“I wouldn’t call it difficult, just a bit thrilling.”
Mowan walked into the living room and sat down at the dining table.
She described the general course of today’s mission to Iserin.
Aside from her extra internal suspicions, she recounted everything that happened during the battle as it truly was.
“As for the reward, I… think it’s better if you decide. I’ll take whatever you give.”
Mowan was being very honest.
Because of what Iserin had said the previous night, she wouldn’t take the initiative to ask Iserin for a specific amount.
Although she was someone who liked settling accounts.
But she would not force others to be the same way.
If the other person did not have that awareness, Mowan would simply stop deepening her relationship with them.
“This mission is worth at least three gold coins in compensation. What do you think?”
Mowan’s eyes widened.
In the past, protecting others—even if it was a life-saving favor or high-intensity rescue work lasting several days—might have only earned her a single gold coin.
However, since the target Mowan had to protect was the Princess, three coins for one day was actually quite reasonable.
It might even be considered on the low side.
After all, when Mowan first rescued the Princess, Iserin had given her a reward of ten gold coins, though those ten coins had been exchanged for a house in the Holy City.
“Do you think it’s a bit low? Then let’s increase it to six gold coins.”
Mowan hurried to refuse.
“Three, three gold coins is enough.”
“But the first time you saved the Princess, I gave you ten gold coins. This time you even rescued the Princess’s soldiers. For three gold coins, do you really not think it’s too little?”
“The first time was an accident. I’m not the type to be ungrateful. Three gold coins already exceeds the pricing of all the commissions I’ve done before.”
Iserin smiled slightly.
“Then three gold coins it is.”
“Mm.”
Three gold coins…
If she didn’t stay at an inn, she could live in the Holy City for a year based on a middle-class standard of living.
“Come, let’s go have dinner.”
Have dinner?
Iserin reached out a hand toward Mowan.
Mowan glanced at Iserin’s clean palm; there wasn’t a single glint of shimmering gold on it.
But she was too embarrassed to ask about the money directly again.
The Saintess had reached out to her; how could she brush her off?
She had no choice but to place her hand in the Saintess’s palm.
Iserin squeezed her hand, the smile in her eyes still present.
Unconsciously, Mowan felt that the icy, cool temperament Iserin usually carried had quietly faded away during their private time.
She seemed like a gentle and considerate older sister from next door, her voice as melodious as a lark, radiating a calming and elegant fragrance.
But after walking out the door for only a few seconds, Iserin let go of Mowan’s hand.
“Close the door.”
“Okay…”
Mowan closed the door and glanced around.
While the street wasn’t bustling like the upper district, there were a few stray neighbors heading home with carrying poles.
She was terrible.
She actually thought about holding hands with Iserin outside.
Even if there were few people here, even if a single outsider was watching them, the Saintess had to maintain her serious public image.
As they walked, Mowan looked around for a restaurant.
Iserin, however, waved to stop a passing carriage driver.
She motioned for Mowan to get in and then gave the driver a location.
After about a ten-minute carriage ride, Mowan and Iserin got off.
They had returned to the Upper District.
Standing before them was a prosperous, large building that looked as grand and magnificent as a castle.
Above the main gate of this large building, a plaque carved with the words “Crovia Grand Manor” was especially prominent.
The plaque seemed to be made of Magic Stone, shimmering with a faint golden light in the night sky.
“Croll likes coming here. She says the meals here are a hundred times better than those in the Royal Palace. I think since you are the same age, your tastes might be similar.”
Mowan looked at the grand manor curiously.
Were there restaurants in human cities like this that were only for the royalty and nobility to eat and drink?
“Your status is also similar to Croll’s, so you should like it.”
Croll is probably Her Highness the Princess, right?
I am indeed also a princess—the Demon Princess.
Mowan nodded.
Only after receiving Mowan’s response did Iserin continue walking forward.
They walked into the castle.
Mowan looked at the interior decoration of the castle.
For a moment, she couldn’t tell if this was a restaurant or an amusement park.
The interior layout of the castle was very cute.
The chandeliers, wall hangings, and ornaments were all models of various desserts.
No wonder Her Highness the Princess liked coming here.
This suited a young girl’s aesthetic perfectly; it was almost like a dining venue tailored specifically for girls.
Iserin led Mowan through the interior of the castle to the back garden.
There was a pavilion set up before the back garden.
They sat down in the pavilion, surrounded by flower bushes and meticulously trimmed greenery.
Sitting there felt like being at a picnic.
Iserin introduced the purpose of this place to Mowan.
It was indeed an entertainment venue for royal and noble women, and it was deeply loved by young women.
However, Iserin hadn’t been here in a long time.
Every time, she had accompanied the Princess.
Since the Princess turned eighteen and no longer liked eating and playing, preferring to go on adventures instead, she rarely had the opportunity to set foot here again.
Mowan listened to Iserin talk about the Princess, even mentioning how much the Princess loved coming here as a child.
It seemed Iserin treated the Princess like her own child.
Mowan couldn’t help but wonder what Iserin’s real age was.
She didn’t dare ask.
Even for any ordinary woman, being asked her age was a very impolite thing, wasn’t it?
Dinner was soon served.
Mowan looked at the food on the table.
Rather than dinner, it was more like afternoon tea.
It wasn’t that there was no main course—there was a piece of grilled meat, but it was just a tiny bit.
Everything else was desserts like cake, fruit, and juice.
Mowan hadn’t eaten sweets in a long time.
From the day she left the Demon Race Territory and lost her status as the Demon Princess, she never had the chance to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant afternoon tea like a princess again.
But… could anyone dislike sweets?
Even though Mowan was eighteen, she missed the cloyingly sweet taste in her memories.
Mowan gently picked up a dessert with a fork and put it in her mouth.
The intense sweetness hit Mowan’s taste buds, feeling both strange and familiar.
It took her a few seconds to adjust to the sensation.
“Saintess, aren’t you eating?”
Mowan looked up and found that Iserin’s hands were only resting on the utensils with no intention of picking them up.
She watched Mowan gently and replied softly.
“Watching you eat is a pleasure in itself.”
Mowan licked her lips, wiping the cream from her mouth.
She was thinking.
Was she acting too naturally?
This kind of setting didn’t seem like the place she should be, yet she was enjoying herself here as if it were only natural.
But Mowan didn’t want to be too polite either.
Aren’t she and Iserin friends?
When a friend asks another friend out for a meal, wouldn’t it be strange to be all hesitant and awkward?
“Don’t you like the food here?”
“Of course I like it. However, this dinner is your reward, so how could I deduct from it for myself?”
“Eh?”
Mowan was stunned.
So Iserin wasn’t treating her?
Even if it wasn’t a treat, wouldn’t splitting the bill be fine?
She looked down at the food on the table.
In that moment, she felt as if she could see her shimmering gold coins melting into the cream on the cake.
This, this, this… how could the Saintess be like this?
Why was she using something else as a substitute for payment again?
And these dishes cost three gold coins?
This was way too expensive!
Mowan felt both pained and helpless.
But the cold, hard money had already turned into warm cake and steak.
What else could she do? She had to keep eating.
Looking back up at Iserin, Mowan gave an awkward smile.
“It’s okay. This dinner… I’ll treat you. Don’t be formal.”