In the end, even after managing to chat with Iserin, Mowan still failed to ask where Rosa had gone.
Mowan pressed her hands against her face.
“I’m sorry, Rosa. I’m a total jerk.”
Mowan felt like she was a jerk who put a pretty face before her friends.
Once she was with Iserin, she forgot everything else, her mind occupied only by Iserin’s every word and gesture.
Her heart overflowed with the sweetness that remained after Iserin had kissed her forehead.
Mowan returned to her room.
She lay on her bed, the clothes Iserin had gifted her placed by her pillow.
They seemed to still radiate Iserin’s scent.
It felt as though Iserin were right there, sleeping beside her.
Mowan drifted off into a happy slumber.
Mowan had a dream.
She dreamed that Iserin did something even more daring—something like kissing her on the lips.
But the dream was far too blurry.
Mowan could only vaguely remember that one crucial action.
In the dream, their relationship seemed so close that there was no distance between them, yet in the next moment, they reverted to their daily way of interacting, behaving as if they were just ordinary friends.
Intertwined in these two states of confusion, Mowan groggily woke up.
Although the kiss was the only thing she remembered clearly, it was enough to leave her in a daze for a long time.
Precisely because she realized it was a dream, Mowan felt no reservations or psychological burden.
In the dream, she simply indulged her own desires and enjoyed the purest form of happiness.
In reality, however, she had to consider other practical factors.
When people first wake up from a dream, they often feel a sense of melancholy, or perhaps an excessive amount of rationality.
Thus, Mowan began to rationally analyze Iserin’s motive for kissing her forehead the previous night, linking it to everything Iserin had done up until now.
Iserin didn’t give her direct payment but instead repaid her with items.
First it was a house, then food, and if nothing unexpected happened, next would be clothes.
It was obvious that Iserin didn’t lack money; she just didn’t want to give it to her.
If she gave Mowan money, Mowan could use it however she pleased.
If she gave her money, Mowan could save it up until the day she achieved financial freedom and no longer had to rely on accepting commissions to make a living.
Then, she would leave Iserin’s sight and become an unstable factor—a Demon Princess who was not under Iserin’s surveillance.
Who knew what kind of harmful actions she might take against Human nations?
Aside from that, Iserin approached her under the guise of being a friend, attempting to use friendship to lock her by her side.
As if feeling that friendship wasn’t enough, Iserin had also held her and kissed her forehead, performing such ambiguous actions.
Iserin wanted Mowan to have feelings for her.
That way, Mowan would never be willing to leave her.
“Hmph, I have to say, Iserin, you’ve succeeded!”
Mowan threw off the covers and got out of bed.
But she didn’t hate Iserin’s true intentions; she was actually even a little bit happy.
Mowan felt that she could perhaps be even more despicable.
If…
–“Lady Saintess, you wouldn’t want me to leave your side either, would you?”
Mowan imagined such a scene.
Iserin would look at her with a cold expression, unwilling to speak, but her reluctant eyes would betray her.
Then, Mowan would threaten Iserin.
–“The condition for me staying is… how about you date me? As long as you’re willing to be my girlfriend, I’ll never leave you for the rest of my life.”
So evil!
Mowan forcefully patted the blanket she had folded into a square.
Still, Mowan was amused by her own thoughts.
In reality, even if she were given a hundred times more courage, she probably wouldn’t do something like that, right?
When it came to romance, Mowan always believed in fate.
If the timing was right, they would naturally be together.
If they were destined to be apart, forced love would never be sweet.
It was true that she currently had a slight crush on Iserin.
It was also true that she had been momentarily infatuated by Iserin’s beauty.
But Mowan knew that her relationship with Iserin was far from being ready to bloom and bear fruit.
She didn’t fully understand Iserin yet, nor had she completely given her True Heart to Iserin.
***
At 10:00 AM, Mowan appeared punctually at the Church entrance.
Learning from her previous experience, Mowan intended to be nothing more than a punctual guest this time.
