Even Mowan did not know why she was so worried about Rosa’s safety.
Logically speaking, since she and Iserin shared a private, complicated relationship, and she herself had violated Church Dogma, Iserin should turn a blind eye to Rosa’s betrayal of The Church as long as Rosa did not harm national security.
Yet, she remained deeply concerned.
Mowan did not go home.
She approached the plaza in front of the cathedral but did not enter.
Instead, she found a secluded spot to stand and observe.
She watched the people coming and going before the cathedral doors, noting the various expressions on their faces.
However, she could discern nothing.
She could not suddenly resolve the doubts in her heart simply by observing the attitudes of the believers.
The only thing the crowd made clear to her was one undeniable fact.
Those entering and leaving the cathedral were exclusively humans.
This realization was enough to startle Mowan, making her feel as though needles were pricking her back.
Mowan had not actually ignored Rosa’s words.
“The Saintess is truly capable; she managed to teach a Demon Princess to forget her original identity.”
The Demon Race had no right to say such a thing to her, and she could comfortably discard her status as a princess on her own terms.
But the fact that these words came from Rosa, an outsider, left a bitter taste in Mowan’s mouth.
Iserin did not want her to leave.
There was more than one possibility behind that.
The possibility Mowan had previously discarded resurfaced in her mind.
She had always been resistant to letting her thoughts wander in that direction.
But when the life of someone she cared about was at stake, Mowan had no choice but to consider it.
Rosa’s presence was undoubtedly a time bomb for Iserin.
Rosa was colluding with Laedel, and she could try to persuade Mowan to leave Iserin at any moment.
Mowan knew Rosa well.
She had successfully convinced Rosa to stop trying to persuade her to leave.
But would Iserin truly see it that way?
Mowan worried that Iserin might use other methods to make Rosa disappear.
If that happened, Iserin would simply concoct a new lie to make Rosa’s disappearance seem reasonable.
Mowan usually consulted Iserin before doing anything.
Originally, she planned to go home and wait for Iserin’s return, where she would beg Iserin to show Rosa mercy and ask for permission to confess the nature of their relationship to Rosa.
But what if she didn’t ask? What if she took matters into her own hands?
‘Would Iserin be angry?’ Mowan wondered.
‘What if Rosa… actually supports us and blesses us?’
The more Mowan thought about it, the more restless she became.
She loved Iserin dearly and had never thought of leaving her.
Iserin’s wariness toward Rosa stemmed from Rosa’s unpredictability.
If Rosa were on their side, then Iserin…
Should be able to let down her guard, right?
Mowan took a deep breath.
She ran back.
Returning to the inn, she called Rosa out.
The two of them found a deserted street and hid in an alleyway.
“Mowan, have you decided what you want to say to me?”
Rosa had thought Mowan would take one or two days to consider things, but Mowan had returned in less than three hours.
“Yes. Next, no matter what I say, do not scream. Do not think I am a lunatic, okay?”
“Okay.”
Rosa ran through every possibility in her mind.
She would definitely keep her emotions in check.
Mowan grit her teeth.
Her thumb pressed against the Ring on her right hand.
The conversation with Rosa from that morning gave her a great deal of confidence.
She believed Rosa was a reasonable person.
“I…”
Rosa held her breath, watching Mowan intently.
Just what could be so difficult for Mowan to say?
“I… I like her.”
“???”
Her? Who?
“Her?”
“I mean… the Lady Saintess. Now do you understand why I don’t want you to persuade me to leave her?”
Rosa clutched her head with both hands.
She had never expected this possibility.
She hadn’t even considered that Mowan might like girls.
After all, Mowan didn’t exactly look like the rugged type, and as the Demon Princess, she was expected to carry on the bloodline.
If she chose a girl, how would they have children?
No, no, no… that wasn’t the point.
The point was that Mowan had chosen… a human.
Even if it were a human, it was the Human Race’s Saintess!
Crazy. Mowan must be insane!
“Rosa…”
Mowan hoped Rosa would understand her.
That way, she could return home proudly and tell Iserin that she had Rosa’s support and that Rosa wouldn’t damage their relationship.
Rosa struggled to calm herself.
She had promised Mowan not to scream and not to think she was a lunatic.
“Mowan, are you joking?”
“No. We… are already living together. That is why it was hard for me to tell you where I lived. If you came to see me, you would likely run into her.”
After Mowan’s confession, all the doubts in Rosa’s heart were suddenly explained.
“Does she know about your feelings?”
“She does.”
“Then… how did she respond?”
“She… we, well… we are together. It’s just difficult to let others know. After all, she is the Saintess…”
“You know she is the Saintess?”
“As long as we love each other, her status shouldn’t matter.”
Love?
The Human Race’s Saintess and the Demon Race’s princess were in love?
Rosa felt her worldview collapsing.
“Then do you know who you are?”
“I… Rosa, why are you asking me this? I thought you would understand me.”
Mowan looked at Rosa, feeling a sense of grief.
The scene she had imagined involved Rosa being genuinely happy for her, saying she had good taste and that the Saintess was a wonderful person.
“Do you know who you are?”
Rosa repeated the question emphatically.
She was different than she had ever been before; Mowan had never seen Rosa look so serious.
Mowan resisted the question.
She kept her mouth shut, refusing to answer.
“Mowan, Movier, can you even remember your name anymore?”
A surge of anger ignited in Mowan’s chest.
Her breathing became heavy.
Reason told her she shouldn’t be angry with Rosa, but she couldn’t help it.
