"Your conditions are indeed good, but I can't possibly agree to you just like that."
Dorothy was very clear—there was no such good thing in this world.
As Empress, not only did Elashia allow her to appear fully armed by her side, but she was also willing to let her decide whether to fight according to her own thoughts in a military that emphasized discipline?
This didn't make sense.
She and Elashia had only met once; she couldn't possibly trust her this much.
Elashia definitely had something she hadn't told her.
"Your Majesty, I want to know your reason for doing this."
Dorothy's blue eyes showed unprecedented seriousness.
"A person who controls all of Elasia's power couldn't possibly place her safety in others' hands like this."
After hearing Dorothy's words, Elashia thought for a moment.
If she talked about the critical situation humanity was about to face now, Dorothy, who had just met her, probably wouldn't believe it.
And this couldn't make Dorothy understand why she wasn't afraid of her.
After all, Cecilia had just tied her up and brought her here. Wanting Dorothy to trust her in such a short time was indeed quite impossible.
But well...
As she'd said before.
She wasn't an idol drama heroine who had to drag the childhood story between herself and others to the final episode before revealing it.
So Elashia showed Dorothy a somewhat mysterious smile.
She walked toward Dorothy.
"Hey, what are you doing?"
Elashia's somewhat sudden action made Dorothy retreat several steps.
But after a few steps back, she hit the wall.
Elashia walked right up to her side.
Oh no, could this be Elashia as Empress being angered by her repeated questioning!
Dorothy closed her eyes somewhat fearfully.
Just as she was about to be stubborn and say "Ugh, kill me," she heard a crisp sound.
"Crack."
Dorothy opened her eyes somewhat puzzledly.
The restraint collar around her neck had been forcibly removed by Elashia with both hands.
Under Dorothy's incredulous gaze, Elashia smiled slightly and said:
"Big Sister Dorothy, do I need a reason to trust you?"
"Big Sister Dorothy? You..."
Wait!
Elashia's abrupt words made Dorothy's eyes widen!
Big Sister Dorothy?
She remembered!
Wasn't this what those two little girls called her seven years ago...
Wait!
She finally understood why Elashia in front of her looked so familiar, but she couldn't recognize her!
Because that Little Shia who used to like hugging her and acting spoiled had grown up!
"You... you are... Little Shia?"
Dorothy was so shocked she could barely speak!
Elashia = Little Shia?
That little girl who hugged her legs and cried while thanking her back then was the current Empress Elashia?
Memories from seven years ago flooded back into her mind.
She had just graduated from the orphanage a few years ago and was wandering aimlessly on the capital's streets.
Then in an alley, she heard a little girl's heart-wrenching cries.
"That's medicine to save my friend's life! Please give it back to me..."
Following the sound source a few steps, Dorothy saw a scene that nearly stopped her heart—a young girl less than 1.3 meters tall was desperately hugging the legs of a tall man.
The little girl was covered in blood, even her cute little face was stained with blood, looking extremely miserable.
Those thugs showed no mercy despite this miserable scene.
They kept kicking the little girl who was desperately holding onto their leader's body, showing no restraint.
They kicked while cursing.
"Let go!"
"Are you a dog, clinging to others and not letting go?"
"..."
But no matter how hard those people hit her, the pink-haired little girl kept holding tightly onto that man's leg.
Continuously repeating—"Please give it back to me..."
How could Dorothy, seeing this scene, ignore it?
As a ranger, although she didn't know what had happened, she knew—she had to stop this bullying!
After subduing those thugs and learning the truth from Elashia and the thugs, Dorothy had never been so angry!
After severely teaching those thugs a lesson, Dorothy proposed to protect Elashia for a while.
Then many things happened afterward...
Looking at the little girl smiling gently in front of her, Dorothy felt extremely torn!
That little girl who was covered in blood in the cold winter, crying while hugging her—could that be Her Majesty Elashia?
Her body moved before her thoughts, and Dorothy crouched down, reaching out to touch Elashia with both hands.
"Little Shia... is it really you..."
Elashia stood in place without moving, just smiling at Dorothy.
"Big Sister Dorothy, it's indeed me~"
Looking at that vibrant gentle smile, Dorothy immediately became certain of Elashia's words in her heart!
Although it was hard to believe, but... Her Majesty Elashia was definitely Little Shia!
This was absolutely beyond doubt!
Although a full seven years had passed, Elashia had changed from that little girl back then to become Her Majesty the Empress of Elasia, and she must have changed a lot.
But the gentleness in the girl's eyes and the kindness in her heart wouldn't change.
Now Dorothy finally understood why her ranger's intuition made her feel Elashia was familiar.
Her intuition was accurate, and this time would definitely not be wrong!
Looking at the girl in front of her, Dorothy also smiled.
Now she finally understood the reason Elashia trusted her so much.
Taking the petite pink-haired girl into her arms, Dorothy said gently:
"Actually... I've always wanted to come to the capital to see you two, but because we're considered an illegal organization after all... because I was afraid of implicating you... I never dared come to the capital to find you..."
Elashia also nuzzled Dorothy with her little face.
"Big Sister Dorothy, I know all this~"
The instincts left in her body by "Elashia" made her feel extremely natural security in Dorothy's arms.
Dorothy must have provided a sense of security for the helpless Elashia and Ileina back then...
Cecilia watched this scene from the side, showing a somewhat complex expression.
It seemed there was indeed no need to continue explaining. Dorothy should already completely understand Elashia's purpose.
The matter of Dorothy staying in the capital to work with her was probably settled.
But watching Her Majesty Elashia and Dorothy's intimate appearance...
She felt somewhat uncomfortable.
The reunited Elashia and Dorothy just kept hugging each other like this. Neither said anything, just intimately nuzzling each other.
After a long time, they finally separated.