Chapter 116 - Don't say such things again
‘How long has it been since I came here?’
Vague memories flooded back, giving her a sense of having lived a lifetime ago.
Ever since she learned that her mother was no longer alive and that she would eventually succeed to the throne of the Camella Kingdom, the immense grief and responsibility had forced her to devote all her time to self-improvement and handling state affairs.
Coupled with the fact that Winnie had become increasingly extreme, his thoughts became more and more inexplicable and unreasonable, while she was overwhelmed with all sorts of tedious official duties, it was understood that the gap between her and Winnie's thoughts broadened, their mutual understanding diminished, and their distance grew.
To someone who had long embraced the responsibilities of a princess, living a life of constant busyness and maturity, Winnie’s antics were not only baffling but also brought a stream of unforeseen “surprises,” each adding to her burdens and leaving her to deal with the aftermath.
Yet, even so, Mirexia at that time had not given up on Winnie. Even when rumors spread throughout the capital of Camella, she still wanted to help her childhood friend.
As a childhood friend, Mirexia had done everything she could for the once extreme, crazy, and insecure Winnie. She was undoubtedly the happiest person that Winnie could now reform.
Mirexia skillfully arrived on the second floor and reached the end of the second-floor corridor.
She remembered which room was Winnie's, so she raised her hand and knocked on the door.
“Winnie... Vanessa, I'm here.” Mirexia cleared her throat, organized her thoughts, and gently leaned against the door, whispering, “It's just me.”
After a moment, there was movement inside, and the sound of deliberate light footsteps.
“Mirexia?” a familiar, pleasant, and melodious voice, like that of a lark, came from within, filled with confusion and uncertainty.
“You can come out now. Don't worry, Dell has already left,” Mirexia said.
“Okay.” Vanessa inside the room opened the locked door without any suspicion.
Mirexia's eyes were immediately filled with a charming spring scene, causing her consciousness to falter for a moment before she recovered.
“Where’s Dell?” Vanessa asked casually, glancing at Mirexia outside the room.
“I told him you activated the signal scroll last night and arranged for me to go to the palace, and asked him to go to the palace too. The palace is responsible for arranging his food and lodging. I also told him that you have some secrets that are inconvenient for more people to know, so he didn't ask any further questions.”
"Is that so? Thank you, Mirexia." Vanessa smiled brightly and charmingly. “As expected, I knew that asking you would be no problem. After all, my cute childhood friend is the most reliable~”
“...” Mirexia moved to the side, remaining silent, her expression unchanged and unmoved.
But in reality.
'Virtue + 100.'
'Current Virtue: 6234.'
Pfft pfft.
Seeing this, Vanessa smiled without saying a word.
“So, how much longer until you can change back?” Mirexia continued to ask.
“As for that, I changed in my dream last night, so I should be able to change back tonight,” Vanessa pondered.
“How about you come to the palace with me now?” Mirexia suggested. “I told Dell that you were at the palace, so you can return to him then. Otherwise, he won't see you at the palace after a day.”
“I can, but…” Vanessa fiddled with the hem of her skirt. “I can't go out on the street like this, can I?”
“After all, when Erunes appeared last time, the Carillian's students who witnessed it all returned. If they see me...” At least let me change into a completely different style of clothing.
“It's okay, I brought this.” As she spoke, Mirexia took out a bottle of alchemical potion she had prepared.
"What is this potion? An invisibility potion?" Vanessa recognized the potion.
“Yes, drink it, and others won't be able to see you, and you can go to the palace with me,” Mirexia said calmly.
This potion was not cheap; it could be described as 'precious.' Any potion involving invisibility was extremely difficult to refine.
However, Vanessa was not coy and gracefully accepted Mirexia's potion.
“Thank you, Mirexia. I've troubled you again this time,” Vanessa smiled sweetly at Mirexia. Although the other party had not used holy light, Mirexia felt as if her fatigue from work had been swept away.
“It's nothing.”
Vanessa drank the invisibility potion Mirexia gave her, and soon, her figure disappeared from Mirexia's sight.
