18~ Long Time No See
No way.
No way, no way, no way???
Tillysha stared at her own milk-white, delicate hands with astonishment, her emerald pupils brimming with disbelief.
She hadn’t worn any hair ornament, yet she somehow turned into Tillysha, which puzzled her greatly.
Dillin is Dillin, Tillysha is Tillysha, all she did was borrow the residual power of the original Tillysha from the hair ornament to transform, not becoming the real original Tillysha. So, without the hair ornament, how could she possibly still possess the qualifications to transform into Tillysha??
Sitting cross-legged amidst a sea of flowers, the lavender-scented breeze rippled and overflowed around her. Her slender shoulders couldn’t support the overly wide sleepwear, and it slipped down, exposing half of her snow-white shoulders. The loose sleepwear gave up trying and ended up resting on a pair of large, white br*asts, allowing a glimpse of the deep valley between them.
“Your Highness, please hold my hand and come with me to the grand Hall of Sacred Wood.” The Silver-haired Elf Girl extended her hand towards Tillysha with a smile.
“………What sort of illusion are you using???” Tillysha struggled to stand up, her knee-length tresses falling down, covering the curves of her backside. Her porcelain legs appeared as fragile as art pieces, and her frail arms struggled to lift themselves.
Something was off; in her usual Tillysha form, she felt lighter than air, her body brimming with divine power, full of energy, her senses sharp. Such a body gave her the confidence that she could achieve anything. Now, it was the total opposite.
As a goddess, her body was heavy and weak, her limbs feeling as if they were tied with solid iron balls, a simple movement of raising her foot exhausting her to the point of shortness of breath.
Perhaps because she had lost her power, or maybe due to losing the hair ornament, she had also lost the usual confidence and calmness.
Looking at the elf girl in front of her, who was grinning with respect, Tillysha bent slightly, panting, her forehead covered in sweat. All her divine power and strength seemed to have been drained, leaving her unable to maintain her usual composed manner.
“Your Highness, I haven’t used any illusions. I merely used this Holy Bath Bell to allow your true elf form to manifest.”
“Is this some kind of joke? How can this possibly be my real body???” Tillysha furrowed her eyebrows. “It seems like you’ve cast some kind of curse on me with that bell, right? If this is my real body, why does it feel so hard to control??”
“I, would never lie to my king.” The elf girl’s smile faded.
“So, how do I get out of this alternate dimension??”
“This alternate dimension is unstable and requires the power of Empress Bilodis to maintain. So, as long as the maintainer of the power agrees, you can freely enter and exit this dimension.”
“So, you’re saying I need Bilodis’s approval to leave??”
“I’m telling you, don’t overstep. I’ve completed the live sacrifice already, we have no more contracts binding us.”
“What good does it bring to the august Elf Empress to deceive and ambush someone who hasn’t even lived for two decades like me??”
Listening to Tillysha’s speech, the elf girl paused, lost in thought. After a moment, she seemed to understand something. “Ah, so ‘they’ have also influenced the way you speak to a certain extent, haven’t they?”
“What are you talking about? That’s nonsense.”
“Please stop this nasty joke and turn me back.” Tillysha complained; she was undoubtedly very uncomfortable at the moment.
Her body was unbearably heavy, and her movements painstakingly difficult. Worst of all were the two large, full bosoms pressing on her chest. She had never noticed it before, but with all her strength drained, these br*asts had become a heavy burden, making it increasingly difficult for her to maintain balance and move.
“That’s right, this is your original form,” the elf girl insisted.
“Then, let me out of here………” Moving slowly, Tillysha turned around, her loose oversized robes flapping around her as she walked barefoot. Every step felt like walking on knives.
“Your Highness, like this, you won’t be able to go anywhere.”
“Why are you so against seeing your own sister?”
“Are you serious??”
Tillysha didn’t even have the energy to spare a glance at the elf girl behind her.
After all the tricks and traps she had faced, there was no way Tillysha wasn’t left with some psychological scars. How could she not be scared?
Waiting around for them to discover her, then exile her to the far reaches of the alternate dimension to d*e alone was unthinkable. Her sister’s life mattered, but so did hers, right?
