“This matter is somewhat complicated to explain,” Liana was also a bit troubled. After all, if she were to explain it, she would have to mention some private matters concerning Sephirena. It wasn’t that she couldn’t trust Minoga, but saying it would be very impolite and disrespectful to Sephirena.

“You only need to know that she wants to die and is looking for someone to kill her,” Liana said.

“You told me this earlier. What I’m more concerned about is what kind of promise or agreement exists between you two?” Minoga asked.

“Within three years, she must kill me, granting me a painless death. If she fails, I will kill her, and then you will kill me,” Sephirena threatened bluntly.

“Aren’t you being a bit too arrogant?” Minoga frowned. She was actually threatening Liana in front of a guard. “Besides, if you want to die so badly, why don’t you find a place to die by yourself? That way, you won’t affect others.”

“I can’t,” Sephirena said.

“You really are someone who likes to cause trouble for others,” Minoga now understood that Sephirena must be a coward. She talked about wanting to die, but fear of death prevented her from doing it, so she could only seek help from others.

“Do you know how much trouble your rude request causes others? The Lisat Kingdom does not allow killing innocent lives without any reason, even if you are seeking death.”

Moreover, now that the Lisat Kingdom was going to cooperate with the Elf Forest, Minoga, as one of the few who knew about Sephirena’s identity and the cooperative relationship with the elvenkind, naturally understood how absurd Sephirena’s request was.

Now, not only could they not fulfill her wish, but they also had to find a way to keep her alive, given Sephirena’s special identity. If she were inexplicably killed in the Lisat Kingdom, it would have a huge impact on the relationship between the two countries.

However, Minoga also believed that Princess Liana would definitely «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» handle this matter perfectly. After all, she was Princess Liana.

Liana gestured for Minoga to stop talking, indicating that she would handle this.

Liana looked at Sephirena, not rushing to discuss this matter with her, but instead asking a question, “Weren’t you abandoned by nature? But now, nature seems quite close to you.”

Just standing here, Sephirena was almost becoming one with nature. You’re telling me this is what being abandoned by nature looks like?

“Kill me.”

“If you continue like this, I’ll have Minoga restrain you, then have the best priest treat you, preventing you from dying, and then torture you again and again,” Liana said fiercely. “You know I have that capability.”

“...” Sephirena became obedient, biting her lip.

What she had said just now could at most be considered verbal threats. She wouldn’t really harm Liana. At most, she would make Minoga perceive a danger and then use Minoga’s hand to kill herself.

But Liana was different. Based on the time she had spent in the Lisat Kingdom and the rumors she had heard about Liana, Liana was indeed someone capable of doing such things.

Sephirena had lived in the Venus Duchy for a long time. She had originally thought that time would make her forget the pain.

But as time passed, the sad memories didn’t fade; instead, they grew stronger. And since elves had very long lifespans, Sephirena was only considered to have just come of age for an elf.

Having to live with such painful memories for hundreds of years, Sephirena couldn’t bear it. She would rather die.

That’s why she had this idea.

“So? What’s going on? You were abandoned by nature, yet nature is so close to you? Answer me,” Liana asked.

“Close to nature? Ridiculous,” Sephirena laughed mockingly. “This is merely nature’s curse and punishment on me.”

Sephirena reached out, trying to snatch the sword hanging at Minoga’s waist, but as she extended her hand, a barrier repelled Sephirena’s hand.

“Don’t make any more provocative moves,” Minoga’s cold voice came. “If you try to take my weapon, I really will lock you up.”

“That’s not what I meant. I just wanted a weapon to show you why I can’t do this,” Sephirena said.

“Give her a weapon,” Liana said.

“Alright,” Minoga nodded. With her watching, generally, no major problems would occur.

【Create, Iron, Longsword.】

An iron longsword appeared in Minoga’s hand. The clear moonlight shone on the cold blade, reflecting a dim glow.

Minoga handed the sword to Sephirena.

“Thank you,” Sephirena said, then immediately used the sword to stab toward her own heart.

Minoga was about to intervene when she sensed something strange approaching this place.

Suddenly, the ground split open, and countless vines emerged, entangling Sephirena’s hands. The sharp blade was just a few centimeters from Sephirena’s chest, but no matter how hard Sephirena tried, she couldn’t close this distance.

“This is...”

“Nature is preventing my death,” Sephirena’s tone carried no emotion, only fatigue. Over these many years, she had tried countless times.

“You can try to attack me,” Sephirena looked at Minoga. Her eyes showed a ripple. She could tell that Minoga was very, very strong, perhaps strong enough to kill her despite nature’s protection.

“Sure,” Minoga was also curious.

