Sweeping her eyes over the content of the letter, Mowan saw that it was filled with elegant handwriting, as beautiful and graceful as a piece of art. Suddenly, her anger vanished.
Mowan held the letter in both hands and read the contents carefully:
[Our separation was too hasty, and I did not have time to explain many things in detail.
I believe you will understand why I hurriedly asked you to leave The Church, as The Church is not a place to discuss private matters between the two of us.
I know you have many doubts in your heart as to why I could see through your true identity at a glance.
The blood of arch-nemeses flows through our bodies.
As the sharpest blade against the Demon Race, the Saintess must naturally possess the keen eyes to see through an enemy’s disguise and find a strategy for a fatal blow.
Since the moment of my birth, I have carried such a mission.
I am also aware of the exile of the Demon Princess three years ago, and I deeply understand the bone-deep pain of your betrayal by the Demon Race.
As the Saintess, as the Divine Messenger chosen by the gods to save all living souls and deliver the Human Race from the suffering inflicted by the Demon Race, I have no reason to hunt down a victim who was persecuted by the Demon Race.
At the same time, I also know that even if the Demon Race betrayed you, it is still very difficult for a person to abandon their faith.
Just as those who believe in the Kingdom of Visa will always be loyal to the Kingdom of Visa, I will not blame you for your faith.
But I need to see your sincerity.
If you are willing to give your sincerity to me, I will naturally soothe the pain you suffered among the Demon Race with the same kindness.
As for the gift I bestow upon you, it is on the back of this letter.
This is a map.
The location marked on the map is the new home I have prepared for you—a home for permanent residence in the Holy City.
Nine lilies are planted in front of the house.
Facing the front door, the lilies on the left are purple, the ones on the right are white, and in the middle are mixed white and purple flowers.
Of course, you can also sell that house for ten gold coins and return to your previous wandering journey. All of this is your choice.
After reading the contents.
Mowan flipped the letter over.
Sure enough, black lines gradually manifested on the originally blank back of the paper.
The lines formed a map of the Holy City, and the circled location was in an area near the edge of the city.
Mowan stared at the letter.
After a long time, she looked at the twilight outside the window and let out a long sigh.
A home?
Mowan’s concept of home had gradually blurred.
She raised her hand to block the setting sun.
The dim yellow glow of the sunset shone into her eyes through the gaps in her fingers, making the silver-white Ring on her middle finger—which was a size too large—look particularly conspicuous.
The letter did not mention why the Ring could not be taken off.
But Mowan could guess the reason behind it.
Iserin had been emphasizing the personal aspect in her heart; they were interacting in a private capacity, not from the antagonistic positions of the Human Race’s Saintess and the Demon Race’s Demon Princess.
But the Saintess was still the Saintess. Iserin could not discard her identity.
The Ring was a means of restraining her, which was part of the Saintess’s duty to protect humanity.
After thinking for a long time.
Mowan put the letter back into her Spatial Ring.
She packed her bags and prepared to check out of the inn to find her new home.
***
Following the markings on the map, Mowan walked for about half an hour before finally arriving at the place Iserin had indicated.
There were fewer people here compared to the city center, and most were commoners.
Using the fading sunset, Mowan’s gaze quickly swept over every house here.
Only one house had flowers planted in front of the door.
Right in front of the main gate, a pot of white and purple lilies was placed conspicuously in the center.
If it wasn’t moved, one would likely kick the pot when entering or exiting.
Mowan stepped up the stairs and reached out to grasp the doorknob.
Creeeeak—
As if the door had sensed her arrival, it opened automatically before she could even apply pressure.
Mowan crouched down, picked up the pot of lilies, and walked into the house.
A faint fragrance wafted toward her.
Mowan sensed it carefully; the scent seemed nearly identical to the fragrance she had smelled during her close contact with the Saintess this afternoon.
Looking around the interior, it was empty but very clean and tidy.
Every detail seemed to be telling Mowan that this house was a new home specially prepared for her by the Saintess.
Placing the white and purple flowers by the window.
Mowan went to the bedroom door.
Pushing it open, she found that unlike the living room outside, the bedroom was equipped with a full set of furniture and bedding.
Everything was ready.
