Allen’s plans were flawless; the ones most likely monitoring Marianne now were this special squad.
Marianne decided to obey Amelia.
This little nun, who knew nothing about anything, was just right to be both Marianne’s aide and shield.
“Of course, Miss Amelia.”
Marianne’s sickly aura had vanished without a trace, her face blooming with a pure, flawless smile like a lily—the very image of the lily-like heroine Allen had hoped for.
Seeing Marianne suddenly break into such a smile, Amelia froze for a moment.
…Eh, so cute.
Ehhh!!! What is this fluttering feeling!
But… she’s a girl…
“That’s wonderful! Then we’re good friends now!”
As if completing a sacred mission, Amelia was so happy she almost jumped for joy, her face blossoming with a bright smile, free of any shadow.
Having taken the first successful step, Amelia decided to press her advantage.
She took a deep breath, her expression turning serious and concerned as she tightly grasped Marianne’s hand: “Miss Marianne, I know you’re suffering! Being the servant of that bastard Allen de Laval, you must have endured so much pain, right?”
“Can… can you tell me? Maybe saying it out loud will ease your heart. We’re friends now, aren’t we?”
A flicker of understanding passed through the depths of Marianne’s crimson eyes.
So that’s it—she mistook my concern as complaints about a miserable past.
A plan quickly took shape in the mind of this cunning maid, as delicate as it was sharp.
Marianne was not a mere maid; she was currently the Lightkeeper of the Dawn’s Children.
The Dawn’s Children were still in their infancy, fragile and weak, but Marianne firmly believed that in the future, the Dawn’s Children would become a colossal force even the Church could not imagine.
If so, Marianne needed to act as a mother—to find a stable environment for her child to grow.
Why had Allen entrusted the Dawn’s Children to her care? Why was it so important to gain the Church’s trust and protection?
All for her. He believed Marianne, as his apostle, could carry the great mission of saving humanity.
What… an incredible trust! What an honor!
Marianne stayed in the Heretic Inquisition Squad despite the danger for Allen’s sake, while Allen faced the terrifying Archbishop Lucien alone…
This was truly a revolutionary friendship united in heart and purpose!
Therefore, Marianne also needed to develop “friends” within the Church to aid their cause.
Why was Allen so obsessed with making Marianne the pure lily-like heroine… now she understood.
It was all part of his plan!
A pure woman like a lily would naturally earn the trust of other women more easily.
Poor little nun, she had no idea that the “friend” she had just made was already rapidly assessing her “usefulness” in her mind.
“Near vermilion, one becomes red; near ink, one becomes black.” Spending time with Allen, Marianne had inevitably absorbed some villainous traits.
Marianne quickly adjusted her expression, lowering her eyelids; long lashes cast a small shadow beneath her eyes, making her appear fragile and restrained.
With a voice laden with suppressed pain, she recounted the cruel acts Allen had inflicted upon her—“slightly” embellished on the truth—as if telling a story.
Allen de Laval’s unspeakable “atrocities” made Amelia, who had grown up in a relatively innocent Church environment, shudder in fear, her face turning pale.
By the end, Amelia was crying uncontrollably, tightly hugging Marianne as if to bear those pains in her stead.
“My dear friend Marianne—Mingming…” Amelia sobbed, “you’ve truly suffered far too much. Why? Why didn’t you leave that demon?”
She lifted her head, eyes full of tearful confusion and sympathy.
Marianne’s expression was unnervingly calm, but to Amelia, that calm carried immense sorrow: “I have four younger brothers to support. The Laval House’s salary is very high. For my family, I’m willing to sacrifice everything.”
Marianne’s words struck Amelia’s heart like a heavy stone.
“Family.”
That word was like a cold needle piercing through the fragile calm she was trying to maintain.
Amelia recalled her own past.
On a cold winter morning, the Old Abbess of the convent had opened the heavy wooden door with a startled cry, finding on the stone steps outside a baby wrapped in tattered rags, her small face purple from the cold.
Such scenes often played out at the doors of monasteries and churches across the kingdom.
Parents who couldn’t afford to raise their children abandoned their flesh and blood before God’s door, evading the pangs of conscience this way.
They recklessly passed their sins onto God’s servants, fully aware that the servants could hardly feed so many children.
Amelia was one such abandoned infant.
The Old Abbess, looking at the faint breath within the rags, struggled painfully on her wrinkled face.
The convent’s own farmland had suffered years of famine with nearly no harvest, and even the devout monks were on the brink of starvation. How could such a small baby survive here?
The Abbess’s frail hand trembled, several times almost turning away, but stopped at the icy little hand that unconsciously touched her cheek.
What broke the Abbess’s heart most was that little Amelia did not cry—only gazed at her with unbelievably pure blue eyes, faintly smiling in innocence.
