While the three of them ate, they shared stories about Vellandelle’s and Rosasys’s part-time jobs, though Vellandelle certainly wouldn’t reveal just how embarrassing her service work could be.
In the afternoon, the group went to submit their course selection forms and received their school uniforms.
After a reminder from the teacher, Vellandelle learned that uniforms were mandatory during class but not necessary at other times.
Having just submitted their course lists and with some free time on their hands, and since both she and Rosasys had recently found jobs, Vellandelle decided to take them all to the amusement park for some fun.
Because of the storyline’s needs, many school events mirrored real life.
Typical amusement park attractions were fully represented within Aurora Academy.
As a popular dating spot, the amusement park was naturally important when Seleste was trying to woo girls.
Vellandelle was also able to enjoy the park together with Kelosha, Rosasys, and the others.
“Amusement park?”
Kelosha scratched her head, puzzled about what this place was for, while Rosasys was visibly excited.
“Mom said when I was little that the amusement park is a really fun place. Dad and Mom met at an amusement park!”
“Ah? Dad and Mom met at an amusement park? Hmm… what a pity, I didn’t meet my roommates at an amusement park.”
Hearing Kelosha’s typically thoughtless comment, Vellandelle was already used to it.
Rosasys couldn’t help but chuckle quietly.
“That’s right, so you’re destined not to marry ‘big sister.’ Just give up on that.”
“Nooo.”
Kelosha held her head and crouched down, full of anguish.
She really wanted to become Vellandelle’s wife and be together.
Though she was clumsy in many ways, when it came to this, she wasn’t foolish at all.
Her mother had told her since childhood that it was okay to marry a beautiful wife.
And now, she was certain after just one day—her wife had to be Vellandelle.
“Uh…”
Just as Vellandelle was at a loss and about to tell Kelosha the truth, this girl suddenly clung to her legs and uttered something even more outrageous.
“Roommate, will you be my wife? Will you be my wife? I’ve liked your scent from before, and now I really want to marry you.”
Sensing something was wrong, Vellandelle took a deep breath and decided to play along, speaking with a mournful expression: “Kelosha… I’m really sad too, but Rosasys is right. We can’t get married, so don’t have these kinds of thoughts anymore.”
“Waaah…”
Kelosha couldn’t hold back her tears.
At such a young age, this pure-hearted silly wolf was experiencing the pain of heartbreak for the first time.
Her ears drooped, her face full of sorrow, and she sobbed uncontrollably.
Even her tail lay motionless on the ground.
Vellandelle suddenly wondered if she had gone too far.
Just as she was thinking of comforting the silly wolf, Kelosha abruptly stood up and ran crying in a certain direction.
“Kelosha!”
Vellandelle prepared to chase after her, but Rosasys suddenly stopped her.
“Sis, wait a moment.”
“Wait? What for? What if something happens to Kelosha?”
“It won’t, Sis. I’ll go after her. You’re not allowed to go!”
“Why not?”
Vellandelle was anxious, suspecting Rosasys might be selfishly trying to make Kelosha completely give up on having feelings for her.
“Sis, you really don’t understand. Kelosha is just too naive and too straightforward. If you told her it was all a lie, she’d definitely ask if you really like her. Beastmen are straightforward by nature, and Kelosha especially so. To her, liking someone means liking them, and she just says it directly with no hesitation.”
“But… can you give her an answer? Not to mention your own troubles and status, you and I are the same age, and of course lifelong commitments require consideration. But she’s different… she can’t really understand your worries and struggles.”
“Then should I just not see her?”
Vellandelle spoke guiltily.
She was undoubtedly very sorry for what she had just said. It was only a joke that triggered all this…
She just hadn’t thought through the details properly.
“Ah, I once heard Grandmother talk about how to comfort someone who’s been heartbroken. Listen to me, Sis. Come back to the apartment by seven tonight. For now, just rest at the Academy for a while.”
“I understand.”
Vellandelle nodded in disappointment.
Seeing this, Rosasys immediately hurried after Kelosha.
Rosasys’s figure slowly disappeared from Vellandelle’s sight.
Kelosha’s reaction filled Vellandelle with deep self-blame.
The feelings she had discussed recently with Mia surged back again.
She had sought warmth from others, but how were others not doing the same?
Kelosha was so pure and would certainly treat her well.
But if Kelosha questioned her, just as Rosasys said, how could she respond?
She had vaguely considered this question before but hadn’t expected it to come so soon.
If others cared for her, she should care for them too.
The purer a person was, the more they deserved true sincerity.
“Seleste, I underestimated you.”
Vellandelle herself despised these emotionally obsessed harem heroines, yet problems had already arisen on her very first day.
She didn’t understand feelings and had never thought about forming a harem.
She had only suddenly been welcomed and instinctively fled.
She carried too many burdens to think about such things.
