“Can we still get out of here?” After eating half a piece of bread, the girl finally spoke after a long while. Unlike her usual firm and unquestionable tone, her voice was filled with a hint of confusion and exhaustion.

 

“We definitely can.”

 

The young man answered with certainty to the girl beside him.

 

The girl was unlike her usual self, confident and composed, always the center of attention wherever she went. Her tone now carried a sense of bewilderment and helplessness that she could never show to anyone else.

 

Since being declared the future Queen of Camella, Mirexia had always been mindful of her public image.

 

She constantly reminded herself that the entire kingdom, even the entire human realm, was watching her.

 

She couldn’t show any weakness or incompetence, or else people would think the future Queen of Camella was nothing more than a beautiful vase with no leadership skills.

 

They would seize the opportunity to exploit her and even covet the kingdom of Camella.

 

Whether it was the nobles within the kingdom or the monarchs from other countries, once she revealed her vulnerabilities, they would pounce, biting at Camella’s neck and lifeline to gain more benefits for themselves.

 

Under such immense mental pressure, Mirexia carefully treaded the line, afraid to make any mistakes. She knew that even the smallest error would be magnified and twisted by others.

 

With her diligent personality and relentless efforts, Mirexia achieved remarkable success.

 

The people of the kingdom praised her name, and even foreign nobles and monarchs spoke highly of her.

 

But how much had she sacrificed for this?

 

People only saw the glamorous and flawless princess who handled everything perfectly, but they didn’t see the girl who spent countless nights studying state affairs, balancing daily training and academics, and even crying late at night due to overwhelming pressure.

 

To outsiders, she was a confident and composed princess who handled everything with ease, but only she knew how insecure she truly felt.

 

Every time she dealt with state affairs or issued a decree, she would be filled with anxiety, fearing that her decisions might indirectly harm her people, even if it was just a minor one.

 

The long-term mental stress had left Mirexia frequently anxious and fearful. It was clear that her mind and spirit were on the verge of collapse.

 

But she hid it well, never showing it to anyone, not even her father. To outsiders, she remained the graceful and unflappable princess.

 

Everyone had high expectations of her, adding invisible pressure that only worsened her mental state.

 

People praised her character and abilities, calling her the brightest gem on Camella’s crown, but no one ever asked if she was tired or if she needed a break.

 

To everyone, she was Princess Mirexia, a once-in-a-millennium prodigy of Camella, flawless and omnipotent.

 

How could she feel tired? How could she lack confidence in her decisions?

 

In any case, they just needed to listen to the princess. She was so reliable and capable; they just needed to let her make the decisions.

 

Their thoughts weren’t entirely wrong, as Mirexia had carefully crafted her public image to be that of a wise and omnipotent queen, ensuring that those who coveted Camella wouldn’t dare to act out.

 

But humans are made of flesh and blood. How could anyone not feel tired?

 

Mirexia had also broken down under such high pressure, but in the end, something called “responsibility” always pushed her to keep going.

 

While young nobles enjoyed their luxurious lives, indulging in snacks and afternoon tea, Mirexia was working overtime.

 

While other nobles partied and flirted, Mirexia was working overtime. While other nobles socialized, boasted, and reveled in their youth, Mirexia was still working overtime.

 

It seemed like she never rested. Even her maid noticed that she had never seen Princess Mirexia take a break.

 

Gradually, she came to believe that this was what a monarch’s life was supposed to be like, and she slowly grew accustomed to it.

 

“Mirexia, you’ve done enough. Stop always trying to be strong. Try relying on others sometimes, okay?” Just moments ago, her eccentric childhood friend had spoken to her in the same tone and manner he used when they were kids.

 

At that moment, Mirexia’s nose inexplicably tingled, and her eyes welled up with tears, as if she had been wronged and someone had finally pointed it out.

 

This strange yet familiar feeling was probably a prelude to crying. She didn’t know why she suddenly felt like crying, but she held it back, turning her gaze away so Winnie wouldn’t see her expression.

