As expected, Aunt Ripple still wouldn't let her go so simply. Why was she bringing her hopes up again?
"In the first place, there's no strange relationship between me and other students in that school, including those from royalty. I have no plans for a life of romance either. Right now is not an appropriate time to think of that for myself. Perhaps there's another day or time but I certainly don't have that time. Reaching out to him is purely for mother. What we get out of it is the second matter." She replied.
Besides, she purely invited him to the gala because he greatly resembles her sister from so long ago. Both his thinking process and weakness aside from physical traits. The only difference was their gender and the fact that the prince still has a living relative alive and raising him.
Mo Li had no one but the Moors and them. Everything else she was known for was gained throughout her life prior to her death.
Hearing her words, the two chieftain felt troubled. They've heard rumors that the princess was an reincarnation of a more powerful fairy. Thus, whatever bizarre decisions she makes are usually contributed to her past life that no one knows much about just that she's had a terrible past. Perhaps her decision for this was the same. A residue of her past life that she simply could not let go. Perhaps, it was the entirety of her last life that has led up to this. How to care for the people in her position and what she treasures may be more than just her upbringing in the palace. So, is this any different?
After finding that she had nothing strange going on, Uncle Fern sighed in disappointment, "All right. I understand. As long as that makes you happy. But please give this some more thought, child. You're still young. So you should live more in the present like you do now."
Aunt Ripple raised a brow upon hearing this. Wasn't this guy ready to go tear open another person just cause they got close to the princess? Now it sounded like he was hoping that the princess would want a romantic relationship. Make up your mind!
Aunt Ripple turned to her, "I overheard that the princess is camping today. So, I came as quickly as I can. Will the princess be telling the king about those evil people?"
"I already have." Lotus responded, "I sent my messenger to my father during the camping trip. I simply told him that the villages in Dwarf Mines have a few visits and threats from those people and may require a force and rations as soon as possible. Since I wasn't completely certain, I decided to at least prepare the minimum. I thought to use another messenger to add any other changes required. As for others, I'll be looking into the activities of these people and preventing them for causing any danger for the lake and the forest."
"No, this is far too dangerous for you to take part in." Aunt Ripple frowned, "You are also injured from the previous bout."
"I agree." Uncle Fern shook his head, "It is too dangerous."
"Perhaps if it was the past and if these people are stronger than me." Lotus spoke firmly, "However, I can still set up an array to create a barrier around the forest and lakes. Moreover, I'm not there to start a battle. My role is to monitor the area and see what can be done to close off the area. Trust me. With me, they won't be able to notice someone is keeping an eye on them. What I'm more worried about is how I noticed the last two I took care of gained access to the Dwarves' mine."
Uncle Fern frowned, "But, the Dwarves' mine has nothing but small magic stones and jewels."
"However, those people can drain magic from magicstones." She replied, "Magic stones in my birthworld is called spiritual stones. They are valuable. Aside from pockets of mana that they could drain, it can also be used for monetary value. Although they can't use it for monetary value here, they could use it to gain more power. A vein of magic stones can become a place for a group to gather power. There is a good chance that had the children gone deeper into the mines, there should be more magic stones and a very high chance of coming into contact with one of them meditating."
She sighed, "I thought that, after running into those two, I would not have to worry about more problems, but it seems they weren't alone after all. Shortly after I put a stop to those two, those intruders came to the school in search for me. So, I left a piece of mechanism by the entrance of the mines. However, I did not expect to find fairies flying around the entrance followed by more of those evil people. It was a pleasant surprise to find that Uncle Fern was the chieftain of the forest fairies here. Seeing that you're here, I knew that Aunt Ripple must be with her people in the nearby lake and swamps."
"So, that's why you headed straight into the forest." Uncle Fern noted in surprise.
"But what will you do?" Aunt Ripple questioned curiously, "Keeping us safe with a barrier can only do so much."
"That's right." Lotus nodded, "I plan to utilize the mana from this place to create a protective barrier around the forest and lakes, but I'll later have to start acting. I just fear that I won't be able to act in time and I don't know how to evacuate the fairies who have lived in the mines for so long. I worry that they are very attached to the place to grow up and worry that they would never be able to return. I've seen this happen so often in the past. However, I've never known if some have some similar thoughts and wanted to see the chieftains to see what they think. Doing this recklessly is also no different from tyranny and tyranny can create casualties."
Lotus wasn't dumb that she didn't know her uncle and aunt must've heard about her incarnation from rumors. It's good that the kingdom didn't know the entire details of her past but it wouldn't be good if others tried to use it against her, so she very rarely brought it up. However, she trusts her uncle and aunt very much. With their line of justice and kindness, they aren't one to discriminate against her for her differences otherwise they would've hesitated before jumping in to save her from her fall that day which would've costed her her life!
But fairies in both world have different thinkings and lifestyles sometimes. She didn't want to make a choice that won't benefit the people but her own reputation. Yet, how would the fairies think of adapting outside for a couple of weeks that may turn into a few years?
Even she thought it would simply be outrageous! These are their homes. They were born here, raised here and lived here their whole lives. To take it from them now and not be able to return it to them is no different from tyranny! This was what she worried about the most. As this was also putting those people's lives on the line. She simply couldn't ask them to live outside for a few years. It's no different than throwing a sunflower into the rainforest and expect it to adapt and survive for a few months. It'll die from the humidity before the heat gets there! Moreover some cannot move out of their homes.
"Who said tyranny can lead to casualties?"
Uncle Ferns's voice surprised her as he shook his head, "Peony, child, sometimes tyranny isn't what harms the people. What harms the people more than tyranny is ignorance. By asking the people to leave their homes for now for you to build strength and eliminate the danger so they can live peacefully again is selfish because you don't know when they can return to their homes, but to not help them and forget about them can cost all of them their lives. The tyranny you're thinking of is to create chaos that can ultimately destroy a kingdom through greed and selfishness. One that has no intention of helping others."
"Did you know when we arrived at the palace, it was not so that we could put our feud to rest but because our feud was getting so out of hand that it nearly harmed your mother who was visiting the mines for a place to set up her daughter's first gala. Your first gala. However, our argument tore up the trees and drowned so many the queen got upset and stepped in getting hurt in the process. The king was so angry and what could've been put down by simply demoting us, he was ready the exile us." Aunt Ripple explained, "So we hurried to the castle against our will to plead to the king. Who knew that the king was actually so wise as to use exile as a way to drag us into the castle to be lectured and to test us."
"To test you?" The princess looked to them in disbelief.