Chapter 46: Blonde Rivalry—An Inevitable Part of Life

Rules are a wonderful thing.

They forced Fina Nisi to personally go to the Knight Order Inner Citadel and deal with those knights herself.

This was precisely Aililan’s intention; almost as soon as Fina Nisi had finished handling the knights—

The previously neutral Captain Linuor arrived at Frezeya Manor requesting an audience, eager to show her loyalty to Her Highness the Saintess.

Meanwhile, Captain Morphete, through her connections with Milisanel and Renata, was trying to obtain Aililan’s forgiveness.

The fifth captain, Yarvis, who was also the closest to Fina Nisi, had been on edge day and night, but, unfortunately for him, time was not on his side.

The men under Captain Yarvis would not follow a sinking ship. Bit by bit, they isolated Yarvis and once more threw themselves into Aililan’s embrace, becoming her loyal knights.

Aililan finally let out a long breath and said, “Now, all five hundred Chastity Knights are finally under my control.”

This process was anything but easy.

If Fina Nisi had shown just a bit more strength at any point, it would not have been so easy to win over Captains Morphete and Linuor.

But Fina Nisi was far too confident in her own martial prowess and had never looked anyone else in the eye.

Some might say:

The Chastity Knights were already loyal to Aililan, so all this effort was unnecessary.

But in truth, before Aililan was sent out for her training, she’d rarely had contact with this Knight Order. It was just like how all soldiers claim loyalty to the Emperor, when in reality, it’s the generals who hold the true power over them.

At the Knight Order Inner Citadel.

Fina Nisi’s expression was thunderous.

“Damn it!”

“Bastard!”

“Does Aililan really have to do this? Where does that leave my dignity?”

What angered her wasn’t that she’d had to deal with those dozen knights herself, nor that many of her people had turned to Aililan.

What enraged her was losing face in front of Aililan. As for those weak, ant-like loyal knights—she could dispose of as many as needed without a pang of regret.

“Pella!”

“I’m in a terrible mood right now.”

“……”

“Hm?”

“Pella?”

“You wretch, where did you run off to?”

Poor Feng Aotian had no idea that the “wretch” she was referring to was, at this very moment, wandering through the grand bazaar of Atester City, soaking in all its splendor!

Pella was glowing with health and happiness, and felt that Miss Briana Tell, who accompanied her, was truly a refined and courteous young lady!

They claimed to be surveying sites for a winery, but in reality, they were simply touring Atester City.

And honestly, who could refuse such generosity from a lady who lavished gold on you without a second thought?

Pella said she was hungry?

Briana immediately had the Housekeeper summon the city’s most famous chef.

Pella cast an extra glance at some dresses?

Briana instantly tossed out a sack of gold coins and bought every dress in the bazaar.

In the jewelry shop? Buy!

At the Black Market Auction? Buy!

At the Estate newly built in the inner city? Buy!

A newly released Luxury Carriage from a famed artist? Buy!

The pursuits of the rich are always so simple, so direct.

Briana wasn’t even in a rush to possess Pella’s body. If she wanted a woman for pleasure, she could find a hundred and eighty in no time. What mattered to her was the process.

With her sharp eye for women, she could tell at a glance that Pella was absolutely devoted to Fina Nisi—no, to call her a cast-off would be more accurate, but what a rare and exquisite cast-off she was.

Just imagine: a woman “ruined” by another, receiving tender care and, from then on, sinking utterly.

“Ah—”

Just imagining it made Briana ** already.

When it came time to part, Briana took Pella’s hand, kissed the back of it gently, and said, with utmost decorum, “Today has been the happiest day since I arrived in Atester City, and it’s all thanks to you, Miss Pella.”

“Ah? N-no, it’s nothing.”

“I look forward to our next meeting, Miss Pella. Don’t you agree?”

“Ah? O-oh…”

Pella was still a little dazed, but she didn’t dislike the feeling of being so welcomed—in fact, she quite enjoyed being treated with such care.

Her impression of Briana grew even better; she believed Briana to be a noble young lady of true refinement.

But her good mood didn’t last long. When she returned to the Knight Order, what greeted her was Fina Nisi’s stormy wrath.

The door to the room slammed shut.

Pella’s clothes were torn to shreds.

As always, Pella endured in silence, because… Captain Fina Nisi was the person she loved most!

She didn’t even know why she’d become like this. She, too, was born of a noble family in the Holy Land, but ever since she was “conquered” by Lady Fina Nisi, she simply couldn’t stop herself.

As long as it was something Fina Nisi wanted—no matter how excessive—she would comply.

Even, even… “It hurts, it hurts so much,” Pella whimpered softly. But her voice only made Fina Nisi more excited, and more furious.

So she vented her anger even further.

No one knew how much time passed.

Fina Nisi grabbed a set of clothes at random, tossed them onto Pella’s battered back, and said coldly, “Go find me an astrologer native to Atester City. Now.”

Pella trembled all over. “Fina—Captain Fina Nisi, could I rest a little first?”

“Pella, are you that desperate for love again?”

“Ah, n-no, I’ll go right now. But, um, may I ask what you need the astrologer for… Ah, I mean, do you have any particular requirements?”

Fina Nisi’s tone was icy. “To find someone.”

“Who?”

“Of course, that girl Aililan treasures most. That angelic white-haired girl—I’ve never once thought of giving up.”

Pella: ……

After hastily putting on her clothes, she hurried out the door.

But after turning just one corner, Pella clutched her stomach and squatted on the ground.

“It hurts.”

A bright thread of blood seeped out.

She hadn’t felt joy in so, so long. There was no joy now—only pain.

Pella cast a healing spell on herself, changed her clothes, and set out at once to search for the astrologer Fina Nisi wanted.

Ever since Aililan hid Theresa away, to avoid exposing even a single clue, she hadn’t dared to go near the Snake Gang even once.

She thought that, with such a big city as Atester and a population of hundreds of thousands, hiding one person should be easy. This was the best way to protect Theresa.

But she had underestimated how far Fina Nisi would go to get what she wanted.

After several days—

Aililan was finally at ease.

Renata, somewhat baffled, asked, “Saintess Aililan, what has you so cheerful these days?”

Aililan couldn’t hide her smile. “Me? Am I that cheerful? Hehehe.”

She was happy for three reasons.

First, she had won over the Knight Order.

Second, Briana was investing in a winery.

Third, this “blonde rivalry”—well, it’s an unavoidable part of life in this world!

The more she looked at that blue-haired Fina Nisi, well, guess what?

She’d been “cheated” on!