The underground river quietly flowed, while the city gradually came to life. Since there was no distinction between day and night, people from different time zones filled the city. Some might just be starting their day.
“So, you’re the princess who escaped from the Royal Palace, wanting to save your elder sister from the Tower, with the wish to abolish the ‘Ranking of the Unrelated’?”
Ashe summarized after listening to Lise’s confession while they sat on a bench by the river.
“Yes!” Lise nodded vigorously. “My sister doesn’t want to be the First Gospel either. If you take me to see her and let me touch her, then we leave the Tower together, she definitely won’t become the First Gospel. You wouldn’t have to assassinate her at all!”
“Hmm...” Ashe stared at Lise, “You really are a princess...”
“What’s wrong? Do I not look like one?”
“Nothing, it’s just that being called ‘Dad’ by a princess gives me a weird sense of accomplishment. Can you call me that once?”
The white-haired little girl opened her mouth, turned her head to the side, and huffed, “Stupid Ashe!”
Right now, it wasn’t Lise inside her, but Deya. There’s no way she’d call him that!
After discussing with her sisters, Deya decided to reveal most of her secrets but still hid the details about her multiple personalities, her body becoming younger, and her original identity as the First Gospel. Explaining why her body had shrunk was too complicated. The Bronze Dragon’s Trial, the identity of the First Gospel, the Armored Sanctification... Moreover, these details were unrelated to the assassination mission. Even if Deya confessed she was the original First Gospel, Ashe and his group would still aim to assassinate the princess.
Most importantly, Deya didn’t want to be known by Ashe in this form.
It’s like anonymous chatting. Ashe had always treated her as a little girl. If she suddenly revealed that she was nearly twenty, this sudden exposure filled her with fear and anxiety.
What if he hated her? What if he thought she was deliberately deceiving him? What if... That mix of feelings, wrapped in anxiety, rose and fell repeatedly.
The White Queen pointed out a very crucial detail: the scariest outcome wouldn’t be Ashe getting angry, but Ashe acknowledging their existence. If he were to accept that Lise = Deya = White Queen = Black Butler = Scarlet Dead Apostles = Daughter, it would be catastrophic.
Relationships, once formed, are like mirrors: they can either turn yellow and dusty, shatter and crack, or remain unchanged.
To Ashe, his daughter is Lise, and only Lise.
They didn’t want to be Ashe’s daughters for the rest of their lives.
So, after the Weaving Festival ends, after the Bronze Dragon’s Trial finishes, and when she returns to her original form, she will muster the courage to recognize him.
[Hello, I am Lise Deya.]
The thought of that moment filled Deya with hope, making every cell in her body want to dance with excitement.
Moreover, this secrecy would weaken their connection to Nina. She hadn’t even mentioned that her urge to save Nina stemmed from an overwhelming sense of guilt, making the rescue seem less... necessary.
Back then, they bought both a blessing and a curse from the Chaotic Shopping Book. The blessing was “mortal danger sense,” and the cost was that they had to constantly stare at each other. Meanwhile, Ashe purchased the “no toilet paper” curse separately. Although he did not gain any insights about the Fate Sect from that unfortunate period, he did get a consolation prize.
Initially, Ashe had mistaken “transferring” for junk. But after consulting the Gospel Book, he realized it had enormous potential.
However, opportunities should be seized when they arise. Originally, Ashe had planned to save this reward for the future to give to Igor’s daughter Leia, choosing a super powerful spirit for her. But if Lise was going to join him in the Royal Palace, then naturally, Lise needed to be equipped first.
What did Deya think about this?
She definitely couldn’t accept it!
She was already a sorcerer and unable to use spirits in reality because of the Bronze Dragon’s Trial. Even if Ashe gifted her a spirit, it would be useless and might even expose more of her secrets!
Thus, ‘Lise’ quickly shook her head and swiftly changed the topic: “By the way, although you’ve agreed, Annan will surely insist on having Banjeet leave, right? As a reason for Banjeet’s departure, I would also have to go... Do you have a way to convince Annan?”
“It’s Uncle Banjeet and Sister Annan.” Ashe gave ‘Lise’ a flick on the forehead: “It’s fine to call me by my name, but show some respect to others.”
He paused: “As for the problem, don’t worry, it’s already been solved. Annan won’t be letting Banjeet leave.”
“Solved?” ‘Lise’ was puzzled: “How was it solved?”
“The Gospel helped us settle it.”
‘Lise’ blinked, then realized something and summoned her Gospel Book, flipping to the bookmarked page.
Due to the latest ranking list coming at an inopportune—or perhaps opportune—time, Little Lise had taken the chance to run off with Ashe. They hadn’t yet seen the contents of the latest Future Ranking.
“Assassination Ranking”
“10th Place: Assassinate Rust Crow. Assassin: Cicero Scott... will be executed by Ashe Heath.”
“7th Place: Assassinate Ghost King. Assassin: Anrock... will be executed by Ashe Heath.”
“5th Place: Assassinate Leia Bukin. Assassin... will be executed by Ashe Heath.”
“3rd Place: Assassinate Ashe Heath. Assassin... will be executed by Ashe Heath.”
“2nd Place: Assassinate the Empress. Assassin: Banjeet Dolan.”
“Will be executed by Ashe Heath.”