The lead bodyguard stepped forward and said, "But Prince Andreas, the Queen specifically instructed us to ensure your safety. If it''s just you and Ms. Bonnie going in, we won''t be able to exin it to the Queen if something happens."


    "I know this terrain well; nothing will happen," Andreas retorted, finding the bodyguards more of a hindrance than help.


    They restricted his actions too much, so he didn''t want them tagging along.


    The lead bodyguard looked troubled. "But the Queen="


    Andreas cut him off before he could finish. "The Queen, the Queen! Why do you keep mentioning her? Doesn''t what I say count?"


    The lead bodyguard immediately lowered his head, his voice bing much quieter. "Prince Andreas, that''s not what I meant."


    "If not, then stay here and wait. Stop with the unnecessary talk." Andreas finished, then turned to Bonnie and said, "Let''s go. Ignore them." "Alright," Bonnie replied, quickly following Andreas.


    After walking for a while, Bonnie looked at Andreas and asked, "Is the Queen that the bodyguard mentioned your mother? But something about your tone seems off. Do you two not get along?"


    Andreas forced a bitter smile. "She''s not my biological mother; she''s my stepmother. And yes, we don''t get along well. Half of the people here were sent by her. They say they''re protecting me, but they''re actually monitoring me..."


    At this point, he didn''t want to continue. "It''s a long story, and I can''t exin it all now. Right now, we need to find the blue barberry before sunset. I''ll tell you more about it another time."


    "You''re right. Let''s hurry and not waste any more time. Getting the blue barberry is our priority," Bonnie said she quickened her pace and focused on the path ahead. N?vel(D)ra/ma.Org exclusive ? material.


    Her question was merely out of curiosity; she didn''t expect Andreas to divulge all the details immediately.


    "Yes," Andreas agreed and matched her pace.


    After walking further, Andreas was panting heavily. "The blue barberry is just ahead."


    Bonnie nced at him with a slightly disdainful expression. "How long has it been since youst exercised? You''re exhausted from just walking."


    "It''s not that I don''t exercise! This path is just really long," Andreas replied sneaking a nce at her. "I''m also puzzled how you can walk such a long way without getting winded. Aren''t you tired at all?"


    Bonnie shrugged indifferently. "This distance is nothing. I''ve walked much farther before."


    She often underwent high-intensity


    training and maintained her regimen


    to maintain her stamina and


    physical condition. This w


    nothing for her.


    Andreasughed helplessly. "Hearing you say that makes me even more curious about who you really are. I suspect your identity is far from simple."


    "I''m just me, Bonnie. Who else could I be?" Bonnie responded with a vague smile.


    Andreasughed brightly, his words dripping with sweetness. "Right, you''re Bonnie, the one and only Bonnie."


    Looking ahead, he spotted the blue barberry and nearly cried joyfully.