 

“Princess Mirexia, if you’re tired, rest for a while. I’ll keep watch at the entrance.” It was impossible to tell how much time had passed here, but it must have been a long time.

 

Although for the outside world, perhaps only a few minutes had gone by.

 

Mirexia had been fighting the Cultists of the Demon Pillar for so long; she must be exhausted.

 

“……” Mirexia instinctively wanted to refuse, to let Winnie sleep while she kept watch, but she suddenly remembered what Winnie had just said and remained silent.

 

“Can I… trust you?”

 

“Your Highness, do you really not trust me that much?” Winnie chuckled. “After all, I’m your childhood friend, aren’t I?”

 

“That’s not what I meant.” Mirexia paused, her body leaning against the rock wall relaxing slightly.

 

She shivered. Dragons were impervious to water and fire, but they feared the cold.

 

A jacket still warm with body heat was thrown over her.

 

Subconsciously catching the jacket that carried a strong scent, Mirexia was momentarily stunned.

 

“Cold, aren’t you? Cover yourself with this and sleep. Don’t be picky at a time like this.” Feeling Mirexia’s gaze, Winnie looked out of the cave entrance and spoke.

 

With just a simple action, he knew she was cold.

 

Yes, after all, he was her childhood friend, the boy who had grown up with her. What was so strange about that? In this world, besides her father, the person who knew her best was the blue-haired young man before her.

 

The faint light reflected on the young man’s calm face, which carried a trace of unshakable determination. The murky wind brushed past, lifting a strand of his hair and accentuating his delicate and refined features.

 

At this moment, Winnie, who was usually frivolous and carefree, appeared steady and composed, exuding a sense of security and reliability, as if he could hold up the sky if it fell.

 

For some reason, Mirexia was momentarily captivated.

 

Realizing her lapse, she hurriedly averted her gaze.

 

Sniffing the jacket that covered her hair, which carried the pungent scent of cheap perfume, Mirexia felt an inexplicable sense of comfort, as if she had returned to a warm harbor.

 

She was in a dire situation, but it didn’t matter. Her childhood friend had vowed that they would get out of here.

 

Her consciousness gradually blurred, and Mirexia’s eyelids drooped as she couldn’t hold them up any longer.

 

“Goodnight, my princess.” Winnie gently bid Mirexia goodnight and continued to observe the movements outside the cave.

 

Mirexia didn’t know how long she had slept. She was awakened by the sound of the earth shaking and the mountains trembling.

 

“There’s a cave over there. It’s the only place we haven’t searched. They must be there!” The voice of the purple-robed man was sharp, instantly dispelling Mirexia’s drowsiness.

 

After sleeping, she felt that she should have regained some strength, but when she tried to stand up, she found that her body was still weak and limp, unable to muster any strength.

 

The effects of the [Dragonfall Potion] hadn’t completely worn off yet.

 

Mirexia panicked. At that moment, the figure beside her stood up, drew the curved blade from his waist, and walked out.

 

“Don’t worry, Princess Mirexia. Leave it to me.” Winnie’s steady voice came through.

 

“Winnie, don’t act recklessly. They’re [Bronze Blood], one of the most vicious cultists of the Demon Pillar. You’re no match for them.”

 

“Don’t worry, Princess Mirexia. Remember what I told you earlier? Sometimes, try relying on others.” Winnie smiled. “You rest. Leave it to me.”

 

“Winnie…” Mirexia watched Winnie’s resolute back with worry, not believing for a moment that Winnie could be a match for the [Bronze Blood]. After consuming those vile potions, these cultists had become half-kin of Erunes.

 

The kin of the Demon Pillar were no joke. They were beings that required the human army to mobilize in full force to exterminate.

 

“Brat, you’re like a rat or a cockroach, always hiding. We’ve been looking for you for so long.” As soon as Winnie stepped out of the cave, he heard the purple-robed man’s mocking tone.

 

The army of monsters he had brought with him had surrounded the entire cave, which meant there was no escape.

 

“Is the princess in the cave behind you?” Seeing Winnie remain silent, the purple-robed man continued coldly.