Before, she couldn’t fight back, but now there was no way she could sit idly and wait for her doom.
“Your Highness, we respectfully welcome your arrival.”
“Nani.”
“Like this, you won’t get anywhere.” It seemed the silver-haired elf appeared in front of Tillysha to demonstrate the futility of her efforts.
“…… Since you refuse to turn me back or let me leave, that’s fine.” Tillysha stopped trying, sitting cross-legged on the ground, allowing the crystal sweat to flow down to her collarbone.
“I won’t walk, and I definitely will not go see Bilodis. If she wants to see me, let her come out.”
“Your Highness.”
“How about this, is it true that your Empress can’t leave her palace, am I right?” Tillysha’s lips curled up. “Then it’s the same old story. There’s no way I’m going in. Either you just sit here and stare at me, or carry me inside.”
“The environment here isn’t bad. Spending the night won’t be a problem,” saying that, Tillysha yawned and stretched lazily, reclining in the flower field of scattered dandelions. She rested her head on one hand, her silk hair cascading down her neck, yawning again.
“Well, I’ll continue my nap. Goodnight, Miss Maid.” With that, Tillysha closed her eyes.
If they wanted to play with her, she’d play along with the patience to see this through.
Although she was now saddled with a power-draining debuff, she had her own advantages.
She was betting that the strict and by-the-book elves wouldn’t dare to do anything rash and wouldn’t force her to see Bilodis.
Bilodis couldn’t leave the palace anyway, so why the rush? She’d see who could last longer. Plus, she was tired anyway, lying down for a nap wouldn’t be bad. If it was a dream, even better; hopefully, she’d wake up at dawn.
“Miss Tillysha, do you know how long Empress Bilodis has been waiting for you?” The elf girl asked gently, gazing at the golden-haired maiden lying amidst the flowers.
Tillysha laid there, silent, seemingly asleep.
“Actually, we’re respecting your wishes partly because it’s inconvenient. After all, if the Empress saw you dressed in such messy garments…”
“……” Tillysha turned her head away.
“Since you don’t care, then I apologize in advance. Please forgive me.” The silver-haired elf said, her tone devoid of any apology as she prepared herself for what she was about to do.
“…… huh?” Tillysha, half-asleep, didn’t react in time to understand what was happening. The next moment, her vision spun wildly.
The moving scenery and the sense of tossing around startled her for a while before she realized what was going on.
“Hey, hey? What are you doing? Who told you to do this? Stop right now.” Tillysha’s voice carried a touch of panic as she tried to break free from her captor. Unfortunately, in her weakened state from the debuff, she didn’t possess the strength to resist, leaving the elf girl to carry her like a chicken.
As it stood, Tillysha was being carried over the shoulders of the elf, her thin legs dangling lifelessly. Everything around her moved backward.
“Hmm? Didn’t you say earlier that I should carry you to see Empress Bilodis?” The elf, carrying her, said cheerfully with a sweet, cool voice.
“Although I’ve never heard of such a strange request, since it’s from your Highness, I must comply.”
“Wait, I never asked you to carry me like this. Let me go. You can’t force me like this. Besides, you’re an elf; carrying people like a barbaric orc, isn’t that too crude???”
“Crude? Not at all. In fact, I’ve done far worse things.”
“Like smashing demons’ skulls with my fists and snapping the arms of traitors with just my palms. Things I’ve done often.”
“What?………” Tillysha was taken aback by what she heard.
“In truth, I’m better at using my hands and feet rather than divine powers. Isn’t it far more satisfying to beat the enemy bloody with your bare hands rather than using divine explosions?” The elf chuckled heartily, talking about violence as if it were a regular everyday occurrence.
“Besides, since your highness doesn’t mind being impolite, why should I be? No big deal, just acting as your carriage to take you for a ride.”
Tillysha had underestimated the elves’ disregard for royal protocols. Thinking their strict adherence would make them hesitant to act against her, never once had she expected such behavior.
“Even so, you don’t have to use such an undignified position, it’s like carrying a sack of rice.”
