Pillar of Yita

”You haven’t been to the Phantom Sea, and Affia hasn’t been there either, so I must arrange a guide for you.”

”Additionally, Father and the others have already left Quistack for a day and a night, and it’s likely you won’t catch up with the convoy.”

Before setting off, Princess Rupert stopped them and said so.

Tianlan blinked and asked: ”Then what should we do?”

”Fly there,” the princess replied, ”there’s a ship in the royal palace that my mother left behind before she passed away. It’s been kept up by attendants for the last ten years without anyone sailing it. It’s a small skiff, perhaps not suitable for long voyages, but it should still hold for a trip from here to the Phantom Sea.”

Fang Hong exchanged glances with the others and then nodded lightly: ”We’ll do as you say, Your Highness.”

”Then I entrust it to you—”

Princess Rupert hesitated, finally only saying softly: ”Mr. Ade, I leave it in your hands...”

Among the group, only Lady Papamo was brimming with confidence, patting her flat chest and assuring:

”Don’t worry, leave it to us.”

”We will definitely bring Miss Affia back.”

”By the way, when I return, I’ll tell Your Highness about that Evil Dragon. Because compared to it, the Blind Followers are insignificant...”

Fang Hong only met the gaze of the Grand Princess and nodded lightly.

...

The queen’s ship was moored within a small lake inside Kashan Palace. To cover their actions, they had to first navigate the vessel out of the lake into the artificial canal, and then ascend from the outer city.

Fang Hong had Hilveld and Tianlan stay behind, while he took the others forward.

Tianlan was left due to her lack of combat ability, and the Lady Noble staying in Quistack to stabilize the situation was more favorable than accompanying them. This was because Tang Xin, Ai Xiaoxiao, and Miss Nightingale were also still in the city, and there wasn’t a person in charge, should anything happen, the rest might flounder aimlessly.

Although his cousin’s mind was also quite capable.

But she was still a newcomer to this world compared to Hilveld in terms of making accurate judgments on certain matters.

Moreover, his cousin had just recovered from a serious illness, and whether she could oversee everything was uncertain.

However, the only headache Fang Hong had was Pasha.

The latter was determined to accompany them, his reasoning similar to last time—moreover, he knew how to operate the sails, a ’skill’ he learned from Bakins during these days.

Because Hilveld needed to stay, naturally Bakins and Miss Xiesta would not accompany them either, though Her Highness could arrange another sailor for them, Fang Hong reckoned Pasha might prove more reliable. Hence, he reluctantly agreed to his proposal.

Nonetheless, he reiterated:

”You must follow my command,” Fang Hong stated sternly: ”Or there will be no next time.”

The young boy nodded repeatedly.

Before departure, Aleph arrived, and the Earl’s daughter also arrived.

At the Earl’s Mansion, Lavali heeded their advice and came to find Aleph, asking the prince to help track down Affia. Upon hearing the news, Aleph did not hesitate and immediately dispatched people; however, it took some effort before they learned that Fang Hong and his party had already arrived at Kashan Palace.

Before they came, they had roughly heard about what happened. This was at Fang Hong’s suggestion for Tianlan to inform the two—Having learned the truth, Lavali appeared slightly calmer, for by her father’s side, she more or less guessed something.

While Aleph pursed his lips tightly and merely stepped forward to pat Fang Hong’s shoulder.

”I can’t leave Quistack, I’ll leave things to you regarding my father.”

Fang Hong nodded to him.

”You must be cautious here,” he warned: ”The Blind Followers’ primary task is to resurrect Dika, so their first target is definitely the fragment of ’Verdant’ within the Phantom Sea. However, judging from their arrangements by Princess Rupert’s side, it’s certain they are also prepared within Quistack City—”

”Leave it to me, Ade,” Aleph replied, ”I will take care of Quistack, and as for Affia, it relies on you.”

”I will take care of her.”

”Them,” Aleph corrected, ”including Miss Affia as well, do you remember what Father said to you that day?”

Fang Hong paused slightly.

He recalled the night of the Star Ceremony, when the King of Sand earnestly spoke to him. His father had entrusted him with taking care of Affia, but the tone didn’t seem to refer to his departed lover—as if speaking about a daughter. He felt a bit odd then, but now, he seemed to have finally understood—

”In the eyes of the Desert People, sharing the same name is a peculiar bond.”

Aleph responded slowly: ”I don’t have much impression of the queen, but Affia has always been close to me, and seeing that girl, I felt an inherent fondness, which is why I said what I did.”

”Affia is my sister, and so is she.”

”I believe my father will ultimately understand this too.”

”So do you remember the promise you made to him?”

Fang Hong looked at the Crown Prince again and nodded lightly.

He didn’t expect that Princess Rupert couldn’t fathom everything, yet this prince saw through the King of Sand’s intentions.

As Council Nulman said, perhaps the supreme ruler of the Sand Sea had long accepted the failure of it all—He regarded Affia just as he would his other daughter, letting her learn and grow among the Arcanists, free from outside interference, not even aware of her own origins.