Chapter 48:The girls who cherish her

“Even if you know, don’t tell others.”

Celis placed a finger to her lips in a shushing gesture.

Melin nodded with a smile and whispered.

“Of course. Our secret.”

Footsteps approached from nearby.

Melin waved to Celis and hurriedly blended back into the Knights’ celebration.

This time, arriving on the second-floor balcony were Nora and her maid Jenny.

Nora glanced at Celis and frowned slightly.

“What happened to your face? There’s a strawberry mark.”

“Ah, that…”

Celis covered her cheek, about to lie, when Nora continued.

“A girl kissed you, right?”

“Yeah, you saw?”

“Please—only innocent you missed.”

Nora leaned on the balcony railing and looked up at the moon in the sky.

She didn’t pursue the mark on Celis’s cheek but brought up Isabelle instead.

“Right, where’s Isabelle? I want to apologize to her.”

“Oh? Why?”

Celis blinked, feigning ignorance.

Nora thought for a moment.

“You were right. I misunderstood her before. Her training isn’t humane, but it works. Without it, these girls would’ve died in the fortress.”

“Maybe she’s just pretending to be the villain, like you said.”

She had figured it out over these days. Her poor impression of Isabelle came from imperial noble rumors and the Knights’ training methods.

She had prejudged and wronged Isabelle.

Time was tight—death drills her only choice. Otherwise, true battlefield deaths.

Nora no leader—couldn’t match Isabelle’s perfection.

So she fully understood now.

Isabelle: silent giver, no return.

Celis shook her head.

“Pity—she won’t be here.”

“Why?”

“This is the victory banquet. The Rose Knights don’t want to see the villain saintess they fear here.”

Nora’s gaze dimmed. She suddenly pitied the black-haired saintess.

Deep down, she hoped the girls survived cruel reality. To achieve it, she masked cruelty, ruthlessness—earned fear.

Success now—banquet smiles. Greatest contributor bore hate alone, vanished.

Somewhere—watching. Smiles comfort.

Gentle… like Celis.

Nora lowered head—self-slap urge.

Such perfect saintess—slandered like Knights. Hurt already scarred heart.

Not human!

Self-blame—and goddess envy.

Goddess pick: both perfect. Dark, light—burning for world.

“Right—remember our bet? I lost. Knights need—tell me. I’ll handle.”

“Oracle can’t—me.”

Pre-subjugation bet.

“One thing needs help.” Celis said.

“What?”

“Fortress saw: individuals fine—magic lacking, attacks single.”

Head low.

“No magic myself. 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. Soft, warm—bliss.

Nora thoughts halted—love’s sweetness.

Angel…

Frown.

“Beware Novich nobles!”

“Meaning?”

“Bet lost—Knights hers. Won’t quit.”

“Can’t have—destroy. Favorite.”

“Training no slack. Seals frail. Low 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?”Roll—

A luxurious carriage ambled down the capital’s central avenue.

Inside, gaunt man parted curtain with black-gold cane, eyed scenery.

“Yuri-sama, Aust Empire’s capital.”

Shorter man beside grinned.

Yuri nodded.

“Not bad. Besides our family, others build decent cities.”

“Mediocre. Capital cost countless lives. Preston estate—hundreds.”

Yuri puffed chest, eyed guide.

“True. Mortals—eons catch up.”

Preston: famed recluses.

Divine descendants—god selves.

Yuri checked watch, snorted.

“Teresa discard—at Oracle?”

“Rose Knights under saintess.”

“Difference? Demand Oracle.”

Guide twitched. Hesitant.

“Yuri-sama—Oracle refuses? Goddess-founded.”

Not Preston.

Admired clan—divine blood. Oracle: goddess voice.

Oracle provoke—worse Preston.

“Founded? Saintess walker. We—divine blood!”

Mad glint.

“Era—we gods. Humans mortals. Oracle dares not.”

Dares?

Guide unease.

…

Oracle lounge. Celis furrowed.

“Mills sends mentors—Knights rep Mills, beat Galvin del?”

Nora fetched—strings.

Exchange: Knights magic Galvin.

Headache.

Mills: funded, world-class. Galvin dwarfed.

Galvin: supreme duo ancient. Dean emperor-equal.

Council six: Galvin dean.

Knights magic Galvin?

Celis cough.

“Fail?”

“Fail…”

Nora averted, flushed.

“Hm?”

Odd. Nora lips lower.

Jenny blunt:

“Lord: fail—Lady Celis weds Duke Nora.”

…

Nora Mills.

Celis forehead bigger.

Nora knew burden. Explained:

“Quarreled father—no yield. Sorry, Celis.”

“Overreach. Ask Frandor? Isabelle close?”

Celis hesitate.

“Frandor…”

Little help.

Domestic inferior—waste.

World-class independent—strings ties.

Oracle no taint.

Supreme—worse.

Deans eye Knights.

Options: Mills.

“Fine. Goal save world. Magic lose Galvin—can’t save.”

“…Accept?”

“Yes.”

Nora lit—near leap.

Loss—force saintess.

Caught meaningful. Suppressed—stoic.

Heartbeat betrayed.

Knock.

Renia: “Lady Celis—Preston envoy.”

“Enter.”

Renia gestured men.

“Rules.”

Yuri strode. Guide apology bow.

Two ladies—Yuri chuckle. Sofa, legs crossed.

“Beauties—which Lady Celis?”

Rude—guide gaped. Nora cooled.

Cold glance.

“Introduce first?”