Chapter 125. Deception (5)
Staring at me, Amelia lowered her head slightly and asked.
“…Honestly, I didn’t expect such a direct offer. I’m a bit surprised.”
“No need to hesitate.”
“It’s normally a big deal.”
She closed one eye, asking subtly.
“You may know, but even corporate tycoons send letters and gifts to recruit the Order’s healers as follower families.”
“No need for that. It wouldn’t impress you anyway.”
“You speak as if you know me well.”
“To an extent. I’ve observed you closely during this mission.”
Amelia, meeting my eyes, said softly, surprised.
“Oh, you mean…”
I quickly shifted to the point.
“One thing bothered me. Why choose me, the most high-profile Elsyde direct descendant, for this escort mission?”
“As you guessed before, to suppress the escorts.”
“I thought so at first, but it’s not convincing. Any Elsyde direct descendant could’ve sufficed.”
Choosing me, with my high visibility, wasn’t fully explained by that.
Extremely, I was an unknown with a dangerous beast-kin in my squad.
If it was just about suppressing escorts, requesting a stable, proven direct descendant would’ve been more logical.
I tilted my head.
“My high-profile status, paired with your nomination, likely drew more attention than a routine assignment to another direct descendant.”
“Hm? What’s that mean?”
Sirocco, eyes wide, asked nearby.
It seemed hard for her to grasp, but it wasn’t complex.
“You sought a way to naturally expose the escorts’ misdeeds to an outsider.”
“…You saw through that already. I knew you were sharp.”
No longer hiding, Amelia smiled lightly, unadorned.
I glanced around, my expression unchanged.
“This back-and-forth seems pointless.”
I nodded at the bustling patrol escorting the detainees, then pointed outside.
“It’s noisy. Shall we walk and talk?”
Amelia clasped her hands habitually, nodding slightly.
“Hmph, what? Going off alone?”
Sirocco glared, arms crossed, tail swishing. I turned to her.
“Just need to talk privately. Sorry, Sirocco, wait here.”
“Fine, if you say so.”
She leaned against the factory wall, grumbling.
Her red eyes followed me as I turned to walk.
I signaled Lien for approval. She closed her eyes, bowing.
“…I’ll wait here.”
With dangers resolved and me staying close, she seemed fine.
***
How far did we walk behind the factory?
A quiet path appeared. Gray gravel was blanketed in snow, and bare black trees echoed our crunching footsteps along stone walls.
We walked side by side on the snowy trail.
Amelia broke the silence.
“It feels a bit liberating.”
Stretching her clasped hands, she walked ahead.
“Liberating? In this situation?”
“Yes. Normally, I’m confined to the Holy Residence’s quarters. Outside, I’m with attendant nuns and escorts.”
“Sounds tough.”
“Maybe not as much as a Main House direct descendant, but the restrictions are real.”
She laughed lightly, turning to me.
“Plus, being alone with a man like this, privately? Normally unthinkable.”
“The reason’s obvious.”
“Yes, image management is crucial.”
“Practically an idol.”
“That’s a fair analogy.”
She nodded, amused.
Her relaxed demeanor, unlike her usual calm, intrigued me. I realized we hadn’t had a proper conversation during the escort mission.
“About earlier…”
Amelia spoke softly.
“Your points were all correct. I had to address the escorts’ corruption first, but I couldn’t do it alone.”
“…”
“So, as Saintess, I nominated you. With your prominence, I hoped, just maybe.”
She lowered her head, avoiding my gaze, embarrassed.
“It feels like I used you… I can’t deny that.”
“We’re getting off track.”
“No, it’s necessary. You might regret your proposal.”
Her tone turned cold.
“Regret?”
As I asked, she stopped walking. Stepping closer, she gently pulled my wrist.
I leaned forward.
Her golden hair’s sweet scent tickled my nose. I realized what happened next.
“…Exactly what I mean.”
My hand, guided by her, rested on her soft chest.
At a distance where our breaths mingled, she spoke slowly.
“As you saw, my heart isn’t that of a Saintess. Deep down, I’m filled with distrust for the Goddess.”
She glanced at me, whispering in my ear.
“Will you still accept me?”
Her smile held a hint of scorn.
“If my Saintess act fails and my true self is exposed, it could harm you too.”
I met her gaze, tilting my head.
“You’re worrying over nothing.”
“What?”
“It won’t happen to you.”
She widened her eyes.
“How can you be sure…”
“I’ve got a knack for reading people.”
I smiled faintly.
I knew her better than anyone, perhaps even herself.
In the original, she never dropped her Saintess facade unless deeply trusted. No stronger proof existed.
I added lightly.
“And coincidentally, I don’t believe in the Goddess either.”
“…You’re even more peculiar than I thought.”
Her surprised green eyes met mine, and I replied calmly.
“Just making the best choice. It’s a good deal for us.”
A Saintess with no allies and a direct descendant fresh from disownment, fulfilling Elsyde missions.
Just two youths standing on precarious, lofty positions.
“…”
My black uniform and her white veil fluttered in the breeze.
“But, Enoch, I’m the Order’s Saintess.”
She glanced at her staff, speaking.
“My duties often keep me at the Holy Residence, making it hard to leave. I may not contribute to your squad as you hope.”
This applied to all Order healers, especially the Saintess.
Prayers, relief efforts, and religious events took priority. She added heavily.
“Unlike my sister, I lack combat training or talent. I may struggle to contribute in your operations’ battles.”
“I’m proposing with full awareness.”
Her surprised eyes met my prompt reply.
I already knew her Order duties came first.
She couldn’t join minor operations or frontline combat due to her role and lack of fighting skills.
She said, slightly exasperated.
“You really know a lot.”
“As you said, no reason to play ignorant.”
To keep boosting my magic resistance, she was the only solution.
No matter how I honed my sword or squad, fatal injuries in large-scale battles were never zero risk.
Carelessness, ambushes, deception, traps.
Strong mages’ magic defied logic, and one mistake meant death—a fact I understood well.
If I had to keep fighting such foes as an Elsyde direct descendant…
“Your presence alone is a minimal answer to my challenges.”
Crunch. Snow fell from a branch.
“…”
Snapping from my thoughts, I saw Amelia staring at me, her cheeks faintly flushed.
“I didn’t expect such direct words. You’re more straightforward than I thought.”
Reflecting, I might’ve been too blunt, but sugarcoating wouldn’t change anything.
We both understood this.
Both in high but flawed positions, we could be each other’s support.
“Well then.”
Amelia smiled, interlocking her fingers with mine.
“As your follower family, I swear to act with one purpose.”
I glanced at our clasped hands. The warmth confirmed my second follower family.
“Please take care of me, Enoch.”
I nodded simply. A calm relief spread, knowing I’d achieved my mission’s goal.
I knew well.
In this world, knowledge wasn’t omnipotence.
I could only prepare step-by-step, altering the future with what I knew.
Collecting these winning cards, one by one, was enough.