Five days from now, they were going to the battlefield?!
When Meilin heard the news, her eyes instantly welled up with tears.
She finally understood why Isavel had been so harsh with them, why she had assigned them the seemingly impossible mission to conquer the Golden Dungeon.
It turned out that their Rose Knights would be forced into battle so soon…
And from the conversation, she could tell that this timing was the result of Isavel fighting for them; without her, they might have been sent to the front lines days ago.
Just thinking about herself before entering the Golden Dungeon made her hands and feet go cold.
If they went into battle in that state, death was inevitable.
As these thoughts ran through her mind, the chatter in the resting room gradually faded.
Meilin approached the door quietly, cracked it open, and peeked inside.
Bathed in moonlight, Isavel sat behind the desk, half supporting her cheek with her hand.
On her delicate face, there was a fatigue rarely seen in her usual demeanor.
But soon, as if noticing something, she concealed her weariness.
“The one hiding by the door, come in.”
The cool voice came from inside the resting room.
Meilin pursed her lips and pushed the door open.
Before, whenever she saw Isavel, she had felt a trace of fear, worried about what the Saintess might do to her.
But now…
She only felt pity.
In a corner where no one could see, this seemingly cold Saintess bore an immense burden alone.
When Isavel saw it was Meilin, she revealed a villainous Saintess smile.
“Oh, isn’t this Meilin? So late—why are you at the Oracle Hall? If you have time, you’d better rest; tomorrow’s training won’t be easy.”
“Lady Viel, you… seem very tired, don’t you?”
Isavel was taken aback for a moment.
She stood up and walked to the window, gazing at the imperial city under the night sky, scoffing, “Tired? What nonsense are you talking about? Meilin, this is not a place for you.”
“I heard everything, Lady Viel. You’re pushing us so hard in training because you don’t want us to die on the battlefield, right?”
“…Hmph, do you think I care about your lives? Even if you die on the battlefield, what does that have to do with me?”
Crossing her arms, Isavel frowned slightly, maintaining her persona.
Just now, the one arguing with her had been the Neighboring Emperor.
Ten days ago, the low-ranked demons exploited a breach in the seal and descended into the human world.
The Neighboring Emperor thought he could hold them off for a month but was soundly defeated, leading to the total fall of the frontline fortress.
So, out of desperation, he demanded the Rose Knights deploy ahead of schedule and used the lives of the fortress’s civilians to morally pressure her.
How could she possibly agree?
If the Rose Knights faced the Abyssal Demons without completing their training, the casualties would be devastating.
Not only would they fail to save the civilians, but the entire Order of Knights might be wiped out.
That would truly be the end of this world.
What surprised her, however, was that Meilin had overheard all this.
Rubbing her temples, Isavel said, “Meilin, you should go rest. It’s late.”
Before she finished, Meilin wrapped her arms around her from behind.
The girl pressed tightly against her back and said with strength:
“If you didn’t care about our lives, you wouldn’t force us to first train our ability to escape. If you didn’t care, you wouldn’t have come to save me during the Hundred Flowers Festival!”
“You’ve always threatened us with life and death because you don’t want us to truly die on the battlefield. I know all of this!”
“So, Lady Viel, stop pretending. Your heart is full of us!”
The warmth of the girl radiated through her clothing and seeped into Isavel’s heart.
She placed her hands over the girl’s and lifted her gaze to the bright moon in the sky, falling silent.
She’d been discovered…
She had thought her disguise would hold until the end of their six-year training period.
But it had only been a month before someone saw through it.
Fortunately, Selis and she shared the same secret, and that had yet to be uncovered.
She laughed softly without sound and said gently, “What are you rambling about here? Go back to rest.”
Meilin paid no mind to the dismissal.
With a wave of her hand, a pure white lily appeared in her palm—and simultaneously before Isavel as well.
“Here, a flower I want to give you.”
“… Didn’t you already give one to Selis to pass on for you?”
“Yes, but I still want to give it to you myself.”
Meilin extended the flower forward.
Isavel took it, brought the petals close, and inhaled lightly before smiling and stroking Meilin’s hair.
“Since you gave me a flower, go back now. Tonight never happened, or else there will be extra training tomorrow.”
Seeing Isavel accept the flower, Meilin smiled coquettishly.
“Alright, I’ll go now. But… will tonight’s event be our secret?”
“It will.”
“Then…” At the resting room’s doorway, she blinked mischievously, “I’ll keep it safe, Lady Selis!”
Lady Selis?
Isavel’s breath caught at the title.
Before she could react, the girl flitted away like a butterfly from the doorway.
But soon, she seemed to remember something and hurried back.
“Eh, one more thing!”
She poked her head around the door, her gaze resolute.
“In five days, just wait. The Rose Knights will give you a big surprise. Your efforts will be rewarded!”
Having said this, she ran down to the first floor.
Only after she disappeared from sight did Isavel realize that her secret identity as Selis had long since been discovered by Meilin.
But… was this really a secret shared only between them?
Returning to her desk, Isavel hugged the lily in her hands and smiled helplessly.
“Renia, tell me—am I really that easy to see through?”
From the shadows behind her, the maid Renia appeared.
She looked toward where Meilin had vanished, her eyes complex.
“Your disguise is flawless. It’s just that Meilin… has observed you too often, and too closely.”
“Is that so?”
Leaning her head against her hand, Isavel began pondering the imperfections in her act.
But soon, the exhaustion reappeared in her expression.
She closed her eyes and her breathing gradually steadied.
Moonlight spilled over her cheeks, making her skin look especially pale.
Carefully covering her with a blanket, Renia’s eyes brimmed with compassion.
In truth, she had lied just now when answering her.
Her disguise was not flawless.
Because true kindness and loneliness cannot be hidden.