Chapter 46:If you can’t win a flirtation with a lady, you have to force it

“Reason?”

Letter down. Isabelle asked.

“Preston family—divine descent. Dislike bloodline outflow. Learned here—fetch me back.”

Teresa secrets-laden.

Recall: assembly first meet—alone, rags, refugee.

Escaped Preston.

Why—unprobed.

“Oracle can’t shelter?”

Head low—silence answer.

Yes—can’t.

Root: Isabelle ruthless.

Eyes: Knights tools. Pressure—discard.

Tool value: handy. Unhandy—none.

No explain. Glance.

“Teammates? Others?”

“Thought. Stay—family targets them.”

“They burden?”

“No…”

Rebut—thought—mouth shut.

Cold saintess: excuses pale.

No waste.

“Leave—no block. Tell them: you left because them.”

“Or stay—never happened. Choice yours.”

Smile—letter ash. No block, no agree—choice hers.

Decide self.

Left lounge. Corridor: Celis wall-lean, waited long.

Saw—fast, hands grip.

“Heard. Can’t decide. But think teammates.”

“No pressure. Oracle—Knights—always home.”

Leanna said: with Celis—cold heart warms.

Nod. Soft hum.

Little contact—now understood.

But…

Post-Oracle: hand back.

Gold sun mark—Celis grip secret.

No threat—goddess bless, warm.

Bless only?

Shake—unknown.

…

Oracle bath.

Isabelle pool, towel chest. Sigh.

“Can’t pick time?”

“Good time?”

Queen Frandor edge. Chin hands, legs pool—child swing.

Ripples. Gaze burn Isabelle.

Fog veil: smooth shoulders, vague underwater.

“Purpose?”

“Cough—intel: Novich spies capital. Network. Leaked Knight girl.”

“Teresa?”

“Guessed?”

“Only her worth.”

Obvious: leak Preston—fetch, break Knights.

Can’t have—destroy. Reduce.

“Clever. Plan?”

“Network locations.”

“Can. Even handle. But—why? Pay?”

Hook grin. Legs splash. Gaze hotter—intent clear.

“Welfare.”

“Pay?”

Mutter. Helpless smile.

Sudden: calf grab—drag pool.

Splash!

Queen gown soaked—clung curves.

Choked—waist hugged. Black saintess close—breath shared.

Eyes lock—no hesitate—kiss.

Time unknown—release. Tease.

“Wanted body? Seen—how?”

How?

Soft, fragrant, domineering…

Bah! Saw nothing!

Frandor dizzy, blurred, fog.

Blush—shame flood.

Escape!

Soon: Renia outside—Queen crash door, wet gown flee corridor. Messy.

Maids glance—baffled chase.

Tease miss—still tease.

Renia murmur.