Just as the two girls were chatting happily, an elegant female voice from somewhere interrupted their conversation.
"Alright, since Nina has already brought my dear daughter here, you can go handle military affairs first."
?
Nina's smile immediately froze on her face again.
After hearing that voice, she knew—that was her master's voice.
But... she didn't know—what military affairs needed her attention right now?
However, the slave contract's effect activated at this moment.
Her body turned toward the military camp uncontrollably.
Nina was confused again.
Why would her master use the slave contract now?
You know, although they had signed the slave contract years ago, her master had never used it to force her to do anything except when teasing her...
However, a telepathic message that Nina could tell meant Alexandra was definitely smirking made her understand everything!
"Don't blame me for interrupting your girls' night chat~ After all, we mother and daughter also need some intimacy~"
!
Nina suddenly realized!
Oh no! She had been so immersed in the joy of meeting her first friend that she forgot to remind Little Shia about that bottle of [Dragon Blood Essence]!
She looked at Elashia, whose expression showed some reluctance, wanting to say something to warn her, but...
The words that came out were—"Well then, Little Shia! See you tomorrow!"
So Nina walked toward the military camp with an extremely awkward smile...
"Sigh... I'll go chat with Nana tomorrow then."
Elashia waved at Nina with some reluctance.
The elegant voice from nowhere rang out again at this moment—[My dear daughter, do you need me to come down and get you?]
Elashia shook her head.
"No need, I know how to get to mother's palace."
Elashia knew there was no need to hide these things from Alexandra.
Because the highly emotionally intelligent Alexandra would absolutely never force her to reveal any secrets she didn't want to tell.
[Good, then I'll wait for you]
After saying this, the female voice stopped, and Elashia arrived before that massive castle.
"Creak."
The castle's main gate automatically opened before Elashia, as if welcoming this guest visiting the castle for the first time.
Elashia walked into the castle.
But the moment her footsteps entered the castle, the system's voice rang in her ears!
[System has detected host identity change]
[Host identity changed from Empress to Princess]
Ah?
Elashia was startled by the sudden voice.
Identity change?
Looking at her panel, Elashia suddenly felt like laughing.
Wasn't this just swapping two characters around!
However, while wanting to laugh, Elashia couldn't help but marvel at this [Mobile Fortress]'s magic.
As one of the highest-level treasures in the game, this mobile fortress could not only shrink to stamp size but also transform into a massive castle.
Although this castle could be damaged, it also possessed powerful self-healing abilities, able to restore itself in about half a day even if blown to pieces.
Its powerful regeneration abilities allowed it to serve as the Iron Empire's war fortress while even functioning as Alexandra's traveling palace.
Wherever Alexandra went, it would follow.
So people called it—"Mobile Iron Empire Territory."
Although currently within Elasian territory, the moment she entered the castle, the system's judgment of her changed to the Iron Empire.
Finding this interesting, Elashia gently stepped back, just exiting the castle.
Sure enough, the system notification sounded again.
[System has detected host identity change]
[Host identity changed from Princess to Empress]
Had to admire how sensitive this system was.
Elashia originally planned to test it a few more times, but decided against it after thinking.
Now really wasn't the time to play around; she should go to the castle's top to find mother first...
......
"Heh heh~"
In the empress's bedchamber at the castle's top, Alexandra was humming happily while watching Elashia climb the stairs through surveillance magic.
She'd soon see her little princess in person!
Moreover... thinking about what was coming next, Alexandra was extremely excited...
"Knock knock knock."
Polite knocking came from outside the door.
Then came the girl's gentle voice.
"Mother, I'm here."
After stopping the surveillance magic, Alexandra smiled and stood up.
Really looking forward to this first meeting between mother and daughter...
"Mm, I'm coming."
Alexandra walked over and eagerly opened the door with a click.
Elashia's petite figure immediately appeared before her.
That pink long hair, emerald green eyes, and extremely delicate features...
This was definitely her daughter!
She really looked so much like her...
Alexandra unhesitatingly embraced Elashia!
"Ah!"
Even though she had prepared herself mentally, Elashia was still startled by Alexandra's sudden action.
She knew—Alexandra's favorability would max out directly when meeting her.
But she really hadn't expected her to treat her so familiarly... being so intimate on their first meeting...
However, thinking about it, she really wasn't an outsider.
After all, she was her biological daughter... even though she'd only seen her once since becoming aware...
"Mother... hug me more gently..."
Elashia complained softly to Alexandra with some amusement, having been bear-hugged twice in one day.
She hadn't even had time to properly look at what Alexandra looked like before being directly embraced.
Hearing Elashia's small complaint, Alexandra realized—she seemed too excited.
Initially, Alexandra just simply wanted to experience again that... emotion she couldn't describe.
However, when the little princess in her arms was truly embraced by her, that intense emotion overwhelmed her again.
She didn't know what to call that emotion...
It seemed like... protectiveness?
She didn't know where this protectiveness came from.
Perhaps it was the natural maternal love of a blood-related mother for her daughter, or perhaps it was from cherishing humanity's only hope for salvation.
In any case, Alexandra discovered—that feeling had grown stronger since first seeing Elashia through communication.
When Elashia was truly embraced in her arms, she felt that intense protective desire amplified countless times...
She really wanted to keep her by her side forever...
However, after having this thought, Alexandra quickly released Elashia.
She couldn't have such thoughts.
After all... as the empress of humanity's strongest empire, she couldn't be controlled by emotions.
Moreover... as Elashia's biological mother... she didn't seem qualified to think this way...