“Don’t worry too much about me. I know what kind of person I am,” Liana said. “However, don’t tell Princess Nimeris about my affairs. Keep it a secret for me, okay?”

“Mm.” From Avira’s perspective, Liana’s request to keep her secret from Princess Nimeris was simply because she was worried about being exposed to Oester and his cohort.

“As for the matter of the alliance, with the Lisat King present, there will certainly be no problem, so there’s no need for me to worry about it. Why don’t you have Princess Sephirena go to the Lisat Kingdom with Mephilia now, Princess Avira? That way I’ll have an even better reason to go back with Mephilia,” Liana said.

“Sephirena will definitely make a trip to the Lisat Kingdom, but not now. Right now, she still has some things to attend to,” Avira said.

“Yes, Your Highness Liana. Because I previously came into contact with Mother Tree of Life’s sapling, I want to try and see if I can help Mother. So, I will be staying in the Elf Forest for a while.”

Although the possibility was slim, as long as there was hope, it was worth a try. What if they could heal their Mother?

“I see.”

“Then I’ll just have to find a random excuse so that others won’t suspect me.” Liana looked at Avira.

Avira understood. “When Princess Mephilia returns, I will also arrange for a few elves to go to the ★ 𝐍𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐥𝐢𝐠𝐡𝐭 ★ Lisat Kingdom, and Your Highness Liana’s name will be among them.”

“As expected, talking with smart people is just so much easier.” Afterward, Liana also gave Avira a pointed reminder. “I know you all trust Princess Nimeris very much, and I can understand that. But you must not trust Second Prince Oester. He is absolutely not to be trusted. It’s possible that Princess Nimeris will be deceived by his one-sided story and do some undesirable things. I hope you can stop her when the time comes.”

“If someone else had said such a thing to me, I would have driven them away without hesitation. But you are Princess Liana, so I can trust you a little. Besides, it seems the second prince has done something quite outrageous to you.” Princess Avira’s expression changed slightly. It was hard not to be angry after hearing such words, but because the speaker was Liana, she did not show it.

“Thank you, Princess Avira, for understanding such impolite words from me.” Liana naturally knew what kind of impact these words would have.

“I know what you are worried about, Your Highness. Don’t worry. I will not indulge Nimeris’ unreasonable behavior just because she is my sister. I will keep a close eye on them,” Avira said.

Liana was relatively at ease on this point; otherwise, Sephirena would not have left the Elf Forest back then.

The group hadn’t been chatting for long before they sensed that someone else was now heading toward Sephirena’s residence.

“Sister Nimeris.”

Nimeris glanced around. “My apologies. I’ve been so busy lately that I’ve only just now found the time to come and see your place. If you need anything, you can come find me at any time. I’ll take care of it for you.”

Nimeris spoke with great enthusiasm.

This made Liana keenly sense that something was off. Sephirena’s return is such an important event, and you’ve only now found the time to come see her?

Besides, aren’t you supposed to be showing Oester and the others around the Elf Forest right now? How do you have the time to come to Sephirena’s place?

Wasn’t this timing a little too coincidental? Liana could also clearly feel that Nimeris’s gaze would occasionally dart in her direction.

Did she come here specifically to confirm that I’m Sephirena’s maid?

“Regarding this matter, I have already asked Sephirena. She said this is fine and doesn’t need any extra decoration,” Avira said at this moment.

“Sister Avira? You’re here too.” Nimeris was clearly a little surprised. “What, are you two secretly talking about something behind my back?”

Nimeris said it with a joking laugh, but often, one’s true thoughts are spoken in jest.

“Not at all. I was just a little curious about this maid that Sephirena found,” Avira said.

“...” Wait, isn’t this the time to be diverting Nimeris’s attention away from me?

Why are you two doing the opposite?

“Are you a little curious too, Sister Avira?”

“Yes, it would be hard not to be, right?”

To avoid being exposed, Liana had gone to prepare tea the moment Nimeris arrived.

“...”

Wait!

As she was preparing it, Liana was struck by a sudden realization. Elves don’t have this habit at all!!!

Wouldn’t this be even more revealing!

Liana could feel Nimeris’s puzzled and suspicious gaze.

Just as Liana was about to open her mouth to explain, saying that she had lived in the human world for too long...

Sephirena spoke first. “This is a habit I developed in the human world, so when guests arrive, she will subconsciously go to prepare tea and snacks.”

“I see.” Nimeris narrowed her eyes, feeling that something wasn’t quite right.

“Your Highnesses... I am just a maid. With you all like this, I feel... under a lot of pressure.” Liana took a step back.

“There’s no need to be too nervous. Strictly speaking, you can also be considered an elf princess. Elves who receive the blessing are very rare, not to mention you received it while you were outside. You must have done something important to have been acknowledged by the Mother Tree of Life,” Avira said.

“It was just a very ordinary thing, nothing that can compare to you princesses. I still prefer to stay in a corner, unnoticed. That suits me better.” Liana retreated to a corner, lowered her head, and spoke in a gloomy voice.

“I’m sorry, did I scare you?” Nimeris came before Liana and took her hand. “Being an elf princess is not such a great status. For example, I haven’t even received the blessing of Mother Tree of Life. You are much more amazing than I am.”

“...Um, I’m sorry, I wasn’t aware of that.” Liana hadn’t expected Nimeris to bring this up on her own.

“It’s alright. What is mine will be mine. What is not mine is useless no matter how hard I try. What we need to consider now is the matter of Mother Tree of Life, how to heal our Mother, and how to drive out those damn demons. That is what we should be doing now,” Nimeris said.

