The chattering nuns immediately fell silent.
They looked at the silver-haired female knight with uneasy expressions.
Her face was as pale as paper.
It was as if she might collapse and die at any moment.
She opened her mouth and spoke slowly.
Her voice was hoarse.
“What did you just say about Aiko? She…”
The boldest of the nuns, the one leading the group, stepped forward.
“Ingrid, Aiko—no, it should be Saintess Aiko now—she will no longer appear around you.”
“By the church’s orders, from now on the Saintess will stay by the Hero’s side!”
“As his companion, and his destined lover!”
“Impossible!”
Ingrid roared in fury.
She stepped forward and grabbed the nun by the collar.
“Aiko is my best friend! We’ve made countless promises! She would never…”
“Shouting at me won’t change anything.”
The nun said.
A slight malicious smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
She had long disliked Ingrid.
This woman always acted arrogantly in the royal capital church, relying on her birth and talent.
She would inexplicably play the saint, and it was said that after being rescued, she had badmouthed the Hero who saved her, angering the archbishop greatly.
If not for the sake of Ingrid’s family background, the archbishop would have kicked her out of the church long ago.
“…You’re lying! Aiko would never betray me!”
She raised her fist.
The other two nuns quickly stepped forward to restrain Ingrid.
“Calm down, Ingrid.”
“Although Miri’s words were a bit harsh, it’s the truth!”
“As her good friend, shouldn’t you be happy for Aiko?”
“She’s finally made something of herself.”
“The position of Saintess is something we wouldn’t even dare to dream of!”
Ingrid’s anger suddenly vanished.
She collapsed to her knees like a dead person, all strength leaving her body.
After the rage came utter despair.
She felt she had been betrayed three times.
The first betrayal came from that despicable bastard!
For the sake of fame and status, he deliberately arrived late, causing her parents’ deaths and the tragic deaths of countless people in the arena.
Yet this vile scoundrel had gained both fame and fortune, becoming a widely celebrated hero throughout the kingdom!
Even when Ingrid had screamed and argued until her voice broke, no one believed a single word she said.
The second betrayal came from the church she believed in, and from Archbishop Sephilia, whom she had respected like a parent!
Before the finals of the Goddess Festival, the archbishop had promised her that the so-called final match was merely a formality.
Aruma was no match for her, and when she was crowned champion, Sephilia would personally bestow upon her the titles of Armored Angel and Savior Hero!
She had also said she understood the “relationship” between Ingrid and Aiko and would grant Aiko the position of Saintess.
It would be fine.
As long as Ingrid became the Savior Hero, no one would object to their unusual relationship.
However, Sephilia had broken her promise without hesitation.
She tore up her word and placed the Hero’s crown on that despicable scoundrel’s head instead!
The third betrayal came from Aiko, the best friend she had once shared intimate promises and vows with under the moonlight!
This was the betrayal Ingrid found most unforgivable.
They had promised to be best friends, best sisters for life!
They had sworn that even if the world would not acknowledge their feelings, they would stay together until the very end!
Why?
Just for the position of Saintess, you couldn’t resist the temptation?
Was the title of Saintess really that important to you?
More important than the many years of feelings between us?
“No.”
“I absolutely cannot allow that despicable man to continue doing as he pleases.”
“I must expose your true face!”
After steeling her resolve, Ingrid wiped away the tears at the corners of her eyes.
She stood up and began donning her armor.
That’s right—Aiko must have been deceived by that man’s sweet words.
She was too pure, too easily fooled!
She could not allow him to continue like this!
This man had stolen everything that should have belonged to her—glory, family, friends, everything.
She had nothing left!
If you had never appeared, my life would have been perfect.
This is all your fault!
I will take back what should be mine!
“Wait, Ingrid!”
“The archbishop strictly forbids you from leaving!”
“Come back! Do you hear me?!”
“Ingrid! Ingrid!”
“Don’t go! Otherwise we’ll be punished by the bishop…”
***
The weather at the royal capital’s city gates was sunny and bright.
It was a perfect day for traveling.
Abel sat inside the Marquis family’s carriage.
On his left was Elfi, who was smiling as she hugged his arm.
The soft sensation pressing against him made Abel feel restless and uncomfortable.
He tried to make Elfi move away a little, but she simply looked up at him with teary, watery red eyes.
Faced with that look, Abel found himself unable to say a single word.
On his right was Sutis, with her cute twin-tails and wearing a gothic dress.
The little angel was practically hanging off him, pouting unhappily as she glared at Elfi like a formidable rival.
Every movement seemed to declare her “ownership” over Abel!
But Elfi acted as if she didn’t notice.
Or perhaps in her eyes, this adorable young lady didn’t even qualify as a “love rival.”
“Young Master, that Princess Prim—I’ve heard a lot of rumors about her.”
“She may be very beautiful, but she’s a spoiled, willful woman who always does whatever she wants.”
“You’d be better off staying away from women like her!”
As Elfi spoke, her delicate hands wandered over Abel’s body.
Her cheeks were slightly flushed as she continued criticizing “those women.”
“Publicly rejecting her was the clearest choice you could have made! And also—”
“That woman named Sephilia, you need to be careful of her too, Young Master.”
“She’s extremely ambitious and full of schemes.”
“Even the saintess she brought along…”
Elfi listed them one by one, even leaning close to Abel’s ear in an intimate manner.
“Even though she looks innocent and harmless, she’s Sephilia’s disciple.”
“How could she have good intentions?”
“She’s probably thinking of using you too.”
“Ah, all these women are full of bad ideas.”
“Only I am truly sincere toward you, Young Master!”
“I think you’re the one who’s a thieving cat!”
“My knight belongs only to me! Don’t even think about it!”
Sutis couldn’t hold back any longer.
Although Elfi hadn’t criticized her directly, the word “only” still made her extremely unhappy!
“Oh my, of course that doesn’t include Miss Sutis!”
Elfi waved her hand while hugging Abel even tighter.
“I believe you are just as sincere toward Young Master as I am!”
In the end, Abel could only remain speechless.
He half-heartedly went along with Elfi’s words.
Just then, the carriage suddenly came to a stop.
Old Butler Sebas opened the carriage curtain and reported, “Young Master Abel, Her Highness the Princess and the Saintess request to travel with us.”
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