Chapter 31: The Prince’s Predicament

The next morning, the large group rose early. They boarded the dragon carriage Ellis had rented, setting off for the Western Foothills where Larry resided.

Both the rented dragon carriage and the planned route had been arranged by Ellis, who sought out individuals from the underworld.

These people typically subsisted on smuggling operations, occasionally assisting those who preferred to avoid public scrutiny in traveling to various locations.

Naturally, their prices were exorbitant. This particular journey had consumed all of the bounty money.

Meixia, Daisy, and Ellis settled into one of the dragon carriages.

It was then that Daisy recounted the true circumstances of her parents’ murder to the other two.

“The one who struck down my father and mother… it was indeed I.”

The revelation left both Meixia and Ellis utterly stunned.

Daisy, struggling to catch her breath, finally spoke again after a long silence. “I was the one who did it, but that person wasn’t me.”

Daisy’s words were akin to a riddle, yet Ellis quickly grasped her meaning. “Are you suggesting you were controlled?”

“Yes. One morning, as I was routinely going to pay my respects to my father and mother, I lost consciousness just as I reached the palace doors. When I came to, I was holding a blood-stained sword, and before me lay my parents, fallen in a pool of blood. Before I could even comprehend what had happened, my Imperial Uncle Gap burst in with the ministers. I was subsequently imprisoned for the murder of my parents.”

“I only managed to escape with the help of two mysterious individuals and my trusted retainers. After that, I lived a life of wandering until I met you two.”

Daisy’s lips were bitten until they bled. “Even now, I sometimes wonder if it was all a dream. How could I possibly kill my own parents?”

Ellis mused, ‘You aren’t the kind of person to do such a thing. It now seems the mastermind behind your manipulation is very likely Prince Gap.’

“But how could Imperial Uncle Gap do such a thing? He’s Father’s own brother; their relationship has always been incredibly close. And Imperial Uncle Gap has always been very fond of me…”

Daisy finally lowered her head, her voice trailing off. “I still can’t quite believe it.”

“Perhaps your Imperial Uncle was also controlled. There’s no need to assume the worst right now.”

Considering Daisy’s fragile state, Ellis chose not to press her further. Instead, she subtly signaled Meixia to change the subject.

Perhaps it was because Ellis had transformed into a girl, but Daisy seemed quite eager to chat with her. With Meixia joining in, the three women made for quite a lively scene.

No, wait. It was two women and one man disguised as a woman.

While the journey was undeniably tedious, having someone to talk to certainly made time pass more quickly.

But!

They simply couldn’t connect!

‘What on earth are these two women talking about? Why am I stuck here listening to them discuss these things?’

‘It feels like it would be more to my liking to sit with the retainers in the other dragon carriage and discuss topics that men typically enjoy.’

‘However, that would ruin my image in Daisy’s eyes. Ah, no, I don’t care about *my* image, but rather the impression of Larry’s fiancée. If that were ruined, Daisy might start having thoughts she shouldn’t.’

‘Damn it, it’s all Larry’s fault. Has the retribution for me pranking Larry finally arrived?’

Just as Ellis was lost in her chaotic thoughts, the dragon carriage arrived at a midway resting point.

This was a black market inn, a place that rarely saw many guests and whose existence few knew of. While it occasionally hosted regular travelers, its primary purpose was to cater to those who lived in the ‘underworld’.

Black market inns adhered to their own strict rules, after all, they dealt with troublesome clientele.

Upon entering, they were led to a designated room, where they were expected to remain until their departure.

Meals were provided three times a day; one only needed to inform the attendant of their preferences.

To Ellis’s immense torment, the three women were assigned to the same room. This meant she would endure an entire day of feminine ‘torture’.

‘If only I were still a man. If I were, I certainly wouldn’t object to being in the same room with two alluring beauties, and perhaps, coincidentally, some ‘beneficial’ activities might occur.’

‘Ah, what a wonderful prospect that would be.’

But at present, Ellis harbored no such desires whatsoever.

Of course, it wasn’t due to any elevated moral character on Ellis’s part. It was simply that she… couldn’t get it up.

