After two hours, Mowan finally succeeded in completely curing the poison and the wounds on the Princess’s body.
The Princess’s complexion gradually regained its flush, and her furrowed brows smoothed out.
Immediately after, the Princess’s eyelids fluttered.
Mowan hurriedly stepped down from the bed and stood to the side.
Seeing that the Princess was about to wake up, the maid quickly ran to the bedside.
“Your Highness!”
The blonde girl on the bed opened her eyes, her pair of emerald pupils gazing around blankly.
“This is wonderful! Your Highness, you have finally awakened.”
The Princess raised her hand to steady herself on the maid’s shoulder, struggling to sit up.
“I am… Is this The Church? Sister Iserin!”
The Princess looked toward the Saintess, Iserin.
Her originally dim and soulless eyes instantly burst with bright luster, and she immediately gazed at Iserin with a pitiful look.
“Sister Iserin, can you please not tell Father about this?”
“Of course, Your Highness. But you are an adult now; you should be responsible for yourself.”
“I’ll be careful next time!”
Though her mouth gave a promise, the corners of her lips could not help but turn up slightly.
She clearly had not taken Iserin’s words to heart.
“You might not be so lucky next time. If not for this guest today, I’m afraid even I would not have been able to heal you.”
Iserin turned her head to look at Mowan, her expression uncharacteristically solemn.
“Eh?”
Only then did the Princess notice the stranger.
She looked at Mowan earnestly.
Judging by Mowan’s attire, if not for Iserin’s specific reminder, she would have thought the girl was just a low-level helper at The Church.
However, observing Mowan’s face closely, she sensed a unique temperament—like a diamond whose light was being deliberately concealed.
The more she looked, the more she felt Mowan’s face was both mysterious and beautiful.
The maid also could not bear to see Mowan’s efforts ignored by the Princess, so she spoke up to echo Iserin’s words.
“Yes, Your Highness. This guest… is the Hero who was meant to be dubbed a Knight at the Investiture Ceremony. She is the one who healed your injuries this time.”
“I see…”
The Princess nodded in understanding.
She held the maid’s arm with both hands.
Although her body was still in a weakened state, she still slid off the bed, stepping onto the clean carpet with her bare feet.
She then let go of the maid’s hand and lifted her skirt to thank Mowan.
“I thank you for coming to my rescue. In the name of the Princess of Visa, I appoint you as a Royal Knight. Once I have recovered, come to the Royal Palace and find—”
The Princess’s words were interrupted by Iserin before she could finish.
“Your Highness, the Investiture Ceremony is not yet complete. She is not a true Knight yet. If you wish to promote her position, please allow me to continue the unfinished ceremony. Only after she passes the Baptism of the Holy Sect and receives the recognition of the Chief God can you promote her.”
“Mm…”
The Princess rolled her eyes as she scrutinized Mowan.
Mowan lowered her head and remained silent.
She did not dare to speak.
After all, her true identity was of the Demon Race.
It would be a disaster if she actually joined the Royal Knights Order.
The Saintess must also be considering this, which is why she rejected the Princess’s reward.
“Alright then.”
The Princess returned to the bed and sat down.
“Then, Your Highness, please rest well. We shall return to continue the unfinished ceremony.”
“Mm.”
Once the Princess was settled.
Iserin glanced at Mowan, then turned and walked toward the door.
Mowan quickly followed in Iserin’s footsteps.
Leaving the lounge, they returned to the main hall of The Church.
However, the scene was already empty, including Mowan’s closest teammates from the Azure Crystal Party.
Iserin did not stop.
She continued toward the internal entrance at the other end of the corridor.
Mowan was somewhat unsure of what to do.
Before stepping into the deeper corridor, she stopped.
“Saintess, isn’t the Investiture Ceremony meant to be here?”
She turned to look at the empty hall, eyeing the spot where she had been standing two hours ago.
“Your heart is not sincere; I shall revoke your knightly honor.”
The words were extremely cold, and Mowan instantly felt a chill run down her spine.
A second later, Iserin turned around and faced Mowan again, but this time she wore a faint smile and her tone turned soft.
“However, your heart is kind. You saved the life of a young girl in danger and should receive a proper reward. Come with me.”
“Understood.”
Infected by Iserin’s smile, Mowan could not help but let the corners of her mouth curl up as well.
So it seemed.
The seemingly cold and aloof Saintess could also make jokes.
The Saintess’s tone just now had scared her to death; she had thought she was about to be taken to The Church’s dungeon to be locked up.
Step by step, they walked into the interior of The Church, passing through a deep corridor.
Mowan followed Iserin into a room that looked like an office.
Click!
Mowan could not help but look back.
The door had actually closed automatically.
Iserin pulled out the chair from under the long table and sat down at an angle.
The window behind her suddenly darkened.
The glass blocked the light from outside, making it look as though night had fallen.
The ceiling of the room glowed with a cold white light.
Mowan stood in place, her heart accelerating.
She was both looking forward to the reward Iserin was about to give her and afraid that what awaited her was not a reward, but an interrogation into her identity.
“Come here. Closer.”
Walking forward slowly, she was only two steps away from Iserin.
Iserin raised her hand, her fist clenched tight.
Under Mowan’s curious gaze, she slowly spread her palm.
A shimmering silver ring lay peacefully on Iserin’s pale palm.
“This is a Spatial Ring. Inside, there are ten gold coins.”
Mowan’s expression was hesitant.
Was such a reward too generous?
The value of a Spatial Ring far exceeded ten gold coins, didn’t it?
Seeing Mowan’s hesitation and her lack of movement to take the gift, Iserin asked.
“Are you going to refuse my reward?”
“No, Saintess.” Mowan still had no intention of taking Iserin’s reward.
“I… I did not recite the oath of a Visa Knight. I do not intend to pledge loyalty to Visa, yet I… I held a stroke of luck in my heart, attempting to deceive your gaze to seek personal gain. Saving the Princess was merely an act of atonement. I should not accept your reward.”
“But as a Hero, you purged monsters and protected the people of the Kingdom of Visa. You may not be loyal to Visa, and you may not be loyal to the Sun, but you are loyal to your conscience. What sin do you have? You are not a qualified Knight of the kingdom, but you are undoubtedly a qualified Ranger.”
“……”
Mowan pursed her lips.
Was the Saintess truly this magnanimous and kind?
Rumors said the Saintess had always been irreconcilable with the Demon Race.
To the Human Race, the Saintess was an angel; to the Demon Race, the Saintess of the Human Race was no different from a demon.
“Furthermore, I said that I would offer you my thanks in my personal capacity. The Princess is a child I have looked after since she was young. I am immensely grateful for your life-saving favor to her, and I can only express my gratitude with this meager amount of money.”
Mowan looked at Iserin with a hint of doubt.
The Princess was a child she looked after since she was young?
The Princess looked like an adult, but the Saintess did not look old either.
“Or perhaps, do you prefer that we confront each other as enemies? Movier, the Demon Princess.”
Hearing that name which she had not heard mentioned by others for a long time, Mowan’s brain felt as if thunder had roared through it.
Her true identity had been pierced through by her destined nemesis.
And now, she stood in the same room as the Saintess who held the butcher’s blade, looking every bit like a lamb for the slaughter.