"Did the Saintess only tell you that?"
Mo Wan was curious about what other arrangements Iselyn had made for her in private.
"Hmm..." Rosa thought for a moment. "She also asked me about your usual performance. Do not worry. I praised you a lot. I even made you sound more powerful than our captain. I told her that you could fix our broken limbs and that you saved us from a total party kill many times."
"Is that not too exaggerated? She will not believe it."
"She should believe it. The Saintess laughed very happily. She must be satisfied, right?"
'Is it possible she laughed because your lie was so bad? The Saintess is probably just too kind to point it out.'
"Next time... if there is a next time and she asks about me, just tell the truth."
Mo Wan felt she had not done anything out of line. She had always been a diligent Priest in the Azure Crystal Squad. If Rosa lied, Iselyn might suspect they were hiding something. That could lead to trouble for Rosa.
"Mo Wan, I am doing this for your own good. Honest people never climb the ranks. Besides, I truly think you are amazing. You just need a chance to be discovered. I believe the Saintess has the vision to see your talent."
"..."
Mo Wan did not know how to argue with Rosa.
She did not want to reject Rosa's kindness.
Perhaps she even thought Rosa was right.
Mo Wan actually wanted someone to notice her special qualities. It was just like when she tried to implement reforms in the Demon Race. She wanted her talents to be put to use.
In the end, it had all turned into a mess. If she were not a princess, she probably would have been torn apart by horses like Shang Yang.
"Do you not want a better life? I do not believe anyone is willing to be a coward forever."
Mo Wan's eyes moved. Her lips twitched, but she did not speak.
She looked at Rosa's sincere face. She saw the pure desire for her to be happy in Rosa's eyes.
She felt her frozen heart tremble slightly.
A feeling of reluctance surfaced. Mo Wan spoke hesitantly.
"Of course... I want that... Fine. Thank you, Rosa. I will work hard under the Saintess. Once I have saved enough money, I will buy you clothes. I will treat you to dinner too."
"I will be waiting then."
Rosa laughed and patted Mo Wan's shoulder.
"Go to work. You must perform well on your first day. Working in the Church is not as free as the life of a mercenary."
"Yes."
Mo Wan took a step back.
She was about to say goodbye, but she felt a bit awkward.
"Will you come back to see me?"
"If I have time, definitely. After we become Honorary Knights, we will return to the Holy City often to report on our missions. I will find you then."
"Okay."
Mo Wan nodded.
"I am going back to the Cathedral to work now."
"Go ahead."
Rosa waved. Mo Wan left the inn with a reluctant expression.
Rosa closed the door and walked to the window.
The purple-haired girl was walking alone on the street.
'The Saintess... she will be good to Mo Wan, right?' Rosa wondered.
'The Saintess might not treat her as well as I do, but working for the Saintess is better than fighting and killing with us.'
Rosa could tell that Mo Wan had been hiding something. She was hiding her true strength.
Rosa knew Mo Wan was not happy hiding it.
When Mo Wan's efforts were ignored, she would look lonely. However, Mo Wan never talked about it.
Even if Rosa asked, Mo Wan would not open her mouth. Mo Wan would always lie and say she did not care. She would say things were fine as they were.
"Saintess, I am leaving my Mo Wan to you. I hope the next time I see her, she is wearing beautiful clothes and wearing a real smile."
Rosa talked to herself.
She wiped a tear from the corner of her eye.
'I really do not want her to leave. Without Mo Wan, I do not know if we can survive the next danger.'
'Maybe this goodbye is forever.'
---
Iselyn had said that the Princess would only be late and never early. She told Mo Wan there was no need to arrive early.
However, Mo Wan still waited in front of the Church gates an hour before the meeting.
Mo Wan was lucky.
The Saintess was presiding over the morning prayer today.
The Church held a thirty-minute morning prayer every day. To put it simply, it was a morning study session.
The nuns stood before the divine statue and recited scriptures.
As a legal citizen of the Holy City, Mo Wan could enter the Church to pray. She followed the other believers into the building and sat on a bench.
She listened to the nuns chanting. Her ears buzzed.
She did not think the ceremony was holy. She thought these people were just superstitious. It would be much better to sleep for an extra thirty minutes at home.
However, if Iselyn presided every day, Mo Wan would not mind being a loyal listener.
Mo Wan looked up at the Saintess in her white dress.
Unfortunately, the Saintess did not look at her. The Saintess kept her head down. She watched the nuns with a cold expression. She felt the faith of the believers.
Unlike the other people there, Mo Wan's attention was entirely on Iselyn.
'The Saintess will not scold me even if my heart is not pious.' Mo Wan felt a bit smug.
Finally, the morning study ended.
There were still thirty minutes before the scheduled meeting with the Princess.
Mo Wan stood up. She hoped Iselyn would notice her.
However, Iselyn never looked her way. She was like a robot. She guided the nuns and educated the believers. Finally, that white figure disappeared at the end of the hallway.
Mo Wan felt a bit disappointed again.
'We were so... close in private yesterday.'
'Wait... was that actually close?'
'She held my naked body and played with my tail. Those actions count as being close, right?'
But seeing the Saintess in her normal state made her seem so divine and unreachable. Mo Wan felt like their time together yesterday was just a dream.
As she sat there thinking, it soon became 10:30.
Mo Wan had sat in the Cathedral for an hour and a half. She had not seen the Saintess again after the morning study.
"Over here! Miss Priest!"
A female voice snapped Mo Wan out of her thoughts.
Mo Wan turned around. It was the maid who had carried the Princess yesterday.
"Okay."
Mo Wan got up from her seat.
The blonde Princess was standing outside the Cathedral. She had her arms crossed and was staring straight at Mo Wan.
Mo Wan quickly followed the maid to the Princess. She gave a polite knight's salute.
"Good morning, Princess."
"It is not early. We need to hurry and leave the city. Sister Iselyn should have explained your mission, right?"
'So you know it is not early. It is already 10:30.'
"Yes. My mission is to protect your safety, respected Princess."
The Princess held up a finger. She looked very serious.
"Also, keep it a secret! You are not allowed to tell anyone about our location. Do you understand?"
"I understand, Princess."
"Sigh... I do not know who told on me yesterday. My father was furious when he found out I went to the Monster Forest. Luckily, I acted like nothing happened when I got back. But from now on, he will not let me stay out overnight. We will go and return quickly today."
The blonde Princess waved for Mo Wan to follow.
Today, the Princess looked full of energy. She was a completely different person from the sickly girl of yesterday.
It was all thanks to Mo Wan's excellent medical Skills.
However, this Princess really did not fear death. She had almost died yesterday, yet she was looking for trouble again today.