It was as if she had been forcibly confined to ‘sage mode’—that humiliating feeling of being able to look but not touch, or even desire to touch. It filled Ellis with profound frustration.

Even the soft, white cotton stuffing in their chests, which in other circumstances or in anime would be considered a tantalizing sight, now made Ellis only long for peace and quiet.

Seated on the bed, leaning against the wall, Ellis silently played the role of a diligent listener.

Daisy, seemingly having suppressed much for a long time, had a multitude of things she wished to confide.

Meixia appeared quite willing to listen to Daisy’s outpouring. Following the principle of majority rule, Ellis was thus forced to be an audience member.

Just as boredom began to set in, she suddenly caught a familiar voice from the adjacent room.

“Damn it, find me some beauties! Am I supposed to die of boredom here?!”

“Your Highness, women are not permitted here. You must abide by the rules of this black market inn.”

“The entirety of Danga belongs to my family! What rules could possibly restrict me? Go and find me women, now!”

Though the soundproofing between rooms was decent, the man’s bellowing, combined with Ellis’s acute hearing, allowed her to pick up the sounds.

Ellis’s eyes lit up. She remembered who this person was—none other than the Second Prince of the Danga Kingdom, whom she had ‘disciplined’ before!

‘What a coincidence, little brother.’

To help Daisy turn the tables, intelligence was crucial. And this Second Prince, Prince Gap’s son, surely possessed a wealth of explosive information.

With this thought, Ellis stood up and addressed the two women in the room. “I’ll go get you a surprise.”

Without waiting for Daisy and Meixia’s reactions, Ellis exited the room and knocked on the door next door.

“Who is it?”

The first voice was likely that of the guard, cautious and wary.

Ellis responded with a respectful tone. “I am here to serve His Highness Bruno.”

“Hmm?”

The guard inside clearly hadn’t expected Ellis to know their identities. After a moment, he cautiously opened the door slightly, peering through the crack to discern Ellis’s appearance.

“It’s you?!”

The guard recognized Ellis at once, but he was utterly astonished to see them here.

“Who is it?”

Bruno also came closer. The moment he saw Ellis, his eyes first showed fear, then, surprisingly, a mixture of longing and adoration.

“It’s you! Come in, come in!”

Ignoring his guard’s attempts to stop him, Bruno eagerly invited Ellis inside.

His fervent enthusiasm caught Ellis completely off guard.

Watching Bruno’s shy and fidgety demeanor before her, Ellis wondered, ‘Did my previous ‘training’ turn this guy into a masochist?’

‘The actions I performed entirely under Mitchell’s direction last time, I never expected them to have such an effect. Brilliant.’

“Your Highness, this woman’s presence in this place is highly suspicious.”

The loyal guard, however, had noticed Ellis’s suspicious nature.

His master, utterly devoid of sense, merely glared at him, seemingly displeased with the guard’s ‘slander’ against Ellis.

“What are you saying? How could this young lady possibly… hehe.”

As he spoke, Bruno broke into a silly grin.

‘This child has truly been ‘trained’ into idiocy.’

“You’re actually right. My identity is very suspicious, and my next actions will likely be even more so. Would you mind taking a little nap first?”

Upon hearing Ellis’s words, the guard immediately prepared to draw his weapon. However, Ellis was faster. Retrieving Mitchell’s staff, she lightly tapped the guard, causing him to instantly collapse onto the ground.

Mitchell’s amplification of spiritual energy, when reversed, became a debilitating spiritual drain.

It was enough to make the guard sleep for an entire day.

“Aha, this Archduke sees the light of day again! Oh, isn’t this that kid from the other day? Hehehe, what, has master already discovered the joy of training this little one?”

No sooner had Mitchell been summoned than he began chattering excitedly.

“Then, you’re next.”

Ellis ignored Mitchell, tossing him back with a flick of her wrist. Then, she looked at the flustered Bruno with a sweet smile.

‘I need to take you away discreetly.’

Ellis scanned the surroundings. Her eyes lit up when she spotted a rather large suitcase. Without hesitation, she bound Bruno securely, gagged him with a strip of cloth, and then forcefully stuffed him into the suitcase. With a triumphant stride, she casually carried him back to her own room.