Huh? Are they all real?...

At the same time, their revered names rang out:

"Princess Elmeran has arrived!"

The princess actually wants to see me?!

Wait, what's the name? Elmeran?!

That short sentence left Leda stunned twice.

When Leda saw who had appeared, she was completely stunned.

It really is Air!

"Ah, this, love, love?!"

Seeing her friend's dumbfounded look, Er lifted the hem of her skirt and spun around on the spot, saying:

"Long time no see, Sister Leda! How was the surprise?"

Upon hearing this, Leda didn't react at all; instead, her brain went completely blank.

Why is my friend a princess here?

Aren't we time travelers able to fool even angels and demigods through special means?

Why did Aier become a princess under such circumstances?

Amidst the utter bewilderment, Leda suddenly had a flash of inspiration.

Could it be that the person I know in the Human Alliance, Ai'er, is actually a time traveler?

She traveled back in time?!

Now he has finally been found by his father, King Trajan?

Good heavens, I'm friends with such a legendary princess?

princess

Completely unaware of what her friend was thinking, Air had already pulled out the chair in front of her and sat down.

Aier was very excited, but didn't know how to express it, so she just said:

"Ah! Sister Leda—you've finally arrived?..."

Ayl then had a lot to say, wanting to come out in a string: Human Alliance, superhumans, sequence, ice cream... but she always felt as if something was blocking her, just swirling in her mind, unable to come out.

Leda, who had risen, stopped, her face showing a mixture of joy and sorrow. Her lips moved, but she remained silent. Her demeanor finally became respectful, and she clearly called out:

"Your Highness!..."

Ayl seemed to shudder; she knew that a sad, thick barrier had already separated them.

Aier was also speechless.

After a long silence, Er, who had also remained silent, finally managed to speak:

"What are you talking about, Sister Rita?"

However, Aier was surprised to find that her good friend, with whom she had sunbathed and shopped, was visibly flustered amidst her extreme restraint.

After a moment of astonishment, Er smiled wryly:

“Sister Leda, I am still me, there’s no need to be so reserved.”

Although she was also standing, Leda, whose head was almost drooping into her chest, hurriedly shook her head and said:

“Your Highness, we are different! You are a princess, while I am just a mortal, and a blasphemer at that.”

A growing silence fell between the two.

They were clearly friends who were also transmigrators from the same Human Alliance background.

But now, they are people firmly separated into two worlds by a pitiful, thick barrier.

Ayl wanted to explain something, but she sadly discovered that she seemed unable to do so.

Finding Leda and bringing her back to protect her was the best she could do.

Moen's identity, and who the Sword and Shield King really is, are things that the fewer people who know, the better.

So, with a helpless smile, Aier sat down in the chair and asked:

"Sister Leda, what do you think is going on with me? Why do you think I'm a princess?"

After a moment's hesitation, Leda said:

"You must have been sent to us by His Majesty Trajan, right?"

Why would you think that way?

Aier was a little surprised, but did not deny it; sometimes, a mistaken belief is actually a form of protection.

“We are friends, Sister Leda, I hope you will always remember that.”

This caused a slight change in Leda's expression, and a glimmer of hope began to appear in her eyes.

She wanted to chat with Leda about their future boyfriends, gossip about each other, and share the frustrations of being time travelers.

I want things to be the same as before.

Unfortunately, that light vanished in an instant.

“Your Highness, I am very grateful for your kindness, but I am just a mortal. The gap between us is too great.”

Aier grew increasingly helpless, and after a bitter smile, she asked:

"I have prepared a place for you to stay, right next to my palace. It is quiet and safe, and we can stay there from now on."

A slightly timid voice interrupted Er:

“Your Highness, I am but a mortal, and I should not stay by your side.”

“Then I can be in the palace, no, I can be in the capital.”

As they were talking, Aier stopped speaking.

She saw the resistance in Leda's eyes.

She didn't want to live with herself.

Er lowered his head and said:

"I'm sorry, I thought this would be a good thing for you."

The transmigrators here are in a bad situation; even the second batch who arrived early could not find a better place than the princess's side.

Or rather, even the first batch five years ago wouldn't have had this opportunity.

So she somewhat naturally assumed that she should keep it all as a surprise.

Didn't expect it to be like this.

Seeing the dejected Air, Leda offered a slightly apologetic word of comfort:

“Your Highness, I understand your meaning and your affection, and I also know that people like us could not possibly have a better place to go than by your side.”

"But I can't accept this, I have no reason to accept it!"

Aier suddenly spoke up:

“You helped me. If it weren’t for your kindness and guidance, I might have been sent back as soon as I arrived, and I would never have been able to return to his side!”

Go back to his side? I knew I was right, it was the Sword and Shield King who sent El here back then.

Amidst Er's excitement, Leda said earnestly:

"Yes, but Your Highness, those don't qualify."

"I think it's fine as long as I think it's possible, Sister Leda!"

"But I don't think so, Your Highness. I am a person too, and I have my own principles!"

Leda's eyes held seven parts timidity and three parts determination.

After opening his mouth, Er was defeated.

Good heavens, she actually treated her friend like an object without considering her feelings.

"It's my fault, Sister Leda, I should have told you beforehand."

"Your Highness, you don't need to apologize. You're only doing this for my own good."

Aier looked away even more, and asked with a hint of guilt:

Is there anything I can do for you?

After a moment's hesitation, Leda said:

"If I could, I would like a ticket to the Old World."

"Rome? Why go to Rome?"

Aier was also a little puzzled. After a moment, she raised an eyebrow and said:

"Sister Leda, you're not thinking of going to find Augustus's treasure, are you?"

Leda shook her head repeatedly and said:

"How could I possibly find a treasure that so many people have searched for over several eras without success?"

"Then what are you going to do in the Old World?"

"The witch said that if I have time, I can go to Pompeii in the Old World, where she will give me a new potion."

"The puppet path, right? I can do that too, and I've already collected the complete divine path for you!"

"Your Highness, please do not give me charity!"

Leda's sudden voice made Aier feel even more lost and guilty.

She became increasingly saddened to discover that, amidst the repeated calls of "princess," she was truly becoming like the high-ranking nobles here, treating those of lower status as objects.

"I understand, Sister Leda. I will take care of everything for you."

"Your Highness, thank you!"

"It's my duty, Sister Rita."

In her grief, she could only watch as her friend, whom she had finally managed to find, left her once again for the Old World.

On the airships heading to the Old World.

Leda, who was staying in the first-class cabin, kept pinching her arm.

This is used to determine whether one is dreaming.

Looking at the arm that had been pinched completely purple.

Leda finally breathed a long sigh of relief.

This trip to the palace was too dreamlike for her.

After lying on the soft velvet comforter, Leda glanced in Baratheon's direction with a hint of guilt and unease.

The claims that she had her own principles and hoped that Aier wouldn't give her charity were all false.

She does have her own principles and dignity, but not to the point of being so insistent.

She was simply scared.

Even a viscount of a dynasty was an absurdly important figure to her.

Moreover, she is the daughter of a king and a god?

She couldn't understand Baratheon, nor could she understand El, so she ran away.

Perhaps it was incredibly foolish of her to stray from the readily available path to success, but perhaps that's precisely why she managed to save her life.

With the future uncertain, she chose to maintain the status quo.

It's not exactly right, but it's definitely not wrong either.

After burying her face in the pillow, Rita said in a muffled voice:

"Aier, I'm sorry."

-