Volume 2 Chapter 18 – “A Place Long Forgotten”

No way. No way no way no way no way?!

Teresa stared at her milk-white, jade-like hands in shock, disbelief written all over her emerald eyes.

She wasn’t wearing the hairpin, and yet she had still transformed into Teresa. She couldn’t make sense of it.

Dylin was Dylin. Teresa was Teresa. She had only ever become Teresa by borrowing the residual power in the butterfly hairpin. Without the hairpin, how could she possibly transform into Teresa again?

Sitting cross-legged in a sea of lavender-scented blooms, her narrow jade shoulders struggled to hold up her loose pajamas—one side had slipped down, exposing a flawless snow-white shoulder. The pajamas had retreated further still, bunching around her large white bosom, revealing the shadowy valley between them.

“Your Highness, please take my hand, and let me escort you to the glorious Sacred Tree Hall.” The silver-haired Elf maiden smiled warmly, offering her hand.

“…What illusion did you use?” Teresa struggled to stand. Her hair, long enough to reach her knees, draped behind her and shielded the swell of her rear. Her snow-white legs were delicate as porcelain, her slender arms so weak that even lifting them was difficult.

Something was wrong.

Normally, transforming into Teresa made her feel weightless—her body filled with Divine Authority, senses sharp, energy brimming. It gave her the confidence that she could do anything. But now it was the opposite.

She had become a Divine Princess, yet her body felt heavy and feeble. Her limbs were as if shackled with iron weights; even lifting a leg left her gasping for air.

Maybe she had lost her power. Or maybe, without the hairpin, she had also lost the confidence and grace that once came with it.

The Elf girl continued to smile respectfully at her, while Teresa, slightly hunched and sweating, could no longer maintain her usual poise. All her Divine Authority and strength had been completely drained.

“Your Highness, I haven’t used any illusions. The Sacred Ablution Bell merely revealed your Elf self—your true form.”

“What kind of nonsense is that? This can’t be my real body!” Teresa frowned. “You cursed me with that bell, didn’t you? If this were my true form, why would it be so hard to control?”

“I would never lie to my King.” The Elf girl’s smile faded.

“Then tell me—how do I get out of this dimension?”

“This space is unstable. It can only be maintained by Her Majesty Bilodis’s power. Entry and exit are only possible with her permission.”

“You mean I have to get her approval just to leave?”

“Don’t push it. I already fulfilled my part of the live sacrifice. Our contract is over.”

“What kind of noble Elf Empress stoops to ambushing a twenty-year-old human like me? What’s so satisfying about this?”

The Elf girl pondered this for a moment before muttering thoughtfully, “I see… ‘that side’ has started to influence your speech patterns as well.”

“…What are you rambling about?”

“Please stop joking around like this and just change me back,” Teresa complained, visibly exhausted.

Her body was heavy beyond reason, and the worst part was the pair of oversized white burdens on her chest.

She’d never noticed before, but with her strength depleted and a DEBUFF dragging her down, the weight on her shoulders made her feel like she could topple at any moment.

“Your Highness, I told you. This is your original body.”

“Fine. I’m leaving.” Teresa slowly turned, wrapped in ill-fitting clothes, bare feet stepping with difficulty across the ground as though walking on knives.

“Your Highness, you won’t make it out that way.”

“Why are you so unwilling to meet your sister?”

…Are you even sane?

Teresa couldn’t be bothered to even look at her.

After being tricked, stripped of blood and marrow, and banished to some extra-dimensional exile, she had every right to be scared.

What, was her little sister’s life valuable, and hers wasn’t?

She couldn’t resist before—but now, no way was she going to just sit and wait for doom.

“Your Highness, I welcome your arrival.”

“Screw off.”

“You won’t be able to leave this way,” said the Elf girl as her figure appeared right in front of her again.

“…Fine.” Teresa gave up. She plopped down on the ground cross-legged, her sweat-soaked hair sticking to her skin. “I’m not going anywhere. But I’m not seeing Bilodis either. If she wants to talk to me, let her come out here herself.”

“Your Highness…”

“What, she can’t leave the palace for some reason, right?” Teresa smirked. “Then it’s the same old game. I’m not going in. Either we sit here and stare at each other, or you carry me.”

“The scenery is nice. Spending the night out here doesn’t sound too bad.” She stretched luxuriously and lay back in the field of drifting dandelions, resting her head on one hand as her silky hair cascaded along her collarbone. She yawned.

“I’m going to sleep now. Good night, maid girl.” She closed her eyes.

If they wanted to play, she’d play along. She had nothing else. Her strength was sapped, sure, but she had one card left:

She was gambling that the rigid, rule-bound Elves wouldn’t dare force her. If Bilodis couldn’t leave the palace, there was no way they’d try anything risky.

What was the rush? She’d sleep it out—maybe this was all a dream, and she’d wake up tomorrow like nothing happened.

“Lady Teresa, do you know how long Her Majesty Bilodis has waited for you?” The silver-haired Elf asked quietly, watching her lie in the flower field.

