At Melusine's speed, that distance was truly nothing more than a 'blink of an eye.'
Liliana had barely stepped into the villa when a petite girl clad in blue armor materialized before her.
Unlike Erica, Liliana possessed considerable Spirit Vision, so she had long recognized the infamous Lancelot standing before her.
Recognized wasn't even the right word—she had specifically researched and investigated her.
Like everyone else, she hadn't uncovered much, but at the very least, her appearance was seared into Liliana's memory.
Right now, all she felt was her breath catching in her throat.
Why was she back so quickly?
She had prepared a specially designed divine tool for infiltration; theoretically, there was no way she should have been detected by magic.
The fact that she hadn't triggered any defensive mechanisms since entering was proof of that.
Unfortunately, she wasn't the type to give in to curiosity, and Melusine had no intention of offering an explanation anyway.
As the scabbard pressed against her throat, Melusine spoke, "You came here for the Gorgoneion?"
"...Yes, Lady Lancelot." Without hesitation, Liliana tossed her sword and cloak—both divine tools—to the side, doing her utmost to convey submission and harmlessness.
"I deeply apologize for trespassing into your residence!"
"You came on the Wolf King's orders?"
"Yes..." Liliana didn't think she could hide it, nor did she see any point in trying.
After all, Erica was this deity's sworn knight, and her own identity wasn't exactly a secret.
As for Liliana herself, Melusine felt neither fondness nor dislike. There was no real need to kill her, but simply letting her go wouldn't do either.
The chill of the scabbard against her skin kept Liliana's nerves stretched taut.
As the seconds bled into an uncomfortable silence, the weight of the unspoken pressed down on her, making her wonder if this was where her life would end.
Just as that thought began to take root, a vaguely familiar voice sounded behind her.
"Miss Liliana?"
Melusine's gaze shifted toward the source of the voice. "Arianna, you know this thief?"
"Thief...? Ah..." Still puzzling over the situation, Arianna quickly grasped what was happening and answered, "She is Liliana Kranjčar, affiliated with the Bronze Black Cross. She shares equal renown with Lady Erica and holds the title of 'Fairy Knight' as a Great Knight."
"Fairy Knight?"
A flicker of something unreadable crossed Melusine's expression, but it vanished almost instantly.
"Yes!" Arianna carefully weighed her words.
A deity's question demanded a full and honest answer, but... the girl before her was a special case.
One that might even implicate Lady Erica. For a moment, she hesitated, uncertain whether to disclose everything.
But clinging to the belief that it was better to be truthful from the start than to have a lie exposed later, Arianna continued.
"The Bronze Black Cross is a magical society that stands in opposition to our Copper Black Cross. Although the Bronze Black Cross has waned in recent years and is no longer a serious concern for us, Miss Liliana's rise to prominence has reignited the old rivalry."
"However, unlike the mostly adversarial relationship between the majority of members in both societies, the dynamic between Lady Erica and Miss Liliana is a mix of rivalry and friendship."
Pushing past her own apprehension, Arianna confessed, "In Lady Erica's eyes, Miss Liliana is likely one of her few genuine friends..."
Liliana had listened to the entire exchange, a complicated expression flickering across her face.
She had often wondered how that 'Crimson Devil' truly saw her, but hearing her handmaiden speak of her as a friend caught her off guard. It left her feeling a strange mix of surprise and awkwardness.
She had always viewed that woman as a rival, a witch who toyed with people's hearts...
"I see." Melusine withdrew her scabbard and turned to leave. "Tie her up and take her to Erica's room."
"...Yes!" Though there was no sign of the expected anger, Arianna's tension didn't ease.
Take Miss Liliana to Lady Erica's room? This had to be a test. A chance for Lady Erica to pass judgment herself, to sever ties and prove her loyalty, right?
Even if it felt at odds with the impression she had formed of Lady Melusine recently, it was the most logical conclusion.
Imagining her young mistress possibly having to personally execute someone she considered a friend, a wave of sorrow washed over Arianna.
Liliana shared a similar thought. Knowing that Erica's handmaiden had spoken those words despite the pressure of a deity's presence filled her with a deep sense of guilt.
This mission wouldn't just cost her her own life; it would drag Erica into punishment as well.
If she was going to die anyway, she couldn't let Erica bear the burden of killing her own friend.
"Lady Lancelot! Would you grant me the honor of crossing swords with you!?" Liliana's voice cut through the air.
"You want to die?"
Melusine turned back, frowning at the girl whose face was etched with resolve.
"I... don't...! But rather than let her suffer the pain of killing a friend..."
"I have no intention of killing you." A flicker of impatience crossed Melusine's gilded eyes.
"Your life isn't worth the price of making my knight grieve. But your transgression must be punished. I'm leaving it to Erica simply because she's better suited for this sort of thing than I am. That's all."
Hearing Melusine's words, Liliana's first feeling wasn't the relief of a life spared.
Instead, it was an overwhelming wave of complex emotions—a mix of shock at having her worldview overturned, and a dazed astonishment that a line straight out of a Shojo Novel felt like it had just played out in reality.
A Heretic God like Lady Lancelot... actually explaining herself to me?
Sure, Voban occasionally deigned to exchange a few words with her when he was in a good mood, but that was clearly an exception. And right now, Lady Lancelot's mood was far from good.
Was this the kind of being Erica had chosen to serve?
Even though she had said that, Liliana couldn't shake the feeling that it was because of Erica that she had been given a way out.
For a moment, Liliana was lost in a daze.
Melusine paid her no further mind.
She habitually retreated to her own room, collapsing onto the bed and pulling the blanket tight.
It wasn't until three minutes later, when Athena pushed the door open, that she remembered her recent resolve to be more disciplined.
Maintaining a composed expression, she sat up and stated, "She was indeed a knight sent by the Wolf King."
"..." Athena stared silently at the little dragon girl for a moment, then finally spoke.
"As expected. He didn't come himself. It seems he wants to secure my Authority first, then face you in a decisive battle."
Her gaze sharpened. "But even if he didn't come in person, we can't let this insolence from a fool go unanswered."
Sending someone in with a divine tool to steal from us? Does he think we're pushovers?
Melusine shared Athena's sentiment entirely.
"Since he dares to reach for what's mine, I'll make sure he learns his lesson." A cold gleam flashed in Melusine's eyes.
When she first arrived in this world, she had been thinking about seeking out strong opponents to build her reputation.
Turns out, she didn't need to look at all.
They all came knocking on her door.
--+--
T/N: I have a Patreon! Webnovel will get 2 Chapters Every Day, and advanced chapters will be uploaded on Patreon.
It may not seem worth it now, but maybe in the future. Who knows!
[email protected]/AspenTL
If you guys wanna check it out.