Chapter 69

  Lydia

  I looked over the destroyed remains of the throne room, the sight of my parents lying bloodied and unmoving in front of me. Thomas Rose stood over them, meeting my gaze with a triumphed grin stretched across his detestable face.

  “It’s all your fault,” he said, the words hitting me like a physical blow.

  “N-no… I did the best I could!” I cried out. “I—”

  “If only you’d been stronger, they’d still be alive.” He cut me off and gestured to the floor, and I gasped as more corpses suddenly appeared around me, their faces and features obscured by dark veil-like shadows. “You overestimate yourself, and you fall short every time.” My heart thrummed, and something compelled me to keep my eyes on the bodies. One by one, the shadows vanished, revealing their identities.

  My breath quickened as I saw them. Everybody I knew and loved lay scattered at my feet. My brother's eyes were lifeless. Leah and Simon’s uniforms were tattered and stained red. Lucia on her side, sword still clutched in her stiff hand with Hailey and Anthony not too far behind her.

  “W-Why?!” The shock forced me to look away, but that only revealed more horrors. A trail of dead academy students and townspeople, all gentlemen and ladies I had talked to at one point or another, leading to Yuzuki and Brandon slumped against the far wall, their hands still intertwined even as the blood dried on their faces.

  “You’re arrogant and selfish. You think you can do anything just because you feel a little special?” Thomas’s voice reached my ears again, but this time distorted and gravelly, like something had infected him. I looked at him again with wide eyes as my vision burned with tears, but I felt no anger. Only fear. “Your parents are dead because of you… and the others will soon follow. Do you truly believe a bright future awaits you?”

  A sudden thought hit me, and I swallowed reflexively. My eyes darted around the rubble of the castle, but I had yet to see that comforting shade of red.

  “No… I didn’t… I wouldn’t… It’s not my fault…”

  “Are you looking for her?” The apparition of the man I hated most mocked. “She’s right behind you.” I didn’t want to turn around… but it was like something else was in control of my body, and my feet shifted.

  “No!” I gasped.

  Behind me was my mother, with that same distant and glazed look in her eyes as the last time I saw her. At her feet lay a girl with brown hair. Icy arrows buried into her back that were slowly melting into the red pool spreading below her. Sasha… My eyes flicked up, and I screamed again. In my mother’s hand was a longsword made of ice, its blue blade stained red as it buried itself into Audrey’s chest. My girlfriend looked at me, her sapphire eyes wide with shock and pain.

  “Stop! Please!” I begged, rushing forward desperately and tripping over the bodies of my friends and family. “No more! Don’t hurt her!” The haunting figure of my mother stepped aside as I arrived at Audrey’s side, the blade of ice pinning her to the wall. I caressed her face as hot tears spilled from my eyes. “A-Audrey! It’s alright! I’ll just heal you, and everything will be alright!”

  I moved my hands to the gaping wound in her chest, but my divine power wouldn’t flow, and my hand only came away red with her blood. When I looked back up, her head had rolled to the side, her eyes devoid of light.

  “No! You can’t leave me! You promised… You all promised!” I screamed, the sound coming out hoarse and haunting. As I sobbed to myself, it was interrupted by the feeling of someone grasping my shoulder. I looked up again to see Thomas standing above me, that same grin stretched as if frozen in place. His expression hadn’t changed an inch, and didn’t even as he spoke.

  “All because you think you’re strong enough to handle everything on your own… How pitiful.” The fear I had felt before was now a rampaging beast; my heart struggled under its weight. My lungs strained for air, and I suffocated as the man leaned down to whisper in my ear.

  “It’s.” He started, drawing out each word painfully slow. “All.” As each word was spoken, his voice was joined by others. The corpses in the room were all now staring at me as their mouths moved in tandem with his. “Your.” I clawed at my ears, trying to cover them and push him away, but my attempts were fruitless as he finished, and the chorus of voices thundered over me. Now even Audrey’s lifeless eyes stared at me.

  “Fault.” And it was only her voice I heard at the end as the world spun, then went dark.

  ***

  “---dia! Lydia!”

  I gasped for air and bolted upright; the covers fell away from me. My eyes darted around the room in fear, still adjusting to the bright sunlight that filtered through the large bedroom window.

  “Hey… are you okay? Did you have another nightmare?”