Teresa said nothing, feigning sleep.

“Actually, respecting your wishes is also because… well, if Her Majesty saw you dressed this sloppily…”

“…Ugh.” Teresa turned her face away.

“Well, if that’s how you feel, I apologize in advance.”

“…Huh?” Still drowsy, Teresa didn’t react immediately—then the world began to spin.

The scenery blurred, her body bounced—until she finally realized.

“Wait, what are you doing?! Who said you could do this? Put me down!” Her voice was full of panic as she tried to struggle, but the DEBUFF had rendered her too weak. Like a chick in someone’s grasp, she was effortlessly hoisted up.

The Elf maid had slung her over her shoulder. Her delicate legs dangled uselessly as the world behind her receded.

“Hmm? Didn’t you just say you wanted me to carry you to Her Majesty?” the Elf said sweetly.

“I’ve never heard such a weird request before, but since it’s from you, Your Highness, I must obey.”

“Wait! I never said you could carry me like this! Put me down! You’re an Elf—this posture makes you look like an orc kidnapping a maiden!”

“Crude? Not really. I’ve done far more crude things.”

“Like smashing Demon skulls with my fists, or crushing traitors’ arms barehanded… I’ve done all of that.”

“…What?” Teresa blinked.

“I’m actually much better with hands-on methods than Divine Authority. Doesn’t beating enemies into pulp with your bare hands feel more satisfying than some distant holy light?” The Elf maid giggled like it was casual small talk.

“Besides, if you’re not embarrassed, why should I be? It’s just carrying you like a sack of potatoes. Nothing I haven’t done.”

Teresa had assumed she could rely on Elves’ rigid respect for royalty—but apparently not with this one.

“Still, even if you are doing this, couldn’t you pick a more graceful way than slinging me over your shoulder?!”

“Good point. You’re not a sack. This is indeed disrespectful.” Then the Elf maid flipped her over.

Teresa felt the sky and earth spin—then suddenly, she was seated on the Elf’s slender neck, legs draped over her shoulders.

“Wait, wait!” Teresa flushed with embarrassment.

She was on her shoulders. A shoulder ride?!

She never thought—after living all these years—she’d get to experience this again.

“This pose is even worse!”

“Shhh~ Your Highness, we’ve arrived.”

“…What?” Teresa’s pupils shrank. She looked ahead—and at some point, they’d reached the branches of a towering Sacred Tree. Before them stood a magnificent Goldenwood hall.

“Go on, Lady Teresa. Her Majesty Bilodis has waited long enough.”

“Wait, hold on—!” Before she could finish, the giant archway of the hall opened. The Elf grasped Teresa’s ankle and gently tossed her forward. Teresa flew through the air.

A soft, invisible force caught her before she hit the ground, then gently carried her toward the center of the great hall.

“Urgh…” She landed safely, but the room was pitch black. She couldn’t see where she’d ended up.

Into the lion’s den…

No. Dragon’s lair was more like it.

What now?

She fumbled around, patting the floor.

The Goldenwood carpet was surprisingly soft—softer than silk, faintly warm, pleasantly scented.

Enchanted? The last time she was here, she didn’t remember seeing any rugs…

She tried to sit up using her arms for leverage—missed—and sank deeper instead.

Weird…

The shape of the floor beneath her wasn’t… flat? More like something soft had indented it—and she was lying in it. She couldn’t even steady herself.

What the heck was going on? Could someone turn on the lights?!

Maybe the Forest Mother answered her plea. In the next moment, the entire Sacred Hall lit up. Floating crystal lights on the walls and ceiling shone brilliantly.

From total darkness to full light—Teresa squinted, shielding her eyes until they adjusted.

What a lovely scent…

She hadn’t noticed it in the dark, but now—lavender-like, clean, holy and untouchable. Like a flower on a mountaintop—elegant, distant, unattainable.

She froze. A single whiff stunned her.

Wait.

Something tickled her face. She looked—it was a strand of golden silk, resting softly on her cheek.

Her own hair?

She tried to brush it aside, but even more hair fell onto her face.

What the hell? She was lying down, how could this much hair fall on her?

She realized something was very wrong. She kept brushing away the soft, fragrant strands—

“Aiya~ Naughty girl.”

“Silly little Teresa, you still love playing with your big sister’s hair, huh?”

The voice rang out like bells. Teresa’s body froze.

She followed the hair’s path—slowly turning her head to the side and saw… a face of peerless beauty, glowing like the golden sun. A sacred crown atop her head. She wore a sheer gold-edged translucent robe. Her gaze, gentle enough to overflow, shimmered with maternal affection.

Countless luxurious strands of hair spilled down her body, cradled by her magnificent chest—and it was those strands that had fallen onto Teresa’s face.

“…”

Teresa was speechless. Frozen.

Right next to her—was a golden-haired Elf wearing a crown. Sacred, immaculate, oozing motherly warmth… and the unreachable grace of an eternal sovereign.

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