“By the way, Liana, are you sure it’s appropriate for you to be at this occasion?” Mephilia asked with some curiosity.

After all, in front of others, Liana was just an ordinary elf and was not qualified to participate.

“It’s simple. I’ll just become Sephirena’s servant,” Liana said.

“Huh?” Mephilia’s voice went up several pitches.

“It’s just a temporary identity, it’s not real,” Liana said quickly.

Mephilia stared intently at Liana and pinched her cheek. “I know. But I’m also a little curious what you would be like as a maid, Liana.”

Mephilia wanted to unlock a new kind of play with Liana.

Liana could also tell what Mephilia’s words meant. You want to do some master-servant play,1主仆play (zhǔpú play), a Japanese loan-phrase used in Chinese, meaning “master-servant play,” a common trope in roleplaying. right? In your dreams!

Liana couldn’t let her life-saving hair2救命毫毛 (jiùmìng háomáo), a reference to the classic Chinese novel Journey to the West. The Monkey King, Sun Wukong, could pluck one of his hairs and transform it into a tool or clone to escape danger. It’s a metaphor for a trump card or an ace in the hole. be used up just like that!

You want to play master-servant? Fine! Then the next time I make a mistake, I’ll use that to compensate you.

Plan complete!3计划通 (jìhuà tōng): A popular Chinese internet slang phrase, often written borrowing from the Japanese 計画通り (keikaku doori) from the manga Death Note. It means “just as planned”, often used humorously.

“Perhaps there will be a chance in the future...” Liana muttered.

Mephilia naturally didn’t know what Liana was thinking, but since Liana had said so, she would most likely get to enjoy and see Liana as a maid.

She still felt a little bit of anticipation in her heart.

Soon, Liana arrived at the location Princess Avira had given them.

It was very close to the Tree of Life, allowing for a close-up observation.

Most of the Tree of Life’s branches were already dead. It might be impolite to say so, but the tree’s life probably had less than a few years left.

It was very likely that when the Tree of Life withered and died, the demon race would be completely revived.

And the Tree of Life had participated in the previous demon wars. This time, if they lost it, things would become very troublesome.

While Liana was waiting, Princess Sephirena and Princess Avira appeared before them one after another.

After a simple nod of greeting, their gazes turned together toward the Tree of Life.

Their expressions were grave and serious. As elves, they understood the Tree of Life’s current condition even more clearly.

“I wonder how Lady Ambis is doing now. We’ve completely lost contact...” Avira’s tone was full of worry.

Although there was concern for Ambis mixed in, what was more important was that right now, only Ambis could find a way to heal the Tree of Life.

This was something that even they, the elves, could not do.

“The sapling of Mother Tree of Life is currently growing strong, but Mother’s condition is getting worse and worse.” Sephirena had also clearly explained the matter of the sapling in the Lisat Kingdom to Avira. This was their last resort.

However, more than this, Liana was currently more curious about where Princess Nimeris and Second Prince Oester were.

It was almost the appointed time. Were they not showing up?

Just as Liana was still holding this doubt, Princess Nimeris and Prince Oester walked in their direction.

And seeing them chatting and laughing, Liana frowned.

Perhaps it was her own preconception, but no matter how she looked at the two of them together, it didn’t seem like a good thing.

This was the first time Liana had seen Princess Nimeris. Her long, light-blue hair was somewhat similar to Loraviel’s, and her pair of emerald-green eyes were currently looking at Liana.

She was observing Liana carefully, as if trying to see right through her. “She is?”

“Sister Nimeris, she is the elf who has been taking care of me since I returned. Her name is Jacaranda. You can consider her my maid,” Sephirena spoke up.

“A maid? Even if she is a maid, she should step aside for now. After all...” Nimeris didn’t finish her sentence, but the meaning was clear. The matter to be discussed next was not something a little elf like her could listen to.

“She is not an ordinary elf. She has not only received the acknowledgment of Mother Tree of Life, but has even received her blessing. Therefore, her status is the same as ours. She is qualified to hear what we ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don’t copy, read here) are about to say,” Avira intervened.

It was a very normal statement, but Liana could clearly feel that Nimeris’s expression had turned ugly.

At this point, Liana didn’t yet realize that Nimeris was feeling embarrassed and jealous because she herself had not received the Tree of Life’s blessing; she only felt that the way Nimeris was looking at her was a bit off.

“Then there is indeed no problem.” Nimeris recovered the smile on her face. “However, this is the first I’ve heard of such an elf receiving Mother Tree of Life’s blessing. It’s truly a surprise. And for such an elf to be willing to become someone else’s maid is indeed something I didn’t expect. I underestimated you a little. I apologize.”

Liana shook her head. “It’s alright. It’s normal for Princess Nimeris to think so. Besides, I wasn’t acknowledged by... Mother Tree of Life, but by the sapling of the Mother Tree of Life.”

Liana had almost spoken too quickly and failed to add the word “Mother,” which would have exposed her at once.

“Speaking of which, the matter of being blessed by the Mother Tree of Life was entirely because of Princess Sephirena. Without her, I wouldn’t have been able to do it at all.” Liana wasn’t lying. After all, without Sephirena, she wouldn’t have had much interaction with the Tree of Life, let alone be blessed.

“Becoming Princess Sephirena’s maid is more about repaying her kindness,” Liana said with a smile.

“Being blessed by Mother Tree of Life is your own ability and talent. It has nothing to do with me. This was Mother’s choice. At most, I only advanced the matter. Without me, you would have been blessed by her eventually,” Sephirena said. She wasn’t being modest; it was the truth.

But the more they spoke this way, the gloomier Nimeris’s expression became.

“Since everyone has arrived, let’s have a proper chat, shall we?” Avira snapped her fingers.

Chairs made of plants appeared behind them, and a large plant table appeared before them, complete with tea and snacks.