“Minoga...” Liana was a bit worried, given the power difference. When the protagonist hasn’t even begun to grow, facing a big boss would certainly unlock a defeat CG.

Minoga was a genuine Judge. If something unexpected happened, it would be bad.

“Don’t worry, Princess Liana, I know what I’m doing,” Minoga was also interested in Sephirena. The power of nature was something she was encountering for the first time.

Minoga appeared in front of Sephirena in an instant. Nature’s power hadn’t yet reacted, and Minoga gave it some time to do so. When nature’s power finally reacted and protected Sephirena...

Minoga drew her blade. In an instant, all the vines were cut by Minoga, and her blade was at Sephirena’s neck. Sephirena reacted quickly, turning her neck and rushing toward the blade.

But how could Sephirena’s reaction speed compare to Minoga’s? Minoga quickly withdrew her weapon, also seeing Sephirena’s determination to die.

It seemed she had misunderstood Sephirena earlier. It wasn’t that she didn’t dare to die, but that she couldn’t.

A flash of disappointment crossed Sephirena’s eyes. She hadn’t seized this opportunity, but the person before her had given her a small chance. It seemed that Liana wasn’t lying earlier; she really did have a way to help her die.

“Now, do you understand why I want to die but can’t?” Sephirena’s blood-red eyes had lost all vitality. She no longer held any hope for this world; even death was a luxury.

“Whenever I face danger, the so-called power of nature emerges to protect me, and my own power can’t contend with it.”

Minoga had just tested it. Nature’s power was roughly between that of an Senior Executor and a High Executor. Those with the ability to kill Sephirena who also knew the consequences of killing her naturally wouldn’t be willing to do such a thing. They didn’t want to bear this risk, especially since there was almost no benefit.

“Nature has always been preventing my death, making me live on in endless painful memories. What kind of closeness is this? It’s merely a curse upon me,” Sephirena wouldn’t have thought of this method if she truly had no other way.

They were elves. Even if she tried starvation, nature’s power would make rain containing energy drop on her, allowing her skin to absorb the energy from the rainwater and survive.

She also wanted to find a place where no one cared, where she wouldn’t be discovered by anyone, where she wouldn’t disturb anyone, and quietly die alone.

But she couldn’t.

Liana looked at Sephirena and said with confusion, “Doesn’t this prove that this is nature’s love for you? Because it doesn’t want you to die, it stops and protects you?”

“You know nothing,” Tarashil was always the pain in Sephirena’s heart. “If nature truly loved me, why can’t I use nature magic anymore? Why doesn’t it tell me the truth when I desperately ask? Why doesn’t it tell me what happened that day?”

Sephirena’s emotions became agitated. She was resentful and angry. She also wanted to find the truth, to give Tarashil an explanation, but she couldn’t. Being expelled, she no longer had the ability to return to the Elf Forest.

Sephirena deeply recognized her own incompetence. Painful memories tormented her mind and body day after day, eventually leading to her current state.

Liana said nothing. She knew that Sephirena was now recalling those unpleasant memories. At this moment, she needed to let her vent.

Moreover, Liana couldn’t say much. If they switched positions, without any information, Liana wouldn’t have any solutions either.

From Sephirena’s perspective, she was indeed very helpless, and nature did seem to be “cursing” her, making her live with painful memories.

“Constantly preventing a suicidal person from dying, making me live on in endless memories—is this what you call ‘liking me’? This is clearly a curse. We elves live much longer than you humans. Nature will continue to torture me like this, making me suffer for hundreds, even thousands of years to come,” Sephirena said.

“So, I’ve come to complete this task now,” Liana said.

“?” Although Minoga was somewhat confused by Liana’s words, she didn’t speak up. She trusted that Princess Liana wouldn’t make any impulsive decisions.

“Oh?” Sephirena looked at Liana, finally showing a glimmer of relief in her eyes. “The payment will be given to you by the Angus Commerce Guild. Now, you just need to kill me.”

“I don’t need that kind of payment. I am a noble’s child; money is just a number to me,” Liana said.

“...Then what do you want?” This was the first time Sephirena had come so close to what she wanted. “I can give you anything except my body.”

Cough cough cough!!!

Sephirena’s words choked Liana. What was she suddenly saying!

However, Liana was well aware of how much the elves valued purity. Moreover, once they set their sights on someone, there was absolutely no possibility of letting go. They would love only one person—no, one elf—for their entire life.

“I don’t need anything,” Liana looked at Sephirena.

She walked toward her but suddenly stopped midway, turning to look at Minoga. “Minoga, do you trust me?”