At that moment, tears welled in the Abbess’s cloudy eyes as she pulled the cold infant close, wrapping her in the threadbare, thin robe, pouring every ounce of warmth she had into the child, murmuring: “Lord, forgive my weakness, and please have mercy on this child…”
She made a vow: even if she starved to death, she would keep this child alive.
She believed this child would grow safely and become a kind nun who served the Lord.
Amelia grew up surrounded by such all-encompassing love and a harsh environment of scarcity.
Strangely enough, after her arrival, the drought-stricken land received a life-saving rain.
The convent people regarded her as a God-sent “gift.”
Amelia herself was remarkably diligent, with a photographic memory; before twelve, she could recite thick volumes of the Holy Scripture backward and forward, chanting prayers more devoutly and beautifully than the oldest nuns.
Ultimately, her intelligence and devotion caught the eye of Archbishop Lucien, who was visiting the district.
He took her from that remote convent to the bustling Capital, making her his student and assistant—
An unparalleled glory the entire convent had never witnessed before!
Unfortunately, the Abbess who had cherished her so deeply did not live to see this day.
Long-term malnutrition and overwork had already worn the Abbess’s body thin.
Amelia would forever remember that dim afternoon, the oil lamp flickering faintly, the Abbess’s withered hand tightly holding hers, her breath faint but remarkably clear:
“Amelia, your name comes from the widow of a great saint. After the saint’s sacrifice, his wife carried on his will. She led freed slaves to build a beautiful kingdom for all, not for tyrants.”
The Abbess’s cloudy eyes struggled to focus on Amelia’s face, full of infinite love and hope, “Amelia… you too… can become that kind of great woman… From the first time I looked into your eyes… I believed…”
Her hand finally fell limp, but her words Amelia would never forget.
That saint was Saint Elliott.
Amelia was not the Abbess’s daughter, but the Abbess was Amelia’s mother, her dearest family.
At this moment, Marianne’s calm words—“I’m willing to sacrifice everything for my family”—were like a key unlocking the floodgates of Amelia’s memories, overwhelming her with emotion.
The Abbess’s figure seemed to overlap with the dark-haired maid before her. Both were brave souls willing to walk thorny paths to protect what mattered most!
What about herself? She called Saint Elliott her idol but lacked this sacrificial resolve!
A wave of shame washed over Amelia, quickly replaced by a nearly tragic determination.
She would help Marianne! Like Saint Elliott helped those slaves! Even if… even if it cost her dearly!
“It’s okay! Marianne!” Amelia suddenly lifted her head, tears still staining her cheeks, but her blue eyes burning with the fiery light of a martyr, “You’re strong! Much stronger than me… much stronger!”
She tightly grasped Marianne’s hand, her voice trembling with emotion:
“Run away! Leave that demon! I’ll… I’ll beg Master Albert! Get you into the Church as a nun! Your family… we’ll find a way together! We can raise funds! We’ll take care of them together! You’re my friend, Marianne—your family is my family! Your brothers—we’ll raise them together, okay?”
Perfect. This little nun had completely fallen into Marianne’s trap.
Marianne had exploited her hostility toward Allen. Naturally, Amelia had no idea Marianne and Allen were on the same side.
The more she hated Allen, the closer she actually got to him…
Wait, why do I feel like I’m sending my rival straight to Allen’s side?
Hmm, I need to add a bit more spice!
“Sorry…” Marianne shook her head gently, deliberately showing a deep, helpless sadness, “I can no longer become a nun.”
A Church nun?
She was the apostle of God’s Messenger; she had no interest in becoming some nun!
“What?!” Amelia was struck as if by lightning; the pure thoughts in her mind instantly flashed the worst, most blasphemous idea: “That… that pervert! Beast! Did he… did he really do that… that unforgivable thing to you?!”
Eh, you really fell for it?
How would you even know that?
Though barely in her teens, Marianne was definitely an old hand.
In this era, people drew a clear line between “love” and “lust.”
Before coming to the Capital, Marianne’s mother had done her best to educate her on all sorts of practical knowledge about relationships—of course, including many useful “positions.”
This was Marianne’s mother’s way of protecting her daughter.
However, unlike the common folk, Amelia, as a Church nun, was supposed to lead a life of abstinence.
By all rights, she should be the pure maiden Allen imagined.
Marianne never expected that this little nun would share her own astonishing way of thinking!
Ah, if only Allen were really a beast.
A personal maid sleeping with her master—that would be only natural!
A flush rose on Marianne’s cheeks.
That blush only deepened Amelia’s misunderstanding.
The little nun’s body trembled slightly with extreme anger, and she raged:
“That bastard! He’s definitely deceiving Master! He’s an irredeemable scumbag! How could the Lord ever forgive such a demon!”
Amelia’s face turned bright red with fury. She suddenly grabbed Marianne’s hand and was about to rush to the main hall.
“Marianne, let’s go! Let’s sever ties with him now! Let Master see his true face!”
