Aililan quickly left the hot spring.
She saw at the entrance to the hot spring, Sun Knight Renata and the others were locked in a standoff with Deputy Captain Pella.
It seemed they had been deliberately distracted and held up.
Aililan shot a grim look at Pella, “Fine! Very good, you two-faced dog.” At this point, she was almost a hundred percent certain that Pella had played a crucial role in this matter.
What infuriated her even more.
Pella, as the deputy captain of the Knights, had betrayed the one she was sworn to serve, and even sold out her own liege completely?
Aililan told herself there was no need to get angry; this kind of person would be dealt with sooner or later.
Her expression quickly returned to normal, and she approached with a gentle smile, saying, “Renata, we should head back… Eh? Deputy Captain Pella, what are you doing here?”
Pella’s face showed an odd look.
The Captain finished so quickly?
Has the Captain always been this lax after a few days apart?
Her gaze couldn’t help but shift down toward Aililan’s legs, as if she was checking whether the Saintess was still pure, but clearly, she was about to be disappointed.
Because!
Aililan remained ever chaste.
“Saintess, I was just idle and came this way, only to find that Renata and the others were here as well, so I scolded them for abandoning their posts,” Pella explained.
Renata looked thoroughly aggrieved.
But she couldn’t really argue back.
She just thought, it’s not the first time Pella has made things difficult, if I just endure it, it’ll pass! After all, Pella is under Captain Fina Nisi’s protection.
But Aililan thought differently. As a lord, she enjoyed the loyalty and devotion of her subordinates, but she also had the responsibility to protect them.
Subordinates serve their lord.
A lord cares for her subordinates.
This too was a kind of chastity in character.
Aililan took a step toward Pella, a step as heavy as a thousand pounds, and stared straight into Pella’s eyes as she spoke: “Deputy Captain Pella, Renata and the others are acting on my orders—there’s nothing inappropriate about it.”
“On the contrary, you, as the deputy captain.”
“There are a pile of tasks at the camp waiting to be handled.”
“And yet you tell me you have nothing to do? I say the one abandoning her post isn’t Renata and the others, but you!”
Aililan’s gaze was far too intimidating.
Pella instinctively stepped back.
It felt as if she were facing one of the other renowned Seven Virtues Saints, and she didn’t dare meet Aililan’s eyes. In this moment, if Aililan said it was her fault, then it was.
“I…”
Pella’s face went a little pale.
“Deputy Captain Pella, as deputy captain you should set an example. If you’re so idle, then from now on, you’ll also be in charge of logistics! If even a single soldier goes hungry, I’ll punish you according to doctrine.”
“And if anything delays our journey to Atester City, I won’t hesitate to strip you of your position.”
Aililan gave a cold snort.
Then led Renata and the others away.
On the way back, Renata’s mood was strangely excited. Even Rose Knight Milisanel, at this moment, was looking at Aililan with a new light in her eyes.
Before, they may have complained that someone like Pella, who was neither as strong nor as capable could be deputy captain.
Or maybe they had grumbled that the Saintess they served paid too little attention to the Knights.
Now they realized, Aililan had simply been too young before; she wasn’t suited to spending so much energy on the Knights.
But now things were different. The one they were loyal to would, one day, grow into a being as great as the other Seven Virtues Saints.
Thinking back on Deputy Captain Pella, they felt their earlier gripes had been short-sighted and narrow-minded.
Pella had Captain Fina Nisi backing her?
Now, they had the Saintess on their side!
As Aililan walked, she suddenly felt a force gathering from Renata and the others.
“What is this?”
“The power of Chastity?”
Caring for one’s loyal subordinates also counted as a trait of Chastity.
Aililan finally understood more deeply the words she’d once said to the Saintess of Temperance, Lizberu: “Everything in the world is Chastity; everything can become your strength.”
After returning, Aililan instructed, “For the upcoming journey, I’ll be counting on you all to pay extra attention.”
Renata and Milisanel both performed the knight’s salute, saying, “We are honored to serve Your Highness, Saintess.”
From then on, the journey went smoothly.
To avoid any further complications.
At Aililan’s urging, and under the supervision of Renata and the others, the party advanced at full speed toward Atester City.
As for the events that had taken place at the hot spring that night, both Aililan and Fina Nisi acted as if nothing had happened.
Her guard was tighter than ever.
And Fina Nisi only grew more troubled.
Half a month later, a grand and imposing city finally appeared before them.
Atester, long threatened by the Orcs of the Northern Plains, with Elves dwelling in the western forests, and Demons lurking in the southern Lava Lands.
Of all these, the Demons were the greatest headache, rumor had it that Succubi could invade dreams and lead people into depravity.
At the city gate.
Wilma, the Bishop of Emile Cathedral, had been waiting for a long time.
The hierarchy of the Chanting Church ran: Pope—Saint Seat of the Seven Thrones, Seven Virtues Saints, Archbishop, Bishop, Priest, Monk, Nun; these seven ranks.
One could say Aililan’s starting point was very high.
The Pope was chosen from among the Seven Thrones.
The Archbishop was responsible for an entire nation.
A Bishop oversaw a city.
A Priest was akin to a district officer, mostly responsible for small village churches.
Wilma placed a hand on her chest and saluted respectfully: “Your Highness Saintess Aililan, it is my honor to welcome you. I have prepared a banquet for you to cleanse away your journey’s dust. Please, come with me.”
Aililan shook her head. “Your kindness is appreciated, but the soldiers behind me have suffered greatly on the road. Please, give the fine wine and food to them.”
Wilma nodded, “As you command. You are just like your sisters, so noble in virtue!”
“Bishop Wilma, I’d like to take a stroll in the city.”
“I will arrange it for you, and ensure you see the very best of Atester.”
“Bishop, I was sent here by the Holy Land, not for banquets or feasts.”
Wilma was momentarily stunned.
Not that she thought Aililan was putting on airs, it was just that she seemed almost too practical.
Moments later, Aililan had changed into plain clothes, her face veiled like many of the residents, and was flanked by two powerful knights.
Double-Handed Sword Master Renata.
Bow Master Milisanel.
Such strength would make her no more than a squad leader among the Saints, but in a place like Atester, they were already considered top experts.
“Saintess, where would you like to go?” Wilma asked.
“People always say that shadows hide beneath the light. Take me to the city’s slums,” Aililan said without hesitation.
Because there, was someone she cherished.
But alas, such is the nature of games.
In a game where yellow-haired protagonists always win, that girl was still taken away by the bull-headed yellow-haired hero.