“Is this okay?”
“Yes, just follow me. However, it might be a bit troublesome when we enter the palace later,” Mirexia said.
“Okay.” Vanessa didn't ask what the trouble was; she probably guessed.
After all, it wasn't easy to enter the palace. Although invisibility potions were precious, if one invisibility potion could allow free entry and exit to the palace of Camella, then the Wrathful Dragon Knights would be out of business. Wouldn't it be the same to replace them with a group of ordinary mercenaries?
The two left the courtyard and walked to the streets of the capital.
The invisibility potion Mirexia gave was likely not ordinary. Its duration was very ample. Vanessa had walked for so long without any signs of it about to expire, and it was still effective when they reached the palace gates.
As they arrived at the dragon-shaped archway of the palace, the two gate guards, who were Wrathful Dragon Knights, instinctively used [Dragon Eyes] when they saw someone approaching. They realized it was Mirexia and noticed something unusual behind her from a distance, feeling that something invisible was following. Since its shape was concealed, they could only vaguely sense that something was there, but they couldn't even discern its shape.
The two Wrathful Dragon Knights immediately became vigilant.
“Greetings, Your Highness the Princess. Your Highness, please allow us...”
“No need. This is all permitted by my father and me,” Mirexia said first, before the two could speak, cutting them off.
“This??” The two Wrathful Dragon Knights were immediately stunned.
They had the right to inspect anyone entering the palace, but they naturally couldn't inspect royal family members. Wouldn't that be going against the natural order?
They thought someone dared to target the princess in the capital of Camella, but they didn't expect that the princess seemed to know about it and told them not to mind, to pretend they didn't see it?
These two Wrathful Dragon Knights were also quite experienced. As soon as Mirexia spoke, they understood her unspoken meaning.
But what was going on? What was the princess up to? Why was she bringing someone who used an invisibility method back to the palace? If she was the princess's friend, why not just follow the princess to the palace normally?
Wait, could it be?!
A shocking thought suddenly arose in the minds of the two Wrathful Dragon Knights.
As people from the noble class, they understand some things about the noble circles.
For example, throughout history, there had been instances of princesses in their first bloom of love bringing their lovers to their boudoirs. Such matters were not glorious, and coupled with the fact that the princess's lover's status was too low compared to the royal family, making him unacceptable to the royal family, they had to resort to such methods.
Although this was not common, it could not be said to be very rare. In fact, this not only happened to princesses but also to many young ladies from wealthy families.
However, they couldn't be sure. Regardless of the truth, Princess Mirexia certainly wouldn't want others to know about this matter, so the two Wrathful Dragon Knights immediately dared not ask further questions.
It's always good for people to have less curiosity. Since this was the princess's idea, they would just pretend not to see anything, especially since the princess said it had been approved by His Majesty the King.
The princess had always been one not to abuse her father's name.
Therefore, even if things were exactly as they thought, it was a consensual relationship between two people, and it even had the king's permission. Why should they get involved?
However, they wondered which lucky young man had won the princess's favor.
In fact, they could understand it. After all, Mirexia was so busy with work that if she kept suppressing it, she would usually eventually break. She definitely needed to find some way to relieve her stress.
Thus, the two Wrathful Dragon Knights said nothing more, adopting the posture of welcoming the princess, pretending to have seen nothing and that nothing had happened, and continued their guard duty.
Mirexia entered the palace, and Vanessa followed her footsteps.
Then, along the way, they encountered another unexpected person.
That person was the son of the commander of the Wrathful Dragon Knights, Charon.
Why him again?
Vanessa slightly closed her eyes, unable to bear to look.
However, with his strength, even if he activated [Dragon Eyes], he probably wouldn't be able to detect her.
Mirexia also noticed Charon but pretended not to notice and continued to lead the way.
Both Vanessa and Mirexia did not want to talk to Charon at this moment.
However, fate was not on their side. Charon, who couldn't read people's expressions, never chose the right time. Upon seeing Mirexia, he immediately called out to her.
Vanessa sighed softly and shook her head slightly.
