Saint Lady, Please Let Them Go

Chapter 8 The Struggling and Conflicted Girl, the Matriarch Who Brings Ill Omens

The next day.

Tina, with dark circles under her eyes, walked into Nifreya’s room.

Last night, I hadn’t slept a wink.

Not only were the things recorded in the album too shameful, making it hard for me, who was exploring and seeking knowledge for the first time and wanting to understand Nifreya’s desires, to tear myself away.

There were also faint sounds coming from next door and the torment in my heart—should I write a letter to inform the lord and lady?

Miss, who usually seemed so delicate and frail, was actually so…No, no, no.

I hurriedly shook off those filthy thoughts from my mind.

I pulled open the curtains and pushed open the window.

I let the fresh morning air surge in, replacing the thick, decadent atmosphere in Nifreya’s room.

As the morning sun spilled in, Nifreya, exhausted from the night, slept soundly.

I knelt by the bed, gazing at Nifreya’s sweet sleeping face and that disheveled bed.

No wonder last night…Lost in thought, I couldn’t help but recall the images from the album in my mind.

Almost instinctively, I lowered my head, inching closer to Nifreya…

Then, startled, I stood up with a sense of guilt and shame, unable to believe I had slapped myself hard.

She was my good sister and master!

Tina, how could I… have such thoughts?

But…I looked down, seeing the red marks trailing from my miss’s cheeks, chin, neck, collarbone, and downward.

I really wanted…No!

I hurriedly went to the window, gazing down at the glistening dew on the morning flower sea of Flower Citadel, hoping the pure and beautiful natural flowers and sunrise would wash away the evil in my heart.

Deep breath, Tina, quickly forget those wicked thoughts!

Speaking of which, what should I do?

Should I really not tell the lord and lady about this…?

But what would happen if I did tell them?

If they didn’t know, everything could be as if it never happened.

If they found out, and Nifreya couldn’t bear it, I would be the sinner.

But…I wrestled with it repeatedly.

If I were an ordinary servant, I might have succumbed to the pressure and reported it already.

But I was Nifreya’s good sister, her best friend.

I would rather die than see her hurt more.

How could I do such a thing!?

So, I finally decided—to temporarily keep Nifreya’s secret.

But now that the wicked thoughts were gone, a surge of anger rose from my abdomen.

That damned bastard!

I must kill you!!

Kill you!!!!

Coming to my senses, I realized there was likely someone in the bed last night.

Though I didn’t know why Nifreya kept protecting them, I already hated that person.

Absolutely, absolutely, I’ll tear you to pieces!!

Perhaps sensing my intense murderous intent, Nifreya trembled slightly, then opened her eyes.

Her starry eyes were like the moon, with long lashes framing pure pink pupils that stirred the heart.

The girl was like a dreamy princess, evoking desire and pity.

But the more she was like this, the angrier I became.

“Who was he?”

I went to the bed and asked through gritted teeth, abandoning all honorifics.

Nifreya blinked, still full of sleepiness after a tiring night.

But under the unconscious wave of my murderous intent, she said somewhat fearfully: “I don’t know.”

This made me even angrier.

I swore I would make them pay!

Absolutely!

Unfortunately, there was a small misunderstanding here.

I subconsciously assumed it was a man.

Because Nifreya didn’t mention the gender.

Although affairs between women weren’t rare on the Continent of Tran, they weren’t exactly mainstream either.

When it came to “yellow-haired” or “flower thieves,” anyone’s first thought would instinctively be a man.

Nifreya was frail and needed rest.

After I tenderly served her breakfast, I began inspecting Flower Citadel with suspicious eyes.

“That bastard got in, so they must be familiar with the castle’s layout.”

“Or perhaps there’s a secret passage… or they bribed the guards or knights.”

“Or it’s one of the knights themselves!”

The more I thought, the more likely it seemed.

After all, Nifreya and I were usually inseparable, and I knew all the outsiders she could have come into contact with.