 

“You’d better not resist, or else, for every moment you’ve made us waste, I’ll cut you into that many pieces.”

 

“If you stay still and wait for death, I might even give you a quick one.”

 

“Winnie…” Inside the cave, Mirexia heard the purple-robed man’s words and looked at the young man’s thin back, clutching the jacket in her hand tightly.

 

“Get lost.” Winnie finally responded. He held his blade, pointing it at the purple-robed man, and spoke coldly, word by word.

 

“You damn bastards, all of you, get the hell away from here. If you dare scare my princess, I’ll smash your heads into your chests.”

 

“Brat, do you not understand the situation at all?” The purple-robed man’s lips curled into a cruel smile.

 

My princess?

 

These familiar words made Mirexia’s eyes widen inside the cave.

 

“Mirexia, ever since the king declared you the future Queen of Camella, you’ve never smiled again. What’s wrong? I’m really worried about you.”

 

“Why has it become like this, Mirexia? Are you truly happy now?” In her memories, the blue-haired boy stood before her, saying things she found hard to understand and annoying. But now, looking back, those words carried a new meaning.

 

“Mirexia, why don’t you smile anymore? Smile, won’t you?”

 

Mirexia must not be happy.

 

“Mirexia, can you come play with me?”

 

Why doesn’t Mirexia want to play with me like before? Why does she always look so worried?

 

Why doesn’t Mirexia laugh like she used to? Why does she live like a wooden doll, so numb?

 

Why has Mirexia’s smile become a forced one? She must be in so much pain…

 

Why is this happening? Why?

 

Finally, the blue-haired young man came to a conclusion.

 

“It must be your fault!”

 

“You’re the ones who made Mirexia like this!”

 

“Ever since Mirexia was declared the future queen, you’ve all approached her with ulterior motives. You bastards, you only bring her trouble and misery! Do you know that!?” Thus, the blue-haired boy burst out during her meetings with other noble heirs, lashing out at them.

 

“It’s all your fault! You’re the ones who did this! You hypocrites, do you know how much pressure you’re putting on Mirexia!? Every time she meets with you, she forces a smile. She doesn’t want to meet with you. She’s not happy when she meets with you!”

 

“You’re the ones who took away Mirexia’s smile!”

 

Crack! Something shattered.

 

At that moment, Mirexia suddenly understood all of Winnie’s past actions.

 

Responsibilities, studies, social interactions… Her world might have many things, but Winnie’s world had only one thing from the beginning to the end: her.

 

He didn’t care about Mirexia’s achievements; he only cared about whether she was happy.

 

He only knew that when the king declared he wouldn’t remarry and named Mirexia the next Queen of Camella, a heavy responsibility fell on the girl’s shoulders.

 

All sorts of flattering and scheming people with different masks appeared before Mirexia, trying to curry favor with the future queen to gain the most benefits.

 

From then on, he never saw the girl’s genuine smile again.

 

The young boy didn’t know how to help her, so he resorted to extreme measures, cursing the nobles who met with her, trying to keep them away from his princess.

 

“You’re all here with ulterior motives. Your fake smiles are disgusting! Don’t taint my Mirexia!”

 

“You’re the ones who took away Mirexia’s happiness and smile!”

 

“You only bring her trouble, do you know that!?”

 

“Mirexia, is being a queen really more important than me?” This sentence seemed unreasonable, but at this moment, Mirexia understood its meaning.

 

Mirexia, I want you to be happy every day, but ever since you were declared the future queen, you’ve never smiled again… Does being a queen really make you happy?

 

That’s why he always tried to make her smile like before, because her demeanor at that time really worried him. Perhaps in his eyes, she had changed so much that he barely recognized her.

 

He worried that she had contracted a disease that made her unable to be happy, and the cause was the responsibilities and position of being a queen, as well as the nobles who always approached her with fake smiles and ulterior motives.

 

He didn’t want Mirexia to become a tool that only faked smiles, but what could a young boy who hadn’t been trained in nobility do?

 

His methods were naive and foolish, thinking they could help Mirexia escape her predicament.