“That’s true. Since your Highness isn’t a sack, carrying you like this is indeed disrespectful. Let’s change that then…..” The elf girl, lifting up Tillysha with one hand, flipped her upside down.
Tillysha felt dizzy and disoriented for a moment, and then realized she was now sitting on the elf’s narrow shoulders, her legs sprawled across the elf girl’s shoulders.
“Hey?!?” Understanding her current predicament, Tillysha could not help but feel a flush of embarrassment spread across her face.
Surprisingly, at the age of sixteen, instead of growing more mature, she found herself sitting on someone’s shoulders, something she never would have thought possible.
“This pose isn’t right either, is it??”
“Hush, hush~ Your Highness, we’ve arrived?” Before Tillysha could protest further,
“Eh?” Tillysha’s eyes widened. Lifting her head, she realized they had already arrived on the branches of the giant tree, and before them stood a majestic golden wood palace.
“Come on, Milady, Empress Bilodis has been waiting for you for a long time.”
“Eh, wait!?!” Before Tillysha could say anything else, the giant archway of the palace opened itself, and holding her by the ankles, the elf lifted her up and tossed her inside. In a flash, an invisible force caught her mid-air, preventing her from crashing onto the palace floor.
Subsequently, this force acted like a giant hand carrying her to the center of the grand hall.
“Umm………” Not long after, Tillysha landed safely. However, due to the dark surroundings, she didn’t know where she was.
Into the tiger’s den?
No, this was more like a dragon’s lair.
What to do now?
Tillysha mulled over this problem, patting around with her hands.
The carpet in this golden wood hall was quite soft, softer than the finest silk, and it retained an ideal warmth. It was sweet and cozy.
A magical artifact? Quite human-friendly. She didn’t remember seeing any carpets the last time she was here………..
Tillysha wanted to sit up and tried to push herself up with her arms, but lost her grip and sank deeper into something.
Weird…………
Tillysha gradually realized something was wrong. The shape of the carpet felt odd.
It wasn’t flat. It was like something soft had sunken in, and she was sitting right on top of it, unable to stabilize herself and lying on her back.
What’s going on? Somebody turn the lights on?
It seemed the Forest Mother Goddess had heeded her unspoken prayer, for the next moment, the Great Hall of Divine Wood was bathed in bright light. The floating crystal lights on the sides and ceiling lit up brilliantly.
From darkness to light, Tillysha’s eyes needed a moment to adapt, so she covered them with her hands, slowly opening her eyelids and peering through her fingers.
Such a fragrant scent………..
In the darkness before, she had been too flustered to notice. Now, with careful attention, she noted that the scent was like lavender, pleasant and carrying a touch of sanctity, inviolable and noble, as if a rare flower on a high shelf bestowing infinite brilliance and inspiring yearning.
Tillysha was momentarily distracted, and in this daze, she forgot—this scent was familiar.
Hmm?
She felt an itch on her face and noticed it was a strand of hair, like a ribbon of wheat, lying peacefully on her side face.
So, it was just her hair falling down then?
Tillysha didn’t think much of it and moved the hair aside. However, this action only caused more strands to fall across her face.
What’s happening?? She was clearly lying on her back, yet so many strands of soft, fragrant hair obstructed her vision.
Tillysha gradually realized the severity of the problem, brushing away the strands of hair covering her view.
“Oops~ Naughty, naughty.”
The unexpected cheerful voice made Tillysha freeze.
“Really, little Tillysha, you’re still the same as you used to be, always playing with sister’s hair,” the light completely illuminated the grand hall.
Following the direction of the strands of hair, Tillysha slowly turned her eyes to the side. There stood someone wearing a golden crown, the face of unparalleled, radiant beauty that shone like the sun. Clad in a semi-transparent golden-edged silk robe, her eyes were so gentle as if they could pour out water, countless strands of luxurious hair flowing down, gathered by her perfect bosom so the ends rested on her face.
“…………… ” Tillysha went silent, or more aptly, she was stunned.
Close by, stood a golden-haired elf, wearing a golden crown, pure and immaculate, filled with maternal nature, and yet carrying an aura of unattainable majesty and elegance.
