“Of course.”
“I’ve taken care of my master for decades—what food she likes, the flowers and clothes she prefers, and the countless feats she’s accomplished for the kingdom—I know all of it.”
The moment the butler began talking about Lorabelle, his face lit up with unconcealable pride.
He was genuinely happy and proud to serve a master like her.
“My master is a person who upholds justice and light. She is a devout follower of the Sky Goddess, Iroga…”
Aurora listened attentively as the butler went on at length about Lorabelle—from her faith to her favorite foods, the battles she had fought in, and much more.
Aurora noticed that many of Lorabelle’s personal habits were still very similar to what they once were—only differing by a fraction.
But why had her personality changed so drastically?
The Lorabelle she remembered had been such a gentle, sensible, and kind little girl.
Had time simply changed her?
After all, two centuries had passed… perhaps that alone had tempered her into someone far more resolute and cold.
“My master wasn’t always like this…”
Just as Aurora was deep in thought, the butler, seemingly slipping into his own memories, suddenly spoke with a touch of melancholy.
“What was she like before?”
Aurora quickly seized the moment and asked.
“She became a Holy Knight fifty years ago. Back then, she was a graceful young lady—strong in both swordsmanship and holy magic, yet always wore a gentle smile and treated others with patience.”
“Until the day she inherited the title of Holy Knight. Lord Crohn, the former Holy Knight, was gravely injured during a battle and could no longer continue fighting, so he had to relinquish the title.”
“Lady Lorabelle, whom he had placed high hopes in, passed every trial with excellence. She stood atop a mountain of powerful monsters’ corpses and declared that she would henceforth bear the mantle of Holy Knight.”
“After that, her personality slowly began to change—growing colder. But as her butler, I can tell that deep down, she’s still the same person she used to be. It’s just that, surrounded by people in the royal capital who constantly scheme and covet her, she has to hide her weakness behind that facade.”
“My master bears all sorts of pressure day in and day out. If only there were someone who could share even a bit of that burden with her… but alas, even as her butler, I can only help with the small things.”
Realizing he may have spoken too much, the butler coughed awkwardly and said, “It seems I’ve lost track of time. Miss Aurora, we should be heading back.”
“Y-Yes, of course…” Aurora responded softly.
Aurora didn’t know what exactly she was feeling—there was both a hint of joy and a trace of sorrow in her heart.
She was happy to know that Lorabelle’s personality hadn’t completely changed; deep down, she was still the girl she once knew.
But at the same time, she was saddened by the heavy burden Lorabelle had to bear as a Holy Knight.
Back in her room, Aurora picked up a leaf and placed it between her lips.
Before long, the fresh green leaf began to yellow and wither.
Aurora took a deep breath—she could feel her energy slowly returning.
She could sense her body gradually weakening.
It must be because she no longer had a host to rely on.
But she had already decided she wouldn’t seek a new host.
Looking at the three remaining green leaves in her hand, Aurora thought to herself:
Once these are gone, I’ll find a quiet place and fade away, quietly.
Clip-clop…
The sound of hooves echoed from outside the window.
Aurora walked over and saw that Lorabelle had returned.
After stepping down from the dragon carriage, Lorabelle began pacing back and forth restlessly, occasionally glancing up toward Aurora’s room.
Aurora remembered what the butler had said earlier—was Lorabelle upset by someone?
Worry began to creep into her heart.
Time passed.
Aurora grew increasingly anxious until finally, she made up her mind and went downstairs herself.
“Holy Knight,” Aurora called out softly.
Lorabelle stopped pacing at the sound of her voice.
She took a deep breath with her back still turned, then turned around somewhat awkwardly.
A gentle breeze swept through, lifting the white petals of the silver-blend flowers planted in the garden.
They fluttered past Aurora’s silver hair, and one petal came to rest gently on Lorabelle’s shoulder.
Lorabelle’s gaze fell upon Aurora, growing distant and unfocused. Suddenly, the scene before her began to feel familiar.
The world blurred slightly, and in that moment of daze, she saw another silver-haired girl—not this one standing before her, but someone similar, smiling brightly amid a flurry of silver petals, radiating a gentle, almost holy aura.
But the one before her now wore a faint, bittersweet smile.
“Are you all right, Holy Knight?” Aurora asked, puzzled by the way Lorabelle was staring at her in a daze.
Do I have something on my face? she wondered.
Lorabelle snapped back to reality at the sound of her voice.
“Ahem. I’m fine—just a little tired,” she said.
“When will I be allowed to leave, Holy Knight?”
“Not yet!”
Lorabelle’s voice suddenly rose in pitch, and her sharp tone startled Aurora.
“I… I understand…”
Hearing her speak that way for no apparent reason, Aurora lowered her head, disheartened, and turned to head back into the estate.
Realizing she had scared her unintentionally, Lorabelle panicked. She instinctively reached a hand toward Aurora, opened her mouth to speak—but no words came out.
You truly are foolish, Holy Knight Lorabelle. This isn’t like you. You’re supposed to be decisive. You’re supposed to be brave! she scolded herself in her mind.
“That’s right—be decisive!” she muttered under her breath, as if trying to psych herself up.
You don’t need to be decisive. You don’t need to be brave… Just be selfish, Lorabelle.
Suddenly, an unfamiliar voice echoed in her mind again, startling her. Lorabelle was shocked by her own thoughts.
Why would she think something like that?
The voice repeated itself, selfish, again and again—those two syllables embedded themselves deep in her mind.
She shook her head violently, trying to rid herself of the voice, but it was no use.
What’s wrong with me? Am I just exhausted?
This voice couldn’t possibly be her own thoughts. As a Holy Knight, she would never entertain something like that!
It had to be the princess’s ridiculous rambling earlier—yes, that must be it!
Lorabelle’s head was starting to spin. She felt dizzy and light-headed.
That voice in her mind—the word selfish—kept growing louder, more frenzied.
“I need to rest for a bit…”
She told herself she’d think about how to deal with Aurora after some rest—when she was no longer feeling like this, when she had the strength to face it properly.
Stumbling dizzily, Lorabelle made her way to her room.
One by one, she removed her heavy armor, revealing the graceful figure hidden beneath and her full, shapely bust.
To avoid anything getting in the way during combat, her undergarments were form-fitting, and the tight black material clung to her body, perfectly outlining her elegant curves.
She lay down on the soft bed, but the voice in her head did not quiet. Her headache worsened.
*****
In her dream.
Lorabelle seemed to hear someone crying out for help.
That voice… it sounded like Aurora’s!
She jolted awake.
The moment she opened her eyes, she was met with Aurora’s tear-streaked face—just inches from her own.
When did I pin her down like this?!
“Please… let me go.”