Albert finally let out a long breath when she saw her lower her guard at last.
She still didn’t know who exactly this Aurora was, nor why both the Saint Knight and Beatrice liked her so much.
If it weren’t for her, the Academy probably wouldn’t have had so many troublesome incidents, so Albert had always hoped that Aurora would leave as soon as possible. That way, there would be far fewer complications.
She turned to look at the people lying on the ground.
All the color had drained from her face, her pupils half-open and unfocused, her lips pale from the lack of blood.
At this moment, her life was like a pale and lonely flame, flickering weakly, as if in the next instant, even that faint red—so light it could not stain even a scrap of paper—would suddenly fade away.
“I’ll take this person back first.”
Albert didn’t seem worried that she would die; her gaze remained as calm as ever.
Lola Bell had wanted to say something more, but when Aurora shot her a scolding look, she fell silent.
A thousand grievances welled up in her heart, unsaid.
It was clearly those three who suddenly barged into the space and threatened to kill her, so why did it now seem like she was the one who couldn’t tell right from wrong? According to the laws of the Kingdom, this should be considered legitimate self-defense.
Although, honestly, even if they hadn’t threatened to kill her, she would have tried to kill them anyway.
Albert supported the two unconscious girls with her right arm, and with her left, she held Shia, who was still bleeding purple liquid.
She glanced at Aurora, who was still admonishing the Saint Knight, and felt this person was even more unfathomable.
What kind of woman could make the great Witch Beatrice and the Kingdom’s Saint Knight both pine for her day and night?
“For the trouble I’ve caused you today, I’ll compensate you in my own name.”
As she spoke, a blue dragon tail suddenly shot out from behind her.
The dragon tail slashed the air, tearing open a rift, from which blue liquid began to flow.
“Then I won’t stay any longer.”
The rift suddenly widened. There was nothing visible inside—only an endless blue space.
She stepped in with the three others, and the rift snapped shut, vanishing without a trace.
This was Albert’s inherent Magic, similar to Beatrice’s. She could enter the world of the Illusory Sea.
The Illusory Sea and the real world could be seen as two parallel lines, each point on one corresponding to a point on the other. So when Albert was in the Illusory Sea, she could travel to any place in the real world.
The space was left with only Aurora and Lola Bell once more.
At this moment, Lola Bell hung her head, sulking and refusing to meet Aurora’s eyes.
“She was the one who said she wanted to kill me first, so why is everyone siding with her?”
One cheek puffed out, her eyes darted to Aurora now and then, as if begging for comfort.
Aurora actually felt a little guilty about the whole thing too, since she’d so obviously taken the other’s side.
When that person spoke to her, Aurora could tell she wasn’t a bad person, but if her little sister kept pushing, not only would that girl die, she’d probably end up fighting the blue-haired woman called Albert as well.
She really didn’t want to see her little sister get hurt, even if her wounds would heal in an instant, the blood she shed was still real.
Back at the house, the surroundings were as peaceful as ever, but the air was a little awkward.
Aurora knew Lola Bell was sulking at her. With a sigh, she quietly walked to her side.
Not sure how to comfort others, Aurora simply spoke from her heart: “Sister, are you still mad at me?”
Lola Bell didn’t answer, sitting in her chair, sulking, looking every bit as upset as she felt.
‘Pop.’
Suddenly, a warm, soft sensation brushed her forehead.
Lola Bell looked up in surprise and met those beautiful eyes.
“It was my fault just now. I upset you.”
“I know you’re looking out for me, but I don’t want to see my sister become so ruthless, and I don’t want to see you get hurt because of it, either.”
“Will you forgive your big sister?”
Her voice flowed into Lola Bell’s heart like a gentle spring.
A flush instantly bloomed on Lola Bell’s previously gloomy face.
She didn’t look at Aurora, but not because she was still sulking. Rather, the shyness blooming in her heart made her too embarrassed to meet her gaze.
Thinking she was still angry, Aurora pressed her lips to her forehead again.
Again and again, kiss after kiss. Until Lola Bell’s cheeks were as bright as a ripened apple.
“I… I forgive you…” Lola Bell finally stammered out, bashful.
Aurora seemed addicted to teasing her, wanting to see her little sister’s shy expression even more.
She spoke softly, “Then look me in the eyes and say it again.”
Seeing her big sister push her luck, Lola Bell felt a surge of embarrassed indignation.
She puffed up her cheeks, then suddenly thought of a good idea.
Her body suddenly grew, transforming into that holy and imposing form.
“Sis, sister?”
She cupped Aurora’s face in her hands, gazing down into her eyes.
Those red pupils were so sharp, Aurora almost didn’t dare look.
Whenever she met those eyes, she’d wonder how her adorable little sister could have such a fierce gaze.
Lola Bell’s face drew closer and closer. Aurora thought she was aiming for her lips again and tried to dodge.
But if a kiss was all it took for Lola Bell to forgive her, she supposed it wasn’t so bad.
With that thought, she squeezed her eyes shut, bracing herself for this ‘punishment.’
‘Pop.’
But the expected softness on her lips never came—instead, she felt a moist sensation on her forehead.
Opening her eyes, she met Lola Bell’s teasing gaze.
“I just wanted to kiss my sister’s forehead. Where was your mind going?”
This time, it was Aurora’s cheeks that turned rosy. She coughed twice, trying to sound mature, and deliberately raised her voice: “You’re not a child anymore, still wanting to kiss like that, aren’t you ashamed!”
Lola Bell didn’t reply, just let out a soft laugh or two.
In a dimly lit room.
Shia woke up in bed.
She rubbed her head and looked around.
She recognized this place somewhat—it was Albert’s room.
She tried to get up, but a sharp pain shot through her chest as soon as she moved.
“Hiss, it hurts…”
She lifted the blanket and saw the wound on her chest still hadn’t fully healed.
Her chest, once pierced through, had mostly recovered by now, and even the burnt flesh had regrown.
“That woman… I didn’t think she’d be so terrifyingly strong.”
“She’s a Saint Knight of the Kingdom. She could kill a hundred of you without breaking a sweat.”
Just then, a woman’s voice came from the doorway.
She knew that voice—it was Albert.
Albert walked in, arms crossed, her gaze tinged with anger as she looked at her.
“That was just a fragment of her consciousness. If her true body had been there, that strike would have destroyed your soul as well.”
“My soul, too…?”
If only a Saint Knight could evolve someone’s soul…then she wouldn’t have to live in such pain.
She sat up in bed, her pale shoulders and back exposed.
And along those graceful lines, something imperfect and black was inlaid there.
It was a wing—more precisely, a broken, black wing that only existed on her left side. It was the mark of her demon bloodline.