Pillar of Yita

Princess Rupert’s gaze, somewhat composed, fell upon the crowd.

She asked, ”Is it true?”

Fang Hong was momentarily stunned.

This was exactly what they had speculated.

The Dark Followers hidden beside the Princess would likely leverage the rift between the Grand Princess and the King of Sand to widen it and further alienate the two.

Such a rift might even be orchestrated by the Blind Followers themselves.

King Barbaltan, though he usually maintained a clear mindset regarding the Blind Followers around him, held a different sentiment regarding his daughter—namely, wanting to keep Princess Rupert and Affia out of this affair. Utilizing this mentality, Seniman—with the cooperation of spies around the Princess—could easily and stealthily achieve his goals.

Even in this plan, the Seven Seas Travel Group might unknowingly become a pawn. Utilizing their capabilities, the Princess’s investigation quickly delved into the Blind Followers and got involved in a series of events at Bain Fortress.

Thus, the rapid progress of the Grand Princess’s investigation compelled King Barbaltan to resort to one final measure—to confine her within Kashan Palace.

But as Fang Hong speculated, Princess Rupert would never easily abandon the investigation into her mother’s death.

Therefore, this decision naturally incited her resistance.

Though perhaps no outward cracks had formed, in essence, a rift between the two already existed due to this matter.

Once a rift formed, the Blind Followers found room to wreak havoc.

Especially as the King of Sand was aware of the Blind Followers’ true intentions. Yet the Grand Princess herself remained unaware of who the betrayer among those around her was.

However, these are matters of the royal household, involving both historical secrets from years ago and the honor of both the Princess’s mother and the current King of Sand. Originally believing the Grand Princess had some awareness of these matters, there was no certainty she would discuss them openly—they might avoid such topics and directly address the current situation.

She might even refuse to admit it—it was possible—

But after thorough preparation, he didn’t expect the Princess to directly address them.

Without any concealment, she slightly shook her head and continued speaking:

”Initially, I did indeed think that way.”

”Especially since I never doubted Achilles; he has been my Guardian Knight since I was very young.”

”He was my mentor in the past. Father adored me so much that even knowing about the relationship between us, he didn’t object.”

”In your Colin people’s eyes, perhaps this seems a bit unconventional—”

”But I always hoped that one day I would truly become his lover, taking his family’s name alongside my surname.”

”Yet I never expected...”

The Princess sighed softly and wistfully.

Her gaze fell on the Record Crystal on the table, and she spoke with a touch of melancholy: ”Though I still must thank you for bringing this news. Especially Mr. Parker... who even risked danger to infiltrate Kashan Palace.”

”It’s actually not that dangerous,” the Papalarian promptly replied: ”For a genuine King of Night Thieves, it’s nothing.”

”But I heard you were brought in under escort—”

Tianlan interrupted at the right moment.

Our dear Lady Papamo immediately fell silent.

Princess Rupert smiled slightly, though the smile was somewhat forced.

”Actually, I already had suspicions before... because from the moment I saw that young girl, I knew I was wrong. That girl couldn’t possibly have any connection with my father... indeed,” she sighed and revised her words again: ”But at the very least, I began to doubt the message Achilles conveyed earlier.”

”Of course, at the time, I hadn’t suspected Achilles himself. I just wondered if someone over there had betrayed us.”

”But I never thought...”

Tianlan listened with curiosity and couldn’t help but ask: ”Princess, how did you figure it out?”

Princess Rupert looked at Fang Hong: ”Mr. Ade might venture a guess?”

Fang Hong pondered for a moment, but he wasn’t actually thinking, merely affirming the notion he held. After a while, he raised his head, met the Princess’s gaze, and confidently responded: ”I suspect Miss Afeifa looks exactly identical to the Queen.”

Except for Xiangzi, Luo Yu, and Hilveld, everyone seemed surprised and looked at their Captain.

And a glint appeared in the Princess’s eyes.

”Few have seen what my mother looked like in her youth,” she calmly began: ”Even within the royal court, only images of my mother after her marriage exist, the earliest being around the time she first met my father.”

”But in the third year after my mother’s death, my father received a profoundly significant gift—”

”It was from a Holy Chooser, a Captain of a group known as the Golden Tulip Adventure Group. Upon her departure from this world, she entrusted a Record Crystal to my father. Within it lay a video of my mother’s youthful days during her time with the Adventure Group.”

”And that is probably the only record related to my mother’s youth in this world.” She paused slightly: ”Within this royal palace, only I, my father, and Afeifa have seen this recording. The young girl in that video... looked exactly like Miss Afeifa.”