Chapter 71: Departure
Bai was slightly shorter than Ara, and now, sitting down while Ara stood, the height difference was even more pronounced.
However, Ara quickly closed the distance, snuggling into Bai’s embrace, nuzzling her cheek, a look of pure contentment on her face.
Bai, finally able to reach, gently ruffled her hair.
A little Ara-snuggling after a long day of work was a nice reward.
Ara had been the one fetching all the documents for Bai these past few days. Bai’s appearance was too conspicuous, and without any other disguise, she had no choice but to rely on Ara.
Ara, although reluctant to leave Bai’s side, had complied willingly.
After all, she would do anything to help Bai.
Just as Bai was enjoying the quiet moment with Ara, a knock came at the door, followed by a familiar voice.
“Miss Bai, it’s Kruse. May I come in?”
Prince Kruse? What was he doing here?
Bai’s hand paused, then she called out, “Come in, Your Highness.”
Prince Kruse entered, his expression freezing for a moment as he saw Bai.
“Miss Bai… did you dye your hair?”
“Ah, yes…” Bai nodded, embarrassed. She had forgotten about her hair.
“It looks… nice,” Prince Kruse said, his smile strained. He had seen the crimson streaks in her black hair and immediately thought of Queen Shaya.
The color was almost identical.
But Miss Bai couldn’t possibly be connected to Queen Shaya. He had met her several times, and she didn’t possess any of the Vampire’s characteristic arrogance.
The pressure from Queen Shaya must be getting to him.
He quickly dismissed the thought.
“I think it looks nice too…” Bai said, then, realizing she needed to change the subject, asked, “Your Highness, is there something you need to discuss with me?”
“Not really. I was just curious about you, so I thought I’d stop by,” Prince Kruse said with a smile, then, seeing Ara glaring at him from Bai’s embrace, quickly added, “Of course, of course, I was just curious how you’ve been handling the capital’s defenses so well. No other reason.”
He wouldn’t dare. Even as a prince and a Legendary Knight, exile would be a terrible blow to his reputation…
Bai hadn’t left the shop for days, and Kweil had only briefly spoken to Leticia during his last visit, before being unceremoniously chased out.
So, they hadn’t seen Bai at work. Prince Kruse, overcome with curiosity, had come to see for himself.
And he saw… nothing unusual. Except that the person in charge of the capital’s defense was a girl who should have been playing with dolls.
“Is Your Highness… not busy?” Bai blurted out, then, realizing her words might be inappropriate, added, “Don’t you have work to do, Your Highness?”
…That was probably worse.
Prince Kruse felt his face flush. He coughed. “Sometimes—ah, Boss Leticia asked me to deliver this.”
He quickly pulled out an envelope and placed it on Bai’s desk, eager to change the subject.
He had come to visit Leticia and ask to see Bai, and she had given him the letter to deliver.
Bai’s room was on the second floor; she rarely came down before meals.
“Hmm? What’s this?”
Bai picked up the envelope, and just then, Prince Kruse stood up. “Since Miss Bai is busy, I won’t disturb you any longer. I’ll be on my way.”
Before Bai could say goodbye, he was gone, fleeing as if his life depended on it.
That little girl is ruthless… Prince Kruse thought, his pride wounded. He, a seasoned courtier, had been outmaneuvered by a child.
Bai, oblivious to his inner turmoil, simply watched him go, a faint smile on her lips.
But…
“A letter from Lady Leticia? But she’s just downstairs…”
She opened the envelope, and it was instantly consumed by a dark shadow, which then coalesced into a small figure—Isabelle.
“So, it was a letter from Isabelle… do all demons leave messages like this? Queen Shaya, Isabelle, and… Commander Lugner?”
She remembered Lugner’s final message, also an illusion, stored within Sirn’s memory.
Well, he wasn’t a demon…
Isabelle’s figure solidified, and she bowed deeply to Bai.
“Princess Bai, I am leaving.”
Bai wasn’t surprised. She had expected this. If Isabelle hadn’t been planning to leave, she wouldn’t have left a message.
But she hadn’t expected her to leave so soon, before the Imperial Festival even began.
“Thank you for your care, Princess Bai. I have recovered significantly, and my… split personality is mostly resolved.”
“After all, it was a condition inadvertently caused by your mother, the Abyssal Lord. Only you or she could have cured it.”
Isabelle still believed Bai was the Abyssal Lord’s daughter. Bai had tried to correct her, to explain it was just a possibility, not a certainty, but to no avail.
And besides, she had no other explanation for her strange abilities.
“If I were to stay by your side, Princess Bai, I would be happier, but I would be of little help to you.”
“Princess Bai is very strong. You don’t need me. Although our time together has been short, I am deeply impressed by you.”
Isabelle’s image began to fade, her expression filled with reluctance. “For the Abyssal Lord, for Princess Bai, I must return to the Abyssal Demon Realm.”
“When the time is right, when the Abyssal Lord returns, I, Isabelle, will offer my everything, and I will continue to follow the Abyssal Lord, and Princess Bai.”
With that, the shadow completely vanished.