 

This led to a series of actions by Winnie that seemed incomprehensible to outsiders.

 

But at that time, she thought the boy was just being unreasonable and didn’t pay much attention to him.

 

So that’s how it was.

 

So, she was such a despicable person?

 

While secretly hoping someone would care for her, she repeatedly cold-shouldered the one person who truly cared for her.

 

Was this what her father often said, that people never cherish what they have?

 

Yet, even though she had treated him so coldly and had essentially abandoned him, he hadn’t abandoned her. His concern for her remained as fervent as it was when they were children.

 

At this moment, the memory of the young blue-haired boy overlapped with the blue-haired young man standing before her, both saying the same thing.

 

“You shameless bastards…”

 

“Stay away from my Mirexia / Princess!” X2

 

The two figures, one big and one small, overlapped as they shouted together.

 

Hot tears had already streamed down Mirexia’s face without her even realizing it.

 

“Virtue +500.”

 

“Current Virtue: 3054.”

 

“Stay away from you? Brat, what are you going to do to make us stay away?” The purple-robed man, confident of his victory, sneered without getting angry.

 

“That enchanted ice spear of yours is indeed impressive, but so what? You can’t use it anymore, can you?” The purple-robed man glanced at the curved blade in Winnie’s hand and guessed as much.

 

He estimated that Winnie’s level was at most that of an Artisan, and his soul armament wasn’t a high-level one either.

 

At this stage, it was almost impossible for someone to defeat enemies of a higher level, let alone the quasi-kin of Erunes, who were created through the power of potions.

 

Such a powerful enchanted weapon must have significant limitations and couldn’t be used again in a short period.

 

Otherwise, he wouldn’t have come out with just a broken blade.

 

It seemed they were truly at their wit’s end.

 

“Kid, your identity is fake, your words are fake, your strength is fake. You’re nothing but a small-time schemer. What are you going to do to protect your princess?”

 

“You can only watch as we take her away and offer her to our lord Erunes for the grand purification ritual, hahaha!”

 

“Not to mention the kin here, even if I don’t use magic, you’re no match for me, you fake.” The purple-robed man mocked. “Your untrained flesh is too weak.”

 

“That’s true.” Winnie didn’t deny it.

 

“So, fake kid, have you given up?” The purple-robed man loved rubbing salt in the wounds of the defeated and the weak.

 

“Who said that?” Winnie smiled at the purple-robed man. “I admit I’m weak, but are you so sure I’m a fake?”

 

“What if you’re just lucky and drew the ‘jackpot’?”

 

“What do you mean?” The purple-robed man frowned.

 

Winnie smiled without answering, letting go of the curved blade and letting it fall to the ground.

 

As if he had come to terms with something, he took two steps back, turned around, and smiled at Mirexia, who was covered by the jacket.

 

“Princess Mirexia, keep this a secret for me, okay?”

 

“Keep… a secret?” Mirexia was puzzled, not understanding what Winnie meant. Winnie didn’t explain.

 

The blue-haired young man closed his eyes and clasped his hands together.

 

The grace of an angel descended from the heavens, and a pinkish glow illuminated every astonished face.

 

“What… is this?” Mirexia stared in shock at the scene.

 

The hair, like falling cherry blossoms, floated in the light, as pure and flawless as a white lotus. The immaculate girl, like an angel descending to earth, cleansed all impurities in the pink radiance.

 

Mirexia covered her mouth, unable to believe what she was seeing. Even as the perfect cherry-haired girl gracefully walked out, bathed in the light, she still couldn’t accept the reality before her.

 

Her gaze was blank. At that moment, she felt as if she had seen a goddess.

 

“Virtue +600.”

 

“Current Virtue: 3654.”

 

“What…!?” The purple-robed man and the monsters below were dumbfounded, their teeth chattering.

 

There was no need to think, confirm, or slander. The sacred aura emanating from the cherry-haired girl, which made them tremble with fear, already told them who she was.

 

“The… the Radiant Saintess!? No, it can’t be. How is this possible? The Varelis family aren’t… aren’t they…” The purple-robed man choked.