I Was The Hero, But I Woke Up as a Phoenix Princess! – Chapter 509

Chapter 509 – Pegarlan (Part 1)
Fililia lowered her thoughts, her gentle gaze falling on Andes, who sat upright beside Shiya. A teasing smile appeared on her beautiful face:
“So that’s how it is… but it’s only natural. How could anyone else capture attention when someone as outstanding as Andes is by little Shiya’s side?”
Given Andes’ reputation as a Holy Silver Knight and the “Holy Son of Light,” the Empire’s most outstanding young talent, Fililia naturally valued him greatly.
In fact, in the half-year Shiya had been in Lichen, Fililia had met them at the King’s court. However, this was the first time they had met privately at the Royal Palace with the Princess, invited by the Queen for afternoon tea.
But amidst the Queen’s teasing, even Andes couldn’t help but feel a little flustered, saying, “Your Majesty the Queen, you flatter me. Guarding the Princess is my duty.”
Fililia smiled slightly. There was no need to delve into the thoughts of the younger generation.
Fililia extended her jade-like hand, offering Shiya a soft dessert. She then looked up, her gaze slightly raised as she looked at the young knight accompanying the red-haired little princess, saying,
“When I was a young girl… I visited the Holy City. At that time, His Holiness Moon was not yet the Pope, but a Holy Light Priest who had just begun to gain fame. During that trip, he showed me the Sword of Light sealed by the Holy Court.”
“At that time, the most famous blade among the Eight Great Sacred Swords, Dawn, which you now wield, was still sealed away.”
“I never expected you to have interacted with His Holiness.”
Andes didn’t understand the reason for Fililia’s sudden mention of past events. However, the woman, who appeared to be a gentle young girl, was the Queen of Peka, so Andes spoke with deference.
“That’s a story from a long time ago,”
Fililia said softly, “However, for His Holiness the Pope to entrust ‘Dawn’ to you, it seems he values you greatly.”
“Your Majesty the Queen, you flatter me. But I am fortunate to have been able to wield ‘Dawn’, not having failed His Holiness’s expectations.”
Shiya, who was eating dessert nearby, looked up at them with her ruby-like eyes, a little puzzled.
“Lord Andes, there’s no need for such humility. The title ‘Sacred Sword Knight’ has been a symbol of heroes since my youth, let alone ‘Dawn’, which is the foremost among them?”
The silver-haired young girl smiled gently, her voice soft, “It’s just that, given your status, you are willing to accompany little Shiya. Such a thing… is it at the behest of the Holy Court?”
At that moment, the air seemed to turn heavy. Even the young Princess Shiya sensed an unusual atmosphere and looked at them with her red eyes, a little flustered.
Andes fell silent for a moment, then raised his head and said, “Your Majesty the Queen, I must beg your pardon for not being able to speak of the intentions of the Holy Court and His Holiness the Pope. However, accompanying the Princess is my personal vow.”
“Brother Andes…” Shiya parted her tender red lips, emitting a faint sound.
“A Sacred Sword Knight’s vow is, of course, beyond doubt. And your character and will are also renowned throughout the continent. Otherwise, how could Teresa be at ease letting you protect little Xi… But what if, one day, your will conflicts with your faith?”
Andes’s gaze sharpened slightly. However, the silver-haired Queen merely seemed to be joking. After taking a sip of her black tea, she smiled and said,
“This is just a fleeting thought, Lord Andes, you don’t need to mind it. However… I wonder how long you will accompany little Xi in Peka?”
“Four years, Your Majesty the Queen. Until the Princess comes of age.”
Andes replied. This was the publicly announced information. After completing her studies at Aris Academy in Peka, Shiya would turn sixteen, and only then would the Emperor agree to let her return to the Empire.
But, the Queen’s sudden words implied…
“Four years… I imagine Teresa must miss little Shiya dearly.”
Fililia’s gentle voice was like a spring. She tilted her head slightly and looked at Andes, “However, I wonder, Lord Andes, have you sensed anything during your year in Lichen?”
Sensed? Was she asking about his feelings towards Lichen… But if so, why would the Queen choose to ask him instead of the Princess?
“Your Majesty the Queen—”
Andes’s words were interrupted by a crisp knock on the door. Fililia slightly raised her face, signaling a maid to welcome the visitor.
A moment later, the door opened, and Cardinal Richelieu, clad in blood-red divine robes, entered.
“Your Majesty the Queen.”
The Cardinal bowed to the Queen, then looked at Shiya and Andes on the other side, “Princess and Lord Andes are here as well.”
Andes rose to return the greeting. Although there were disagreements between the Peka Church and the Holy See, they were still a unified church organization on the surface.
Fililia stood up from her chair, the hem of her evening gown trailing on the porcelain floor. She curtsied elegantly and gracefully, “Lord Andes, it seems Cardinal Richelieu has important matters to attend to. Please excuse me for not being able to accompany you further.”
As she stood up to leave, she seemed to remember something and turned back, looking at the red-haired girl beside the knight,
“Oh, yes. I believe Teresa must be missing little Shiya dearly lately. If little Xi has some free time, why not go back and see her?”
Like a flash of lightning, Andes’s pupils suddenly contracted. He finally realized the hidden meaning behind Fililia’s words.
The Queen’s intention was to hint that I should take the Princess away due to the recent undercurrents in Lichen. Wait, did she mean… I’m so slow, why didn’t I realize it sooner?
Andes tried to suppress his emotions and took the red-haired girl’s small hand, “Your Highness, since it is Her Majesty the Queen’s wish, perhaps we should leave at this time as well.”
The red-haired girl obediently nodded her little head and followed him.
The Queen’s maid saw them out of the palace. After passing through the guard-patrolled corridors and long staircases, Andes finally breathed a sigh of relief as they left the palace gates.
“Brother Andes…”
Only after leaving the Royal Palace did Shiya emit a faint sound, “Did Auntie Fia have something to say to us just now…”
“Most likely.”
Andes said. He looked around. The entire city was still filled with the peace and excitement of the holiday. “Perhaps she believes there will be unrest in Lichen, which is why she signaled us to leave.”
“But, such a thing…”
Andes’s expression turned serious. The Queen didn’t tell them directly but instead used a veiled meaning. Was it that she didn’t want to reveal such a matter…?
If the Queen of Peka were to actively involve herself in such a turmoil, what about His Majesty the King, who had exerted influence over the continent for a hundred years since the Demon Race War? And also, the “Seed of Destruction” they had encountered upon arriving in Lichen…
Suddenly, the girl beside him let out a gasp. Her slender and tender white hand held the red crystal hanging on her chest, and a dazzling crimson light seeped from between her fine white fingertips.
“Andes, look at the Aeriogen Stone… could it be because of Sister Veer!”
“Verafia.”
Andes uttered the name. He thought of that sacred and noble young girl. More than most people, Andes knew her identity. “Could it be that she has arrived in Lichen… or perhaps, what the Queen was referring to was her arrival itself?”
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Originally, Andes and Shiya had some plot in this volume… (For now, let’s consider it a preview…)