Two-Faced Princess

“Your Highness?” Adrian asked with a worried expression. Apollonia stared at the letter without blinking. “Your Highness.”

“Caelion is missing,” Apollonia spoke with effort, her lips trembling slightly.

Adrian’s eyes widened.

“And?” Adrian inquired, and Apollonia’s lips quivered. It seemed as if she didn’t want to say the next words. “A day later, Uriel Buiche, who entered Bamel Mountain… is also missing.” Apollonia finished speaking and slumped into her chair. Adrian’s expression darkened. She cautiously took the letter from Apollonia’s hand, reading it over and over again. “The Croadins in Bamel Mountain is different from any demon the Order has faced before. They demonstrate not only enhanced physical abilities but also intelligence capable of employing sophisticated tactics. Some soldiers were attacked while waiting for the two, and even His Grace and Viscount Buiche…” Adrian couldn’t bring herself to finish the last sentence. She turned her head to look at Apollonia, who remained silent. “Your Highness, this speculation can’t be true. It’s only been a day or a day and a half since they went missing, so they must still be somewhere.”

“They must be hiding somewhere,” Apollonia said with a sinking voice. Her body trembled slightly. “Unable to leave the mountain.” She bit her lip tightly. She, too, didn’t fully believe the contents of the letter. Neither Caelion nor Uriel would die easily. However, if they had been missing for more than a day, it meant they were isolated somewhere, even if their lives were at stake. In the mountains, where a formidable monster resided, stronger than any demon the Order had encountered.

“Your Highness, if we wait…”

“If we wait, our forces will withdraw. We can’t afford to lose any more lives.” Apollonia sighed. Even if they were alive, it was hard to expect their bodies to hold up. Even if they miraculously escaped from the mountains, they would have no one to help them. Apollonia pressed her temple with her index finger. The situation was dire, but she had to remain calm. She had to find a way to rescue Uriel and Caelion. “When it comes to providing mercenaries for Caelion, the noble closest to the northern Trion territory would be Viscount Don’s territory.” Apollonia slowly began to speak. Adrian nodded quietly, not wanting to interrupt Apollonia’s concentration. “But it would take at least a day to deliver the message alone. Even if the Viscount goes to Bamel Mountain without resting… another day won’t work.”

Apollonia shook her head once, boldly erasing the initial option that came to her mind, and delved back into her thoughts. Requesting help from other nobles was impossible. It would take too long, and there was no guarantee they would willingly deploy their own soldiers into a dangerous situation. Ultimately, they needed the assistance of the forces stationed at Bamel Mountain. They had lost their commander and were waiting without being able to do anything. It was difficult to expect that they could rescue Caelion and Uriel on their own. They didn’t even have the ability to determine where the two of them were in Bamel Mountain. It would be a meaningless suicide mission to enter the mountain where demons roamed without any clue. “But if we can determine their exact location…”

If they could determine the exact location, even though the Imperial Knights didn’t know, the knights under their Chief Commander could risk everything to rescue their lord, even if it meant sacrificing their lives to the demons. These knights had fought together in countless battles amidst the persecution of the Emperor. Their loyalty to Caelion had already been proven. If there was a way to immediately ascertain the location of the two and then someone with authority could relay that information to the knights and give the order to rescue them… There was no certainty, but there was hope. Inside the room, long silence prevailed. “Adrian.”

Finally, Apollonia closed her eyes as if she had made a decision and opened them again. “We must go to Bamel Mountain.”

Adrian’s face turned pale. “Your Highness. It’s dangerous for you to go personally.”

“Someone with the authority to command the knights must go. There’s no one else we can mobilize.”

“What about Viscount Bayan… ”

“My father deliberately sent him away, excluding him from this. Going there would be nothing short of treason.”

Adrian’s lips trembled. She seemed to be choosing her words carefully. After a moment, she cautiously spoke up. “Your Highness. Above all else, what’s most important is your safety. You know that well.” Adrian looked at Apollonia with pleading emerald eyes. Apollonia understood her meaning. Adrian was appealing to Apollonia’s reason. She was saying that risking her own life, which she had protected with all her might due to the emotions she harbored for Uriel, wasn’t Apollonia’s usual behavior.