“Damned Lorin Morsat! How dare he keep our ever-busy Saintess waiting this long!”
Standing under the stone-tiled wall, Sister Mali couldn’t help but cover her mouth and sneeze again because of the early spring cold snap. She stomped her feet incessantly as she complained.
“Serves him right for being so notorious that all the nobles in the Royal Capital hate him. Serves him right!”
“Ma~li, is the doctrine of the Church of Light meant for you to badmouth others behind their backs?”
Mali, who had just been grumbling about Lorin, was startled by this gentle voice and her hair stood on end.
She turned around in a panic and saw her Saintess raising her fine eyebrows, looking at her with a “benevolent” expression.
Liya had used visual magic to disguise herself now. A worn cap was pressed down over her beautiful blonde hair, and the dignified, holy Saintess wore a faded white shirt and brown trousers. She really did look like a traveling merchant who had weathered many journeys.
But her emerald eyes were still as captivating as ever, like a gentle angel.
“I’m sorry, Saintess. I… I just saw you get up so early today and even had to queue to buy breakfast for that Profligate Young Master, so I couldn’t help but crack a joke.”
Mali hurriedly waved her hands to explain.
Because she knew that the Saintess, who was always the embodiment of gentleness, only got angry over two things: cultists who harmed heaven and earth, and people who bullied Lorin.
“No jokes allowed, either!”
The Saintess stuffed the steaming bread she was holding into Mali’s arms, then pouted and fixed her emerald eyes on Mali’s evasive gaze.
“I was the one who chose to come wait for Lorin early. It was also me who asked him to come out last night.”
“Lorin didn’t do anything wrong, Mali. If you have any complaints, just let it out on me!”
Seeing the Saintess’s serious expression, Mali could only lower her head and admit defeat reluctantly.
“Ah! Fine, I got it!”
Mali pouted and looked at her Saintess, who still wore a solemn face.
Even now, she still had the bread she brought for that brat Lorin tucked against her chest, afraid it would go cold. Her heart was filled with indignation.
But before she could say anything more, she heard Liya’s self-blaming voice continue.
“Sigh, it’s really my fault today. I should have finished up at the church earlier and gotten up to make him breakfast. I’m really not a good friend.”
Liya gently wrapped the bread tighter under her coat, her tone full of guilt and remorse.
‘Ha!’
‘Not that bastard Lorin—what right does he have!’
‘Even setting aside status and position, our Saintess has looks and character. Why on earth does she get along so well with that bastard Lorin!’
‘Could it really be because that rotten blond took our Young Lady out to play a few times?’
‘Damn it, damn it!’
‘In my opinion, only a fairy-tale prince could barely match our Saintess’s gentleness!’
‘No way!’
‘Our Saintess is so gentle—she even remembered to bring bread for me, her little maid. I absolutely cannot let that little blond Lorin take her away!’
‘According to the doctrine of the Church of Light, the Saintess is the envoy of the Goddess.’
‘So I, Mali, cannot allow that vile “stinking man” to corrupt the perfect Saintess!’
‘Hmph!’
‘Today, even if I have to defy the Saintess, I’ll make her see that Lorin’s true colors!’
‘I will remonstrate even at the cost of my life!’
However, before Mali could charge forward with her grand resolve, Liya pushed her urgently into the shadow beside them.
“Ah, Lorin is here. Hurry and hide!”
Liya stared at the black-haired youth emerging from the corner. Her emerald eyes brightened, and her voice carried an excitement she herself hadn’t noticed. There was no longer any attention left on Mali.
The black-haired youth hurried over to his eagerly waiting good friend, apologizing repeatedly:
“Sorry, Liya, have you been waiting long?”
The moment she saw her good friend, Liya shed the dignified demeanor of Her Holiness the Saint. She became like a caring yet restrained neighborly friend, watching Lorin’s sweaty brow from running.
“No, I just got here too.”
Then, she gently handed him the bread she had been holding.
“Brother Lorin, you don’t have to rush so much in the future. I… I have plenty of time, you know!”
Lorin took the still-warm wheat bread from the girl’s hand, bit into it fiercely, and winced from the heat.
On the mottled stone-paved road, the girl’s eyes stayed smiling as she watched the boy wolf down the bread, as if she were looking at a rare treasure.
“Delicious! Liya, you really know my taste! That idiot Niu Zi always brings me those rock-hard baguettes that hurt my teeth!”
The soft, tasty wheat bread brought a satisfied smile to Lorin’s face.
The happy boy enthusiastically slung an arm around her somewhat slender shoulders.
“Ahem… I-I bought it on the way. I’m glad it suits your taste, Brother Lorin.”
Even though they had always treated each other as brothers, the Saintess, who had received a dignified education in the church since childhood, still felt a bit shy about Lorin’s enthusiastic gesture.
Liya’s angelic face immediately blushed, and she looked flustered.
She lowered her head, her emerald eyes fixed on the grinning Lorin, and spoke with apology:
“I’m sorry, Brother Lorin. I know you’re going to take the Sera Academy Assessment tomorrow, and you need to make every second count in your preparations. But because of my own mistake, I had to take up a whole day of your precious time…”
Her voice grew softer and softer, until it was almost a murmur.
“Oh, come on! We’re good brothers. Saying things like that makes it sound like we’re strangers, Brother Liya!”
Lorin waved his hand carelessly and patted Liya’s back, continuing:
“Besides, isn’t it important to balance work and rest before an exam? What’s the use of burying your head in training all day? If you wear your brain out and mess up on the test, that would be a real loss!”
Seeing Lorin’s boisterous manner, a flicker of hesitation passed through the girl’s eyes. But in the end, she took his hand and looked into his eyes as she spoke:
“Um, Brother Lorin, I have a friend who is a nun at the church. She told me something, and I think I have to tell you.”
Seeing his good friend’s serious expression, Lorin realized something. He dropped his casual attitude, stood up straight, and listened attentively.
“Lauren Catherine, who was arrested and imprisoned by the Holy Cross Knights, was assassinated yesterday.”
“I’m worried that the dark forces behind Lauren might continue to target you, so I had to tell you.”
“Oh, I see.”
To the Saintess’s surprise, Lorin suddenly stood up, leaned in close, and pinched her soft cheeks with his big hand.
“Idiot, still talking about having a nun friend? Do you think you can fool your smart big brother Lorin? Hehehe!”