I Was The Hero, But I Woke Up as a Phoenix Princess! – Chapter 669

Chapter 669 Chapter 127 Scheme Under Twilight (Part 2)
“Sir Trist Horn, and Cardinal Bro, the Divine Hymn Ceremony they chose is tomorrow. Regardless of whether their scheme is a conspiracy under the dark night, or preparations before the extermination of the Frost God, it will not be truly carried out before the ceremony. This evening is the most appropriate time for them.”
Tais turned her head, gave Verafia a gentle smile, and then said.
“However, Miss Verafia’s guess is not without problems. Sisters hidden within the Church have sent word that Trist’s abduction of Lord Azer seems to be more than a simple trial; he has another motive.”
“If they don’t want the Divine Hymn Ceremony to have flaws, they should choose to do it here.”
Verafia’s gaze flickered slightly as she nodded. She did not question Tais’s guess.
However, for the conspirators behind the scenes, this was also an obvious matter. Perhaps Trist and Cardinal Bro were waiting for them to walk into a trap.
She thought with amusement in her heart.
Shiel clenched her robes, her beautiful light gold eyes filled with worry, “Brother Azer…”
Irene gently took her hand and comforted her, “If, as Miss Tais said this morning, at least he is not seriously harmed at this moment.”
“Miss Shiel.”
Tais suddenly looked at the pink-haired girl, “Miss Irene’s illusionary incarnation can simulate our aura, but why don’t you also stay in the castle? After all, you are the lord here, and those knights won’t trespass in the castle.”
“And with your identity, you might be able to gather more loyal troops.”
“No, I’ll go with you. Miss Tais… don’t worry about me being a burden, I know magic and can fight.”
Unlike her identity as a young count, Shiel possessed considerable magical prowess, even surpassing Azer, who was considered top-tier among Platinum Swordsmen, not by much.
She raised her light golden eyes and said firmly, “These knights know my identity, and they didn’t intrude a few days ago. Whether I stay or not will not have much impact.”
“Moreover, I am the lord of this city, and outside Vinash, there are vassals loyal to the Gassol family who are not under Trist’s control. Leaving this seemingly safe prison will allow me to be more useful.”
Verafia blinked her big eyes, looking at the decisive face of the pink-haired girl.
It was not difficult to guess that Shiel would refuse… However, Verafia had initially thought she would only say something like, “Brother Azer is in that place, and I must follow you.”
Well, as expected, this Shiel, while pretending to be a young count and appearing somewhat gentle, was not an indecisive or timid lord… and after changing into her female identity, she had not become a傻白甜 (silly, sweet, naive girl) who only cried and grieved.
Of course, if Shiel remained in the castle, her closest companion, Irene, would at least be distracted and leave behind an incarnation to specifically protect her. For this reason alone, she would have proactively requested to join.
Tais nodded, her gentle smile making her face look a little more relaxed. She clearly hoped that Irene, that powerful Star, would accompany them.
“Then, Lady Shiel, Miss Verafia, we can depart.”
Vinash Castle had a secret passage connecting to the outside. Not only did Trist not know about it, but Shiel herself was clueless when asked two days ago.
Two days prior, Tais and Laurence had arrived at Shiel’s castle through this secret passage. Although Verafia and Ig had never been there before, Irene had once used it to sneak outside.
…
The small leather shoes of the white-stockinged feet landed on the stone steps, the light sound echoing in the narrow space from afar. Verafia gently raised her golden eyes, the lingering twilight from the sky falling through the gaps, touching her fair fingertips.
The girl reached out and touched the ancient stone wall. Besides the damp cold, a dim fluorescent light briefly illuminated the traces of runes.
This secret tunnel was actually created by magic. Perhaps it was built in secret by the first lord of Vinash Castle for the survival of his family, long ago.
Although Verafia couldn’t distinguish the specific magical terms, it clearly belonged to the categories of “space” and “stealth,” and its level was evidently not low, such that Trist had not detected it for decades.
“Then, Tais, how did you know about this secret passage… even Shiel didn’t know?” Walking ahead, the Ice Dragon Girl curiously raised her frost-blue big eyes and looked back at Tais.
Shiel also followed the girl’s gaze, looking suspiciously.
“This is information from the Cult.”
Laurence, carrying his greatsword and remaining silent, suddenly spoke in a low voice, “However, according to records, it was left by Tais’s mother, the previous leader of the Cult.”
“Mm.”
