Chapter 119: Coming back 3

"Break up with him! You know what would happen if you keep being stubborn like this, right?"

The bishop's stern words echoed in Elena's mind, a relentless reminder of the conflicting demands placed upon her.

She understood the weight of those words, comprehending the expectations and responsibilities that came with her role as the saintess of the Church of Light.

Elena was well aware of the unspoken rules that dictated her life.

The people of the continent saw her as the very incarnation of the goddess, a symbol of holiness, beauty, and unattainability.

As the chosen one, she was meant to embody these qualities, fulfilling a role that went beyond the boundaries of mortal love and connection.

Deep down, she grasped the sacrifices she was expected to make for the greater good.

Despite the clarity of her understanding, Elena couldn't bring herself to accept the harsh reality that clashed with her heart's desires.

Love for Adrian, a feeling that defied the prescribed boundaries, had taken root within her.

It was a conflict that stirred within her soul, torn between duty and the yearnings of her heart.

Unable to suppress these thoughts any longer, Elena rose from her bed, a determined expression on her face.

The internal struggle urged her to confront the conflicted emotions head-on.

With a resolute step, she left her room, seeking a resolution to the turmoil that raged within her heart.

'I should distract myself; I wonder if Louise and the others are asleep yet?'

As Elena pushed open the door, the vigilant templar assigned to guard her couldn't help but address her. "Saintess, are you going into that room again?"

The inquiry held a tone of concern, acknowledging the repetitive nature of Elena's visits.

With a mischievous glint in her eyes, Elena replied, "Yes, well, will you let me?"

The templar knight let out a weary sigh, recognizing the futility of preventing the determined saintess. "Will you even listen to me if I prevented you?" she queried, already sensing Elena's response.

"No!" Elena declared with a smile, her resolute answer showcasing the spirited defiance she held against the restrictions imposed upon her.

Sighing once more, the templar knight regarded Elena with a tired expression, then turned around, gesturing for her to proceed. "I haven't seen anything," she quipped, feigning ignorance to the saintess's antics.

Elena chuckled at the templar's reaction and expressed her gratitude, "Thank you, Beca. I promise to make it quick." With that, she dashed off toward Adrian's room, leaving the templar behind with a mix of exasperation and amusement.

"Haah, youth. I wonder what I should tell the bishop for the daily report" Beca mused, her fatigue apparent. The contemplation in her eyes betrayed a hint of uncertainty.

"Should I quit?" she pondered, caught between duty and the weariness that came with guarding the spirited saintess.

Elena navigated the dimly lit hallways of Lucian Hall, her footsteps echoing against the walls as she descended the stairs. Being a third-year student, it was natural for her destination—Adrian's room—to be situated two floors below.

This spatial arrangement subtly reminded her of the age difference between them, a realization that sparked a moment of contemplation about her impending graduation from the academy.

The weight of time pressed upon Elena as she considered the finite duration of her remaining years at the academy.

Although Aria loved me, I wasn't entirely certain if she would be willing to accept the intricacies of my familial ties. The same concern lingered for all the other girls in my life.

"Well, who cares? You'll tell me everything about you someday, right?" Aria said, attempting to downplay my lack of trust in her.

"After all, you aren't really Adrian, are you?"

'Huh?'

"H-how?" I stammered, genuinely surprised.

"What's with the surprised face? Did you really think I wouldn't notice? I've probably spent my whole childhood bullying you—well, at least my real brother, that is. So, noticing wasn't really a big deal" Aria stated nonchalantly.

Though all she had were suspicions, her observation skills seemed to have picked up on the differences. Based on my reaction, she felt her theory had been confirmed.

I was left in shock by her revelation.

'Since when did she notice I wasn't really Adrian?'

As I struggled to find words to respond, Aria happily hugged my arms again, playfully dragging me back to my room.

"Let's go; everyone's waiting," she said, her smile widening as she playfully dragged me along, her giggles echoing in the hallway.

....

In a hidden cell underneath the academy, a young-looking woman wearing a maid uniform that was in tatters sat alone, nibbling on a piece of mossy bread.

Despite its unappealing nature, she needed to consume it to sustain herself.

She had already accepted the grim fate that awaited her in this cell, but every time the guards tossed food at her, her innate survival instincts kicked in.

She grappled with the internal struggle between ending her suffering and the persistent desire to cling to life.

As she chewed on the meager sustenance, she murmured to herself, "I'll meet you soon, Lady Schwi..." Her voice echoed in the dimly lit and dank cell, filled with a mix of resignation and a glimmer of hope for an end to her captivity.

Suddenly, a shadow loomed over her face, and when she looked up, her eyes widened in disbelief at the person standing before her.

"Y-young lady?" she stammered, her voice a feeble whisper.

Schwi looked at her young maid in a pitiful state. Although she understood that the school had likely tortured her for answers, she didn't expect it would be to this degree.

Schwi came here on a whim, fully expecting her personal maid to be nothing more than rotten bones, yet somehow, she had managed to survive.

"You haven't even realized you were abandoned, seeing as how you're almost nothing but bones now, the academy really didn't hold back" said Schwi as she looked at her maid with pitiable gaze.

Schwi's red crimson eyes locked onto her maid. "How unsightly" she said coldly, and with a swift movement, she sank her fangs into the maid's neck.

The room echoed with the faint sound of the maid's feeble protests, swallowed by the darkness of the hidden cell.

Darkness swept up and cocooned her maid, enveloping her in a shroud of shadows.

"I'll see you again in three days" said Schwi with an eerie calmness as she vanished from the cell.

'Lady Charlotte did tell me to increase my subordinates if possible, so she won't be mad for me doing this on my own right?'