Truly, there was a reason for being disliked, failing in the end, and ultimately being cast aside.
In the original work, Charon couldn't compete with Aesphyra, the master flirt. But even without Aesphyra, could Charon have succeeded?
Putting aside any prejudice, Vanessa thought it was still uncertain.
This Mr. Charon was too bad at reading people's expressions.
After all, even the maids of wealthy families knew the principle of looking at the sky when going out and looking at faces when entering a room. As the son of the commander of the Wrathful Dragon Knights, he completely failed to understand this principle.
He had no idea that Mirexia, who was in a hurry, had no desire to talk to him at all.
By forcing himself upon her like this, wasn't he counterproductively increasing her favorability?
Vanessa suddenly wondered if she had seemed like this to others in the past.
“Greetings, Princess Mirexia.” Charon performed a respectful knight's salute to Mirexia.
“Lord Charon, there's no need for such formality.” Since the other party had approached her to salute, Mirexia found it difficult to ignore him.
“May I ask if there is something, Lord Charon?” Mirexia asked, looking at Charon calmly.
“Your Highness, well, recently, my strength and swordsmanship have made new progress.” Seeing Mirexia ask him, Charon straightened his voice and said nervously.
Pfft pfft.
Hearing Charon's extremely awkward and forced remark, Vanessa beside him covered her lips, almost unable to suppress her laughter.
Admittedly, Charon's conversational skills were too low-level. His opening alone gave a jarring impression.
With this level, it was no wonder he was so badly beaten by Aesphyra. How could he compare to Aesphyra, that flirtatious queen?
Not only that, but he was also completely unable to read people's expressions. Anyone who understands a little bit of observation would understand that Mirexia currently had no desire to talk to him at length.
To insist on talking about this topic at this point was truly speechless.
“Yes, I understand,” Mirexia nodded.
Huh? That's it?
Charon was a little confused. In the past, Mirexia would have praised him with a few words. Why was she acting so indifferent now?
“Well, if you have time, I'd like to ask for your guidance, Your Highness...”
“Okay, I understand. Lord Charon, I'm in a hurry now. Do you have any more important questions?” Mirexia had said this much, and anyone who understood would know what she meant.
"Ah, yes! I have something very important!" Charon said quickly.
“What is it?” Mirexia asked.
“Well, Your Highness, last night, I discovered that young master Winnie was lurking around the palace again, and even near the sleeping quarters. I suspect that brat hasn't changed his ways and is still trying to harass you. For your peace and quiet, why not prohibit that brat from entering the palace from now on?” Charon paused, finally revealing his true intentions.
Little did he know that the “brat” he was talking about was standing right next to him, gracefully poised, with a slight curve to her lips, her peach-blossom eyes filled with playful amusement as she watched him, smiling without a word.
“Lord Charon, this doesn't seem like something you should be concerned about.” When this topic was brought up, Mirexia's previous tone was merely indifferent, but now it was tinged with impatience.
“I?...” Charon was stunned. He couldn't understand what had happened this semester. If it were in the past, Mirexia would never have spoken to him in this tone.
“Your Highness, I'm just concerned about you...”
“Last night, it was I, along with my father, who had Winnie go to the sleeping quarters. Do you have any high opinions on this, Lord Charon?” Mirexia's gaze had turned very cold.
“But, Your Highness, you've always hated that uneducated brat...”
“Lord Charon, do I need to remind you that what you are saying now is rude?” Mirexia's gaze had completely chilled. Being able to say this to her on a formal occasion proves that her mood had hit rock bottom, and so had her patience.
“I… I never said I hated Winnie.” Mirexia looked away. If Vanessa were not present, she might have said this more easily. But thinking that Vanessa was present and had heard the entire conversation made her feel a rush of heat.
“Lord Charon, please do not presume to guess other people's thoughts. Please do not say such things anymore, otherwise, I may not know how to communicate with you in the future.” The implication of Mirexia's words was that if you say such things again, I will never speak another word to you.
Charon could only watch Mirexia turn and leave with a stiff expression, not even giving him a chance to say goodbye.