A Villainess Should Be Strong

"You are.. not wrong, but there is a reason for it," Neil replied to Estelle's answer, his face a bit strained as he spoke.

"A reason? Tell me more," Estelle was curious. Elves were indeed depicted as a hostile species, but Neil was on a different level. Considering his loyalty towards Shirley, it shouldn't be that he hated the Royals. He was diligent and faithful towards his job, and executed his duties with the utmost strength.

"I just hate outsiders, no matter where they came from, what their purpose is, or whatever their desires are. Whether they want good or bad to Alfheim. I suppose that when I first met you, your powers were the perfect proof for you status as the Princess, but the fact that you have been an outsider for all these years and suddenly came back here just doesn't sit right with me," Neil tried to reason, but that was not the thing Estelle was trying to search for.

"If you are comfortable with sharing, why do you hate outsiders so much?" Estelle tried to pry on further as it really caught her attention.

"Because they are filthy, and unsuitable of stepping inside this Holy land. They have been tainted by the rotten world and is not acceptable by the purity of Alfheim, they will do nothing but leave bad effects. Of course I won't let them be,"

"..By that, are you meaning to say that Alfheim is devoid of crimes? That is incredibly wrong, no?" Estelle raised a brow and asked. "You can't be that illogical as to say that a whole nation doesn't have any criminals. Sure, there will be some heinous criminals in every country, but can you really involve the entire place and hold them accountable for one person's worth of crimes? What if an outsider hates Alfheim just because one criminal did something horrific?"

"I would have no qualms with that as the outsider's thoughts are of no concerns to me,"

"I want to ask you. If you have a history of being wronged by multiple parties, all being outsiders, while your own race is the only one that treats you good and way better than what you have survived through, won't your perspective on these outsiders change? Plunderers, murderers, assaulters, everything. I have seen everything,"

"Elves can be rogues too. I don't agree with your way of thinking, but I guess it's your choice to keep such a small-minded outlook on life. One day, I hope that you can change that mindset, but I doubt that it would be easy considering how you were even able to spout all of that without batting an eyelash," Estelle chided as she stood in front of the Sanctuary's chamber, where guards were stationed at.

Estelle and Heine ended their conversation and stepped forward, facing the guards in a closer distance.

The guards' eyes were piercing as they looked at Estelle, scanning her from top to bottom. "What might your purpose be, young girl, and... the Queen's attendant? If I recall correctly, I have seen you walking with Prince Aleksei before. Your name was.."

"Forget about that name. I have actually been keeping my real identity undercover to suit myself to this country," Estelle decided to go all out in exposing herself. The first trial would be these two guards.

"My real name is Estelle Villarante, your country's newly announced Princess. I have brought with me the imperial seal of my grandaunt, Shirley," Estelle took the paper that Neil carried with him, the proof of the Queen's influence and support that was placed onto her.

The guards raised a brow as they looked at each other. One of them stretched a hand, asking to have a closer look at the seal. Of course, imperial seals would not be as simple as a normal working seal. It was imbued with a high ranking magic that wouldn't be able to be replicated unless it was worked on by the Queen's signature magic. There would be traces of Shirley's magic on the seal, something that all the royal servants have been made aware and familiar of.

The guards sensed the Queen's magic and nodded. He couldn't mistake it, because Shirley possessed a unique mana trace in addition to her royal powers. He scrutinized Estelle's figure and sighed. "I was also quite surprised when the Prince brought home a random girl out of nowhere and declared her as his student. Turns out, it wasn't the case at all. It all makes more sense now, actually," He made a light chuckle as he returned the paper and let out a gentle sigh.

"I, Olsen, pay my respects to you, Your Highness," He was the guard who first took a look at the royal stamp, bowing his head down, and refusing to raise his head unless Estelle acknowledged his gesture and asked him to.

Unlike Neil, this particular guy seemed to have an unconditional trust towards the monarchy. Upon seeing the royal stamp, he immediately showed obedience and acted towards Estelle how he would another royal. A very dedicated worker who did not mind the small things in between. Estelle had not even shown a speck of her power to this particular guy, and yet he was already able to treat her with far more respect than what Neil had shown her.

Unconsciously, she looked over to Neil, who met her gaze and raised a brow as if asking what she was trying to imply. Estelle retracted her gaze and put her focus back on the guard.

There were two guards, one of them was Olsen, and the other unknown soldier was still baffled and flustered, making frantic movements all the time. Unlike Olsen, he did not bow his head and just nodded lightly towards Estelle. This was the regular way someone would act when exposed to this situation. Filled with doubts.

However, this young man bursting with vitality named Olsen was different. He was very straightforward and had no problem accepting the new existence that was dropped in front of him.

Although Estelle had been addressed to as a member of the Royal family in the past, it was very hard to accept that she was now not only a royal in name, but a real bloodline member. She possessed Royal blood.

"...Look up. I wish to have a word with you," Estelle maintained a graceful act, something that she was excellent at doing as part of her much needed appeal to the public. She had quite the imposing presence, making her really burst with the aura of a royalty.

Olsen obeyed her words and looked up. "How may I help you, Your Highness?" he asked.

"I have notified the Queen before I came here, but my purpose in being here.. I am sure that you must already know what your job implies," Estelle said, implying the thing he was protecting.

"You wish to enter the Sanctuary, Your Highness?" Olsen immediately digested Estelle's words and questioned.

"That is correct. Do you have any objections?"

"Surely not. Since you have obtained Her Highness the Queen's permission, with the ultimate proof being this seal, then we do not have any incentive to prevent you from going in further," Olsen said.

The other guard had a restricted expression, his brows knitted as he watched this colleague of his just taking decisions into his own hands.

"..Olsen, was it? You are an interesting fellow. Are you a knight?" Estelle asked. There were usually two types of guards stationed as the Royal's servants. One of them was the Knight faction, and the other would be the Paladin section. Judging by Olsen's clothes, he seemed to be a knight.

"Yes, I am a royal knight working under the First Division," Olsen replied aptly.

The First Division was like its name, the highest ranked Knight order. Working in that division would not only require a strong power, but also sufficient background and recognition. Olsen being able to become a part of that division meant that he was truly spectacular.

"I shall remember your name for the future," Estelle flashed him with a gentle smile as Olsen stepped to the side and opened the gate for Estelle to enter further.

The other guard looked quite troubled, as he hadn't even gotten the choice to introduce himself. Before, he was a bit reluctant and suspicious at Estelle because of the way she randomly appeared, but after watching their interactions, Estelle seemed to be the real deal.

If so, then he had just missed the chance to make a great impression on this princess.

However, before he was able to interject and appeal for himself, Estelle had already entered the Sanctuary and closed the door behind her.

He ended up looking with quite a hostile and uncomfortable gaze towards Olsen, this strange knight , but remembered that Neil was still in the vicinity as he was relieved of his duties towards Shirley for the time being and was asked to accompany Estelle. The man would be waiting for her until her desires were finished.

He did not say anything, but his eyes also fell down onto Olsen, who did not react and just stood back rigidly as a guard.