When she was still Vellandelle, she hadn’t had so many thoughts—just wanting to find a kind woman to live a good life with.
Now, with a better appearance, stronger bloodline, and greater power, her thoughts seemed even more complicated.
She stood in place for a long time.
Many people kept glancing back, puzzled as to why she was just standing foolishly in front of the amusement park.
“Miss, you seem… very sad?”
A voice behind her was as gentle as a spring breeze.
Vellandelle snapped out of her trance and turned toward the speaker.
“You are…”
“I am Eniya.”
The young lady lifted the hem of her formal dress with exquisite grace—it was none other than the Church’s Saintess Eniya.
Upon seeing Vellandelle’s appearance, Eniya covered her mouth in surprise, seemingly not expecting her to be so striking.
“Did you come looking for me?”
Vellandelle lowered her gaze again, even instinctively stepping aside from the entrance to the amusement park.
Seeing Vellandelle’s indifferent reaction, Eniya thought she didn’t recognize her and perhaps even assumed she was some undesirable person.
In truth, Vellandelle felt guilty after the earlier incident.
She was afraid others would like her only for her looks.
Though she yearned for warmth, she didn’t want cheap love.
Eniya wasn’t a flawed character in the story; rather, she was a warm woman who had comforted Seleste many times during her moments of despair.
“I’m sorry, I mean no harm. I’m a Sister and felt the sadness radiating from you, so I wanted to ask if you’re alright. Of course, if I’m disturbing you, I apologize. You know how we Sisters can’t bear to see others suffer.”
“Sister…”
Vellandelle hadn’t expected Eniya to conceal her identity before her, but she decided not to pry.
Eniya felt a little nervous herself.
She hoped Vellandelle wouldn’t be too hostile.
Most of the Academy’s students were of royal blood, and many nations’ deities opposed the Church’s gods.
This made people respect but also dislike Church members, including herself.
What she didn’t say was that seeing Vellandelle in her white clothes was like looking at an angel, so she couldn’t resist wanting to meet such a beautiful young lady.
In fact, this was the first time she wanted to approach someone simply because of their appearance.
“I’m sorry, I don’t dislike you. I’m just not in a good mood right now.”
“Ah, I see.”
Eniya smiled warmly and took Vellandelle’s hand, guiding her to sit on a nearby wooden bench.
“As a Sister, I’m here to listen to your troubles. Would you be willing to share them?”
Eniya truly was a Saintess. Her gentle smile instantly eased the heaviness in Vellandelle’s heart.
“I… my situation is rather complicated, and I carry some bitterness.”
After a moment’s thought, Vellandelle decided to speak, wanting to see how this Saintess would respond to her concerns.
“Since childhood, I’ve grown up alone. Later, I met a woman who wanted to adopt me as her daughter, but she passed away unexpectedly.”
Vellandelle briefly summarized her two lives as one.
“To avoid enemies and grow stronger, I came to Aurora. People looked down on me, thinking I was ordinary, but my experiences made me crave love and to find someone who truly loved me. As I grew up, many friends at school started liking me.”
“I enjoyed their affection but feared their betrayal. I was afraid to reciprocate their feelings. I thought they only liked me because of my looks, which made me hesitant. But when they sincerely expressed their love, I couldn’t respond. I even felt that by replying to one person, I’d lose others’ love. I feel so selfish…”
Eniya’s bright eyes gently watched Vellandelle as she tenderly stroked her cheek with her pale hand.
“Miss, do you see yourself as an angel?”
“What do you mean by that?”
“I mean you’re far too gentle. Thinking that wanting more love is selfish is foolish. Even as a Sister, I’ve fantasized about having countless admirers.”
“We’re all human. Being human means having desires. I revere the Lord, who is holy and illuminates every corner of darkness. But in truth, we don’t want to become the Lord; we crave some of those worldly imperfections…”
Vellandelle froze, waving her hand.
“That’s not what I meant. I’m just selfish. Actually, I…”
“No need to say more.”
Eniya embraced Vellandelle’s head, pulling her gently against her chest.
“Daring to say it already shows your kindness. Selfish people hide their selfishness from others. You are so gentle that you blame yourself over a small flaw. If that’s not gentleness, then what is?”
“I…”
“Rest easy for a while. Sleep in my arms.”
Eniya gently stroked Vellandelle’s head like a mother.
She understood Vellandelle’s troubles.
As a Saintess who had met countless people, Vellandelle was just a normal girl.
Growing up without love made her yearn for it, and the repeated loss of her loved ones likely deepened her self-denial.
Eniya guessed that Vellandelle must have recently been through something that made her sensitive, so even minor events caused her to blame herself.
Thus, Eniya believed the best solution was to give Vellandelle some warmth.
She quietly held Vellandelle as passersby moved to and fro, seemingly unable to disturb their peaceful moment.