Chapter 227

Chapter 14: Illusory Bubbles

The person she disliked but who was also the one Victoria cared about most in this world now lay face up in her arms, eyes closed, arms hanging lifelessly to the ground.

An unknown poison had spread across her face, her dark and bluish skin showing prominent veins, no longer beautiful.

It’s hard to describe my feelings at this moment.

I remember what this woman did not long ago and how she behaved even earlier. Even though I now understand her reasons, I cannot like her because of that.

I hate her.

I hate that she added fuel to the fire when Victoria was in a difficult situation. I hate her for her reckless ambitions and the things she did to vent her personal grievances, especially for the fact that she murdered her own husband, Victoria’s father.

She ruined Victoria’s carefree life and indirectly caused the death of so many others.

But I can’t hate her either.

Because I understand that she chose death at this moment for another reason. As soon as she dies, the credibility of what she just said will increase significantly in Margaret’s and the Holy Church’s eyes.

Why would she lie when she’s about to die?

If things go well, Victoria might receive strong support from the Church when facing that family in the future. Because the nature of the event has changed from an internal issue to something that touches on the truth.

But this still only shows that the Empress is a foolish and weak woman. She chose the easiest way out rather than staying with Victoria to face the challenges together.

And at this moment, after setting aside all those confusing thoughts, what remains is only my concern for Victoria.

But I don’t know how to comfort her.

After a while, Margaret spoke.

“Her Majesty, the poison is taking effect too quickly… Please accept this sorrow.”

Victoria didn’t say anything.

The atmosphere remained silent for a long time. At some point, Reckt walked over. He silently looked at the kneeling Queen, hesitated for a moment, seemingly wanting to say something but not knowing how to start.

“Victoria…”

I called her softly, suddenly realizing my voice was hoarse and dry.

“I’m fine,” Victoria responded this time.

She stood up holding the Empress, not turning back.

“Reckt, how’s the preparation for the afternoon speech?”

“It’s all set.”

“Good.”

Then she glanced at Margaret.

“Holy Maiden, later… I have something to tell you.”

Margaret nodded, “That’s good. I also have something to discuss with Her Majesty.”

“Okay.”

Victoria responded softly and moved towards the church door, followed closely by Margaret and Reckt. Their figures gradually faded away. I hesitated for a moment but did not follow them.

Standing there for a while, I turned and went back to the room upstairs where I had lain before.

After closing the door, I finally took off the armor that I could no longer bear, throwing it on the ground with a clatter, revealing the linen undergarment soaked with sweat, which felt uncomfortable against my skin.

Many times, I thought about using the Frost Order to cool down, but the church and the streets were crowded. I was afraid I might accidentally freeze someone, and the wet clothes wrapped tightly by the armor would become even more uncomfortable if they froze solid. After enduring it this far, feeling the refreshing air on my skin now slightly improved my mood.

Taking a deep breath, the fragrance of lilac filled my nostrils.

The bed had been tidied up, with a simple white dress laid on top of the blanket, and a pair of black boots at the foot of the bed.

This must be… Margarets instructions… How thoughtful…

As I walked over, I took off the undergarment and put on the dress, walking barefoot to the mirror, looking at the reflection of myself, and lifting my hand to brush through my slightly messy hair.

… It might be cooler if I tie it up.

But I couldn’t find any suitable hair accessories or headbands, so I gave up.

The black dress I wore before was torn and discarded. The note from Teresa that I kept in my inner pocket was also burned and incomplete… But it was still readable. Before the funeral ceremony, I placed it in the drawer of the dressing table, and now I took it out again to put it back on me.

I’ll give it to her tomorrow…

And Captain Gray, I lost it during the fight. It should be somewhere nearby in one of the alleys around CataLoma. Teresa’s axe is also there, but three days have passed, so it’s probably already been taken by someone else…

I’ll ask Reckt first.

Putting on the boots, I turned and walked out the door.

The corridor was empty. I hadn’t seen anyone on the way up, perhaps they had been deliberately sent away. I wandered around upstairs for a long time before seeing a passing nun. Hurrying over, I addressed her.

“Nun Sister.”

She appeared much older than me, so I instinctively called her that.

“Excuse me, where are the children from the orphanage?”

“You’re… Ah, the children should all be in the nave… You go that way… It’s not far.”

“Oh.”

I nodded in the direction she pointed.

“Thank you.”

I smiled warmly and turned to leave.

“Um…”

Just as I stepped away, I heard her call out.

“You, may I ask if you are Miss Silvija?”

I paused and turned back, somewhat puzzled.

