Chapter 45:Love and like are different.

“Even if you know—keep secret.”

Finger to lips—shush. Melin nodded, whispered:

“Our secret.”

Footsteps—waved, slipped into banquet.

Balcony: Nora, Jenny.

Nora glance—frown.

“Face? Strawberry mark?”

“Ah…”

Cheek cover. Lie start—Nora:

“Girl kiss?”

“Seen?”

“Please—only pure you miss.”

Nora rail lean. Moon gaze. No mark pursue.

“Isabelle? Apologize.”

“Why?”

Celis blink—feigned.

Thought.

“You right—misjudged. Methods inhumane—effective. Without—dead fortress.”

“Villain—mask.”

Days cleared: rumors, training—prejudice.

Time short—death drills only choice.

Not leader—couldn’t perfect.

Understood: silent sacrifice.

Celis shook.

“Pity—not here.”

“Why?”

“Victory banquet. Knights fear villain saintess.”

Nora dim—ached black-haired.

Cruel mask—survival. Success—alone, hated, vanished.

Somewhere—watched smiles. Comfort.

Gentle… like Celis.

Nora head low—self-slap urge.

Perfect saintess—slandered, hurt scarred heart.

Not human!

Goddess envy: both perfect. Dark, light—burn world.

“Bet—I lost. Knights need—tell. Solve.”

“Oracle can’t—me.”

Pre-battle bet.

“Actually—one.”

“What?”

“Fortress saw: individuals ok—magic poor, attacks single.”

Head low.

“I no magic. Isabelle busy. Oracle no academy ties. Mentors teach?”

Nora chin.

“Easy. Family sponsors decent academy—arrange.”

“Thanks, Nora.”

Possible—duke heiress, father patriarch.

Difficult—then…

Hug interrupted. Soft, warm—heaven.

Nora thoughts stop—love river.

Angel…

Frown.

“Beware Novich nobles!”

“Meaning?”

“Bet lost—Knights hers. Won’t rest.”

“Can’t have—destroy. Favorite.”

“Training no slack. Seals frail. Low-tier now—next unknown.”

“Clear.”

Celis worry.

“Abyss leaks—influence. New dungeons birth. Chaos soon.”

Dungeons birth—untamed: monster floods.

Towns doom.

<3 months.

Empires prepare.

“Lady Celis—here!”

“Leanna?”

Balcony. Tipsy blush—cute.

Nora glance—pulled back.

“No celebration without you!”

Nora no stop.

Moment—not hers alone.

“Miss—no anger kiss?”

Jenny.

“Anger? Why? Affection. Who dislikes Celis?”

No rivals—love ≠ like.

Young—how know?

…

Next: Oracle.

Temples rubbed. Letter, Teresa respectful.

“So—quit Knights?”