What if she arrived early and left Iserin with the impression that she was disobedient?
Glancing into the Church, it seemed the morning recitation had already ended.
Mowan did not see Iserin standing on the stage.
Mowan felt a bit disappointed.
“The Saintess isn’t presiding over the Worship Rite today.”
“!!!”
Mowan turned her head to look at the Nun standing guard at the door.
It was the same Nun from yesterday.
“I-I’m not here to look for the Saintess.”
“My apologies, I misunderstood you.”
“It’s okay.”
Mowan waved her hand.
How embarrassing.
However, after hearing from the Nun that Iserin wasn’t presiding over the morning recitation today, the trace of regret in Mowan’s heart vanished instantly.
It seemed she was right not to come early.
About ten minutes later, Her Highness the Princess Croll and her maid Beti arrived at the Church gates.
The two of them briefly shared the details of the mission.
“Sister Iserin gave her word to my father last night that nothing would happen to me. Only then did I get the chance to stay out for the night.”
That was what the Princess said.
Therefore, the planned duration for this trip was two days, and the location was a neighboring city.
Mowan quietly observed the Princess’s clothing again.
It looked extremely lightweight, yet it did not lose its dignity or splendor.
The hem of the skirt only reached her knees, and the upper half was a short-sleeved top that exposed her arms.
It was like… a simplified version of the dress Iserin had given her yesterday.
Mowan looked down at her own outfit.
She was even more simple, dressed like a farmer.
She wasn’t stupid enough to wear the clothes Iserin gave her to show off to the Princess.
Even if her vanity was truly that ridiculous, wearing clothes that were inconvenient for combat while going out on a mission was practically suicidal.
After the previous accident, the Princess’s party had become much more cautious.
Mowan and the Princess spent two days peacefully.
During that time, the Princess suffered a few minor injuries, nowhere near as serious as the last time.
Mowan healed her immediately; otherwise, by the time they returned to the Holy City, the Princess’s wounds would have already closed on their own.
Notably, the Monster they had to eliminate this time was still one that could use Light-attribute Magic, and it was quite strong.
Mowan tactfully said nothing.
Anyway, the monstrosities the Humans created were none of her business.
But this time, the Monster left a corpse behind.
The Princess was currently investigating the body with her soldiers, having confirmed it wouldn’t self-destruct.
Mowan and the maid Beti sat to one side.
Taking advantage of this rare moment alone with the maid, Mowan hesitated for a while before finally speaking up.
“Miss Beti, has Her Highness the Princess been studying magic with the Saintess since she was a child?”
Aside from being a bit careless, Princess Croll’s actual strength was indeed quite good.
“Yes. When the Princess was about five years old, she was taken in by the Saintess to be taught one-on-one.”
“Five years old? Wouldn’t that be thirteen years ago? Was the Saintess already the Saintess back then?”
In truth, Mowan wasn’t concerned about the Princess, but the Saintess.
She was simply using the Princess as an opening topic to indirectly inquire about Iserin’s background and history.
“The Saintess became the Saintess thirty years ago. Ever since she attained that title, she has maintained this appearance, which is why she looks so young.”
“Oh… then logically speaking, the Saintess and the Princess should have a very good relationship. Why does the Saintess still let the Princess go out on adventures?”
The maid pulled the corners of her mouth down helplessly.
“It can’t be helped; no one can stop the Princess. The Saintess also knows the Princess’s personality. If she doesn’t agree, the Princess will just find a way to sneak out anyway. That would be even more dangerous. It’s better to indulge her, which also makes it easier to know the Princess’s whereabouts to ensure her safety.”
“Is that so…”
The Princess… was indeed far too disobedient.
Mowan looked at the Princess, who was squatting by the Monster’s corpse not far away, seemingly lost in thought.
She caught a faint glimpse of herself from three years ago.
The version of herself from three years ago, full of vigor, trying to change an entire country by her own strength alone.