Chapter 30: A Bitter Pill to Swallow

During their month in the Sege Highlands, Ellis had hardly spent her days idly awaiting news of Daisy.

Instead, she had meticulously used this free time to arrange a clear escape route for after they found Daisy.

The plan was comprehensive and detailed, so much so that they had remained completely undetected until now.

This left Daisy’s loyal retainers somewhat at a loss, unsure of what they should do.

As night fell, they washed away a month of travel dust at the guesthouse Ellis had arranged.

They then shared a meal that, to Daisy and her companions, felt truly delicious.

Under Ellis’s gentle urging, they retired early, for they needed to depart at the first light of dawn.

Yet, just as Ellis was about to leave for her own rest, Daisy suddenly called out to her.

It seemed there was something important she wished to say.

‘Could it be about Larry?’ Ellis mused. ‘Perhaps she’ll ask me to break off the engagement with him.’

‘How preposterous! It’s not that I cherish the engagement, but rather, it never truly existed in the first place.’

‘It was merely a ruse Larry concocted to fend off Meixia’s relentless pursuit, a trick he undoubtedly used on Daisy as well.’

‘While I don’t particularly care for the title of ‘fiancée,’ it’s a pact I made with Larry. I can’t simply abandon it so carelessly.’

Daisy had even sought out a private room, clearly indicating her desire to discuss matters that weren’t suitable for others to hear.

“First, I need to confirm something,” Daisy began, her voice soft. “Ellis, you are Larry’s fiancée, aren’t you?”

‘It *is* about Larry, after all!’

Ellis sat up straight, adopting a serious demeanor. “That’s right, it is,” she affirmed with conviction. “Our parents arranged it when we were children. Well, I was quite resistant back then, but after that rebellious phase, hehe.”

Ellis then adopted the coy expression of a maiden in love, cupping her face and giggling foolishly.

She poured every ounce of her acting prowess into the performance, making it remarkably lifelike.

‘My friend, do you see the sacrifice I’m making for you? I’ve temporarily cast aside my dignity as a man! I’m even moved by my own performance. You absolutely *must* treat me to a grand feast at Delicious Paradise!’ [Delicious Paradise is the most luxurious restaurant in Kaikaga City and a renowned culinary haven on the Mazesli Continent. Of course, the prices there…]

“I see,” Daisy said, offering a sincere blessing. “Then congratulations to both of you. You must cherish him dearly. He is the man we have always sought but could never attain.”

‘Oh, this is progressing surprisingly smoothly.’

‘It seems intelligent women truly know when to give up. This saves me from having to make even more sacrifices.’

“Um…”

Ellis, who had assumed the conversation was over and was preparing to rest, noticed that Daisy showed no intention of rising. Instead, she was nervously rubbing her cup, a look of hesitation on her face.

“Is there something else?” Ellis asked, puzzled.

Finally, Daisy gathered her courage and asked Ellis, “Ellis, I wanted to ask if your brother has a girlfriend?”

Ellis was speechless.

She felt as though her ears were playing tricks on her, as if she were hallucinating.

Adhering to a principle of scientific rigor, Ellis questioned Daisy once more. “Excuse me, I didn’t quite catch that. What did you ask?”

“Ellis, I want to know if there’s a possibility between me and your brother.”

Daisy spoke with a serious expression. “I’ve developed feelings for your brother and I want to pursue him. While there might be some aspects of me that he doesn’t find satisfactory, I am willing to change for him.”

Ellis’s brain momentarily stalled, and a retort slipped out instinctively. “Are you out of your mind?”

“Hmm?”

“Ah, no, I was just a little too surprised.”

Ellis took a sip of tea, calming her mind before continuing. “Well, I admit my brother is excellent, and he’s a good person. But given his usual demeanor, I don’t think he’s left a particularly good impression on you… You understand, don’t you?”

Daisy continued, “I understand that. When I first met him, I did find him quite annoying. But later, I also felt his unique gentleness, so…”

Ellis, her mind now perfectly calm, smiled faintly. “That’s not true, is it, Daisy? What you’re interested in isn’t my brother himself, but rather his strength and his status as an S-rank adventurer, isn’t it?”

