Dolosa’s expression at this very moment: 😑
“Are you serious?”
This question wasn’t a threat—it was a genuine plea for help.
“Going out to play is nice, it’s good for everyone’s health, right?” Liang Lai asked the children behind her.
Even if they were just humoring Liang Lai, just to please her, those kids would happily follow along and say as much.
“Yeah~ We want to go out and play with Mom too~” Delucia was the most enthusiastic of them all.
Dolosa: “……”
“Fine, as long as you’re happy.”
The powerless eldest daughter/.
Dolosa had completely burned out.
She even started to comfort herself: “It can’t be that coincidental every time we go out and pick up kids. As long as I diligently follow behind them and help solve their problems, that should be enough.”
With that thought, Dolosa reluctantly gave in.
Liang Lai was as happy as a child, pulling the kids along as they jumped and bounced on the spot.
Dolosa watched this scene in disbelief—how could someone so grown-up still be so childish?
Oh well, let her be…
At this moment, Dolosa felt like she had aged ten years mentally.
The next day.
Although Liang Lai really wanted to change into ordinary clothes, there was an unwritten rule in the Church: Saintesses were not allowed to wear the common Dustfolk’s clothing unless under special circumstances (with the Pope’s permission).
If caught, they would be subjected to strange and cruel punishments. So Liang Lai still had to wear that lifeless white Saintess Robe.
Liang Lai spun around in front of the mirror.
She used to wonder what she would look like if she became a woman.
Liang Lai had always thought that if she were female, she would be like Dongbei Yu, since she could sing “The Northeast is my hometown~”. But now that she actually turned into a woman, she was so beautiful it made her dizzy, and she couldn’t help but sigh that she wished she were a water nymph.
“Mom.”
Outside the door, Illucy timidly peeked in, clutching the little white Rag Doll Rabbit Liang Lai had sewn for her yesterday.
Liang Lai immediately turned away from admiring her flawless reflection in the mirror, smiling as she gently took Illucy’s hand.
“Let’s go. I’m ready. You must be waiting anxiously, right?”
Illucy obediently shook her head. “No, Mom. We’re willing to wait as long as you need…”
Such a good kid, she liked her~
Liang Lai was in a great mood today, so she rewarded Illucy with a kiss on the cheek.
Illucy covered her kissed cheek and lowered her head, a blush spreading across her face like the evening glow.
“Hehe~”
She giggled foolishly.
Liang Lai led the kids and strode out of the Church.
Under the astonished gazes of the Church staff, they headed toward the Dustfolk District.
“The Third Saintess is getting weirder and weirder…”
It wasn’t strange for Church members to go out, but going out in groups, laughing and talking, bringing children along—it was definitely odd.
Whispers floated behind them.
Liang Lai didn’t care, but Dolosa and Asterys both turned around at the same time and shot every gossiping onlooker a chilling glare.
“Disgusting,” Dolosa gritted her teeth.
Of the kids, she hated the Church the most. Of course, that probably had something to do with Claudious’s earlier brainwashing and manipulation.
As soon as they reached the market, Liang Lai was grabbed by the sleeve.
“Mom,” Dolosa whispered, “there’s a stall selling candied fruit over there.”
Her eyes were wide and hopeful.
Delucia had already tugged Asterys to squeeze to the front of the stall, with Illucy sneakily trailing behind them.
The seller was a one-eyed old woman. She shakily lifted the lid off a clay pot, releasing a sickly sweet fragrance.
Illucy carefully picked up a plum and held it out to Liang Lai first.
“Mom, you try it first.”
Liang Lai bit into the plum; the sweet and sour juice exploded on her tongue. She pulled out her coin pouch and bought one for each child.
Illucy cradled the oil paper package and suddenly shoved the largest plum into Dolosa’s hand, eyes gleaming with affection.
“Sis, you eat this too.”
Dolosa hesitated for a moment. Feeling awkward, she took the fruit and nibbled at it slowly.
The scent of baked bread wafted from a street corner.
Liang Lai bought freshly baked black rye bread and tore it apart to share with the children.
The warm bread was so hot it made Delucia blow on it, but she couldn’t help but stuff it into her mouth. Illucy broke her bread into two pieces and quietly put the bigger half back into Liang Lai’s hand.
“I can’t eat this much…”
Liang Lai laughed and ruffled her golden hair, then suddenly noticed a small honey stall nearby.
She bought a small jar and dipped her finger into it, spreading a bit of Light Honey on each child’s bread.
Dolosa pretended not to care, but she turned the honeyed side toward her mouth and secretly took a couple of extra bites.
In the distance came the sound of bagpipes. A Street Performer led a goat adorned with a flower crown, and the four children immediately crowded around.
The Street Performer solemnly bowed to Liang Lai, but she waved her hand to show she didn’t mind.
Liang Lai took out a few copper coins. Delucia accepted them and carefully tossed them into the performer’s hat.
The goat suddenly sniffed Illucy’s skirt, scaring her into hiding behind Liang Lai, though she couldn’t help but peek out again.
“Do you want to ride it?” the performer asked with a smile.
Illucy shook her head but held the Rag Doll Rabbit up to the goat. The goat gently bit the rabbit’s ear, and laughter rippled through the crowd.
After the performer left, Liang Lai gazed at the nearby streets for a moment, then decided to head deeper into the Dustfolk District.
Earlier, they had only been at the border between the Church and the Dustfolk District, where Church people were more common.
But deeper inside, the Church rarely ventured, and Liang Lai had only glimpsed it from afar about a month ago.
The market here was crowded and noisy, with rainwater from last night pooling on the cobblestones, mixing with rotten vegetable leaves and mud.
As Liang Lai’s white robe appeared at the street entrance, nearby vendors immediately fell silent.
An old man selling clay pots hastily packed up his stall, his rough fingers wiping his apron over and over.
The street was lined with shabby stalls. A woman selling pickled vegetables had half her face covered with a yellowed headscarf; the leaves soaking in her wooden bucket had already blackened.
Beside her, a little girl was barefoot, mud packed between her toes, staring longingly at some wilted apples on the neighboring stall.
“Saintess…”
Many of them probably couldn’t understand why a Saintess would come to a place like this.
Several workers at the blacksmith’s shop hurriedly pressed themselves against the wall, their coal-smudged faces filled with fear.
Their coarse cloth sleeves were polished shiny at the elbows, and their knees were patched awkwardly.
Liang Lai noticed a young girl selling wooden carvings suddenly shove everything on her stall into a sack.
Among those rough little sculptures was one vaguely resembling a Church angel, though its wings were carved crookedly.
A commotion rose at the end of the market.
Liang Lai and the others turned toward the noise and saw two Green Robed Sacerdotes confiscating goods from a stall.
The stall owner was a hunched old man, clutching a jar of Light Honey desperately.