Genshin Impacti: This Priest is Cringe, But She's Also Unbeatable — Chapter 105

Chapter 105: A Game Far Larger Than Imagined

Eldara’s voice was low, laced with an urgency she could no longer suppress.

She was no longer the slow, deliberate Knight Commander, but a bomb with a lit fuse, ready to detonate at any moment.

Seeing her like this, Celeste felt a flicker of pride.

‘See? My galaxy-brain analysis even has the stoic, poker-faced Commander on edge. As expected of me!’

She knew the weight of her words. After all, her theory pointed a finger directly at human royalty and even tied into the world-fusion crisis. It would be stranger if it didn’t cause a stir.

“Let’s go,” Eldara said, her voice clipped. She turned on her heel and strode swiftly toward the palace’s interior. Her heavy armor, which usually clanked with measured steps, now seemed as light as a feather, each movement radiating an aura of lethal purpose.

Selene, Su Wan, and Xia Lian hurried to follow.

“Sis, what you said really spooked the Commander,” Selene whispered in Celeste’s ear, her tone a cocktail of excitement and worry.

“Spooking her is a good thing; it means she took it to heart,” Celeste replied calmly. “In a situation like this, being blunt is better than beating around the bush. Otherwise, when the shit really hits the fan, no one gets to walk away clean.”

Su Wan remained silent, but a thoughtful glint had entered her eyes. She felt that Celeste’s words weren’t just wild speculation. They felt more like a powerful intuition, a sudden insight that cut straight to the essence of the matter. This uncanny ability made her feel, once again, that she couldn’t quite see through Celeste.

Xia Lian, too, understood the gravity of the situation. Her small face was tense as she muttered under her breath, “Such a massive and complex Domain… can we really solve it in two weeks? Teacher Chen didn’t make a mistake, did he…”

Eldara didn’t lead them back to the magnificent throne room. Instead, she turned down a quiet corridor deep within the palace. Beneath their feet, a carpet of Fluorescent Moss felt as soft as velvet, and the walls were woven from living Moonlight Vines. The air was filled with the faint, fresh scent of growing things.

Eventually, they stopped before a door carved from a single, massive piece of Ancient Moonlight Wood. There were no complex carvings on its surface, only the natural, beautiful grain of the wood itself, which exuded a serene elegance that had shed all pretense.

Eldara knocked gently.

“Come in.” A mature, slightly lazy voice drifted from within. It was Her Majesty, the Queen.

Eldara pushed the door open and led Celeste and the others inside.

What met their eyes wasn’t the serious study filled with scrolls and magical instruments they had imagined, but a warm, lived-in space that felt more like a private sanctuary.

There was no cold throne in the room. Instead, a wide, soft, curved chaise longue was piled high with velvet cushions. Several uniquely shaped potted plants stretched their leaves, which shimmered with a faint, ethereal glow. On a massive desk made of Flowing Light Wood, ancient books and documents were stacked in a haphazard but comfortable pile. Beside them, an exquisite bone china teacup steamed gently, filling the air with the crisp aroma of tea.

Naturally, what drew Celeste’s gaze most was the Elf Queen herself, reclining on the chaise longue.

At this moment, the Queen had shed the magnificent royal robes that symbolized her power. She wore only a well-tailored, dark green silk dress that perfectly outlined her stunning silhouette. Her long silver hair cascaded down like a waterfall, and her bare, elegant feet were curled lazily on the lounger. A simple ribbon of Moonlight Vine held her hair back loosely.

She was propping her chin with one hand while holding a thick, ancient-looking book in the other. Her posture was relaxed and graceful, like a pampered Persian cat just roused from a nap.

Celeste’s mind went into overdrive.

‘Holy crap! The Queen’s off-duty mode is a critical hit to the soul! That figure, that aura, that lazy-yet-noble vibe… she’s max-tier, no question!’The Queen in the Great Hall was a sacred and inviolable monarch; beautiful, yes, but with a majesty that kept everyone at a distance. Here, like this, she lacked the oppressive weight of a ruler but had gained the ultimate allure of a mature, sophisticated woman.’No wonder the Human King’s ancestor was so down bad for her back then. I mean, who could possibly resist this?’

The Queen put down her book and slowly raised her head, her wine-red eyes shimmering with light. Her gaze swept over Eldara, then past Selene, Su Wan, and Xia Lian.

When her eyes finally landed on Celeste, the corners of her lips curled unconsciously into an interested smile.

“Eldara, to leave and return so quickly. Is there some urgent matter?” The Queen’s voice was still cool, but now it sounded like an icy spring mixed with honey, carrying a touch more softness.

“Your Majesty.” Eldara knelt on one knee, her voice steady once more. “We have a new discovery of great importance that must be reported to you immediately.”

“Oh?” The Queen raised a delicate eyebrow, her slender fingers tapping lightly on the armrest of the chaise longue, a silent signal for her to continue.

Eldara then repeated Celeste’s entire theory, word for word. From the suspicious circumstances of the Human Prince stealing the diary, to the coincidental timing of the Undead Race’s movements, and finally to the startling conclusion that a mastermind was using it all as a smokescreen to hide the Domain’s core.