“Princess Nimeris possesses such resolve, while I only wish to live quietly. This makes me feel very ashamed,” Liana said with her head lowered.

“It’s alright. Lift your head. Since you have already been chosen by Mother Tree of Life, you must have done something, or have some talent that surpasses others. There’s no need to feel inferior. You are no worse than anyone else,” Nimeris comforted.

“Thank you...”

Liana felt a little nauseous. A hypocritical person saying such things in front of her didn’t move her; it only made her feel disgusted.

“Alright, Sister Nimeris, why don’t you let her rest for a bit?” At this moment, Sephirena came to Liana’s rescue.

“That’s true. Miss Jacaranda has only just returned to the Elf Forest. There must be many things she is not used to.” Nimeris let Liana go.

“I came looking for you this time, Sephirena, because I wanted you to come find Sister Avira with me. I didn’t expect her to be here as well. It seems we think alike,” Nimeris said with a smile.

“Is it something important?” Avira asked.

Nimeris rarely gathered everyone together. Usually, when she did, it was because something important had happened.

Nimeris nodded. “I’ve found a trace of the holy sword.”

“Huh?!” Avira and Sephirena both opened their mouths in unison, puzzled.

“The holy sword?!” Liana was also extremely shocked, but then she quickly reacted. “With such important news, is it alright for me to be listening in?”

“You are also one chosen by Mother. Don’t worry, it’s fine,” Nimeris reassured.

“The holy sword, where is it?” Avira asked quickly. This information was extremely important to them. “How did you find it?”

“I obtained some books recording information about the holy sword from the Second Prince Oester. I heard they were specially brought over by him at the behest of the Lisat King. According to the records, I roughly guessed the location of the holy sword. After some investigation, I did indeed find traces of its past existence,” Nimeris said.

This made Liana frown. Nimeris was definitely lying.

If it were really an order from the King of Lisat, it would be impossible for Mephilia and Liana not to know. In that case, there were only a few possibilities. Oester was up to steal chickens and grope for dogs.1偷鸡摸狗 (tōujīmōgǒu), a Chinese idiom for engaging in petty, shady, or illicit activities.

Or, Princess Nimeris was looking for a scapegoat, just finding a random excuse to muddle through.

But that was also unlikely; it would be exposed as soon as someone asked. But...

What if Oester had also accepted the demon race? In that case, what if they were cooperating in this act?

Liana did not speak further, but continued to listen. If Nimeris revealed the true location of the holy sword, it would be a good thing for Liana.

Although it was almost impossible for her to do so.

Sure enough, Nimeris spoke. “The location of the holy sword is probably in the ocean to the far south of the Elf Forest. But as for where exactly, I’m not sure.”

Just as Nimeris said this, Sephirena glanced at Liana.

“...” That Nimeris definitely knows where the holy sword is.

Because the location she had just mentioned was in the complete opposite direction of where the holy sword truly was. She was trying to draw everyone’s attention to the south, so that she would have an opportunity to make a move on the holy sword.

Should I say it? Right now?

But Liana didn’t have full confidence that she could take down Nimeris.

She didn’t even have any evidence to prove the location of the holy sword. If it were an ordinary place, it would be fine; she could still give it a try. But the location of the holy sword was a holy land, and one that absolutely could not be destroyed.

Forget Liana, even if an elf princess were to make such a decision, she would be exiled by the entire Elf Forest.

“I understand. I will go and make arrangements right away.” Avira left directly, not even in the mood to say goodbye.

“Sister Avira is really in a hurry,” Nimeris said, watching Avira’s departing figure.

“If we find the holy sword, Mother Tree of Life might be saved. Of course Sister Avira is anxious.” Sephirena withdrew her gaze from Liana. “I also need to make some preparations. If we can find the holy sword one day sooner, we’ll have more time to find its wielder and be better able to deal with the demon race.”

Sephirena had indirectly asked her to leave. Nimeris didn’t linger either. After bidding Sephirena farewell, she left.

“Your Highness Liana, is there something you want to say?”

“...I won’t lie when Mephilia’s future is at stake.” No explanation was more direct or more convincing than this sentence.

“I understand.” Sephirena already had an answer in her heart.

When Her Highness Liana touched that mountain, she had a special reaction, one that I didn’t have.

So, it can be confirmed that the holy sword is in that mountain. And the direction Sister Nimeris mentioned, by sheer coincidence, is in the complete opposite direction.

On top of that, there’s Sister Nimeris’s special management of the holy land...

Perhaps it was a bit hard to accept, but this was most likely the truth.

Liana rubbed her head. Things were starting to get very troublesome.

Three days passed. Because of the holy sword, the entire Elf Forest became very busy, and even a bit chaotic.

Few elves paid any attention to who was going to the Lisat Kingdom.

Sephirena escorted Liana to the human convoy. Mephilia was already waiting there.

Sephirena leaned close to Liana’s ear and whispered, “Don’t worry about the holy sword, Your Highness. I will handle it. I will definitely find it.”

Then, Sephirena pushed Liana toward Mephilia.

“I’ll leave my maid in your care, Princess Mephilia,” Sephirena said.

“Mm, of course. I will also take her to the Ibett Magic Academy to have a look. She is an elf chosen by the Tree of Life. If by some chance she can read some special books, it would be of great help to us.”

Although Mephilia was very curious about what Sephirena had just whispered to Liana, she could only wait a little while before asking.

Liana took a deep breath. With Sephirena’s words, she felt a little more at ease.