Faerun: The arcane mage is still too imprisoned.

She asked someone to sell it to a jeweler in the city, and got five hundred gold coins in return, which was just enough to pay off her debts.

She thought she could get away with it without anyone knowing.

Anyway, the princess has so many pieces of jewelry, she probably wouldn't notice if one was missing, right?

But now the gem lies in the princess's hand, like a mocking eye, staring straight at her.

"That...that's..." Milia's voice trembled violently, "That's the jewel I stole?!"

Elena nodded, her smile radiant.

"yes."

"I definitely sold it!" Milia was almost in tears. "I sold it to the jeweler in the south of the city! Why... why is it in the princess's hands!"

Elena jumped off the bed, walked up to her, and held the gem up to her eyes.

"Are you stupid?" she said. "The jeweler you sold it to is a supplier to the royal family. He took your gems and then came to ask me if I wanted to buy them back. I looked at them and thought, 'Hey, isn't this mine?' So I bought them back for eight hundred gold coins."

Milia was stunned.

"Eight, eight hundred gold coins?"

"Yes, that's right." Elena smiled like a little fox. "He bought it for 500 and sold it to me for 800, making a profit of 300 from me. But don't worry, I've already had his shop shut down. He's probably crying in jail right now."

Milia's face was completely drained of color.

Only one thought remained in her mind:

It’s over.

It's all over.

Stealing royal property is a serious crime. The lightest punishment is having a hand cut off and being expelled from the palace; the heaviest...

She dared not think any further.

Elena looked at her pale face and nodded in satisfaction.

"Hmm, it's almost done."

She put the gem away and reached out to pinch Milia's cheek.

"Milia, tell me, if I tell my brother about this, what will he do to you?"

Milia knelt down with a thud.

"Your Highness! Your Highness, spare me!" She clutched at Elena's skirt, tears streaming down her face. "I...I had no choice...My father lost money in business, I was truly desperate..."

Elena looked down at her, saying nothing, just staring.

Milia cried for a while, then, noticing the princess's lack of reaction, she looked up and met those smiling eyes.

She suddenly understood something.

This princess...

They were waiting for her to speak first.

Milia swallowed hard and asked cautiously, "Your Highness, what...what do you want me to do?"

Elena bent down, leaned close to her ear, and whispered:

"You wouldn't want the King to find out you stole royal property, would you?"

Milia shuddered.

The voice was light and airy, yet it felt like a sharp knife piercing her heart.

She opened her mouth, as if to say something, but her mind went blank.

Elena straightened up and patted her on the shoulder.

"Don't worry, as long as you behave, we'll pretend this never happened."

Milia knelt on the ground, head bowed, looking at her trembling fingers.

"This princess..."

no way.

What can she do when someone holds her braid in their hand?

She took a deep breath, looked up, and looked at Elena.

"Your Highness, how can I help you?"

Elena's eyes lit up, and she pulled her up and pressed her into a chair.

"It's simple. I have to go out for a little while, and you can cover for me."

Milia froze: "Going out? But what about His Majesty the King...?"

"That's why I asked for your help," Elena blinked. "You just need to hold off those guards for me. If anyone asks, just say I went for a walk in the garden and will be back soon."

Milia opened her mouth, wanting to refuse, but when she met Elena's smiling eyes, all the words stuck in her throat.

"She has something on me."

"If she tells anyone, I'm finished."

What else can I do?

Milia struggled internally for over ten seconds.

Then she sighed.

"Your Highness, how long will you be gone?"

Elena beamed, "Just half a day! I'll definitely be back before dark!"

Milia gritted her teeth and nodded.

Elena excitedly hugged her: "Great! Just do as I say! When I get back, I'll treat you to something delicious!"

Milia gave a wry smile: "Your Highness, you should think about how to get back safely first."

Elena waved her hand, disguised her face, and became unremarkable.

She opened the window and looked down.

not tall.

She took a deep breath, climbed out of the window, and slid down the wall.

Looking back out the window, Milia was peeking out, looking at her with a worried expression.

Elena waved the ruby ​​in her hand at her, then quickly disappeared into the shadows of the garden.

Milia watched the disappearing figure and let out a long sigh.

Princess...you really are...

She closed the window, composed herself, and walked out of the room as if nothing had happened.

"Her Highness is resting, please do not disturb her."

……

Two hours later, thanks to her knowledge of the palace, the princess made it through smoothly.

Outside the capital city.

Elena stood by the roadside, watching the city walls gradually recede into the distance, and suddenly felt a little flustered.

"I...I really came out?"

She glanced back, then looked at the road stretching into the distance.

There were many people on the road, including merchants on their way, civilians carrying luggage, and soldiers in twos and threes.

Elena took a deep breath, took a step, and blended into the crowd.

After walking for several hours, it was getting dark.

Elena's foot seemed to be a little uncomfortable.

It's not a matter of physical fitness; after all, they are professionals.

The main reason was that she had never walked such a long distance on foot before, and it just didn't feel right.

Normally, when he's in the palace, he just takes a walk in the garden.

But now, she has to go a long way.

"I should have ridden a horse... Or should I buy one?"

As she was thinking, she heard the sound of horses' hooves behind her.

A troop of cavalry passed by her, kicking up a cloud of dust. Elena covered her mouth and nose, and when the dust settled, she found that the troop of cavalry had already gone far away.

"This direction...they must be heading to the front lines, right?"

Elena watched those departing figures and suddenly felt a surge of excitement.

After walking for another hour, it was completely dark.

Elena found a small grove of trees by the roadside, found a secluded corner, and sat down against a tree.

She took out some dry food and water from her dimensional bag and started eating while looking at the stars in the sky.

"My brother must be looking for me now, right?"

I wonder if Milia got scolded...

"Whatever, now that we're out here, I'm not going to think about it anymore."

After finishing her dry rations, she spread out a blanket, wrapped herself tightly in her clothes, took out her ring (which granted her three daily Vigilance spells), and cast the Vigilance spell.

Close your eyes.

……

Meanwhile, in the royal palace.

Aldridge stood in Elena's room, staring at the open window, his face ashen.

"When did she leave?"

Milia knelt on the ground, head bowed, thinking about the little devil who had threatened her with the jewel.

But all he could say was honestly, "In the afternoon... in the afternoon."

Aldridge took a deep breath and then slowly exhaled.

"Did she say anything?"

Milia hesitated for a moment, then whispered, "The princess said... said she wants to go to the front lines."

Aldridge closed his eyes.

"That silly girl."

He opened his eyes and said to the guards beside him, "Send men to search. Once found, bring them back immediately."

The guard acknowledged and turned to leave.

Aldridge walked to the window, looked at the night outside, and remained silent for a long time.

Then he sighed.

"You must come back safely."

……