“Of course, I trust Princess Liana,” Minoga didn’t understand why Liana suddenly asked this question at this moment.

“Then no matter what happens next, don’t intervene,” Liana said.

“...If Princess Liana is in danger, your safety is more important than your orders,” Minoga said.

“Then wait until I am truly facing a life-threatening situation before you act. I believe in your abilities as a Judge, but I also believe that such a situation won’t arise,” Liana said.

“Alright...” Minoga concentrated. If Princess Liana truly faced any danger, she would intervene immediately.

Liana approached Sephirena and extended her hand. The cut vines stubbornly climbed back up.

“Princess Liana.”

Liana shook her head. “Don’t worry about me. I’m not that fragile. Remember what we just said and agreed upon.”

Liana looked at Sephirena. Her blood-red eyes reflected Liana’s image, but her gaze showed no emotion.

“I will kill you,” Liana’s hand rested on Sephirena’s neck. At the same time, vines wrapped around Liana’s arm. The thorns on the vines tore through Liana’s clothes and directly pierced her skin.

Minoga frowned. These vines didn’t seem to want to attack Princess Liana, at most causing some superficial wounds.

“I’m fine,” It hurt a bit, but was still acceptable.

“What are you doing?” Sephirena looked at Liana. Liana’s hand gripped Sephirena’s neck but wasn’t applying any force.

“You don’t really want to kill me,” Sephirena realized that Liana had no killing intent at all, which was why nature’s power wasn’t attacking her.

“No, you have already been killed by me,” Liana said.

“What nonsense are you talking about?” Sephirena didn’t understand what Liana was doing.

“I said, you’ve already been killed by me. Number 314 is dead. Now, I give you a new name, Sephirena. From now on, you live only for me,” Liana said.

“What kind of joke is this!” Sephirena felt she was being deceived.

“I happen to need a servant and a guard. Although you can’t use elven magic, your combat ability is still very strong,” Liana said calmly. “The time remains the same. In three years, if you still want to die, I’ll have Minoga kill you.”

Sephirena no longer wanted to listen to Liana. The distance was close—this was a good opportunity. Sephirena grabbed Liana, placing her hand on Liana’s neck and squeezing tightly. “Kill me, or I’ll kill her!”

Minoga placed her hand on her sword hilt, observing Sephirena’s movements. If there was any sign of life-threatening danger to Princess Liana, she wouldn’t care if the other was an elven princess or not.

“What are you hesitating for? Your master’s life is in my hands!” Sephirena shouted.

“She’s not my servant. You should understand by now that she’s strong and loyal to the King of Lisat,” Liana struggled to speak as Sephirena choked her, but she continued.

“Let me be clear: the Lisat Kingdom is forming an alliance with the Elf Forest. If at this time, an elven princess dies on our Lisat Kingdom’s territory, it would be a devastating blow to the trust between us.

“So, even if I die, Minoga won’t act. She understands the pros and cons of this situation—whether to let a notorious young lady with a terrible reputation die, or to let an elven princess die, thereby affecting the future alliance.

As a royal knight, what decision do you think she would make? You should be clear about this, right?”

Liana could feel that the hand choking her neck was no longer applying as much force.

Sephirena did indeed hate and despise the elf race, but actually, what she hated most was her own incompetence.

The Elf Forest, despite everything, was the place that had created beautiful memories for her and Tarashil, even though those memories had long been buried by painful ones.

And Liana’s current goal was to stabilize the other’s emotions as much as possible, allowing her to recall the bits and pieces of the Elf Forest.

The elvenkind’s affairs could only be resolved by Sephirena herself. The most Liana could do was extend a hand to help her up.

“If you really wanted to kill me, I would already be dead by now,” Liana said.

“How is that possible? With a Judge watching here, you are absolutely safe,” Sephirena had guessed Minoga’s identity.

“Then couldn’t you just show a desire to kill me? According to your plan, isn’t it to kill me and then have someone kill you?” Liana asked.

“...” Sephirena didn’t speak. She felt that this young girl before her seemed to see through her.

“Don’t forget what you promised me,” Sephirena said. “In two years and eight months, you must kill me.”

Liana didn’t continue to expose the other. At least for now, she had stabilized her, allowing her to stay by her side for a while longer.

“Princess Liana, are you alright?” Minoga quickly came forward to check on Princess Liana’s condition. Apart from some redness on her neck, there weren’t any major issues.

Sephirena observed the relationship between the two. “Liana seems a bit different from the rumors.”

“Oh? As an elf, you’ve heard rumors about me?”

“I’ve lived in the Venus Duchy for ten years. I have some understanding of the events in there,” Sephirena said. “That naturally includes you, Liana.”