Chapter 215

Chapter 2: Saint Margaret

“Pe… Lo…”

Who… is calling me…

“Pei Luo… Sister…”

The voice of a little girl… Who is it… Is it Elyushu…?

“Pei Luo Sister!”

I slowly opened my eyes.

The scene before me was blurry, and before I could figure out where I was, my entire field of vision was taken up by a slightly chubby, cute little face. The face was very close to mine. When I finally saw her clearly, she was blinking her clear, bright eyes, staring directly at me.

After a moment of confusion, I recognized this face.

“Ai… Li…”

I softly called out her name, managing a thin smile at the corner of my mouth.

“You’re okay… That’s great…”

Her cool, low, gentle voice, with its lazy, hoarse tone, as dry and murky as an exposed seabed, made Ai Li shudder, her eyes widening even more.

“Sister, you’re awake! That’s great! Are you okay? Is there anything uncomfortable… Oh, no, I’m fine…”

She still had a wet handkerchief in her hand, and there was a wooden basin of water on the bedside table. She was flustered for a moment, then threw the handkerchief into the basin. “Wait here, I’ll go call someone!”

With a “thump thump thump,” she ran out, and when she reached the door, she let out a “ouch!” and fell flat on her face, but immediately got up without a sound and rushed out quickly.

Ai Li is okay… That’s great…

Since she’s here, that means… everything should be over, right? Teresa should be dead… Are the people in the royal city okay…

And Victoria… At the end… I wanted to eat her… Fortunately, I fainted… She should be fine…

My head feels so chaotic.

Just now… I had a dream…

Where am I…

Ai Li’s footsteps gradually faded away. I retracted my gaze and began to survey the room.

The sunlight was somewhat blinding.

The room, decorated in shades of gray-gold, was lavish. Above, the ceiling featured an elegant chandelier, with the lamp holders carved into lifelike human figures. Opposite the wall was an oil painting, depicting a group of small people kneeling in prayer around a radiant giant… Yes, this place should be some kind of church.

And I was lying on a large gray bed right in the center of the room.

My body felt stiff, and my head was dizzy.

“Cough cough.”

I cleared my throat and moved my tongue and mouth: “Uh—, um—, ah—”

Making some meaningless sounds, trying to alleviate the stiffness in my mouth and face.

“One, two, three… one, two, three, four, five, six, seven, Carlos is a stinky fart.”

Yes, my tongue was becoming more flexible.

Next, I tried moving my hands and kicking my legs… My limbs were also stiff, accompanied by a slight numbness, but they had considerable strength.

I must have been lying here for quite some time.

I wasn’t hungry, just thirsty… and I really needed to pee.

Especially needed.

Take a moment, once my body gradually loosened up, I pushed aside the velvet blanket and slowly sat up on the bed with the support of the bedframe.

I was still wearing that tattered, bloodstained black dress. I grabbed the collar and sniffed—it smelled a bit off.

I felt disgusted by myself and immediately stretched out my fair legs from under the blanket toward the edge of the bed. After this large movement, a sharp pain shot through various parts beneath my skirt.

“Sss—”

I sucked in a breath of air.

It felt as if pieces of cloth were stuck to my thighs and buttocks, then ripped off forcefully, causing intense pain. I couldn’t help but reach down under the skirt… Oh my God, the lining was hard and angular, as if frozen.

The pain kept me in a position where I was extending my foot toward the side of the bed, unable to move. Only when the pain gradually subsided did I cautiously get out of bed, taking awkward steps like a duck, slowly walking towards the door—nearly colliding with a woman who had just entered.

Who…

Unconsciously stepping back, I frowned at the nun blocking the doorway.

She had a delicate face, thin crimson lips, looking about twenty-five years old. Her slightly upturned eyes shimmered like flowing water, exuding an indescribable clarity and sharpness. Her aquamarine hair curled slightly within her veil, making her a very beautiful nun. However, despite her somewhat flirtatious appearance, she gave me an impression of sternness.

