“So, you’ve been following right behind me ever since I left?”
On the swaying carriage, Meilin finally relaxed her tense nerves.
She sat in the back, resting her head on Selis’s shoulder, looking unusually affectionate.
“Something like that.”
“Lady Selis…”
“Hm?”
Meilin lifted her head, forcing a smile. “You know? You’re the second person in this world who really cares about me.”
Selis gently stroked her head, eyes full of understanding and pity, then spoke softly, as if afraid to startle a little bird:
“Actually, that’s not true. Many in the Rose Knights care about you as well.”
“Really?”
“Of course. It’s just that you haven’t spent enough time with them yet, so their concern hasn’t been shown clearly. As far as I know, Leanna cares about you a lot.”
“Hm, she does give off a very reliable vibe. But you’re definitely the second person who cares about me the most.”
Hugging Selis, Meilin nestled her head into Selis’s embrace, rubbing against her like a kitten.
“When we get back to Anna Town and I see my mother, I’ll take you to the back of the town. It’s full of white lilies—very beautiful.”
“When I was a child, no matter how many troubles I had, going there always made me feel better. I believe Lady Selis will like it too!”
Smiling, Selis nodded in agreement.
Everyone has a secret base in their heart, a place where one can catch a breath in life, and the White Lily Garden was Meilin’s secret base.
Normally, such a secret place wouldn’t be shared with others, but the fact that Meilin invited her meant Selis had already become one of the closest people in her heart.
Second only to her mother.
After spending the entire morning traveling, they arrived at Rodel Fortress.
Finding the fortress’s Transfer Array, Meilin suddenly asked with some confusion:
“Lady Selis, why do these people seem to not recognize you? You are the Saintess of the Aos Empire.”
Along the way, no one had saluted Selis.
Even when they glanced back frequently, it wasn’t because they recognized her, but simply because of her looks.
This puzzled her greatly.
The Saintess of the Empire is generally well-known.
A place like Rodel Fortress wouldn’t be devoid of people who know the Saintess, especially since Lady Selis travels openly with her true identity!
Selis explained:
“Because… matters of the Oracle Office are usually handled by Isavel. She’s much more well-known than I am, so it’s normal that these people don’t recognize me.”
Normal?
Not really.
The Aos Empire has only ever had one official Saintess: Isavel. The identity of Selis was created by her for the purpose of… cultivating the Rose Knights.
If it were the Imperial Capital or nearby towns, that would be one thing. But far from the capital, who would know Selis?
Still, Meilin didn’t think much of it. Her question was only out of feeling that these people were being disrespectful by not recognizing Selis.
In her heart, Selis was the Saintess truly worthy of respect, while Isavel was just the superficially glamorous impostor.
Passing through the distant Transfer Array of Rodel Fortress, Meilin and Selis quickly arrived at Anna Town.
Upon stepping foot on her homeland, Meilin stood frozen for a long time. It was only when Selis urged her that she snapped out of her reverie.
Walking through the painfully familiar paths, she arrived at a low house’s doorstep.
Though the house was low, the exterior was well-decorated, clearly cared for.
Meilin guessed casually that it had been repaired by the orders of the town’s Governor.
In the eyes of the Empire’s people, Rose Knights were honored saviors. Naturally, the local Governor would try every means to curry favor with them.
Meanwhile, anyone who had come to collect debts here before would now dare not to approach.
But all of that belonged to the Rose Knights, and Meilin was now just a shameful deserter.
Raising her hand to knock on the door, she found herself unable to bring herself to do it.
Knock knock knock—
Unexpectedly, Selis knocked on the wooden door for her.
“They’re coming.”
A familiar voice came from behind the door.
Meilin had expected the creaking sound of the door opening to be as grating as before, but instead, she heard a soft click as the door opened from within.
Only then did she truly realize how much her home had changed.
As the door swung open, standing before them was a middle-aged woman with half-white hair.
She stooped slightly; if not for her still relatively youthful face, Selis might have mistaken her for elderly.
“Mom!”
“Meilin?”
Madam Mariel looked at the girl in disbelief, extremely surprised. Meilin was much the same; she stared at her, unable to believe it.
“Mom! You don’t need a cane to walk anymore?!”
“Thanks to the Empire’s physician, my illness has improved a great deal. But you… why have you come back? I heard the Rose Knights were just recently established?”
“I, uh…”
Meilin was at a loss for words. Her cheeks flushed rapidly.
Seeing this, Selis hurried forward and said:
“Since it was just established, there are some personnel changes. Meilin chose to come back to see you.”
Madam Mariel paused for a moment, then quickly asked, “And you are?”
“My name is Selis. You can consider me her instructor. I came back with her to see you.”
“Please, come in quickly.”
Hearing she was her daughter’s instructor, Madam Mariel hurriedly ushered Selis inside. Meilin quietly exhaled, her grateful eyes fixed on Selis.
Sitting on the living room sofa, Madam Mariel held Selis’s hand and began asking about the Rose Knights.
At first, Meilin was worried the truth might slip out, but Selis’s flawless answers reassured her.
Only…
In Selis’s words, Meilin was a brave and strong young woman who gave up becoming a Rose Knight simply because she missed her mother.
This explanation made Meilin blush deeply, filled with shame, so throughout the entire conversation, she just silently listened, occasionally pouring tea for her mother and Selis.
Her obedience was almost excessive.
Soon, dusk approached. Madam Mariel rose from the sofa with a smile, saying she would prepare a hearty dinner to welcome Selis and her daughter’s return.
Meilin linked her arm with Selis’s, pulling her up from the sofa.
“Let’s go! While there’s still time, I want to take you to see the White Lily Garden behind the town!”