  “A nightmare…?” I repeated as I finally turned to see Audrey, dressed in her nightgown and sitting right beside me in the bed with a concerned look on her face. Then I looked down at my hands, sighing in relief when I didn’t see the dark red blood I half expected to see there. “It must’ve been…” I held a hand to my face, trying to catch my breath properly and calm my beating heart. Ever since the funeral, I hadn’t had a single peaceful night.

  “You're drenched with sweat! Let’s go wash up, we probably need to get ready for the day anyway.” My girlfriend urged gently, slipping out from beneath the covers, then turning with a proffered hand.

  I sighed heavily as I stood up from the bed. It had already been a couple days since Mother's funeral, and Audrey and I had regained enough strength to move around on our own, even if our bodies were still a little heavy. Initially, I had assumed we would just be able to heal one another with our divinity once it recouped enough, but it seemed because the damage was caused by our stella to begin with, we would simply have to recover the old-fashioned way. The silver lining in all this was I got to cuddle Audrey to my heart's content, and the more our divinity recovered, the faster our bodies seemed to heal naturally. It wouldn't be too long before we were back in top form, even if was longer then our goddesses had estimated. Hopefully, the nightmares will go away as well... As I pondered over my thoughts, Audrey pulled me by the hand into the bathroom, where she quickly stripped off her clothes before pulling my nightgown over my head. By the time I realized what was happening, we were both already stark naked, and she was leaning over the bathtub while activating the magic faucet. "I could've taken my own clothes off..." I said with a giggle.

  "Let me pamper you.” My girlfriend replied with a smile over her shoulder, with a grin that made my heart flutter. I knew she was trying to look out for me because of the nightmares I’d been having, and while I basked in her concern, a small part of me cried out against it.

  With a few touches, she set the temperature and pressure, and then the bath filled up with slightly steaming water. We got in together, and after nearly soaking for half an hour, Leah eventually entered with towels in hand. My gaze was drawn to the mask that still covered the left side of her face, and when she gave me a gentle smile, I couldn’t help but look away, filled with guilt.

  After we dried off and changed, we left my bedroom and roamed down the castle halls. My brothers were handling the preparations for the coming conflict, and while I wanted to help, my plagued sleep left me deprived of energy most days, besides my recovering body. As I lost myself in my thoughts about the situation, I was pulled out of my reverie by Audrey, whose hand tugged on mine as she stopped in front of a courtyard garden.

  “Can we sit for a moment?” She asked, and when I nodded, led us to a bench set between some beautiful flower beds. I looked around, noticing that many of the same flowers I had seen planted here before our kingdom fell were still present. At least this wasn’t tainted. In fact, it was the same courtyard that I had run into Abel in right after taking Audrey in. A wry but sad smile graced my lips at the memory that felt like a lifetime ago.

  “Lydia.” Again, I hadn’t realized how distracted I’d been until the redhead beside me gently caressed my cheek, drawing my gaze to her. “Won’t you rely on me?”

  “What do you mean? I’m fine… Great, even.” I replied with a smile. “We’ve reclaimed our kingdom and avenged all those we lost. Not to mention all the quality time we’ve been able to spend together.” Despite my flirting tone, Audrey’s face seemed to fall.

  “That's not what I mean, and you know it.” She continued, those sapphire eyes boring into mine with glistening intensity that made me look away. When I did, I heard her sigh with disappointment and pull her hand back. “I know you don’t think I'm unreliable… But it still hurts when you act otherwise.” She stood from the bench suddenly, and I tried to catch her hand reflexively, but it turned to shadow and slipped through my fingers before regaining its shape.

  “Audrey, I—” I wanted to refute her words, but she cut me off.

  “I’m going to the training grounds for a while. I’ll be back in time for lunch.” A moment later, she slipped into her own shadow, leaving me alone with Leah before I could even comprehend what had just happened. The atmosphere had been so nice just a minute ago… What just happened?

  “Did I do something to upset her…?” I mumbled in shock while trying to think of anything that could’ve caused this in the last few days.

  “Lydia…” Leah said from beside the bench, looking at me with a pitying gaze. “You haven’t quite been yourself since the funeral…”

  “Have I not?” I asked with a frown. Even as I thought back, I didn’t think I’d been acting any differently than I usually did.

  “No.” The mask of my lady-in-waiting slipping from her expression. “You’ve been distracted.” I leaned back on the bench and let my eyes fall as I bit my bottom lip in frustration. It felt nice to rest them.

  “I just haven’t been sleeping well… She knows that.” My reply came out more defensive than I had intended, and I grumbled internally.

