Cappelen indeed wanted to cry.
Even as a being called Valkyrie, under such "humiliation" from Shane, Cappelen was having a hard time holding it together.
Mainly because the current situation was incorrect.
Thinking of everything she had endured recently, and the long-awaited hope of escape coming from the person she least wanted to see, it would be odd if Cappelen, a seventeen-year-old girl, didn't want to cry.
Of course, Cappelen didn't actually cry.
Even though her eyes had reddened, she forcibly held back her tears, and even defiantly glared at Shane, her expression unyielding, much like a little wild cat that had been terribly bullied.
Seeing Cappelen glaring at him like that, Shane simply shrugged his shoulders and finally pulled the Holy Sword from his waist.
The sound of metal echoed instantly.
Shane swung the Holy Sword at high speed toward Cappelen's handcuffs on her wrists and ankles and the collar around her neck, letting the sword light flash suddenly in the dim cell, cutting through those restraints.
Only then did Cappelen regain her freedom, but because she couldn't react in time, her body went limp and she collapsed on the ground.
Seeing this vulnerable figure of the princess collapsing in front of him, Shane couldn't help but shake his head with a smile, and eventually, he pulled off his cloak and threw it over Cappelen.
Cappelen immediately reached out her hand, grabbed the cloak, and covered her naked body.
Clearly, the princess was not without a sense of shame.
"What on earth is this place?" Shane asked Cappelen, "Is it merely a prison to detain people?"
That didn't seem likely at all.
You must know, aside from this basement, there were many patrolling knights and working servant slaves outside.
"They seem to be digging something; do you know what they are preparing to do?"
Shane began to gather the information he wanted.
Cappelen lifted her eyelids, looking intently at Shane who stared at her, and after a moment of silence, she spoke.
"I don't know where this is, nor do I know what this place is used for; I only know that after I woke up, my female knights and I were imprisoned here, subjected to the inquiries of the Poisonous Consort."
Cappelen spoke in a low voice.
"During this time here, apart from the Poisonous Consort, I haven't seen a second person come to see us, until today."
In other words, Cappelen knew nothing about this place.
Shane felt a bit disappointed.
However, he didn't show it.
Anyway, since he was here, he hadn't expected to achieve his goal easily.
While nobody had yet discovered the commotion here, he planned to investigate this place further to see what secrets it truly held.
As for Cappelen, Shane would still rescue her for now.
After all, he had already entered a cooperative state with Harvis, and the information about this place was provided by Harvis. Since that was the case, bringing his sister out would be fulfilling his moral obligation.
But just as Shane was planning this, Cappelen, thinking of something, suddenly murmured.
"——'When the sky is covered in darkness, the earth becomes a Red Prison, the Branch of Resurgence shall awaken from deep sleep, born in this land and sky'——"
A verse that sounded very pleasant and slightly mysterious.
Cappelen suddenly sang out such a verse, causing Shane to freeze.
Seeing this, Cappelen didn't wait for Shane to react and straightforwardly explained.
"This is a legend passed down through the Ragna Empire," Cappelen said, "It is said that beneath the land of the Ragna Empire, there sleeps a treasure known as the Branch of Resurgence."
"A treasure?" Shane raised an eyebrow, surprised, "Beneath the Empire's land?"
"Yes." Cappelen nodded and said, "I only knew of this legend because my mother mentioned it."
According to Cappelen, this legend had been circulating in these lands for a very long time, so long that now, very few people knew of it.
The Imperial Family of the Empire had once studied this legend.
Because there were rumors that the Founding Brave, who established the Ragna Empire, had come to this land seeking the Branch of Resurgence and spent several years here in search of the treasure, yet never succeeded.
Thus, he established a nation on this land and settled here, hoping that one day in the future, he might find that treasure.
He had spent his entire life on it, and yet he ultimately did not succeed.
Then, the Hero, who was the founding Emperor, due to always staying in this location and no longer diverting, attracted the attention of the Demon Clan and eventually died at the hands of the Dragon Demon.
"Mother once said, at that time, this legend was quite famous."
Cappelen, as if searching through her memories, recalled and spoke.
"It is said that the reason the Empire was persecuted by countries and races from all over the world, after the death of the founding Hero, was initially because of this legend." First published on *.
