Chapter 49: Why Did It Turn Out Like This?

Ingrid’s body went limp and collapsed.

“Ingrid—!” 

Aiko let out a heart-wrenching scream as she rushed forward and caught her. 

“What are you doing?! Have you lost your mind?!”

Prim stood frozen in place, her face deathly pale.

She had never expected the woman to be this ruthless.

To win Abel’s trust, she would actually go this far?!

Prim herself didn’t have the courage to prove her innocence with death. 

She knew that in this second round of confrontation, she had suffered a complete defeat once again!

What a perfect self-sacrificial ploy! You’re really something!

“Priest! Doctor!” Abel rushed over and shouted at the servants waiting outside the courtyard. “Hurry!”

The courtyard instantly descended into chaos.

Aiko held Ingrid tightly, sobbing uncontrollably. She glared at Prim. 

“Your Highness the Princess, are you satisfied now?”

Prim stood there in a daze, unsure what to say.

Aruma paced around helplessly on the side.

Elfi had already run out to call for a doctor.

As for Mephir, she stuffed another handful of popcorn into her mouth and silently watched the scene unfold, mentally giving Ingrid a thumbs-up.

Self-taught, huh? 

Not bad, kid! 

That move completely turned the tables and seized the moral high ground!

Poor Princess, it looks like she won’t be able to fight back anymore. 

But damn, she really went through with it. How ruthless.

After emergency treatment, Ingrid was no longer in danger of losing her life.

Once the doctors and priests had left, Abel sat by the bedside, looking at the silver-haired female knight whose face was pale as paper.

“The wound was only an inch away from being fatal,” he said.

Ingrid opened her eyes and looked at him.

“…I’m still alive?”

“Yes.”

“Why did you save me?” 

Her voice was very soft. 

“If you don’t believe me, wouldn’t it be better to just let me die?”

Abel fell silent.

He did suspect her.

From the moment she had appeared, he had been suspicious. 

The change was too sudden, the timing too perfect—everything was too “convenient.”

But that sword strike just now…

If that was acting, the price was far too high. 

This woman was ruthless. 

The more merciless someone was toward themselves, the more terrifying their goal usually was. 

Abel’s wariness only increased. He didn’t say anything more.

“Don’t overthink it,” he finally said. “Focus on recovering.”

Ingrid looked at him. Tears welled up in her honey-gold eyes.

“Lord Abel…” 

Her voice trembled. 

“If you don’t believe me, what’s the point of me staying alive?”

Abel frowned.

He wanted to say something, but the words died in his throat.

“Can… can you help me sit up?” Ingrid asked weakly.

Abel nodded. He stepped forward, supported her shoulders, and slowly helped her up.

At that exact moment—

Ingrid’s body suddenly went soft, as if she had run out of strength. 

She leaned fully into his embrace.

Her face pressed against his chest, her silver hair spilling over his arm.

“I’m sorry…” she whispered. “I feel a little dizzy…”

Abel stiffened slightly but didn’t push her away.

She was an injured patient, after all.

Meanwhile, Ingrid, in this position, subtly lifted her eyes and looked toward the doorway.

There, Aiko stood frozen, holding a bowl of medicine.

Her face turned deathly pale in an instant.

That look—

The look Ingrid gave her was crystal clear.

Did you see that?

Aiko’s fingers tightened around the medicine bowl until her knuckles turned white.

She lowered her head, placed the bowl on the ground by the doorway, and turned to leave.

Her footsteps grew faster and faster until she was almost running.

Aiko didn’t know how long she ran.

When she finally stopped, she found herself in a corner of the garden.

Leaning against the wall, she gasped for air as tears streamed down her face.

No, it can’t be… It can’t be…

She desperately tried to convince herself.

Ingrid was just injured and needed care. Lord Abel was simply helping her up. It didn’t mean anything…

But that look.

That smug, provocative look.

And the way she had leaned into Abel’s arms…

“Oh my, isn’t this our Saintess?”

