Chapter 46: Lend Me Sharis

The next morning, at the Rodley mansion’s front gate.

The return carriage was ready, and Ophelia exchanged final farewells with her family, hugging or listening to last-minute advice.

Charis, standing by the carriage, noticed something—Penny had been staring at her since morning.

Not just staring—her gaze wasn’t wary but a mix of awe and pity.

Charis rubbed her arms, goosebumps rising, wondering what Penny pitied or revered her for.

“Charis, let’s head back to the academy.”
Ophelia, done with goodbyes, moved to lead Charis onto the carriage.

“Oh, goodbye, Lord and Lady Rodley, and Miss Penny.”
Charis gave a cursory farewell.
The Rodleys smiled and nodded, but Penny opened her mouth.

“Wait… Miss Charis!”

“Something else?”

Charis paused, turning to face Penny.

“I… I have something to say.”
Penny stepped forward, chest puffed out, resolute.

“If it’s about thanking me for saving you, I’ve already gotten plenty from your sister—no need.”
Charis waved her off, eager to return and brew potions.

“It’s not thanks.
Miss Charis, you must stay strong and live well.
Take care of your health.
If it’s too much, drink this to push through—life still holds hope.”

Penny handed over a small box of potions.
Charis eyed the deep blue vials, like oral tonics, exuding a faint herbal aroma from the backyard’s rare plants.

‘My life’s tough?
What’s this about?’
Charis was baffled, sensing Penny thought she faced some looming disaster.

“I often drink these to fight depression.
If you feel overwhelmed or suppressed with my sister, take a sip—it’ll help.”

Penny clasped her hands to her chest, her pitying look leaving Charis confused.

‘Sisters, what’s this nonsense?
Do I look depressed?’

“Uh… thanks, Miss Penny, for the gift.”
Charis only accepted the anti-depression potion out of politeness for Penny’s concern.

“Sister, you gave her that?”
Ophelia was puzzled, but Penny nodded firmly at her.

“Sister, you don’t get it—she needs this most.
Be gentler with her, or her body and spirit will break.”

Penny’s tone was like a nagging doctor, full of concern.

“Got it, got it—focus on recovering at home, not my academy life.”
Ophelia, not grasping Penny’s meaning, ruffled her hair and nudged her back to their parents.

Boarding the carriage, they set off.

The wheels rolled slowly over the rural path, glinting with morning dew.

Watching Charis and her sister leave, Penny pursed her lips, turning to her parents with a request.

“Dad, Mom, I want to go to school—at Sister’s academy.”

…

Half a day later, Charis returned to the familiar teacher’s apartment.

“My butt’s numb from sitting.”
Charis rubbed her hips, stepping off, while Ophelia hauled two large suitcases.

“Help me out, Charis.”

“Oh.”

Charis grabbed one suitcase, thinking of the Rodleys’ parting gifts to Ophelia, likely packed inside.

‘Any useful stuff in there?
A pot would be nice for brewing those herbs.’

“Say, any pots in these bags?”
Charis asked on the stairs, catching Ophelia off guard as she turned.

“Who packs a pot in luggage?
What do you need it for?”

“Brewing potions.”

“What?
Potions?
You got an alchemy license?”

“Uh, nope.”

Charis’s reply was flat but oddly confident, head held high.

“Charis, potion-making’s risky—not just the fire, but the potions themselves can cause accidents.
The academy’s strict on this.
Even I passed exams to brew.
I thought you wanted herbs for simple grinding or mixing.”

Ophelia, concerned for Charis’s safety, explained the stakes.

“Brewing needs an exam… ugh.”
Charis sighed, realizing she’d need a secret base for experiments—brewing in front of Ophelia, the rule-abiding sword saintess, was impossible.

Seeing Charis’s scheming look, Ophelia guessed she was plotting something.

‘If she enrolled and studied alchemy properly… wait, what am I thinking?
Her demon ties could expose her—it’s just potion-making, too risky.’

Ophelia dismissed the impractical idea, unlocking the door.

Click.

The door opened, and a figure rushed out in welcome.

“Ophelia!
You and Charis are finally back!
Trip go smoothly?”

It was Aisha, grabbing Ophelia’s wrist, her purple eyes scanning her.

“Very smoothly.
I reconciled with my family, and my sister’s change had reasons—it’s on me, not them.”

Ophelia spoke openly, and Aisha, intrigued, propped her chin, eager for Rodley family gossip.

“Sounds like a story for tonight.
But first, did Charis come in handy?”

Aisha turned to Charis, who paused with the suitcase, glancing at Ophelia.

“She… was crucial.
Without her, I wouldn’t have uncovered the family’s truth.”
Ophelia nodded firmly, affirming Charis’s role.

“Hmph, love hearing that.”
Charis crossed her arms, smug, earning an eye-roll from Ophelia for basking in praise.

“Sounds juicier than I thought—save the drama for tonight.
Can I borrow Charis for a bit?”

Aisha grabbed Charis’s wrist, pulling her closer.

“Well, I…”
Ophelia hesitated, catching Aisha’s attention.

“What, decisive Ophelia’s worried about me borrowing Charis?
Nice affection points, Charis.”

Aisha patted Charis’s shoulder, her tone approving, unsurprised.

“Uh, affection points?”
Charis tried to chime in, but Ophelia cut in.

“You can borrow her, but ten minutes max.”

“Haha, time limits now?
Fine, a few minutes will do.
Let’s go, Charis.”

Aisha boldly steered Charis by the shoulders into the apartment.

For some reason, Charis wanted to glance back at Ophelia’s expression.

She snuck a peek.

Ophelia’s cheeks puffed slightly, arms crossed, watching them go, visibly antsy but too polite to refuse her roommate.

‘Wow, she’s reluctant to let me go!’

Charis’s heart skipped, thrilled—she’d finally turned the tables on the sword saintess!