“Yes, I am…”

“Aha, I knew it! I saw you from afar during the ceremony… Your black hair… You are indeed as described in the rumors…”

Ji was so young… to actually be able to fight such a monster… She seemed very nervous, her words coming out incoherently, then she immediately widened her eyes and waved her hands, “Ah no! I don’t mean anything else, I just… just think you’re amazing… I…”

“Um… Thank you…”

She’s probably a simple girl.

If all the nuns were like her, that would be great.

The position of the middle hall was indeed close as she said; I didn’t take long to reach there. The interior was hollow, and looking up, one could see the clear blue sky, more like a courtyard. Many round tables and chairs were placed here, children gathered in small groups, some seriously cleaning the floor, while others chattered in competition to see who could polish the sculpted columns better.

When they saw me approach, they all stopped what they were doing and looked at me with curious or shy gazes.

“Who is this… Such a beautiful sister…”

“I seem to have seen her before… She’s Ali’s noble friend…”

“She’s so nice… gives us candy…”

I quickly found Ali.

She was wearing a slightly loose nun’s robe, seemingly talking to another little girl in front of her. When she suddenly saw me, her mouth opened wide in surprise, her eyes round.

“Sister Peyilo!”

She ran over to me and muttered, “Why did you come…”

“To see you,” I replied with a smile, my gaze falling on the dirty, dripping rag in her hand, “What are you doing these for?”

“These few days, the bishop and the sisters have a lot to do, we can’t help them, so we do these instead…”

She shyly tucked her hands behind her back, not daring to look me in the eye.

“Sister Peyilo, you’re a great hero… You must be busy too, no need to specially come over…”

I reached out to pat her little head.

“I’m not busy.”

Ali must feel constrained knowing my identity as a knight of the Pope, feeling unnatural…

“Oh…”

She responded awkwardly, lifting her eyelids to sneak a peek at me, then quickly shifting her gaze, looking as if she wanted to say something but didn’t know how, which was both cute… and strangely heart-wrenching.

I pointed to a table in the distance and said to her, “Come, let’s go over there.”

“…Okay.”

Ali obediently followed behind me, walked over, pulled out a chair, and sat down.

“Sister, your leg…”

“It’s fine now.”

I gently lifted my skirt, revealing a slender and fair calf.

“See, right?”

Ali frowned, carefully touching my leg, feeling a bit ticklish.

“But that day…”

“Don’t worry, I’m very capable.”

“Mmm…”

Seeing that she still wanted to say something, I quickly changed the subject, “How is Ali here?”

“Pretty good… Bishop likes to laugh, the sisters are all gentle, and every day we can eat meat.”

Ali smiled happily when she said this, she’s a girl who is easily satisfied.

“The other day I even saw the Holy Virgin! She’s so beautiful, I didn’t dare speak to her much… Sister must have seen her too, right?”

“Yeah. She said it was Ali who took care of me… Thank you.”

Ali’s face turned slightly red.

“It’s nothing…”

After a moment of silence.

“Are you happy to see Margaret? You wanted to become a Holy Virgin, right.”

“Ahh, you still remember… Sister Peyilo…”

Ali lowered her head, her little feet swinging back and forth in front of her.

“I am happy, but it’s not as happy as I imagined… I don’t know why…”

The little girl’s mood doesn’t seem high.

So I pondered for a moment and asked softly, “Is there something troubling you?”

Hearing my words, Ali lifted her head, the smile on her face gradually calming.

“Sister Peyilo.”

“Yes.”

I looked at her seriously, seeing her wrinkle her eyebrows, thinking for a moment, then suddenly deflating.

“…Forget it, it’s all childish talk…”

“There’s nothing you can’t tell your sister.” I deliberately lowered my face, making an unhappy expression, “Ali, whatever you want to say, you can.”

Ali then lowered her head again, her hands resting on her stomach, her fingers twisting around each other.

“Sister, you say… why are there so many bad people in the world?”

“…”

This is quite a difficult question…

“I don’t understand either… Why can some people harm others and even kill with peace of mind… My parents were killed… How can someone do that… Are they not afraid of nightmares…”

“Why… some scoundrels… who are rotten to the core, yet appear to be good people…”

The little girl’s fingers turned white from twisting.

“I really admire Sister Teresa, I admired her even when she was in the Cold City… I know many things about her. She’s a great benefactor, a remarkable person… I liked her so much back then… When I met her, I liked her even more… Sister Peyilo… I knew becoming a Holy Virgin was hard, so back then I thought, I won’t become a Holy Virgin, I’ll become a respected nun like Teresa, it might be better… That’s what I truly thought, I really wanted to be like her… Sister Peyilo…”

As the little girl spoke, her voice became choked.

“Why… did it turn out that way…”