Just as the City Lord of Sifral activated the magic crystal ball’s search and positioning function for the second time, Noren’s neatly combed hair inexplicably crackled on its own.
The static discharge actually caused Noren a faint sensation of pain.
She frowned slightly, the young girl touched her head in confusion, then promptly dismissed the minor incident without a second thought.
Because the situation before her eyes was a million times more important than the static in her hair!
“Lady Saintess! You promised you would let Lance go!”
Astrid’s tone was urgent, even carrying a hint of accusation.
But the white-robed Saintess seated across from her remained calm and composed, taking a slow, small sip of the tea Noren had just poured.
So hot…
After swallowing the tea, Cecilia finally looked at the Elf Princess with narrowed eyes and a faint smile:
“Your Highness, rest assured. Lance and Noren are old acquaintances of mine from Midgard. Of course, I have no intention of making things difficult for Lance.”
“But Noren’s physical condition is special. I won’t let her leave anytime soon.”
“Considering the bond between the siblings, I provided Lance with this option.”
“Could it be… that Her Highness the Princess is unwilling for Lance to give up being an adventurer and become a Radiant Knight, to live a relatively more stable life?”
Astrid was left speechless and momentarily exasperated.
How could she agree to this?
Earlier, it was clearly agreed that she could take Lance away safely without obstruction.
Now, it was true that Lance’s freedom wasn’t restricted, but the Saintess wouldn’t allow Lance to take Noren.
If that was the case, how could Lance possibly leave with her!
“Why are you keeping Noren? Can you give me a reasonable explanation?”
Sensing that the elf lady’s mood was trending toward confrontation, Lance quickly stepped in to explain the situation regarding Noren’s body undergoing Blood Vampire Transformation, adding that perhaps only returning to the Restoration Army could change this condition.
“That’s the situation.”
“So, I must go to the Restoration Army soon to search for possible experimental clues, and I can only entrust Noren to Lady Cecilia’s care for the time being.”
After hearing Lance’s explanation, Astrid finally understood the situation and was no longer in the dark.
But Astrid immediately noticed something was off.
Lance and the Saintess seemed very familiar with each other; otherwise, he wouldn’t trust her to take care of Noren.
But if they were so close, the Saintess’s behavior didn’t match!
When the Saintess had been alone with her before, she had referred to Lance as ‘the Count of Fallos’ every time, as if they were merely acquaintances.
With a thin liege-vassal relationship, and that under the circumstances of a fallen kingdom and a royal family in exile!
The more she thought about it, the more wrong it felt. Astrid looked suspiciously at the calm Saintess.
“Lady Saintess, you know Lance quite well, don’t you?”
Hearing the question, Cecilia glanced at Lance, weighed her options, and nodded.
With so many eyes in the Restoration Army, their growth trajectories and relationship could be uncovered by anyone who made an effort to inquire.
And Cecilia was certain that after she successfully became the Radiant Saintess, her detailed personal information would have been thoroughly investigated by all major powers.
Hearing this, the confusion in Astrid’s eyes deepened.
From her conversation with Noren, Astrid was certain that Noren had not been treated unfairly during her time as a maid with the Saintess.
So, it seemed the Saintess had a good relationship with the Lance siblings.
Then why had she locked Lance in a dungeon?
To appease that blonde knight?
Her suspicious gaze darted back and forth between Lance and Cecilia, making the Saintess quite uncomfortable:
“Does Her Highness the Princess have any other questions?”
“Ahem… well, Lady Saintess. Since that’s the case, why did you lock Lance in a dungeon?”
Dungeon?
Cecilia was startled, then realized what Astrid was referring to.
Earlier, with her mind in turmoil, she had given the Elf Princess an excuse about retrieving Lance from the dungeon.
But how could she have actually locked Lance up!
Even if she wanted to imprison him, it wouldn’t require such trouble! There was a similar room deep within her own bedroom!
But now, how should she explain…
Her mind racing, Cecilia immediately found an excellent pretext.
With a tone of feigned displeasure, she glanced at Lance and Noren behind him, rolled her eyes slightly, and said:
“You’ll have to ask Lance about that yourself.”
“I merely gave these two siblings a slight punishment.”
Punishment?
Astrid was even more confused. Following the Elf Princess’s gaze, she looked down at Lance, who was sitting nearby on pins and needles.
Hearing Cecilia’s tone, which seemed to mix reproach and resentment, Lance’s eyebrow twitched.
He instantly understood the Saintess’s meaning and felt a bead of sweat forming.
It seemed… Cecilia’s resentment hadn’t faded yet…
Seeing Cecilia cross her arms with no intention of explaining further, Lance had no choice but to speak up awkwardly:
“Well, it’s like this… Before, to take Noren and leave the Restoration Army…”
“I took advantage of all the high-ranking members being away from the base, incited some people, and eliminated some others…”
“And I was part of Lady Cecilia’s faction…”
“That made things difficult for Lady Cecilia… Eventually, she was forced to leave the Restoration Army as well…”
Forced to leave?
Astrid shifted her gaze again to the Saintess, who was drinking tea with a calm expression.
Although the Saintess had a very developed figure, judging solely by her facial features, she looked only about seventeen, eighteen, or nineteen.
If she had been forced to leave her own faction two years ago… then the Saintess might have been as young as fifteen or sixteen at the time?
In an instant, Astrid pictured a helpless little girl, persecuted by her superiors due to her subordinate’s betrayal, tearfully wiping her eyes as she left the home that sheltered her.
How pitiful…
Suddenly, the way Astrid looked at Cecilia changed, a trace of pity even appearing in her expression.
But then, remembering that this poor, helpless girl had, through her own efforts and talent, risen to become the sole Saintess of the orthodox church, Astrid couldn’t help but feel a secret admiration for the Saintess.
However, Astrid’s complex gaze only made Cecilia frown.
What is this elf thinking? Is she picturing something disrespectful?
“Ahem!”
“In any case, Your Highness Princess Astrid.”
“Lance is safe here. I have already authorized him to become the Knight Commander of my Knight Order.”
“His status and position are no different from the Knight Commanders of the Sanctuary’s three great Knight Orders.”
Hmm—
Astrid fell silent.
Put that way, the Saintess hadn’t actually stopped Lance from leaving. She had only offered him a better position.
Compared to continuing as an adventurer, becoming a bona fide Holy Knight under the Church of Holy Light was a definite step up!
Besides, Lance still needed to go to the Restoration Army to find a solution for Noren’s physical condition.
It went without saying that the Restoration Army’s hidden base was certainly located near the borders of the Kingdom of Midgard, which was now very close to the fringes of the spheres of influence of the Church of Holy Light and the Evernight Church.
She had heard some news about that area during her previous travels.
It seemed to be in complete chaos now, with even merchant caravans rarely venturing there…
She had also promised her aunt to go study in the City of Wisdom.
Hmm?
She hadn’t promised to go right away, had she?
Suddenly, Astrid’s emerald eyes lit up for a moment. She thought of a perfect solution.
“Lady Cecilia, what is the nature of the Radiant Knight Order?”
The question came suddenly, but Cecilia explained as usual:
“As the current Radiant Saintess, I am permitted to form a Knight Order of up to three hundred members, officially under the Church of Holy Light.”
“It’s not large, but I have full control over it… Why do you ask?”
Seeing the unusual glint in Astrid’s eyes, Cecilia felt an inexplicable unease, as if something unpleasant was about to happen.
“I want to join your Knight Order! Please give me a chance!”
Cecilia: ?
Lance: ?
Noren: ?
Your Highness the Elf Princess, are you in your right mind?