Knowing that the Hero had tirelessly sought after a treasure on this land for many years, other countries and races naturally felt tempted.
It was from this origin that the Ragna Empire, having lost its founding Hero, gradually encountered persecution from outsiders, experiencing the rises and falls in its long history, all the way till today.
And in this long-standing opposition and strife, the initial purpose was gradually replaced by various other reasons and issues of political power, becoming unknown to people.
Consequently, that legend also became unknown, and today, probably not many in the Imperial Family even study it.
Cappelen remembered it only because she happened to hear it from her dethroned mother.
"Mother heard it from the previous Emperor, my maternal grandfather."
Cappelen mentioned that detail.
Shane noticed the key point.
"Did you say the previous Emperor was your maternal grandfather?"
Shane asked reflexively.
Cappelen was slightly startled but openly admitted without any intent to conceal.
"The previous Emperor is your mother's biological father?" Shane said with a strange expression. "So, your mother is actually the legitimate Descendant of the Brave?"
"... Yes." Cappelen seemed to understand what Shane was surprised about, and after remaining silent for a while, she said indifferently, "The current Emperor was originally the brother of the Lefirut Family Head. He married into the Royal Family for a political alliance with my mother, and it was after my mother had no interest in governing that he took the throne and became the Emperor."
Alright, Shane finally understood some of the truth behind these matters.
Why would the current Emperor be so ruthless as to dare to persecute his own children?
Why would the Lefirut Family obey Moro and become her lackeys?
Indeed, it was because the Emperor was bewitched by Moro, who then directed him to strike against the Descendants of the Brave and thus turned the Lefirut Family into Moro's lackeys.
Otherwise, as a direct descendant of the Brave, he should have considered preserving some direct lineage in the Royal Family and protected Harvis and Cappelen in front of Moro, right?
However, the Emperor did not do so; instead, following Moro's directives, he started persecuting these descendants of the Brave.
Shane could easily guess what reason Moro used to persuade the Emperor to act ruthlessly.
"Your father probably wants to completely eradicate the bloodline of the Ragna Royal Family from the Empire, ensuring that from now on, only the blood of his own family flows in the Imperial Family?"
Shane was taken aback.
"Probably." Cappelen spoke with a detached tone, as if referring to a stranger rather than her own biological father. "He has always been questioned by many traditional nobles because he married into the family, and without any remarkable talent, he wouldn't have suited even a Family Head, let alone an Emperor. That's why he was used by the Lefirut Family as a tool for a marital alliance, thrown into the royal family, and supported to ascend to the throne."
The Lefirut Family likely aimed to cultivate a Puppet Emperor and transform the Empire into their autocracy.
Under such circumstances, the Emperor's resentment was imaginable.
Thus, with someone like Moro appearing to provide him with underground advice and employing various methods to assist him, he naturally fawned upon her, turning into a fool easily manipulated by others.
And Moro, following that thread of the Emperor, first ousted the Empress to seek revenge on the Brave's lineage and, second, subdued the Lefirut Family, which controlled the Emperor. With the Emperor heeding her words, her power within the Empire naturally grew increasingly significant until she finally dominated the court.
"What can I say?" Shane shrugged, indifferent, "No wonder your elder brother, the Prince, is so eager to usurp the throne."
"Harvis, my elder brother?" Cappelen blinked in slight surprise, then understanding dawned as she said to Shane, "Could it be that you are the help summoned by my brother?"
"What?" Shane said, somewhat surprised, "You know about this?"
"More or less." Cappelen relaxed her posture, speaking in a low voice, "My brother Harvis has always wanted to seek aid from the Kingdom, and when I disappeared, he advised me that it's best not to cause too much conflict with the Kingdom, as it wouldn't be beneficial when dealing with that Poisonous Consort later."
But clearly, Cappelen hadn't listened.
Otherwise, during her time in Cosmos, she wouldn't have targeted Shane that much, nor would she have been in constant conflict with the Sterling Family.
This Princess had always regarded the Kingdom as a rival, seeing the Princess of the Kingdom as a lifelong adversary.
Thus, when she heard about Harvis's plans to cooperate and seek help from the Kingdom, she naturally was very unwilling.
Shane could imagine how much conflict this matter had caused between the siblings.
And looking at the current situation, it was clear that Harvis was the visionary one.