Chapter 145

Chapter 117 Whispers on the Path

“Paillot.”

Blinking my eyes, I whispered my name softly. Teresa’s lips curled up again.

“Paillot…”

She murmured as if to herself, repeating my name softly. Then she said, “A beautiful name. Where is it from? Cherilse City, Winter City, or Erin Fortress?”

“Winter City.”

“Oh… I haven’t been there much.”

As we turned around the towering bell tower, sunlight poured down. Feeling a bit dazzled, I squinted like a kitten. Teresa noticed and kindly raised her hand to shield me from the sun.

My heart warmed slightly, and I gave her a sweet smile.

Sister Teresa must be the kind of woman who is very good at taking care of others.

Then she smiled back at me and asked, “Are you used to living in the royal city?”

“Mm-hm.” I tilted my head up and nodded gently. “It’s very pretty here.”

She laughed more brightly.

“How does it compare to the snow and full moon in Winter City?”

I tilted my head in thought.

“They’re both beautiful. Different atmospheres, no comparison… but the meat is better roasted.”

Due to regional differences, almost everything in Winter City is cooked over high heat, with only salt and fragrant leaves as seasoning. The meat tends to be a bit tough and heavily flavored, mainly for drinking. But it’s different in the royal city; people here enjoy life more, and the chefs add various spices when roasting meat, making it much tastier.

“So, that’s why you’re holding such a big leg of lamb?”

“Hahaha—!”

Hearing Teresa’s words, Sarah and Sophia laughed loudly, completely ignoring my dignity. Even Daisy couldn’t help but chuckle, covering her mouth.

My face turned hot, not knowing how to respond, so I just lowered my head, pretending to be an ostrich.

Seeing my embarrassment, Sister Teresa quickly added, “I’m sorry, I didn’t mean to mock you. I was just curious… um, how do you plan to finish it?”

“I can finish it…”

The words were barely audible, even to myself. I felt quite embarrassed.

“Wasting food isn’t a good habit,” Teresa said softly.

“Mm.”

Embarrassed, I responded. Suddenly, I remembered what Sophia had said that morning, so I looked up and asked, “Teacher Teresa, is Katharoma the abbess?”

Then she paused, looking somewhat surprised, and winked at me.

“Yes. Not many people know this… Who told you?”

“I told her,” Sophia hurriedly said, “my father is Jerome Rodny Jaslyn, he mentioned you before…”

Teresa realized, “Ah, you’re Viscount Jerome’s child… The northern part of the city is under his jurisdiction, things have improved a lot recently. Your father is a good person.”

“Thank you for your praise, Teacher. My father is just fulfilling his duties, and I will strive to be like him.”

Even though Sophia tried to remain composed, the pride in her eyes could not be hidden after receiving Teresa’s approval.

Teresa laughed again, “You need to work hard then.”

“I will,” Sophia said firmly, then asked, “Teacher Teresa, do you like children?”

“Yes,” Teresa smiled lightly and nodded. “Children are all cute, especially those from the orphanage. They’re so well-behaved it tugs at your heart… but sometimes they can be mischievous, and I always worry about them.”

Her azure eyes sparkled with emotion as she spoke.

“Teresa Teacher.”

I called her name, and Teresa turned her gaze towards me.

“Why is it that no one knows the orphanage director is you?”

After I asked this question, a hint of difficulty appeared on Teresa’s gentle face for the first time.

“Well…” She furrowed her brows, the warm smile on her face turning troubled.

Feeling somewhat helpless, she sighed softly after a while, “How should I put this? It’s not that no one knows, but they just don’t really care… Poor children always lack attention, which is quite troubling.”

Mm-hm, it’s about what I expected.

I remember the guard who drove the carriage mentioning that Cataloma was near the parish, yet few people went there. This means that even though Cataloma has been providing new recruits to the church, the nobles of the capital ignore it because they see no profit in it.

Even if this city still believes in the gods, and even if their current peace and prosperity are due to the church protecting them with the “Divine Relic” for centuries.

“Teacher Teresa, is there an Ellie in Cataloma? She’s a little girl.”

“Ellie?” Teresa frowned and thought for a moment, “Ah, there is indeed a little girl named Ellie, she just arrived recently… I think she was sent from the Winter City…”

“Mm-hm. That’s right, she’s my friend.”

Hearing this, Teresa looked at me in surprise.

“Friend? You… You also come from the Winter City…”

Suddenly, her eyes lit up, “So you’re the princess who lives in the big castle that Ellie mentioned?”

The princess who lives in the big castle? Uh… That’s how Ellie describes me…

Switching the lamb leg to the other hand, I scratched my cheek, “Although, not exactly… I think she’s talking about me.”

“Peyelo, you have friends at the orphanage too.”

“She’s a gentle child… Hehe.”

Sarah, having long been accustomed to the nobility’s indifference towards the weak, looked at me in disbelief when she heard this. Even Daisy, who had been silent until then, spoke up. Only Sophia viewed things from a different angle.

“A princess in the big castle? Peyelo, you…”

Before she could finish, Sarah interrupted, “How did you two meet?”

“Just… After thinking for a bit, I decided not to mention the story of the reed grass here, “by chance.”

“It really is you.” Teresa laughed happily, “I remember Ellie saying that you told her you would come to the capital to find her… Now she must be so happy.”

“Uh-huh.” I nodded.

When the rest day comes, I’ll go to Cataloma to check it out, and then talk with Teacher Teresa alone.

Carlos should have already informed her of the news, right? Maybe he has already started investigating secretly.

But she might not have experience fighting heretics… Perhaps I can help.

This journey isn’t far, and soon Teacher Teresa took us to the entrance of the tower, bidding farewell as we headed to the academy’s chapel. Back in the dormitory, I couldn’t wait to sit down in a chair, open the parchment bag, and start gnawing on the large lamb leg. The aroma filled the air, and after two bites, my mouth was full of grease. Sarah watched in astonishment.

“…Peyelo, where’s the little puppy you mentioned?”

“Do you really believe it?” Sophia rolled her eyes, “Even monkeys know it’s a lie. The little puppy is herself.”

“No, of course I know it’s a lie… But you actually ate it yourself, that’s such a waste… Do you have a knife? Can you cut me a piece?”

“Ugh!”

I immediately turned my back to Sarah.

“Um, do you need a knife? I have one.”

Daisy said softly, searching through the cabinet by the bed and pulling out a beautifully crafted dagger, which Sarah quickly snatched away.

“Do you want to eat?”

“No, I’m sick of it.” Sophia frowned and walked over to open the window, “The whole room smells like mutton, I can’t stand it.”

Despite saying that, she sat down next to me, looking serious as she spoke.

“Peyelo, do you know who Alex is?”