Chapter 10: I will never let go!

On the carriage, faint lavender scent lingering, Celis asked the girl beside her.

“Why choose to return with me? Living with your mother—wasn’t that happiness?”

“No. This happiness isn’t true happiness.”

Melin gazed at Anna Town’s fading scenery, lost in thought.

“This joy comes from others carrying the weight for me. The happiness I want—no one gets hurt. So I must go back with you.”

“The Rose Knights let me grow fast, right?”

Hearing this, Celis’s gaze softened.

“You’ve really grown, Melin.”

“Heehee.”

“But returning—are you truly unafraid of Isabelle’s punishment?”

“Isabelle? Hmph. She’s no saintess. In my heart, only you are the real one!”

Melin hugged Celis, pressing her head to her chest, breathing deeply the lavender.

Celis didn’t push away. She quietly stroked the girl’s hair, a faint smile appearing.

“Besides, my goal is to always stay by your side. If I fear her, how can I achieve it?”

“Stay by my side? That’s no small goal.”

“Hmph. If one year won’t do, then two. Two won’t—five. No matter how long, I’ll hold you tight and never let go!”

Like a kitten, Melin clung while speaking. Celis let her spoil without protest.

After a while, perhaps tired, Melin lay down. Head on Celis’s lap, she closed her eyes and slept.

Outside, Anna Town receded. The carriage fell silent—only their breathing.

…

Rose Knights training ground, afternoon.

After morning drills, a rare short rest. Leanna set down her knight sword and hurried to the teleport array.

Learning of Melin’s escape, she wanted Celis to fix it.

Celis’s residence, like Isabelle’s, was in the capital’s Oracle Hall. It took great effort to learn its location from guards.

This was her only chance!

At the array room door, she breathed deep, ready to enter. But shock—the door opened from inside.

Isabelle in her black dress stepped out.

Heart sinking, Leanna bowed quickly. Isabelle’s lips curved. She scanned her meaningfully.

“Leanna? What brings you here?”

“…As captain, I must know every corner of the grounds.”

“Ah, dutiful. But…”

As if seeing through her, Isabelle drawled. When unease peaked, she feigned concern.

“You seem troubled.”

“I—I just slept poorly last night.”

“Oh. I thought you hid something. But knights can’t lose sleep. It dulls daytime training.”

“Understood, Lady Isabelle.”

Bowing again, Leanna prepared to leave.

But Isabelle, playful, chuckled inwardly. As Leanna reached the corner, she called.

“Right. Gather the knights. I have an announcement.”

Face paling, Leanna’s worst fear struck. She couldn’t object—only agree.

Returning heavy-hearted to the field, she was stunned—Melin had returned.

Details revealed: Celis helped her bypass outer guards. And Melin returned because of her.

Celis had played along.

In Leanna’s eyes—foolishness.

Melin’s immaturity was one thing. But Celis? A powerless saintess taking Melin far from the capital—what if bandits?

Who would protect them?!

And Celis acting out—how could fellow saintess Isabelle not know? She was demigod-level!

A thought struck. Leanna’s face darkened.

No wonder… Melin returns, Isabelle appears, Celis missing.

Celis was likely confined. Facing severe punishment.

She knew: same title, but Celis’s authority paled against Isabelle’s.

Amid her worry, the knights reassembled. Isabelle glided onto the high platform in her long black dress.

She overlooked them with smiling eyes. Her voice—icy, hellish, chilling.

“Sorry to interrupt training. But something must be said.”

“Joining the Rose Knights—your lives are no longer yours. Unfair? Perhaps. But you are tools gathered to save the world.”

“Tools need resolve. Fleeing the grounds from fear of death? No qualified tool does that. Right, Melin?”

At the name, many looked to the front row left—Melin stood there.

“Sorry…”

Head down, Melin admitted fault.

“Sorry? I’m not here for apologies. And if I recall, many guards patrol the grounds. You couldn’t escape alone.”

In a flash, Isabelle stood before her.

Bending, she lifted Melin’s chin with a finger. Gaze seductive, lips parted.

“Tell me. Who helped you escape?”

Eyes meeting, Melin froze. Then she jerked her head away—no answer.

“Stubborn. Think silence hides her? In the entire Oracle Hall, only one could manage it.”

Isabelle giggled. She turned back to the platform.

Leanna caught the implication. As she stepped to plead for Celis, Melin’s voice rang across the grounds.

“Don’t hurt her! Come at me!”

Steps halting, Isabelle looked back. Smile deep with meaning.

“Oh? You two are quite close.”