  “You’re usually much more aware than that.” My older sister said, which only made my frustration boil more.

  “Would you stop speaking to me like I’m a child?!” I snapped, but then my mind caught up and I opened my eyes in shock. “I-I’m sorry, I didn’t—” My apology died on my lips when I looked at the visible half of Leah’s face and only saw understanding and warmth.

  “I know, Lydia.” She reached down and stroked my hair a few times, which did wonders to settle the flaring emotions I had been feeling. “But I think this is something you should really think about.”

  I could only nod quietly in response as a gentle breeze rustled the colorful flowers around us.

  ***

  Audrey

  I grunted with effort as I blocked an incoming strike from Lucia’s wooden blade. Lydia and I weren’t completely healed yet, but sparring always seemed to help stretch my tired body. If I were going to be exhausted, I wanted to have a valid reason.

  “Are you sure you should be going this hard?” Lucia asked with concern, stepping back to give me room as I huffed for breath. She had volunteered to be my sparring partner the last few days, but I usually just did a few light sessions with her since I knew my body was still recovering. Not today, however.

  “It’s fine.” I insisted as I finally calmed my breathing. “Let’s go again.”

  “I’m not sure that’s—”

  “Please.”

  With obvious hesitation, Lucia raised her practice blade, and I rushed toward her. As the sound of wood striking wood rang out around me, I found my thoughts drifting back to Lydia once more.

  “I just don’t understand why she won’t talk to me about it…” I said to my goddess, ducking beneath a strike.

  “It’s likely that she doesn’t even understand herself, my guardian.” Aurora replied in my mind. “Lydia probably believes she can handle it alone.”

  I grumbled about that, but then my sword was knocked out of my hands, and my back hit the dirt. As the azure sky spun above me, a shadow draped over me.

  “You're distracted,” Lucia said as the tip of her blade hovered above my throat.

  “Only a little…” I sighed, slumping against the dirt and covering my eyes with an arm. My body ached all over, and my mind whirled with frustration.

  “Because of my lady?” My friend asked teasingly as she sat on the ground beside me. “Do you want to talk about it?”

  “Yes, actually.” I huffed out, sitting up swiftly. “Lydia hasn’t been sleeping well since the funeral… It’s obvious she’s having nightmares, but she refuses to talk to me about it!”

  Lucia hid a giggle behind her hand, and I pouted.

  “Did you try asking her directly?”

  “Of course I did… You know how she is sometimes.”

  “Proud?”

  I could only nod in response, which made the knight laugh even more. I was well aware of the type of person my girlfriend was. Lydia was a strong and blindingly beautiful princess, and grew up believing she had to prove herself just as capable as the princes. It wasn’t Auntie and Uncle's fault… Not even they can completely nullify societal standards and norms.

  “Even though nobody in the new government would dare say she isn’t their equal…” I muttered to myself. Before Lucia could respond again, however, an excited bark interrupted us. I turned my head to the training yard’s entrance and saw an excited wolf bounding toward me, with Abel hot on its heels.

  I held my arms out as Koyuki jumped the last few feet, bowling me back into the dirt while licking my face. Ouch… My body…

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  This was another change that had happened while Lydia and I were unconscious… Koyuki was no longer an adorable pup, and now was a sleek adolescent wolf. Not even my goddess had a good explanation for why the change had occurred, and the best guess was it had something to do with how the wolf had absorbed the emperor’s stella from Leah during the fight. Even now, as she attacked me with affection, I could sense Stella circulating through her form, though it now lacked the tainted red color of the enemy.

  “Damn… Wolf…” Abel complained between heaving breaths as he doubled over.

  “What are you even doing?” Lucia asked with a quirked eyebrow, not saving me from the mauling I was still enduring.

  “Nobody wants… to run with me… anymore.” The prince huffed out, catching his breath as his face shone with sweat. “Thought I’d take a dog… for some exercise.”

  “And you couldn’t keep up? I would’ve thought that obvious,” my friend smirked.

  “Hey,” Abel objected with a much too serious expression. “I wasn’t that far behind her.”

  “Mmhm.” His girlfriend didn’t seem impressed.

  “Ack!” I grunted as I finally pushed Koyuki off me and pointed at her. “Sit,” the wolf immediately obeyed, despite the excited swishing of her tail kicking up a mini dust storm behind her. “Good girl!” I cooed, petting the fur beneath her chin, relieved she still listened properly. Then I turned to the two who ignored me. “Thanks for the help, by the way.”