Those people either couldn’t be flower thieves or couldn’t breach Flower Citadel’s defenses.

Excluding outsiders, the most likely culprit was someone from within.

The servants in Flower Citadel were all maids, so they were ruled out.

That left the knights guarding the perimeter.

If one of them betrayed their duty, it would be child’s play!

Moreover, Nifreya often interacted with them, and the knights were familiar with the castle’s layout and shift changes.

As for Nifreya, she had always admired knights who adventured far and slew dragons.

So it made sense that she was protecting one of them last night.

I felt I had found the key.

So I summoned the knights…The knights, who had just received a gold coin reward, were obedient and gathered at the fountain plaza outside Flower Citadel.

But seeing my hateful, teeth-gritting stare at each of them, they were puzzled.

When had they provoked this lady?

***

As the culprit, Sophia naturally slipped away after pulling up her pants, unaware of the aftermath at Flower Citadel.

When I returned to my room at the Holy Light Church, it was already dawn.

Nifreya was too delicious, making me lose track of time.

That tender, soft, pink…Tap, tap, tap.

Suddenly, a knock on the door interrupted me.

It broke my meditation on the surging Joyful Magic and my savoring of last night’s fragrant feast.

“Who?”

“It’s me.”

A gentle female voice came from outside.

I immediately identified the visitor—Matriarch, Norelle.

“Please wait a moment.”

Having just returned from Flower Citadel, I carried Nifreya’s strong scent, and my disguise was still on.

Outside the Saintess’s room, Matriarch Norelle exchanged greetings with the passing White Knights and Black Knights.

Then she waited quietly.

With a crescent-moon bun and long wheat-braid, adorned with a flower crown marking her status as Matriarch.

Dressed in a pure white Matriarch’s ceremonial gown, Norelle rarely appeared in public, but no one could ignore her serene, gentle, and dignified presence.

Her visit to Saintess Sophia, the moment when Red Maple City’s Holy Light Church’s two great beauties met, was a scene many dreamed of.

So much so that the Black and White Knights unintentionally quickened their patrol rounds.

Creak—The door opened a few minutes later.

Norelle showed no impatience at the wait, instead smiling and asking Sophia: “Sleeping in?”

I feigned embarrassment as if caught: “Very sorry, Lady Matriarch, there were no activities today, so I slacked off a bit.”

Norelle covered her mouth and laughed: “No matter, you should rest well when it’s time to rest. The Holy Light won’t be harsh on her Saintess.”

“Please come in.”

I invited her inside.

Norelle noticed the wide-open window and the lit incense, then sat on a chair in the room at my invitation.

She looked around, seemingly intrigued by the fragrant maiden’s boudoir.

Desk, vanity, prayer pool, bed…

“What a lovely pair of golden phoenixes.”

Norelle pointed at the golden artwork on a small display shelf.

I brought red tea and sat gracefully across from her, saintly and pure: “By the Holy Light, those were a gift from Princess Christine when she visited Red Maple City. If you like them, Matriarch, I’ll give them to you.”

“I see.” Norelle shook her head, “But I was just admiring, not wanting them.”

“But—Princess Christine?? Are you close with her?”

I denied it: “Not really, I’ve only met her once, not even enough to call her a friend.”

Norelle nodded: “With the empire’s internal power struggles and undercurrents, getting involved would greatly affect you and our Church.”

I neither confirmed nor denied, instead asking: “May I ask why Lady Matriarch came to see me so early?”

Norelle fell silent for a few seconds, her gaze fixed on me, making the silver-haired girl feel uneasy.

Did she notice something?

Thinking I had been exposed and growing nervous, I heard Norelle sigh the next moment: “Did you hear any disturbances last night?”

My heart jolted, but I remained calm on the surface: “After evening prayers, I meditated for a while, then fell asleep. I didn’t hear anything.”

Norelle said: “Last night, some White Knights returned from Potomac and brought an ill omen.”

“An ill omen!?” I let out a breath, feigning shock on my face.