Tais nodded. She held her staff, and the blue fluorescent light she ignited illuminated the surrounding alleyway, falling on her face, which still held a gentle smile, showing no signs of sadness. She looked at the pink-haired girl.
“I still remember, Mother told me… that the previous Count of Vinash, and Miss Shiel’s father, told her.”
“My father?” Shiel’s light gold eyes widened in disbelief.
“Approximately ten years ago… also during that famous Frost Expedition, Mother met that Count.”
Verafia suddenly remembered the stories Azer had told them.
Ten years ago, the expedition led by Shiel’s father was a shocking disaster for the entire human world, and in that sad story… everyone said it was precisely the betrayal of the Witch’s Apostle that brought about that miserable defeat.
However, according to Tais, her mother was rescued by the North Wind Witch ten years ago, and then founded the Kasha Cult.
Shiel’s fingers tightened slightly, her light gold eyes looking at her.
“That army was indeed betrayed, but… I’m sorry, I also find it difficult to be certain.”
Her words were somewhat intermittent. Tais shook her head, “At that time, it was said that the Witch saved Mother, and also met the Count for the last time. He told her much knowledge and information about this city, and it is said that he entrusted Miss Shiel to her.”
As the girl’s voice fell into the quiet darkness, Shiel’s slender fingers grasped the corner of her skirt, lowering her head, a trace of loneliness and sadness flashing across her expression:
“Is that so. Thank you for telling me…”
“So, Tais and Miss Shiel have such a connection.” Ophi exclaimed somewhat inappropriately.
The silver-haired girl’s eyelashes drooped slightly, and she merely tightened her grip on her staff.
Why did the atmosphere suddenly become so sad…
Verafia blinked her eyes and suddenly tilted her head, “Right. I remember, two days ago, Shiel caught some assassins who infiltrated the castle…”
“Mm. They were all soldiers under Robert, and the leader, Gatos, was the one Miss Vera and Tais saw.”
Shiel collected the emotions in her eyes, thought for a moment, and replied, “However, Irene didn’t get much useful information from them. And Gatos didn’t believe our story.”
“Then these knights… did you let them go?”
“Not exactly. Most of them are still imprisoned. But I deliberately left a slight opening for Knight Gatos, making him believe he had escaped the castle…”
Shiel glanced at the dim yellow light filtering through the cracks in the stone, “According to the time, he should have found Robert by now.”
“Is that so.” Verafia nodded.
Although that Crystal Knight Gatos didn’t believe them, and even stubbornly thought that Shiel was colluding with the Frost Calamity, since he had escaped from prison and returned to Robert’s side, he would inevitably explain the specific circumstances to his lord.
This was exactly what Shiel intended.
Considering that the young count had personally spoken about his family’s relationship with her, coupled with the fact that Robert had sent knights to her castle to verify on the first day of the siege… it was natural to place hope in him.
Moreover, even with the worst-case scenario, if Count Robert was corrupted by the Frost Calamity and became their pawn, releasing a Crystal Knight back to him would not alter the situation much.
With her thoughts settled, Verafia lightly nodded her little head. She held the hand of the youth beside her, carefully stepped down a somewhat steep step, her slender shadow gradually stretching further in the faint light, approaching the depths of the quiet secret passage.
—
The secret passage of Vinash Castle connected to a desolate woodland on the outskirts of the city. However, since they had already left the castle, with Irene, a Star, it was not difficult to re-enter the city.
However, Verafia and the others did not go directly to the Church. Instead, they first visited the cabin where the Wood Elf girl Ain lived.
Shiel sat on the sofa somewhat uneasy, her slender fingers gently clenching.
The two apostles of the Kasha Cult remained as quiet as always. The silver-haired girl occasionally looked around, her eyes flickering with a trace of surprise at the interior of the room, which the Wood Elf had decorated to resemble a treehouse.
She had heard long ago that Miss Verafia had a Wood Elf friend, but this was her first time seeing her.
Although she had heard that this Elf maiden was a blacksmith artisan, shecould feel a dangerous killing magic from the vines and green tendrils… and there was also that little red-haired girl.
The room door was pushed open again, and the sound of footsteps echoed on the floor. Soon, a Wood Elf in a robe adorned with emerald green rushed over from the forging room:
“Ig, your sword should be ready. However, I haven’t completely smelted the cluster of Flame runes on it.”
The Wood Elf raised her emerald blue eyes and handed the straight long sword she held in her arms to the young man.
She was about to say “Verafia’s runes” just now, but realizing there were outsiders present, she quickly changed her words.