A familiar voice sounded.

Aiko looked up and saw Mephir leaning against a nearby pillar, still holding that bucket of popcorn.

“You…” Aiko wiped her tears. “Why are you here?”

“Watching the show, of course.” 

Mephir said matter-of-factly. 

“That performance earlier was truly spectacular. Her Highness the Princess suffered a total defeat, while Miss Ingrid pulled off a perfect self-sacrificial comeback. Tsk tsk tsk.”

Aiko’s expression changed. 

“What are you saying?”

“I’m just stating the facts.”

Mephir tilted her head. Her star-shaped eyes were full of amusement. 

“Didn’t you notice? Ingrid calculated the angle of that sword perfectly. It looked terrifying, but it was still an inch away from any vital organs.”

Aiko was stunned.

“And besides,” Mephir continued lightly, “the way she fell into Abel’s arms and that look she gave you—it was completely intentional. You saw how she specifically glanced at you, right?”

“You’re… you’re talking nonsense!” 

Aiko’s voice shook. 

“Ingrid isn’t that kind of person! She just…”

“Just what?” Mephir leaned closer. “Just happened to fall into Abel’s arms right in front of you? Just happened to let you witness that scene?”

Aiko took a step back, her back pressing against the wall.

“Do you know why she’s doing this?” 

Mephir’s voice became low and dangerous. 

“Because of what you said to her that night in the woods.”

Aiko’s pupils contracted sharply.

“‘You can’t give me anything.’ ‘We’re just normal friends.’ ‘Don’t come looking for me anymore’—” Mephir repeated her exact words from that night. 

“Saintess, you really are heartless. After so many years of friendship, you threw it all away just like that.”

“I… I was…”

“You did it for Abel, right?” 

Mephir smiled. 

“You thought you found someone better, so you could abandon everything from your past. But have you ever considered how Ingrid would feel?”

Aiko was speechless.

“She lost everything—her parents, her glory, her future.” 

Mephir’s voice was like a devil’s whisper. 

“And then her only friend abandoned her and followed the man who ‘took everything away.’ Tell me, what do you think she would do?”

“She… she’s not that kind of person…”

“Isn’t she?” 

Mephir smiled. 

“Then why did she chase after you? Why did she harm herself? Why did she fall into Abel’s arms right where you could see?”

Fresh tears poured from Aiko’s eyes.

“She’s here for revenge.” 

Mephir leaned close to her ear and whispered, “She wants to take Abel away from you. She wants you to experience what it’s like to lose everything.”

“No… that can’t be…”

“Believe it or not, it’s up to you.” 

Mephir took a step back and shrugged. 

“You’re too naive. You’ve always been used by her. Haven’t you noticed what she’s been doing these past few days? Bringing him tea, acting attentive, ‘saving his life’—she’s methodically winning Abel’s favor, step by step, with clear intentions.”

“Oh, and along the way, she’s cleaning up the women in her way. The princess was her first target. Next is probably you, or maybe someone else?”

She turned to leave, but paused after a few steps and looked back.

“Think about it carefully, Saintess. If things continue like this, you’re definitely going to be the loser~”

She disappeared at the end of the garden.

Aiko was left alone, leaning against the wall with tears streaming down her face.

After a long time, Aiko finally lifted her head.

Tears were still falling, but her eyes had changed.

If Ingrid really was here for revenge…

If she really wanted to take Abel away…

Aiko clutched the front of her clothes tightly.

No.

She told herself firmly.

This can’t continue.

Whether Ingrid was truly seeking revenge or not, she could no longer remain passive.

If Ingrid really wanted to steal Abel away…

Then she would fight for him too.

Not for the position of Saintess, not for the Church’s mission, but for…

She pressed a hand over her chest, where a dull pain still lingered.

For herself.

She wiped away her tears and turned to leave.

Ingrid, we used to be such good friends… Why did it turn out like this?