Eh, eh, eh, don’t rush!
If you ruin Allen’s plans, I’m the one who’ll have to deal with you first!
Wait! Amelia!” Marianne grabbed the impulsive Amelia’s hand, her voice trembling heartbreakingly, “I’m sorry, Amelia… I can’t leave him.”
“Why?!” Amelia stomped anxiously, “Does he have something on you?”
“No…” Marianne slowly shook her head, her crimson eyes misting over, “If I leave… Laval House will find another maid… that poor girl… what will happen to her? Will she… suffer worse treatment than I did?”
Of course, Marianne would never leave—and she certainly wouldn’t let any other maid casually approach Allen!
Those vulgar people could never understand Allen’s greatness, nor earn Young Master Laval’s “favor.”
The marks Allen left on her… were her exclusive badges of honor!
If Allen knew Marianne harbored such thoughts, he would definitely break down and cry:
“I absolutely can’t accept the lily-like heroine turning into a masochist! You silly maid, you should just rewind to last Sunday!”
Hearing Marianne’s words, Amelia froze.
That’s right! She only thought about saving Marianne, but what about everyone else once Marianne was saved?
Marianne took a deep breath, straightening her back, her face showing a nearly saintly expression of mercy and resolve: “So, Amelia… I can only stay by his side, continue serving him, and endure everything. Only then can others be saved.”
“B-But we could find an excuse to arrest him! Send him to the Heretic Inquisition Squad! He must have committed unforgivable sins. Once he’s there, he won’t come back!” Amelia’s eyes lit up as she found a “perfect solution.”
Marianne narrowed her eyes; her suspicions were confirmed.
She and Allen had left the Heretic Inquisition only a few days ago, yet Amelia remained completely unaware!
Even Lucien, the Archbishop’s student, knew nothing of the Heretic Inquisition’s matters.
This was very interesting.
Even Church personnel were divided into two separate worlds.
The vast majority of them were utterly ignorant of the impending apocalypse.
For this reason, Marianne had to have everyone recognize Allen as God’s Messenger.
Guiding innocent people like Amelia to gradually understand the truth would surely bring unforeseen results.
“Don’t do that, Amelia.” Marianne immediately squeezed her hand, her crimson eyes gazing earnestly, her voice gentle, “The Judgement Court is such a dark and terrifying place. Even if Allen de Laval is truly unforgivable, I don’t want… your pure hands to be stained with even the slightest sin because of me. That would make me restless forever.”
“Marianne! Ugh… you’re so good! How can you be so good!”
Amelia was moved to tears again, filled with pity for her “saintly” friend and guilt over her own rashness.
“Then… what will you do?” She was completely at a loss.
“I have… forgiven him.” Marianne raised her head, her crimson eyes filled with confusion and a humble plea, “You know, when Allen said he was reborn… he really changed. He no longer hurts me, he even cares for me.”
“I know, this might all be fake—his excellent disguise. He might revert to his old self anytime… But, my dear friend, even if this dream is as fleeting as morning dew, please let me continue, okay?”
Amelia was utterly dumbfounded.
Forgive? Why forgive such a demon? She couldn’t comprehend at all!
But… the deep pleading and trust in Marianne’s eyes were like invisible ropes binding her.
A tremendous sense of responsibility and mission of being needed overwhelmed Amelia’s anger and confusion.
She took a deep breath, as if making a decision, nodding firmly; her blue eyes sparkled with determination: “O-Okay! I promise! We’re friends, and if he ever bullies you again, I will appear right before you.”
“Marianne, I will help you!”
Hearing Amelia’s promise, Marianne finally showed a genuine, triumphant smile.
“You’ll help with anything?”
Amelia, unaware of the danger in human hearts, only treasured their friendship, no matter if Master scolded her.
“Of course!”
“Thank you, Amelia.”
Marianne opened her arms and gave Amelia a tight, grateful hug, burying her face in the other’s shoulder, which carried a faint scent of soap.
“We’re lifelong sisters, right?”
“Of course!”
Amelia hugged Marianne back with strength, her voice loud and resolute, filled with the spirit of loyalty to a friend.
She felt incredibly proud and fulfilled to be able to help this saintly friend.
Sunlight cast dappled shadows on the cold floor; Saint Elliott maintained his eternal spear-throwing pose in the mural. In the side hall, the newly formed “sisters” held each other tightly.
Amelia was immersed in pure emotion—dedicated to friendship and justice.
She could not see the shadowed half of Marianne’s face resting on her shoulder, quietly blossoming a smile of relief, tinged with slyness and triumph—
No, she mustn’t smile, must hold back. But the troublesome one would soon disappear.
At this rate, Allen’s domination of the world was only a matter of time…
Poor Allen, little did he know, under his influence, Marianne had completely skewed her skill tree, heading off in a strange direction with no return.
Premium Chapter
Login to buy access to this Chapter.