Ayla once again felt the sensation of the forest battle.
Nothing else—just that constant chill at her back, like a blade hidden beneath her skin, making every step feel like a risk.
Before departure, Zero had come over, said a few words, then did nothing else and simply left.
The convoy was set to depart as scheduled, and everyone carried on with their tasks.
But Ayla couldn’t settle.
She couldn’t eat well, couldn’t sleep, and every moment spent inside the carriage was haunted by the feeling that at any moment the girl would silently sneak in and use some secret to stir trouble.
As long as she didn’t come, Lala’s heart wouldn’t be at ease.
Yet, indeed, she never did show up.
The carriage convoy heading back to the city traveled for three full days.
Do you know how Ayla passed those three days?
Aside from eating, drinking, and using the bathroom, she stayed inside the carriage without stepping down once.
“We’ve arrived.”
On the afternoon of the fourth day, the convoy halted, the towering walls of the Royal City looming close.
People moved in and out of the gates in orderly fashion—everything as familiar as ever.
More than two months had passed since the assassination incident that had shaken the entire city.
The Royal City had completely returned to normal.
For the vast majority of its residents, that event was just a minor episode in their lives.
Only the guards at the city gates trembled slightly when they saw a few girls step down from the carriage, especially the one with the striking pink hair.
“Please… please proceed with the entry formalities!”
Fine, let them do their job—no need to be so nervous.
Ayla muttered silently, feeling relieved when she saw someone more afraid than herself.
Taking the form, she filled in her name and reason for entry: Official business trip, returning to report.
Ha~choo~
“Ayla, I’ll handle it.” Celes took the documents and casually asked, “Haven’t been sleeping well these past few days?”
“Mm, still not quite used to the bumps on the road.”
That was obviously a lie.
After all, she had been on countless carriage rides these past few months—how could she suddenly become unaccustomed?
As for why she hadn’t been sleeping well, the real culprit was someone else entirely.
Ayla glanced secretly behind her.
Zero was helping the others pack their luggage, unloading items silently and diligently, as if nothing had happened three days ago.
Could it be my imagination?
Just then, Zero felt the girl’s gaze, looked up, and gave her a mysterious smile.
A dark smile, not one bit sunny.
It wasn’t a hallucination. It was real!
Ayla’s heart tightened painfully.
She silently touched her swollen stomach, feeling the days ahead would be bleak.
She was definitely going to do something!
***
Am I a bad girl?
Zero saw Ayla’s pitiful expression and knew she hadn’t slept well these nights.
How did she know?
Not because she was the instigator, but because every night she would pace quietly outside Ayla’s carriage, only returning after hearing her fall asleep—often mumbling well into the late hours.
It was all her doing—she had made Ayla worry and lose sleep for days on end.
I really am a bad girl.
Zero felt she shouldn’t act like this, but… but Ayla had been the first to be the “bad girl.”
How could she do those things with Miss Leah?
Though she wasn’t sure exactly what had been done, just swapping clothes was already very, very bad.
Bad girls should be punished.
***
After completing the entry procedures and sending the carriage to the Stables, the girls finally returned to their loyal Bonfire Camp.
“This place is better.”
Vina flopped onto the first floor sofa, sighing, “Feels like home.”
The Harbor City inns were well-equipped but average in terms of luxury and comfort.
The sea breeze initially felt fresh and freeing, but after a few days it was nothing but salty air.
Ayla quietly put down her luggage, which contained only her personal items and regular clothes, plus a piece of sleepwear from Leah.
It was the one they had accidentally swapped that night.
She hadn’t returned it yet—what if someone saw?
Best to just keep it.
“You all rest first. I have to go to the Royal Palace.”
Celes told everyone, “I’ve already prepared the report on Harbor City. Once I finish, I’ll be back.”
How to explain things to the higher-ups was already clear in her mind; it was just a formality.
The real issues that arose during this mission she planned to discuss tomorrow with Mentor Rolls, bringing Ayla along.
“So busy.”
Vina buried herself in the sofa.
“Political affairs are troublesome,” Leah tucked her golden hair behind her ear, “Luckily, I don’t have to deal with them.”
Only Ayla responded with concern: “Safe travels. We’ll have dinner ready when you return.”
A warm feeling welled in Celes’s heart.
What a wonderful girl—beautiful, kind, and thoughtful. Surely she wouldn’t deceive me.
Set off!
The Bonfire Camp fell into an unusual quiet.
Dinner was still some time away, and Ayla wanted to lie down in her room for a bit—but first, she observed.
Vina was still bonding with the sofa on the first floor, Leah was brewing black tea, and Zero was nowhere to be found—she seemed to have already gone to her room earlier.
Everyone was busy. No one should come looking for her.
Back in her room, Ayla closed the door, put away her luggage in the wardrobe, and once everything was done, she flopped backward onto the bed.
“Ah…”
After about half a month in Harbor City, she sighed deeply.
Not to mention all the running around, the schemes, and using the girl’s status to bring family soldiers into the city—she had worked hard through perilous times and finally secured a city.
High input, high reward.
But being entangled by the Evil God—her first deal had been a trap, and she still didn’t know how to fix it.
If she could go back to that night, she wouldn’t have been so foolish as to fall for it.
She definitely would’ve… what could she have done to save herself?
Maybe go back further, before Leah undressed.
She’d have to persuade her not to join the church.
Lying on the bed, Ayla thought about these impossible things.
The past was gone and couldn’t be changed—only bitter regrets remained.
She closed her eyes to rest a while. Just a moment.
“Ayla~”
The pink-haired thunderbolt girl who had just closed her eyes suddenly opened them again, struggling to sit up and looking toward the door with suspicion.
That was definitely Leah’s voice outside.
“What is it?”
“Nothing much, since we’re back, let’s continue what we couldn’t finish last time.”
Leah’s voice came from outside the door, “Last time, we were interrupted by others. It wasn’t satisfying at all.”
Huh?
Ayla thought, My dear Saintess, are you out of your mind?
This broad daylight, the Bonfire Camp just returned, Celes already left alone, and the two most troublesome ones are still here—who knows when they’ll show up.
She was about to explain the stakes when the words caught in her throat.
Wait! That’s not right!
Leah had been brewing tea on the first floor just now. That was certain.
If she came upstairs to find her, why didn’t she make a single sound of footsteps?