As Eldara spoke, Celeste could feel the atmosphere in the room shift. Although the Queen’s lazy posture didn’t change, her gaze gradually sharpened, as if it could pierce through layers of fog and see the truth at the heart of it all.

She was no longer a dozing cat, but a graceful lioness observing from the shadows, her claws sheathed but ready.

When Eldara finished her report, a brief silence fell over the room.

Celeste’s heart rose into her throat. She knew her speculation was bold, perhaps even shocking. But she believed that with the Queen’s wisdom, she would surely grasp the crucial points.

The Queen didn’t immediately offer an opinion. She only stroked the book’s cover lightly with her fingertips, her gaze deep in thought.

“Your speculation… is very interesting.”

The Queen finally spoke, her gaze passing over Eldara to land directly on Celeste, her wine-red eyes sparkling with appreciation. “If things are truly as you think, then this game is much larger than I previously imagined.”

Celeste breathed an internal sigh of relief.

‘Nice. The Queen’s got a high-spec CPU. She gets it right away, unlike some people who need everything spelled out for them.’

“Your Majesty, how likely… do you think this possibility is?” Eldara couldn’t help but ask.

The Queen sighed softly, a hint of fatigue flashing in her eyes. “I have always felt that while that little Human King is greedy, he isn’t stupid enough to actively provoke a full-scale war with my people over his ancestor’s romantic dalliances.”

Her tone was flat, matter-of-fact. “But his son… that Alex, is indeed a restless, ambitious sort.”

“However, for him to take such a huge risk just to steal a few… ‘interesting’… Magic Image Albums—that in itself never made sense.” The Queen’s gaze fell on Celeste again, and she repeated Celeste’s own point with a playful glint in her eyes. “The theft was a ruse; making sure the contents were ‘discovered’ was the true goal.”

“And the Undead Race… they have been silent for a century. For them to suddenly become active now is indeed suspicious.”

The Queen slowly sat up straight, her lazy aura vanishing in an instant. She casually tossed the heavy ancient book toward the bookshelf. The book seemed to grow wings, gliding silently across half the room before sliding precisely into a waiting gap on the shelf.

She walked barefoot off the chaise longue, her steps light as she moved to the window, looking out at the bright moonlight.

“They are the purest destructive force in this world, the enemies of Order. But they are not mindless beasts; they also know how to seek profit and avoid harm.”

“If someone is indeed pulling the strings from behind the scenes, using them to create chaos,” the Queen mused, a new gravity in her voice, “then this person… or this power, has very grand designs.”

“Thank you for providing this information.” The Queen turned around, nodding slightly to Celeste and the others. “This provides a brand-new perspective for our investigation into the Undead Race’s unusual movements.”

“Although we still haven’t found this ‘Domain core’ you mentioned, we at least have a clear direction now.” A light of wisdom shone in the Queen’s eyes. “I will immediately arrange for the Mage Council to re-examine all recent reports regarding the Undead Race and strengthen our monitoring of the human royalty.”

“As for you…” The Queen’s gaze locked onto Celeste again, the smile on her lips deepening. She even gave a playful wink. “Since you came here to find that ‘core,’ then our goals are, to some extent, aligned.”

“Eldara, are you willing to continue traveling with them?” the Queen asked, turning to her knight.

“This subordinate is willing!” Eldara answered without a moment’s hesitation, her tone firm as steel.

Celeste was delighted.

‘Awesome! With a powerhouse like Eldara tagging along, our survivability just went through the roof. Plus, she’s an acquaintance, so communication will be easy.’

“Very well.” The Queen nodded in satisfaction. “Then you shall continue following this lead to investigate the Undead Race’s anomalies. I will have Silvermoon City cooperate with you fully.”

“Thank you, Your Majesty!” Celeste and the others said in unison.

“No need for formalities.” The Queen waved her hand, walking back to the chaise longue and sitting down elegantly, returning to her lazy, charming self. She paused, then added, “However, you must also be careful. Since someone is setting the board, this game will not be that simple.”

“Especially that Prince Alex. Since he could be used once, he can be used a second time.”

A chill ran down Celeste’s spine.

‘Her Majesty is right. That little punk of a prince might just be a ticking time bomb. Looks like I’ll have to be extra careful if I run into him again.’

“Alright, you may go and prepare,” the Queen said, settling back at her desk. “Eldara, you stay. I have some matters to discuss with you privately.”

“Yes, Your Majesty.” Eldara knelt on one knee again.

Celeste and the others took their leave, exiting the study and leaving the Queen and Eldara to their private discussion.

Walking out of the study, Selene immediately let out a long sigh of relief.

“Phew… even when Her Majesty isn’t in her full regalia, her presence is still so overwhelming,” Selene said, patting her chest. “I felt even more nervous than I did in the Great Hall.”

“That’s because this is her private space. What you felt was her truest self,” Su Wan explained, a hint of envy in her voice. “It’s the kind of self-assurance that comes from holding all the cards.”

Xia Lian seemed a bit distracted, still replaying the Queen’s words in her head. “So there’s actually someone pulling the strings behind the Undead Race…” she murmured to herself. “This world is just too complicated.”

Celeste, on the other hand, was in a great mood.

‘Looks like our main quest line is on the right track,’she calculated internally.’The Undead Race, the Domain core, a secret mastermind… this plot is getting more and more interesting.’