"By the way, why didn't Little Lena come with you?"
Dorothy, having learned of Elashia's identity, couldn't help but feel puzzled.
You must know that Little Lena and Little Shia used to be inseparable.
She had originally met Elashia because of her seeking medicine for Little Lena in the cold winter.
At that time, watching Elashia take care of the sick Ileina was just like a mother caring for her daughter...
And Ileina also often liked to cling to Elashia. If Elashia didn't pay attention to her, she wouldn't even actively come down from Elashia's body...
So why wasn't Little Lena by Elashia's side now?
"Ah, Big Sister Dorothy, you're asking about Lena..."
Hearing about Ileina, Elashia's expression also became serious.
"This is actually one of the reasons I want to ask for your help."
"I need you and your subordinates to help me rescue her."
"Oh?"
After having her restraints removed and learning that Elashia was the Little Shia she had rescued years ago, Dorothy's speech became more natural.
She sat down on the ground casually and asked:
"You've now become Her Majesty the Empress who can mobilize all of Elasia's armed forces. With such powerful strength, you still can't rescue her yourself?"
Elashia's words sounded extremely strange.
As an Empress who could mobilize all of Elasia's power, what problem couldn't Elashia solve?
Elashia nodded again.
"Yes, my power alone is completely insufficient, and even all of Elasia's power isn't enough."
Dorothy became even more puzzled.
What kind of matter was beyond all of Elasia's capabilities?
What big shot had kidnapped Little Lena?
But which faction within Elasia could compare with the royal family?
Not to mention the current Elashia who had successfully achieved political clarity, military strength, and popular support—even the corrupt Elasian royal family of the past was still an absolute authority within Elasia.
So what exactly was the matter that even Her Majesty Elashia couldn't solve?
Dorothy was completely baffled.
"Even all of Elasia's power isn't enough? What exactly has Little Lena encountered?"
Elashia said seriously:
"Big Sister Dorothy, do you know about the Holy Kingdom's situation?"
Dorothy, being asked about the Holy Kingdom, became even more confused.
What connection could Little Lena have with the Holy Kingdom?
However, being well-informed, she still answered:
"The Holy Kingdom surrendered without a fight in the war against the Blood Clans over ten years ago. Not only did many people die, but now the entire country has almost become a blood bank for the Blood Clans, and the Holy Court that manages the country has become the Blood Clans' lackeys. Of course I know this."
Elashia shook her head.
"No, actually there are still quite a few resistance forces in the Holy Kingdom."
"Although their situation is quite difficult, relying on the support of the Holy Kingdom's people and mountainous terrain like ours, they continue fighting in the bloody terror."
After hearing this, Dorothy nodded approvingly.
"Not bad, I could guess that too."
She gave a thumbs up.
"Human will burns fiercely even in the coldest, darkest places!"
However, after the praise, Dorothy was still extremely confused.
"But what does this have to do with Little Lena?"
What connection could Little Lena have with the Holy Kingdom's resistance organization?
Elashia shook her head.
"The connection is very close."
"Lena... she is the leader of the Holy Kingdom's largest resistance organization—'Northern Fire.'"
"Ah?!"
This gave Dorothy quite a shock!
Ileina... she should only be seventeen now, right?
A minor as the leader of a resistance organization?
"Isn't Little Lena... only seventeen? What could possibly make those resistance people follow her?"
Little Shia becoming Elasia's Empress was already outrageous enough, and Little Lena became a resistance organization's leader too?
Thinking of the dangerous environment in the Holy Kingdom, Dorothy was immediately puzzled!
"I can't understand—she's only seventeen now! Why would she leave safe Elasia to go to the Holy Kingdom?"
Never mind whether those people would follow her or not—what use could a seventeen-year-old girl be in the Holy Kingdom?
And why did she leave Elasia?
Moreover, in Dorothy's memory, Ileina and Elashia, who grew up and lived together, were practically inseparable—almost nothing could separate them.
Previously, Elashia had almost risked her life to protect the medicine she obtained for Ileina.
And at that time, Ileina clung to Elashia every day just like a daughter clinging to her mother.
So why would Ileina abandon Elashia in Elasia and run to the Holy Kingdom alone?
...
There were simply too many suspicious points to count.
After hearing Dorothy's questions, Elashia also showed a somewhat melancholy smile.
"Yes... why indeed..."
The residual emotions left in her body by "Elashia" made her miss that person terribly whenever she was mentioned.
She would even dream of her being injured.
Often when Elashia woke from dreams, touching her little face, she would find it almost completely covered in tears.
Ileina was truly too important to Elashia, and presumably Elashia's importance in Ileina's heart wouldn't be any less.
But in the game, it was precisely because of Ileina's departure that the originally kind-hearted "Elashia" gradually became twisted in her solitary world, eventually becoming a world-destroying "villainous princess."
But knowing that her departure would not only cause her best friend heartbreak but also put herself in an extremely dangerous environment in the Holy Kingdom, why would Ileina choose to leave after awakening?
This question had puzzled Elashia throughout her gaming experience.
However, the current Elashia felt she understood now.
Perhaps it was... because of so-called "responsibility."
As a princess of the Holy Kingdom, she had a strong sense of mission toward the Holy Kingdom's land and people.
So even knowing the danger, even knowing this would make Elashia sad, she still chose to leave Elasia alone and go to the Holy Kingdom shrouded in bloody terror.
Elashia looked at the puzzled Dorothy and answered:
"Perhaps because of so-called 'responsibility.'"
"Responsibility?"
Dorothy couldn't understand.
What responsibility could Little Lena have toward the Holy Kingdom?
Elashia looked at her and smiled melancholically:
"Yes, responsibility."
"Big Sister Dorothy, actually we hid something from you before."
"Actually... to ensure our safety, we usually didn't use our real names to address each other."
"So she generally called me 'Shia,' and I generally called her 'Lena.'"
"And Lena's real name... is actually Ileina."
Upon hearing Ileina's real name, Dorothy immediately cried out in surprise!
"Ah?!"
Ileina?!
"Little Shia, are you talking about... Holy Princess Ileina?"
Elashia nodded.
"Yes, this is why she believes she 'bears responsibility for all life in the Holy Kingdom.'"
Now Dorothy's many doubts were finally resolved!
So "Little Shia" was Elasian Princess Elashia!
And "Little Lena" was Holy Princess Ileina!
Dorothy looked at her own hands.
How could she not know she had such miraculous power over humanity?!
She had saved the heirs of two countries in one stroke back then?
One righteous act indirectly saved two countries?