  “She’s your wolf,” Abel smirked. “You and Lydia haven’t been able to play with her much, even after waking. She’s just excited to see you.”

  “I know.” I said with a smile, scratching Koyuki behind the ears. Silence filled the air for a moment while the four of us just rested in the sun, but then Lucia brought the conversation back.

  “So… what are you going to do, Audrey?”

  “About what?” Abel asked curiously.

  “Your sisters are having a lover’s quarrel.”

  “I see. Good luck with that.”

  “I’m sitting right here…” I said, my face deadpan at their exchange, which only made the couple share a laugh. A heavy sigh escaped me, and I hugged Koyuki. “At least you support me, what a magnificent wolf you are… Who even needs friends?”

  “We tease because we care.” Abel said, putting a hand on my head and ruffling my hair. “What did Lydia do?”

  “It’s not like that.” I defended myself. “She just tries to take everything on by herself… even when I’m right next to her.”

  “Ah.” The prince made a noise of understanding before finally letting my poor hair free, but he said nothing else.

  “No advice?” I wondered hopefully, but the man just shrugged.

  “You’d know better than I would.”

  “You’re no help.” I grumbled.

  “Never said I would be,” he replied with that mischievous grin. Right as I thought about drenching Abel with water, the thought was interrupted.

  “Just give her time.” Lucia cut in, a fond smile on her lips. “That’s how I got through to Leah… Those two are quite similar in that regard.”

  “You knew that was the best course of action from the beginning.” Aurora joined in my mind. “I understand you're anxious after everything that’s happened… but she’ll come to you.”

  “Alright…” I replied to both of them aloud. It wasn’t like I didn’t know that; I just didn’t know when Lydia would actually come around. “I hope she doesn’t struggle alone for too much longer…” I whispered, petting Koyuki as the couple beside me bickered once again.

  Lydia

  ***

  I sat quietly with my thoughts for a while after Audrey left, but in the end, I didn’t understand what I had done wrong. Eventually, however, Leah snapped me out of my reverie, and I made my way to a private office within the castle for a meeting I was now running late for. Regardless of why she had left, it was for the best Audrey wasn’t present for this discussion. I’ll apologize and talk to her properly later… I thought to myself.

  When Leah ushered me inside the small room, I sat on the chair opposite Sasha Rose, quickly pushing my thoughts of Audrey away.

  “I hope I didn’t make you wait too long.” I said with a genuine smile.

  “Not at all.” The girl replied pleasantly. “You looked a bit troubled… Is something wrong, sister?”

  “Apparently.” I replied with humor. “But it’s nothing serious.”

  “Can I help in any way?” She asked earnestly, but I just laughed and waved my hand.

  “I’ll let you know if I think of something.” I was sure between the two of us, cheering Audrey up would be simple… But Leah seemed insistent I figure this out myself for now. “Now, don’t think you’ll be able to change the subject… You know why we’re here.”

  The pleasant smile vanished from Sasha’s face, replaced with a slight frown as she met my gaze.

  “If you already suspect me, what is there to talk about?”

  “I want to hear the truth from you directly.”

  "Does my sister know...?" Her voice was hesitant as she looked at the floor, the bangs of her brown hair covering her features.

  "No," I said, leaning back in my chair. "At least I haven't talked to her about it." It was possible Audrey had her own suspicions, but knowing my girlfriend, she wouldn't confront Sasha about it... not soon.

  "I see. Thank you." I only nodded in response this time and I pursed my lips, waiting for her to speak on her own. After a tense moment, she met my gaze again. "It was me. I killed my father in the tunnel."

  It had been the answer I expected, but my heart still clenched at her words. We hadn't wanted Sasha to stain her hands in such a ?manner, and as terrible a person as Thomas Rose was... He was still her father.

  "Why?" The question slipped from my lips before I could stop it. "You promised Audrey you would stay away." The girl smiled bitterly, her green eyes a storm of emotions.

  "I just wanted to be sure, I suppose," she looked at her open hands, as if still seeing the blood upon them. "Truthfully, I almost didn't go that night. I believed you and my sister, along with the princes, would ensure my father was punished... But my heart wasn't satisfied with that." I listened intently as she spoke, not wanting to miss a single hint of her feelings. "I think... I may have hoped he would slip away through that tunnel, just so I could confront him myself..."