“No, I truly am…”

“I told you, I’ve heard quite a bit about you, Daisy, from my brother, Larry, and Meixia.”

Ellis interrupted Daisy before she could finish. “After all, you’re a woman who approached my fiancé. Even if I trust Larry completely, I still needed to understand you better. My brother’s testimony, of course, served as a reference, combined with my own judgment. Daisy, you are a person with strong objectives, and at times, you will set aside personal feelings to do what you believe is right. Considering the predicament you’re currently facing, I can understand your reasons for acting this way.”

Daisy’s expression grew agitated. “If that’s the case, Ellis, please, please help me.”

“I can’t help you, Daisy.”

Ellis set down her teacup. “Just as you couldn’t move Larry, you also won’t be able to win over my brother. This has nothing to do with your current personality or any changes you might make in the future. If he won’t accept, he simply won’t accept. I know that man very well, so give up on this idea, Daisy.”

“How can this be? I truly am at my wit’s end now! If I don’t have their power!”

Ellis looked at Daisy with a serious gaze. “What makes you believe, Daisy, that you must sacrifice your future happiness to gain their help? Are my brother and Larry so utterly worthless in your eyes? Or is it that you only stayed in Larry’s team to gain the protection and assistance of an S-rank adventurer?”

“Of course not, absolutely not! It might be hard to say for Ellis (male), but Larry is definitely not that kind of person!”

‘That sentence in the middle was absolutely superfluous!’

‘Am I really that bad in your eyes?!’

“Perhaps initially, I was indeed drawn to Larry and Ellis (male). But during our time together, I truly came to regard them as companions. However, however!”

Daisy’s head drooped low, her fists clenched tightly, her sharp nails digging deep into her flesh, drawing faint trickles of blood.

“But I am the Princess of Danga! I must protect my people. The enemy nations outside are eyeing us covetously, and Danga’s strength alone is insufficient to resist them. Now, such events have unfolded within our own country; my parents died inexplicably, and I have fallen into this predicament. I need power, Ellis, power enough to reverse all these difficulties.”

“To say I can emotionally understand you, Daisy, would be a lie. But from an objective standpoint, the actions you’re taking are indeed very correct and effective.”

Ellis sighed softly. “But reality isn’t always about choosing the optimal option. Otherwise, that guy wouldn’t still be single to this day (she muttered this very softly). The reality is, neither Larry nor my brother can be the ones to stand behind you indefinitely, Daisy.”

“How can this be…”

Daisy fell into deep despair.

“But they can temporarily stand behind you, Daisy. That much they can do.”

“Eh?”

Tears still clung to the corners of Daisy’s eyes, not yet fallen, as she looked at Ellis, bewildered.

“Leave this current ordeal to Larry and me. At least this time, we absolutely won’t abandon you. But for the path ahead, you must resolve to walk it yourself. Constantly relying on others will only make them greedy and insatiable towards you. No matter how arduous or difficult it becomes, you must find a way to persevere. This might be a bitter pill to swallow, but even so, you must drink it. Because, Daisy, you are in precisely such a situation.”

Ellis exhaled gently. “Of course, Daisy, you have another choice: to abandon everything. So, will you accept our help and then bravely, perhaps painfully, continue on your own, or will you give up everything from this moment forward? I will respect your choice.”

Ellis extended both her hands to Daisy. “My right hand represents the first option, my left hand the second. Choose, Daisy.”

Daisy did not choose immediately, instead remaining silent for a full ten minutes.

During this time, Ellis simply held out her hands, saying not a word, merely watching her quietly.

Finally, Ellis felt a weighty presence in her right hand, and a gentle smile bloomed on her face.

“Then get some rest, Daisy.”

With that, Ellis stood up and walked out.

Daisy’s voice drifted from behind her. “Thank you, Ellis. I understand why Larry chose you.”

‘Rest assured, he didn’t choose me.’

“Just as Meixia said, you are completely different from Ellis (male). You are truly so gentle.”

‘You’ve said too much again. Right now, I truly want to show you my *un*gentle side!’

‘However, it seems your mood isn’t too good right now, so I’ll let it slide.’

“I’m going to rest now.”

This was the last thing Ellis said. Being insulted to her face and unable to retort was truly exhausting.