Windmill Castle, in the chieftain's study.
Having just been invited and still somewhat confused, Eliana sat at the desk opposite Nausicaä.
This former Queen Pejite had already changed out of her tattered gray robe and into a light green cloth dress, the same style worn by other women in the Valley of the Wind.
Her complexion was much better than when she first arrived at the Valley of the Wind. Her hands were resting on her knees, her fingers unconsciously intertwining.
"You mean... you've found the mastermind behind the plot against our country?"
"We only have some conclusive evidence at the moment." Nausicaä turned her gaze to the corner of the room. "Let the parties involved speak for themselves regarding the specifics."
On the other side of the room, a tall, thin man with a goatee was bound hand and foot and kneeling on the ground, with Yupa and two guards standing by his side, responsible for watching over him.
His face had long lost the composure and calmness he possessed as the deputy leader of the Insect Claw; only a look of utter disarray remained.
Originally, Nausicaä planned to interrogate Ohara.
But the bandit leader has been unconscious since last night, and even using the Erdtree's Favor has had no effect.
Left with no other option, the interrogation turned to this deputy.
"Speak again, repeat what you told this lady before," Yupa commanded.
Even though the voice wasn't loud, it still made the goatee tremble with fear. He had no idea what interrogation methods this "knowledgeable" traveler had used.
"Yes, yes! I..."
Goatee quickly revealed everything about himself and his boss.
His original Sevito, and he was just one of the many nameless, low-level explorers in the Kingdom of Pejite.
A year ago, during a mission, his expedition team encountered a band of sand bandits led by Ohara and was almost completely wiped out.
Only Sevito, because of his quick wit and his local expertise, was deliberately spared.
Ohara offered him a deal: to disguise the bandit gang as a legitimate expedition and, using his identity and connections, infiltrate the Pejite Kingdom.
At first, Sevito tried to refuse the bandits who had killed his companions, but Ohara showed his sincerity—he revealed his identity as an "insect trainer" on the spot and drove away the attacking carnivorous insects with just his whistle.
Sevito, who frequented the Sea of Corruption, was naturally aware of the Insect Tamer's reputation. The ability to roam freely within the Sea of Corruption was something every expeditionary group dreamed of having.
This is why they never carry insect repellent equipment.
After Ohara threw out a large sum of gold coins that he couldn't refuse, Sevito inexplicably agreed.
The " Insect Claw " expedition team was thus formed, with Ohara becoming the team leader and Ohara serving as his deputy and strategist, successfully becoming a member of the Kingdom of Pejite.
Get to the point, don't waste time.
Yupa used his sharp eye, and the effect was outstanding.
The man with the goatee immediately quickened his pace. "I... I don't know who the boss... no, that scoundrel works for, but he never uses the money we earn to buy weapons and ammunition."
"Those guns, bullets... including the shells used in the siege cannon later on, were all supplied regularly; we just had to send someone to collect them."
"I truly only know this much, and I haven't followed them in committing any evil deeds. Please, I beg you..."
"Enough," Yupa raised his hand to stop him, "Take him away."
This guy definitely doesn't know anything more, and he's far from being as innocent as he claims, a fact that was confirmed last night.
"No! Don't lock me back in—!" Sevito's pleading voice quickly faded into the distance and eventually disappeared.
The study returned to quiet.
"In short, all the weapons and equipment we captured, including those few unused shells, were standard Tolmekia equipment; almost no other country has the capability to replicate them."
Nausicaä broke the silence and explained.
"While the role of the insect trainer in this is unknown, it is certain that the patrons are connected to the Empire."
Eliana let out a soft breath.
"As expected... it's Tolmekia." Eliana's tone was very calm. "But knowing this now is useless."
Throughout the entire process, she didn't react much, perhaps because she was heartbroken and despondent, or perhaps because she was lost in confusion.
Eliana was not a noblewoman; she became queen only because King Deus chose her for her beauty and temperament.
She knew nothing about politics or political maneuvering. She couldn't understand why the country had suddenly fallen into turmoil, why the people were turning their anger towards the royal family, or why those once respectful nobles and elders had suddenly become rebels demanding the abdication of the monarchy.
Even after escaping to the Valley of the Wind, they didn't know what to do about their future.
She only wanted to protect her son, and even after learning who was behind it all, she had no will to fight back.
"We need your help, Ms. Eliana." Nausicaä's voice pulled her back to reality.
Eliana looked up and met those clear, golden eyes.
"Those Dorok People who came back with us fled their homes because they refused to associate with the traitors."
"Along the way, they endured countless hardships and witnessed firsthand the true nature of the so-called 'heroic expedition.'"
"I hope they can stay in the Valley of the Wind with peace of mind, and I also hope that you, as a 'member of the Valley of the Wind,' can persuade them to stay."
Eliana hesitated.
"I... I am no longer the queen."
She is a smart person, and also a kind person.
Of course, she wanted to do something for her displaced compatriots to make up for the guilt in her heart.
But she was also afraid—afraid of being thrust into the spotlight again, afraid of bearing expectations, and even more afraid that her very existence might cause trouble for the Valley of the Wind.
"By the way, in exchange, the Divine Tree can bestow blessings upon your child, guaranteeing him health and longevity, freedom from disease, and eternal protection under the Erdtree's protection."
Eliana jerked her head up; those words struck a chord deep within her.
child.
Lucian.
The two endured hardship and displacement, fleeing the country under assumed names, seeking nothing more than the survival and healthy growth of her son.
She had witnessed the miracles of the Erdtree firsthand through Nausicaä and through the changes in the Valley of the Valley of the Wind.
Eliana slowly loosened her clenched fingers, took a deep breath, and straightened her back.
From this moment forward, she will completely abandon her identity as queen and bid farewell to her painful past.
When she spoke again, her voice now carried the respect befitting a person from the Valley of the Wind.
"Alright." She looked at Nausicaä and said, word by word, "I promise you... Your Highness, Nausicaä."
"I will do everything in my power to help my people find a new home in the Valley of the Wind."
Then she stood up and attempted to perform the kneeling Kingdom of Pejite were required to perform when meeting nobles.
Nausicaä stopped Eliana with a smile.
Welcome to the Valley of the Wind.