  Her voice grew quieter, and tears began to fall from her eyes as she continued. "The worst part is that I was relieved after I did it... After everything my father had done, he deserved such an end.. But I still cried alone in the darkness with his blood staining my skin. It hurt so much... How pathetic is that?" She was crying in full force now, but did not try to wipe her face as the tears fell atop the clenched fists in her lap.

  "It's not pathetic, Sasha." Standing up to move beside her. I cradled her head in my arms as I spoke, and she clutched at my dress. "I'm sorry for making you relive that terrible moment... I was just concerned about you. Regardless of the type of man Thomas Rose was, that doesn't change the fact that you were family... It was precisely why Audrey and I had asked you to stay away."

  "I know. I'm truly sorry for disappointing both of you." She whispered, and I shook my head in response.

  "That's not what I meant, Sasha." I held her cheeks against my palms and made her teary eyes look up at me. "We're sorry we couldn't protect you from this."

  That only made her head shake in denial, and a trembling smile graced her lips. "No... I don't regret it. Who knows how many more my father would've hurt or killed if he had escaped. " Silence filled the air between us as I held her, letting her weep into my chest. When she finally calmed down, I cleared my throat to get her attention once more.

  “I think you should tell Audrey the truth,” I said hesitantly, and it made the younger girl shake her head furiously.

  “I-I couldn't! My sister would be heartbroken… she still has this image of me—” I raised a hand and cut her off.

  “Sasha. We all change, and you went through a lot.” I said with a small smile “and it's not like your affection for one another is a lie. Audrey can handle your true self.”

  She fell into a thoughtful silence for a few moments before nodding.

  “You’re probably right… I’ll find a good time to tell her.”

  “The sooner the better.” I said teasingly, “Trust me… the longer you wait, the harder it becomes,” and with our new government preparing for war, it wouldn't be long before we were all separated once again.

  There was a knock on the door, and Leah opened it to show Audrey, her red hair tied up and the training clothes she wore stained with dirt. When her eyes landed on the two of us, a cute pout formed on her lips as she joined us.

  "You two are having secret meetings without me now?" She asked, and I laughed while I moved over to let her sit beside me... Only for her to sit next to her sister. Still mad at me, got it.

  "Not that secret, if you found us." I said teasingly, trying to disguise my disappointment.

  "I'd be able to find you two on the other side of the continent if I wanted to." My girlfriend smirked back at me. Alright, so at least I'm not getting the silent treatment. Sasha watched this exchange with a quirked brow until Audrey turned back to her. "So... what were you talking about?"

  This made the younger Rose shoot me a panicked glance, and I giggled before inclining my head and urging her with my hands.

  "Truthfully, I have something to tell you, Sister." The brown-haired girl said slowly, and then she took a deep breath. "But I'd like a little more time to prepare myself... Is that alright?"

  "Of course it is." Audrey's answer was immediate, and she hugged her sister with a gentle smile.. "I'll be ready to listen anytime."

  "Thank you, Sister." Sasha whispered into her older sister's red hair as they held each other for a long moment, and I watched with a warm smile at the sight.

  “It’s all your fault!”

  My expression faltered as the nightmare from the night before surfaced unbidden, but I quickly shook the flash away.

  “Are you alright, my lady?” Leah asked from beside me, looking down with a concerned expression.

  “I’m fine.” I replied, “Just a slight headache. Nothing I can’t fix with my divinity.” How I wish that were true. Both Audrey and I could cast magic again, as long as it wasn’t too grand… But my nightmares seemed unaffected by the divine power.

  “So,” Sasha's voice drew my attention back to the pair of sisters who were now separated on the couch. “What are the two of you fighting about?”

  “What makes you think we are?” Audrey sputtered in surprise.

  “Sister Lydia alluded to it earlier.” My girlfriend shot me a glance, and I just shrugged. “That. And you sat next to me, Sister.” Sasha said knowingly. “The two of you are practically bound at the hip.”

  “I can’t just sit next to you without a reason?” The redhead asked incredulously.

  “Of course you can.” her sister said with a smile. “But we’re nearly the same age now… I can read the room.” That made a complicated expression flash across Audrey’s face before she sighed and slumped against the couch.

  “We’re not fighting. I’m just struggling with my own feelings about something.” She looked at me as she spoke, and my lips turned down slightly.

  “I think we really need to have a discussion then.” I said, folding my arms over my chest. Audrey nodded slowly, and Sasha glanced between us with a grin before she patted her older sister’s leg and stood up with a flourish.