It was as if… Iserin had long anticipated that she would go to The Church to meet her, and then, she would see through her disguise.
To be honest, Mowan still felt a bit of unease.
But Iserin’s thoughtful arrangements created a thick sense of warmth in Mowan’s heart, and this warmth suppressed her anxiety.
At this moment, she just wanted to lie down on the bed.
She just wanted to properly feel a room that belonged to her—a new home of her own.
During the three years she followed the Azure Crystal Party, she either stayed in inns or slept in the wild.
She had never had a stable home.
Setting down her bundle, Mowan lay on the bed.
Closing her eyes, she felt the tranquility around her.
This was a sense of peace that an inn could never give her.
***
After Mowan briefly tidied up her new home, she went out for dinner.
Upon returning from her meal, Mowan sat in the house and dazed for a while.
She didn’t know why she had settled into this new house so comfortably, nor did she intend to refuse Iserin’s kindness.
But she inexplicably trusted Iserin.
Probably because… in her impression, the Saintess was generally an existence on the same level as the Demon King, possessing the same world-destroying power.
If the Saintess wanted to kill her, a Demon Princess abandoned by the Demon Race, it would be as easy as crushing an ant.
When the absolute difference in power did not bring her danger, that sense of power disparity became the basis for Mowan’s trust in Iserin.
After all, what could the Saintess possibly want from someone like her, who had nothing and had been abandoned by her own race?
Thus, Mowan could only believe that Iserin held pure goodwill toward her.
Having thought this through, Mowan gathered some clothes and walked to the bathroom.
She was pleasantly surprised to find a wooden tub installed in the bathroom.
Although it wasn’t as large as a bathtub, it was enough for someone to sit and soak comfortably.
Opening the lid of the water storage tank, she saw it was full.
Mowan unceremoniously filled the tub with water.
Untying her ponytail, she let her purple hair fall loose.
Mowan gave her hair a thorough washing, then wrapped it in a towel before sinking comfortably into the tub.
Mowan thought back to her life in the Demon Race three years ago.
In the Royal Palace of the Demon Race, she had her own sleeping quarters.
There was a bathhouse the size of a swimming pool in her chambers.
Mowan could extravagantly fill the pool with warm water and enjoy the entire space alone, swimming freely as she pleased.
She missed her past life as a princess immensely.
She missed the days when food and clothing were provided without effort.
She missed her mother who had passed away early, missed the woman who had brought her into this world, and missed the motherly love she had only felt for a few years in this life but which remained etched in her soul.
Suddenly.
Mowan burst into tears.
She raised her hand, awkwardly wiping the tears that slid from the corners of her eyes.
She beat her chest, ordering herself not to be so sentimental, but when her fist hit the cotton-soft weight of her chest time and again, a strange thought arose in her heart.
She looked down.
Then, she turned her head away with a slight blush.
She hadn’t expected that at eighteen, she would already have some “assets.”
Mowan remembered she had been quite flat three years ago.
During the time she had no source of income, she could even go without wearing underwear.
“Gurgle, gurgle…”
Mowan’s body continued to slide down. She gave up on tormenting herself.
It had been so long… since she had cried out loud.
In the inns, she didn’t dare make too much noise, fearing passersby would hear.
When sleeping in the wild with Rosa, it was even more impossible to do so.
She cleared her mind, wanting to retract her excess sorrow.
She moved awkwardly and clumsily, as if her hands didn’t belong to her.
Having received a higher education, Mowan knew which paths she could take and which she could not.
Some roads, once stepped upon, would lead to disaster.
She had always been very cautious.
Mowan touched the Ring on her finger.
As it soaked in the warm water, it felt cozy.
Mowan had a sudden idea and used magic to heat the Ring.
In an instant, the slightly scalding temperature of the water stung her slightly.
Even though she no longer longed for her homeland, she still couldn’t control the emotions surging in her heart like a tide.
She no longer restrained herself, letting the tears stream down her cheeks.
She was truly, truly exhausted.
But today, to her, felt like a great salvation.
The image of Iserin’s face—with its cold complexion and the slight smile at the corners of her mouth—surfaced in her mind.
Mowan only felt an immense sense of security, and she gradually drifted off to sleep in the bathtub.