She’s strong…

With this realization, I subconsciously became wary.

I no longer had any good feelings towards nuns; they reminded me of Teresa’s face.

I didn’t want to recall that face much.

“Are you awake?”

The nun asked, her voice familiar.

“Who are you…”

“Margaret.”

Margaret?

Such a familiar name…

“It was I who brought you out of the forest when you were unconscious, along with Queen Elizabeth.”

“Oh!”

I remembered.

She was the last voice I heard… Margaret… Isn’t that the name of the current Holy Maiden!

My heart raced instantly.

I realized it.

Although I didn’t understand why she suddenly appeared, since she was in that forest, it meant… she probably saw…

I lowered my head, my hands behind my back twisting together, my toes tapping slightly on the ground. With a slight unease, I whispered, “Where is Victoria…”

I admit, at this moment, I was very scared and flustered.

“Don’t worry, she’s fine.”

Click.

The Holy Maiden named Margaret closed the door behind her, took two steps forward, and stood before me.

I became even more frightened; my uncooperative heart pounded wildly. I lifted my head, forcing myself to stay calm, and stared into her beautiful eyes.

“What do you want?”

“Just wanted to check on you, Miss Sylviega… No, you should be called White Night Abyss.”

Her words were like a bucket of cold water poured over me from head to toe, leaving me feeling as if I were plunged into ice.

The cave, my feet kept retreating, my line of sight began to glance towards the half-open window.

Margaret remained still.

She was still standing there, calmly watching my movements, and then spoke again, “The matter concerning you, His Holiness has long informed me.”

I stopped in my tracks, turning back in surprise.

“Do you know…”

“Firstly, I am merely carrying out his orders; this is the duty of the eighty-ninth Holy Maiden of the Sacred Church. However… this does not mean that I agree with his ideas. Do you understand, Miss Silvija? I consider you a dangerous existence…”

My eyes widened.

“I would never—”

“You don’t need to deny or rush to defend yourself; those won’t help.” Margaret shook her head, interrupting me. “Your danger is unrelated to your will but depends on the abyss within you, that terrifying chaotic power. It’s an existence that can easily destroy everything… I know it is unstable and could bring great disaster to humanity in the future, regardless of whether you agree or not… The situation that night in the forest, you must be more aware than I am, right?”

“…”

I gritted my teeth, speechless in rebuttal.

She continued, “Actually, when you were unconscious, I did think about killing you… Later, I hesitated. The reason was, I wasn’t sure if directly killing you would bring us greater disaster, nothing more.”

“Miss Silvija, you are an unknown factor. I believe your existence brings more harm than good to humanity; this is my view. I am considering that if you will eventually harm humans, then before that happens, I will spare no expense, even if it means shattering myself, to destroy you first.”

“So now… ” My nose tingled slightly as I lifted my head a bit, “are you asking me to die…”

“No.”

Margaret shook her head, becoming serious.

“Miss Silvija, I just want to ask you, even so…”

She faced me, straightening her body, bending her right knee to the ground, then standing up straight, lowering her head, and placing her hands over her chest — this was the highest courtesy of the Sacred Church.

“Even if there is someone among humanity who shares the same thoughts as me… would you still be willing to protect us, like guarding the royal city?”

Looking at the Holy Maiden kneeling on one knee before me, speaking sincerely, my tense shoulders relaxed, and my gaze softened.

This is probably a straightforward woman who doesn’t understand… or doesn’t care for those roundabout ways.

I don’t dislike such people.

“…Yes.”

Nodding gently at her.

“Then, Miss Silvija, please fulfill your promise in the future, do not harm us… Please.”

“Yes.”

Margaret raised her head, revealing a smile.

She looked particularly beautiful when she smiled.

“Miss Silvija, I have already asked someone to fetch clean clothes. Is there anything else you need?”

I glanced around awkwardly, scratching my face embarrassedly.

“Where is the bathroom?”