As Silver hesitated, Peony sighed, "To be fair, I didn't expect for someone from this world to have received a familiar word about my birth world. Had my family's former servants not told me of the stories, I would not have anything to give you or had the time to be shocked that you knew of this. If you wish to find validation to the story, it would be difficult. After all, that portal where I came from had already closed and, in that world, they view this world's magic as a taboo practice. Although you can try to find another portal, it would be difficult to survive in that world without having to lick someone's heel or grovel on the ground. Even then, you may not be able to find the answer and be killed. Your only luck is to find someone who is both powerful and willing to help you. However, nothing in that world is ever simple and every step you take is always under someone's watch. The more powerful and special you are, the more eyes will be on you."
"To think that such a world exist." Silver muttered in deep thoughts.
"You seem very calm." Peony noted as she watched him calmly.
"Is that weird?" Silver looked to her in confusion.
Peony remained quiet for a bit before responding, "No. However, since you serve the crown prince, you should be more careful. I really do not care if you believe me or not. However, I am indebted to your queen... Although, it seems she is also a fortunate woman as well."
Silver was confused before he decided to change the subject, "Well... How did you know about this story? You mentioned family servants."
Peony glanced to him in deep thoughts before she opened her mouth, "Well, it's because I have an ability that allows me to remember events after birth. You cannot tell, but I am half human and half plant fae. Well, dark plant fae to be exact. My mother came from some powerful family from the Underworld where the dark plant faes take refuge. However, her kindness was not welcomed in her twisted family, so she was used before disposed of. However, she lived and met my father when she took refuge in the human realm. My father was someone from a powerful human family, however even his family is hardheaded and a strong pro-human faction. My mother hid her background when they asked for approval for their marriage, though my grandparents approved, the main branch did not. So, they broke away. However, the main branch grew upset by this and deemed it a betrayal before sending assassins to take their lives. After they succeeded, they did not expect that I would be born from their union and decided to toss me into the wilderness of an uninhabited world. Who knew that it would be my luck that I would thrown into Twisted Wonderland and found by humans. However, my adoption was a difficult matter, hence your queen lent me a hand and assisted in my adoption process."
"To think Queen Malefencia even knew of your matter. You are very fortunate to have her aid."
Peony nodded and thought fondly, "As your kingdom is fortunate to have her as your ruler. The rulers of this generation are wise and your queen is no exceptions with more wisdom in her grasp than all others. It is no wonder the kingdom survived through the war and recovered. She has a good eye for people. Cunning, but kind. In my birthworld, those sorts of people would go insane by themselves and even sees their own children as potential political opponents. Those sorts of people became weak after so many schemes and betrayals. In the end, the became the worst sort of people in their last moments in life. The queen... She will continue to have a long life and may even see her great-grandchild. If only there were more of such rulers back in my world..."
Silver felt a little tinge of pity for the young girl before he continued, "About the story..."
"It was a tale told by my servant. They crossed the portal in search of me. They were appointed to me from a very young age and came to find me after surviving the massacre. Though I do not know much about the situation, it is clear that the fae kingdom have not only fell apart, but even become completely corrupted from the inside. After all, from the assassins who came after me, there are those who are even from my mother's side. The change from then to now is about ten million years which is difficult to pinpoint the accuracy of it all. However, it is not so for our kind. Only those who have longer lives with ancestors of even longer lives can have more accurate descriptions of the past. However, one thing for certain, the incident with between Maleficent and the empress was a rather complicated one. Though nobody says it, I seem to recall my mother having once said that her ancestors have always passed down a fact that the empress look upon that past bitterly and utilized that incident to motivate herself in defying the human empress to the very end. This was a fact that my mother heard from her mother and she heard from my great grandmother. However, one thing is for certain. The plantae faes are no longer respected nor seen as a living person anymore but more like slaves. Had they known who my mother truly was, they would not only have rejected the request but taken her life as though they were killing an insect. Though there may be some who are not like this, this form of thinking has become both culture and a wide spread knowledge. This includes the humans' relations with other species. The humans has even given innate hatred at the mention or thought of demons and those from the Underworld. The same could be said for those from the Underworld towards the humans. So, Silver Vanrouge, if you ever suspect someone of being a cultivator in disguise or if they aren't in disguise, you must protect your liege ever more."
"Malleus?" Silver looked to her in disbelief.
"Because, aside from beastmen who are descended from beasts with horns, only demons from the underworld have horns. If they see Malleus, they will mistaken him for an evil being without proper explanation. After all, the only dragons in my home culture are loongs and their horns are like antlers of a buck. If they also learnt that he's a dragon, they may come to try and take his life. That world is a world where only the strongest can survive and they have ways to subdue dragons. Once Malleus reaches and even surpass her majesty, he may be more than capable of stopping those people in a head on confrontation, but most are cautious and like to use traps and schemes to weaken than devour their prey. In their eyes, the draconic faes are nothing more than another opportunity of power for them in a literal meaning. If they take him... Remember, the draconic fae no longer has someone who has inherited a fairy orb in their bodies. If they want to profit something again, it would be his life and dead body."
"They have ways to subdue dragons?!" Silver looked to her rather disturbed.
Peony nodded, "The queen knows of those methods and has been researching for ways to overcome them. To make it more efficient, I've demonstrated the magic circle for her majesty so her most trusted people can study from them."
"And the Queen accepted this?"
"Not at first... Not until I demonstrated it for her." Peony responded, "She was appalled by such a ruthless method as expected. It's not wonder. After all, that spell is the sole reason so many Loongs of our word diminished all too quickly and weakened to the point that they need to gather in groups to protect one another."
"You are very close with her majesty." Silver responded curiously.
"Really? I believe your prince is much closer to her than me." Peony responded, "After all, personal relationship is personal and politics are politics. Though I'm afraid that your liege is more emotional than her majesty is."
"Her majesty? Emotional?" Silver noted curiously.
Peony paused for a bit before staring at Silver in deep thoughts. Finally she opened her mouth, "Silver, remember what I said. Personal matters are personal matter and politics are politics. Thus, you should never confuse the two. Those who act purely on emotions are more prone to cause disasters. Even if there are times where they are to act based on their emotions, there are still restrictions. However, the same can be said for the other way. Those who act too much on their politics can sometimes create disastrous mistakes such as raising a heir that will pick a method regardless of the life toll it will take or see something such as a war as an opportunity for stronger royal powers and would not take the time to grieve for the loses it took. However, Malleus, even if he looks older or around the same age as you, he is still an infant who will get saddened when someone close to him leaves. Thus, there will definitely be a time when he will make a mistake and endanger others unintentionally. As retainers, it is your job to protect him when he's in danger and support him. That includes objecting when he made an unwise decision that endangers others. So, even the retainers have a very important role. If there are no vassals who object to a decision made in err, their lord will cause greater err. So... remember to utilize your own powers wisely."
"Why me?" Silver looked to her suspiciously much to her amusement.
"Yes. This is how a loyal retainer of a royal member should be like." Peony smiled calmly, "Because... You are the only one who has the proper mindset and attitude to save the prince."