Chương 91: Just Like a Mother

After hearing Isabella's words, Mary's emotions, which had just calmed down, immediately became turbulent again.

As for Elsa— The little girl was completely bewildered when she learned of this news as soon as she woke up, her eyes widening to almost the size of a two-dimensional character.

How did I, a drab little girl from a poor neighborhood, become the Ashes Duke?

Is it because my hair is gray too?!

Isabella also knew how difficult it was for the mother and daughter, who had been ordinary people not long ago, to digest these things.

So she asked Amelie to bring chairs so everyone could sit down, and then patiently explained the situation.

At the same time, she also asked Richard to recount what had just happened, and Mary to tell her about her husband's background.

After some discussion, the fragmented intelligence was finally pieced together.

"I see. The prophecy only mentioned a pregnant prostitute—a woman—and her female offspring, so we subconsciously assumed that the woman gave birth to a granddaughter for the Ash Duke, who would be in her thirties or forties by now."

"Unexpectedly, she gave birth to a grandson, who inherited neither Conrad's surname nor her own, but a fabricated Cinderella surname."

"And he has already passed away. The female descendant in the prophecy refers to his daughter, the Grand Duke's great-granddaughter—" Isabella looked at Aisha, who was still blinking her big, bewildered eyes, and sighed, "It was a misunderstanding from the very beginning. No wonder we couldn't find it."

Richard then asked, "Why were they attacked by vampires?"

Isabella explained, "I have said before that the Empire's enemies are also looking for Elsa, and among those enemies, the most active are the vampires."

""

"After all, a third of the achievements of the Ash Duke during his lifetime came from fighting against the vampire nobles in the mountains of Ronia. These monsters hated him to the bone."

"And it just so happens that these monsters are most adept at sensing the power of bloodlines, which allowed them to find the person before I did—thankfully Richard was there, otherwise—" Isabella glanced at Richard gratefully. She found herself enjoying looking at Richard more and more, since every time they met, she received news that made her happy.

Then she turned to Mary and Elsa and said, "You've only encountered the first wave."

"Once the vampires have found their target, they will never give up. They will keep sending people over until they take Elsa's life."

"I understand, this may sound sudden, but you need to return to the Empire with me immediately to inherit the power and title of the Ash Duke, or you will surely die."

Mary and Elsa's faces immediately turned ashen.

Richard frowned and asked, "Will there be any danger along the way?"

Isabella gave a wry smile: "I really want to say no, but even as a princess, I don't have the final say in this matter."

"So the answer is very dangerous!"

"Because the vampires will keep chasing us."

"Moreover, because the bloodline of the Ash Duke is too domineering, and Aisha did not receive the education of the Conrad family from childhood, her awakening was too intense, and her body was filled with chaotic magic, which could not withstand long-distance teleportation at all."

Isabella then took out the small bottle that had contained the crimson liquid earlier and said, "This contains a remedy blessed by fairies. It can alleviate her problem, but it cannot cure it."

"The fixed teleportation arrays in big cities have very high requirements for the stability of the objects being teleported, especially for longer distances. In her current state, forcing her way into a teleportation array could very likely trigger a magical explosion."

"In other words, we have no choice but to walk back to the Empire—" Oh wow.

If I were a vampire, hearing this would make me as happy as drinking ice-cold soda on a hot summer day.

Unfortunately, I am now that bottle of happy water — Richard was silent for a few seconds, then finally made up his mind and said to Isabella, "I will go back to the Empire with you as your guard."

Isabella looked Richard into the eyes and asked, "Are you sure? I'm not joking about the danger I'm talking about."

Richard nodded.

"Mary and Elsa are my friends, and you are my friend too. How could I stand by and watch my friends be in danger?"

Mary, standing nearby, finally understood what everyone was talking about.

After hearing Richard's words, she felt both grateful and somewhat at a loss.

She knew nothing about the leather gloves. In her view, Richard had been the mother and daughter's benefactor from the very beginning; they were the ones who owed Richard, not the other way around. Richard had absolutely no reason to risk his life for them.

As for Elsa, the little girl was even more quick-witted than her mother. Even though she had just recovered, she understood the cause and effect much earlier.

However, her focus was slightly different.

Has Richard already considered me a friend?

I'm so happy.

But to ask my older brother to risk his life for me or something — Her face flushed, then she lowered her head and whispered, "I'm sorry, Richard, I made you worry, but—"

"stop!"

Richard reached out and ruffled the little girl's hair, interrupting her.

"There's no need for all this nonsense. I'm not doing this entirely without expecting anything in return. After all, you're the future Grand Duchess. Once we return to the Empire, I'm going to cling to you and force you to repay my kindness by supporting me for the rest of your life!"

As soon as he finished speaking, Richard sensed that something was wrong.

While it's quite normal for bards to seek patronage from wealthy women, considering the age difference, it still feels strangely shameful for an adult male to ask a ten-year-old girl to support him.

Sure enough, Grace, who was listening in, couldn't help but burst out laughing.

However, Elsa did not laugh.

On the contrary, after feeling the warmth of Richard's palm, the little girl nodded very solemnly and seriously.

Big brother is right!

My older brother has helped me so much, so when I'm able to, I should take care of him too!

It's like my mother raised me!

This is about repaying kindness!

Elsa pursed her lips and made up her mind.

Isabella smiled and shook her head, then summoned her attendants and led Cinderella and her daughter to rest.

Once only Richard, Grace, Amelie, and herself remained in the courtyard, she said in a low voice, "Thank you, Richard."

"I told you, there's no need to be so polite."

"Don't be so modest just yet, there's something I need to remind you of."

"What is it?"

Isabella sighed and said, "Didn't you say before that you didn't want to hear about the internal struggles of our empire? But if you escort Aisha and me back to the empire this time, then whether you like it or not, you will be drawn into this vortex."

"This is different from when I invited you the day before yesterday. Back then, I hadn't completed my mission, and you were just an ordinary friend I met during my trip. Nobody paid much attention to you."

"But if I take Aisha back and make the vacant Grand Duke position a reality, then everyone's eyes will be on you. You will become famous, receive rewards, and at the same time, they will completely regard you as mine—my person—"