“You can discard your identity. You can forget yourself. But the Kingdom of Visa won’t forget. Humans won’t forget. And the Saintess especially won’t forget.”
Mowan’s teeth chattered.
Had she come here to listen to Rosa lecture her?
Was this the kind of ear-piercing talk she wanted to hear?
Did Rosa think she didn’t know these things?
Did Rosa see her as a complete fool?
Seeing Mowan trembling with rage, Rosa realized that Mowan was already far gone.
“Mowan… I understand your feelings. Love truly does make people lose their heads.”
“Enough!”
Mowan clenched her fists, her nails nearly digging into her palms.
“Mowan, I’m not trying to oppose you. I’m worried that the Saintess has ulterior motives for being with you. I’m worried your True Heart will be betrayed.”
“You don’t need to worry about that. Even if I’m being deceived, I’m doing it willingly.”
Mowan was truly incensed.
The more Rosa opposed her, the more she wanted to prove she was right.
“Mowan…”
Rosa was equally heartbroken.
She looked at the stubborn Mowan.
If Mowan simply longed for the peace and prosperity of the Kingdom of Visa, Rosa would support her living in the Holy City forever.
But now, the truth was an absurd romance.
Rosa could have believed Mowan falling for any other human; in those cases, her love could be perfectly reciprocated.
Except for the Saintess.
Anyone but the Saintess.
Rosa had grown up in the Kingdom of Visa and knew exactly what the definition of a Saintess was.
“I’ve said everything I wanted to say. If this is your attitude, I don’t want to talk to you anymore.”
“You…”
‘You’re crazy.’
Rosa wanted to say it.
But the words remained stuck in her throat.
She could only stare with tear-filled eyes as her best friend acted like a fool for love.
“I’m going back.”
Rosa stood frozen in place.
She had absolutely no idea how to handle this situation.
As an outsider, she was undoubtedly the sober one, but Mowan clearly wouldn’t listen to a single negative word.
“I’m leaving.”
Mowan glanced at Rosa once more.
Even though she didn’t want to hear another word from her, she repeated herself to remind Rosa she was leaving.
But Rosa remained silent.
She could not bring herself to say words of support against her own conscience, nor could she bear to watch her best friend walk down the wrong path.
Mowan lowered her eyes, turned her back on Rosa, and walked out of the alley.
Mowan was wrong; Rosa did not support her.
Iserin was right. Iserin’s concerns were justified.
Their love was far too unique—so unique that no normal person could understand it.
But Mowan did not leave immediately.
She hid around a corner far from the inn and watched the alley’s exit.
Eventually, Rosa walked out slowly, wiping away her tears.
Leaning against the wall, Mowan looked up at the sky.
The blazing, warm sun made her eyes sting.
Rosa’s tears slightly awakened Mowan’s reason.
She had wanted to go home and complain to Iserin.
She wanted to tell her that Sister Selin was right and apologize to her.
However…
The more she remembered the crazy things she had said in the heat of the moment, the more guilt her rational heart felt.
She suddenly realized that she was about to alienate Rosa.
She and Rosa could never be friends again.
A thought suddenly occurred to her: perhaps this was exactly what Iserin wanted to see.
That was why Iserin hadn’t stopped her from seeking out Rosa yesterday.
Perhaps Iserin had already begun making arrangements, waiting for her to return after the failed peace talks with Rosa to finish things off.
Mowan’s grip drew blood from her own hand.
The pain kept her focused.
Even if there was only a one-in-ten-thousand chance of this being true, Mowan did not dare to gamble. This concerned Rosa’s life.
She straightened her body and began to walk.
“Rosa!”
In the distance, the blue-haired girl turned around, hurriedly wiping the tear tracks from her face.
“Go, leave now. Take my cousin Laedel and leave. The further away, the better.”
Mowan no longer mentioned the topic that caused their conflict.
At this moment, she only cared for the other’s safety.
“What?”
Mowan realized that once she harbored resentment toward Rosa, it would be the moment Iserin began her purge.
As long as Mowan no longer treated Rosa as a friend, Rosa—who was colluding with the Demon Race—would be directly condemned.
The only reason Rosa had remained safe until now was entirely because Iserin considered Mowan’s feelings.
Mowan urged Rosa back to the inn to pack her things.
Along with a confused Laedel, they hurriedly packed their luggage and left the inn under Mowan’s supervision.
The three of them reached the gate of the Holy City.
Rosa still looked bewildered.
“Mowan, are you… are you really that eager to chase me away?”
“Thank you, Rosa. I know who I am. But I have no choice.”
Mowan’s gaze flickered over Rosa’s eyes, which were still brimming with tears.
She then looked directly at her cousin.
“Laedel, do not forget my words. You know how to explain things to my father when you return.”
“Yes.”
“Rosa, you must take good care of yourself.”
“Mowan, what happened?”
Mowan leaned in and whispered in a tiny voice.
“If you don’t leave now, you won’t be able to once the wanted poster is issued. Go, quickly.”
She gave Rosa’s shoulder a push.
Mowan watched as the two of them departed from the Holy City.
Only then did she breathe a long sigh of relief.
She had nearly lost her mind completely, almost going home to vent to Iserin.
As long as Rosa stayed far away and stopped interfering with her relationship with Iserin, everything would be fine.
As long as she stayed by Iserin’s side and made her understand that Rosa was no longer a risk to their relationship, Iserin wouldn’t pursue Rosa’s betrayal of The Church any further.