be under 15, which contradicted the fact that the Emperor was already an adult of marriageable age.

Rеαԁ oո ΚatRеaԁіոɡСafе

Yisi’s hesitation made Gore’s expression turn frantic. He slammed his hands on the coffee table and shot to his feet.

“Name any condition. Your Eminence the Cardinal, you must tell me the origin of this plaque!”

“I see…”

Even if she wanted to hide it, she couldn’t. Since it concerned another nation’s princess, concealing it would only cause more problems for her. Besides, if Mary really were an Imperial Princess, she should be happy. Mary deserved to be a princess. Yisi’s mind couldn’t help but picture Mary dressed in splendid royal attire. She would surely be as lovely as a blooming flower.

Yisi turned her head to Laxy, who was standing behind her.

“Laxy, please bring Mary here.”

“Yes, My Lord.”

“Mary… I see. If she changed her name, it’s no wonder we could never find her. Mary… Mary… What a lovely name.”

No longer hiding his joy, Gore clasped his hands together in excitement, muttering Mary’s name under his breath. He paced back and forth on the carpet in anticipation, the joy overflowing from his eyes nearly filling the room.

Soon, under General Gore’s expectant gaze, Laxy led Mary into the room.

“My Lord, I have brought Mary.”

Rеаⅾ οո КatReаԁіոɡСafе

“Master, is something wrong?”

“Yes. Mary, come here.” Yisi beckoned Mary to sit beside her. She first glanced at Gore, signaling him not to speak, then placed the wooden plaque from the table in front of Mary. “This belongs to you, doesn’t it?”

When she had found Mary in Celtic City, this wooden plaque was the only possession Mary had on her, the only thing representing her identity. After Yisi had healed her and taken her in, she had given her the new name Mary to make her realize she was no longer the slave she used to be. Mary’s original name was probably Ailis. Of course, she had never asked Mary for her old name, so this was just a guess.

“M-Eh?” Mary’s purple eyes widened in disbelief. “It was with you, Master! I thought I had lost it… I looked for it for so long at the Margaret but couldn’t find it.”

“That was so you could forget your past. So, this is yours, right?”

Mary nodded eagerly, her waist-length chestnut hair bobbing up and down like waves.

“Yes. It’s been on me for as long as I can remember.”

“Can I continue to keep it safe for you?”

“Umm…” Mary hesitated for a split second, then a smile lit up her clear, untainted eyes. “Of course! What’s mine is yours, Master.”

Ah, so bright.

The sun wasn’t shining on Mary, but her smile made Yisi feel as if she was being blinded.

Rеαԁ oո КatReаdіnɡCαfе

After taking a drink and some sweets from her storage for Mary to enjoy, Yisi straightened her posture and faced Gore again. However, Gore’s expression was now complicated, and his eyes, as he looked at Mary, held only disappointment.

“What’s wrong, General Gore?”

“Purple eyes, and a half-elf… This is not Her Highness, the Eldest Princess.”

“Could it be a mistake from the start? General Gore still hasn’t told me why you thought I would know Ailis.”

“Your Eminence the Cardinal, are you certain you’re not mistaken? The one named Mary is this half-elf girl, and not the blonde human in your party?”

“Blonde human… Camilla? Camilla is my adoptive sister and the second daughter of the Pescia family of the Blood Clan. I am also an adopted daughter of the Pescia family. Although I should be the one calling her ‘older sister,’ for certain reasons, she still calls me ‘Onee-sama.’ If you believe Camilla is the Eldest Princess of the Empire, General Gore, I think you must be mistaken somewhere. Camilla has memories of her biological parents, and she was adopted by the head of the Pescia family at a very young age. She has lived her entire life in the northern part of the continent, which has no connection to the Norta Empire. Furthermore, I have not deceived you regarding the wooden plaque of Ailis. If you do not believe me or Mary, you may have someone with [Judgment] magic test us. I understand and sympathize with your situation and will cooperate with you at any time.”

Unable to let it go, General Gore stared intently at Mary. The heavy atmosphere lasted for about half a minute before Gore let out a long breath, as if expelling all the heavy air from his chest. His stern expression gradually softened.

“I understand. I can feel your sincerity, Your Eminence the Cardinal. You were not lying just now. Thank you, Your Eminence. I was blinded by my concern. I will report the matter of the wooden plaque to His Majesty. Until His Majesty makes a decision, I must ask you to please keep the plaque safe. The Empire will certainly reward you for your sincerity today.”

At this point, Gore, who had risen from the sofa, hesitated for a moment, and his voice deepened.

“In addition, please leave the Duchy of Chloe soon. Do not stay here long. This is my heartfelt advice as the General of the Empire’s northern defensive line.”