“Clang clang—”
The noise of the carriage drew nearer from afar, finally coming to a slow stop outside the cemetery’s main gate.
Sophia, dressed casually, nonchalantly lifted her leg and stepped down from the carriage, then pushed open the gate and walked straight into the cemetery.
“Oh dear, still didn’t make it in time, huh? This is quite the headache—”
Looking at the empty expanse within the cemetery, Sophia feigned a troubled expression, tilting her head and tapping her temple lightly.
But there was not a hint of genuine worry in her tone.
“Really no use. The event’s already over, so I might as well just head back early.”
Sophia shrugged with apparent helplessness, a light smile playing on her lips.
Instead of wasting time on these pointless, tedious ceremonies, she’d rather go back and enjoy watching her elder sister’s embarrassed face when she gets bullied.
If it weren’t for Floralia mentioning it earlier, Sophia wouldn’t have even thought about making this trip.
Just as she was about to turn and leave, a faint silhouette caught her eye, stepping out from the main monument area.
“…?”
“……”
Sophia stopped mid-step, curiosity drawing her gaze to the figure of the Saintess of Light.
“Well, well, isn’t this our current Saintess of Light, Miss Eliza? Long time no see.”
After a brief silence, Sophia was the first to break the quiet.
“You’re late, Knight Commander.”
Eliza’s ice-blue eyes locked onto her sharply, emphasizing the title “Knight Commander” with heavy weight in her tone.
“I had no choice. You know how things have been lately — always busy with official duties—”
Sophia forced a perfunctory smile, casually folding her hands behind her head.
“I think, no matter how busy one is, you shouldn’t miss the memorial day of that person.”
Eliza coldly rebuked.
“Besides, this casual attire… and showing up late like this, you’d have been better off just skipping it like before.
“Or have you completely lost all respect for your predecessor?”
Her voice rose, her icy gaze piercing as if it could see straight through Sophia’s heart.
“I heard you were personally apprenticed and taught by her, yet you perform far worse than she did.
“If the Knights’ Order has come to this state today, shouldn’t you reflect on yourself?”
Sophia’s smile stiffened upon hearing this.
“I-I’ve been trying my best, you know—”
Eliza blinked, quietly appraising the current Knight Commander before her, then shook her head slightly in subtle disappointment.
…She’s nothing like her.
There’s no comparison.
The position sacrificed by that person is irreplaceable—both as Knight Commander and in Eliza’s heart.
If she were still alive, she would surely be deeply disappointed in this so-called “successor.”
Eliza’s gaze darkened as she lowered her eyes to the ground, a pang of sorrow filling her heart.
…She had originally thought Sophia might be someone she could relate to.
After the sacrifice of Knight Commander Liyayya, the question of who would succeed her became the center of attention.
At that time, young Sophia was the top candidate but had a breakdown during the meeting, despairing and repeating strange things like “Sister can’t possibly be dead,” before shutting herself away for months.
If it had stopped there, it might have been understandable.
After all, Sophia was the last disciple of Knight Commander Liyayya, and the two had always been inseparable, as close as real sisters.
Many times, in public, Sophia was seen eagerly attending to Liyayya, running errands and fawning over her.
She even did undignified things like using herself as a human footstool for Liyayya.
So after Liyayya’s death, Sophia’s deep grief and despair were somewhat accepted.
But when Sophia took over as Knight Commander, the first thing she did was not to restore the chaotic Knights’ Order or to clear up rumors against her.
Instead, she quietly approached Eliza and begged her to use the highest-level Light magic — the “Great Divination” — to search for Liyayya’s whereabouts.
This sacred spell could only be performed by clergy of the Light Church and could, by simply using a name, divinely locate an object or person’s position, movements, appearance, and magical power.
A powerful caster could even predict the target’s movements for up to a month ahead, or review the past month’s events — truly a high-level spell.
Very few in the entire church could master it.
Though it consumed a great deal of magic power, Eliza softened when she saw Sophia’s obsessed, desperate expression, her disheveled state, and trembling, broken eyes, and reluctantly agreed.
Partly, Eliza also held a faint hope herself.
— After all, if Sophia, who witnessed the sacrifice firsthand, still insisted Liyayya wasn’t dead… then maybe?
Holding this hope, Eliza began the divination.
But, of course, no miracle occurred.
Eliza nearly exhausted her magic searching across the entire kingdom and even the continent for anyone named “Liyayya” matching the Knight Commander, finding nothing.
To be thorough, she spent even more magic checking variations like “Lilia” and “Liyayya.”
The conclusion was clear: Knight Commander Liyayya was truly dead — utterly and completely sacrificed.
She told this to Sophia kindly, urging her to move on.
But young Sophia only shook her head and muttered crazed denials — “Impossible, absolutely impossible!” — before roughly pushing Eliza away and storming out of the church.
Since then, although both nominally high-ranking church officials, they barely had any contact.
Still, through rumors, Eliza knew Sophia hadn’t given up and continued desperately searching for the missing Knight Commander all these years.
Hmph… such a pitiful soul, unwilling to accept the death of her close predecessor, obsessively trapped in illusions of the past, deceiving herself with fabricated lies.
Eliza’s gaze drifted past Sophia’s shoulder to the simple private carriage outside the gate.
The once-proud Kingdom Knight Commander had fallen to the point of only being able to ride such a modest carriage?
— How much longer can she keep this up?
Better to accept reality sooner, like I have…
Eliza sighed softly, a hint of pity coloring her eyes as she looked back at Sophia.
“Anyway, the memorial ceremony is over. Please, return, Knight Commander.”
She spoke lightly, then deliberately avoided Sophia by walking toward the gate.
“Oh, infamous Knight Commander, just a kind reminder from me.”
Passing by Sophia’s side, she slowed her pace and, back turned, spoke again in a low voice:
“What’s past is past. Learn to let go of your obsession and accept reality to move forward.
“Otherwise, I fear Knight Commander Liyayya’s spirit won’t rest peacefully seeing you in such a pitiful state.”
At this, Sophia shivered oddly but didn’t look back.
She stood still, lightly covering her mouth, and replied in an inexplicably bright tone:
“…Don’t worry, she will.”
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