  “Well then, I’ll take my leave. I’ll see you for dinner, sisters?” She asked as she moved toward the door. Her maid, Anne, opened it for her lady and Sir Strauss looking over the hallway outside.

  “Of course.” Audrey and I replied at the same time, then shared a sheepish smile. After the younger Rose left, the office was filled with silence as I waited for my girlfriend to start. She took a steady breath, then opened her mouth.

  “I just want you to rely on me more.”

  “But I do.” I replied the same way I had earlier.

  “I know! But I mean with everything… even if you think you can take care of it yourself.” She said with a blush dusting her cheeks. “I know it may seem childish or greedy, but I want to be there for you in every way possible!” my heart thumped at her confession for some reason… Maybe it was because of her words, or the way she looked so disheveled from training and the shy look on her face. I stood up and moved to sit beside her in the spot Sasha had vacated, and put my hand on her thigh.

  “Tell me directly what you need, Audrey.” I encouraged, and she bit her lip as she met my gaze. Sensing the changing mood, Leah stepped into the adjoining room meant for preparing snacks and tea.

  As we stared into each other’s eyes, I inched my face closer to hers, and right as our lips were about to touch…

  “I want you to tell me about your nightmares!” Audrey’s eyes shut and her suddenly blurted words froze me in place.

  “W-What?” I asked, confused and doing my best to ignore the stifled laughter I heard coming from the other room where my lady-in-waiting had vanished.

  “You haven’t been sleeping well, and I’m worried about you.” Audrey said with a pleading look in her eyes as she took my hand earnestly between hers. “At the very least, I can help you talk through them, and maybe we can figure out why—”

  She was interrupted by a knock at the door, but before either of us could answer, or Leah could move to open them, the large double doors flew open and in stepped a woman with forest green hair and brown eyes. The garments of the Holy Spirit Church hung from her now healthy frame, and I sighed as her eyes landed on us.

  “Esteemed Divine Guardians, please return with me to the temple.” She said, her voice and posture poised with grace as she posed the same request she made every time we met. Audrey had taken pity on the saintess and healed her as soon as she was able, but that only enabled the woman to constantly badger us.

  “Saintess Vivian.” I started, glowering at her. “Does the church teach such terrible manners?” Her head tilted slightly at my question, but her composure remained the same.

  “I am among the strongest saintesses our divine church has at its disposal. There is nowhere I cannot go.” She replied seriously.

  “Expect etiquette class, apparently.” I grumbled under my breath, which made Audrey elbow me gently.

  “Be nice, Lydia.” My girlfriend chided.

  “Why should I?” I defended myself. “She comes to bother us because my brother won’t officially hand us over to the church.”

  “Maybe so.” The saintess chimed in again. “But I truly believe the church can provide the best place for you to help many more people.”

  “Right.” I scoffed. “Like how the church let the Imperials do whatever they wanted. How many people died while your clergy watched over the last three years?”

  My direct question seemed to crack the composure Saintess Vivian was so careful to maintain, but she recovered swiftly.

  “We are a neutral entity, and we worship and accept all forms of divinity… regardless of the moral side they stand on.”

  “And that is exactly why we will never go with you.”

  “What I think Lydia means—” Audrey cut in with a wry smile and met the saintess’s gaze. “Is that while the church refuses to take a stand against the emperor and the war god Xenis, we will not join you.” I took a moment to admire how much my Audrey had grown and smiled to myself.

  “She’s not your daughter, Dia.” Azure teased in my head, and I could almost see the goddess rolling her eyes at me.

  Saintess Vivian looked contemplatively at Audrey before her shoulders slumped with a sigh.

  “I understand.”

  “Then—”

  “I suppose I’ll just have to try harder to win you both over.” The confident grin on the woman’s lips looks incredibly flammable in the moment. “Well then, I’ll request a meeting later to discuss this further.”

  “W-Wait! Didn’t you hear me?” Audrey called out as the green-haired woman turned on her heel and left the room.

  “That one's a whirlwind…” Leah commented, and I rubbed at my temple.

  “I just sensed there was something about her… I knew she’d be a character.” I breathed out.

  “Well… maybe we’ll end up making a new friend.” Audrey tried with a half-hearted smile, and Leah and I could only shake our heads at her optimism. Our previous conversation was forgotten in the saintess's aftermath’s unannounced visit.