Chapter 390

Chapter 14 Acknowledging Identity

The girl in the painting had black hair and black eyes, treading on a terrifying and bizarre monster. Her delicate features bore at least four or five points of similarity to mine, especially those slightly drooping corners of her eyes; they were too alike.

It was clear that the person who painted this portrait must have been guided by someone who knew me. I guess it was Angel or Margaret… it’s probably more likely to be Angel… otherwise, it couldn’t have been painted like this. As long as someone familiar compared it with me, there would be a high chance of guessing that it was me… especially Sarah, she had already suspected before. The moment this painting was placed in front of her, she probably understood everything in her heart…

Thinking about this, my emotions became somewhat complicated.

At this moment, the two people behind me seemed to have finished their squabble, and footsteps approached.

“Ahh, venison pie!”

It was Sarah.

She walked up beside me, noticed the ten warm venison pies emitting a fragrant aroma from the opened paper bag on the table, and quickly grabbed one, taking a bite. After chewing for a moment, her eyes narrowed, and she looked quite pleased.

“Mm, delicious… but not as good as the last time.”

As she spoke, she casually picked up the gazette on the table and glanced over it, then asked nonchalantly, “By the way, Peyalo… have you seen the new gazette?”

“Um… not really…”

Was she deliberately asking me this?

I didn’t dare look directly into Sarah’s eyes, so I pretended to hide by grabbing two venison pies, putting one in my mouth and holding the other, then turned to Daisy, who was frowning while tidying the bed.

“Hmm, you haven’t read it…” Sarah’s voice sounded light-hearted behind me, “The new gazette talks about Miss Hilveiga, the Pope’s knight. She did something remarkable again in the royal city… shall I read it to you?”

“Mm, mm…”

My heart raced, and I shook my head like a tambourine.

How could I possibly listen!

Too embarrassing, I couldn’t even bear to read it before…

I quickly walked up to Daisy, gently patted her shoulder, and handed her the venison pie. Only after she smiled and said “thank you” did I suddenly realize.

Sarah deliberately said this…

She was testing me.

Realizing this, I instinctively turned around and met the girl’s complex gaze.

“…Peyalo.”

She stood by the table, holding a venison pie she had bitten into, softly calling my name. She put the gazette back on the table, thought for a moment, then flipped the page with my portrait face down on the table. She then laughed, “You seem to have never been very interested in heroic matters…”

“Yeah… these days, while you were away, everyone at the academy has been talking about Miss Hilveiga. Especially the boys, they’re all extremely excited.” Daisy chimed in, seemingly still eating the venison pie, her words a bit muffled, “And then… rumors started spreading, some say she… looks very much like you… I also think she does… go take a look.”

What’s there to see…

I didn’t move from where I stood.

“These days, you haven’t left the royal city, right?” Sarah asked again.

“Yeah… I did leave, but then I came back.” I answered honestly.

“Then… you weren’t hurt anywhere, right? Considering all that happened…”

Not injured…

For some reason, I found it hard to lie. My heart beat faster, and suddenly I wanted to escape from here.

“I’ll… go wash up.”

With that, I stuffed the remaining venison pies into my mouth, blocking any further questions, lowered my head, and hurried past Sarah, continuing to chew as I entered the washroom and closed the door.

“Gulp!”

I ate too fast, feeling a bit choked…

I lightly pounded my chest, then slowly walked to the washbasin, staring blankly at myself in the mirror.

What should I do?

Daisy is easier to deal with, but Sarah clearly already has an answer in mind…

If she asks me directly later, should I admit it? Or just make up an excuse… but if I continue deceiving Sarah, she might not

There was a sense of unease… Certainly, there would be…

But…

Words spoken out loud always felt…

Some things might change…

Could we still be the same as before?

I don’t know…

I’m so frustrated.

My heart feels chaotic.

I splashed some water on my face and combed through my hair in the mirror, taking several deep breaths. Then, out of the corner of my eye, I noticed the bathroom door opening again. Sarah leaned against the door frame, standing there with a complex look on her face as she gazed at me.

Ah…

When did she come? I didn’t notice at all…

What was I thinking…

“Wh-Why are you looking at me…”

I couldn’t even speak properly anymore…

“I want to ask you something.”

She poked her head out to check, seemingly confirming Daisy’s position, then gently closed the door and slowly walked over to stand beside me. She had her hands behind her back, her eyes on the ground, and her toes tapping slightly. She took a light breath, then lifted her head to look directly into my eyes.

“What is it…” I asked, already knowing.

“It’s just…” Sarah hesitated for a moment, finally mustering up the courage, “Paylo, why do you call yourself Sylviega?”

Ah…

That’s what she wanted to ask…

At this moment, it felt as if my heart was suddenly gripped by a large hand, my breath stopped momentarily, and I stared blankly at the girl’s anxious face, feeling somewhat at a loss.

“That’s because…”

It couldn’t be hidden anymore…

So…

Just tell her.

After a few seconds of panic, suddenly, I felt that long-buried “burden” in my heart being lifted, leaving me inexplicably relieved.

“Huuu—”

I exhaled deeply.

Actually…

This isn’t such a big deal, right?

“Sarah, I didn’t mean to deceive you…”

She would understand.

No matter what, I am part of 1504, and we are friends, and that won’t change…

I gave Sarah a reassuring smile, watching her cover her mouth with her hand, her eyes widening gradually, her gaze filled with disbelief and sudden relief.

“Paylo, you…”

The girl’s voice trembled.

She seemed to be trying hard to suppress the urge to scream, forcing herself to keep her tone from rising too high, not wanting Daisy outside to notice anything unusual.

“Is this real… I… You… No wonder you were gone for so long… I found it strange… It was always so strange… Every time you suddenly left, and then… something unbelievable happened… That Sylviega appeared… I saw her last time… She looked so much like you… I should have known earlier…”

She seemed at a loss for words, her extreme shock making her incoherent, her limbs limp as she leaned against the sink, her gaze gradually losing focus.

“I knew it… I should have known… But you and that monster… You’re only sixteen… Unbelievable… Paylo, you really scared me… How could I… How could I be in the same dormitory with you… I…”

“Sarah… Are you okay…”

Her state made me worried.

“I’m fine… Sorry, I’m just too shocked… Paylo, we… we are friends, right… Ah… What nonsense am I talking…”

“We are, of course, friends.”

I gently hugged Sarah’s waist, feeling the warmth of her skin and the tense, trembling muscles due to excessive emotion.

“Oh my God… I’m friends with a Knight of the Papal… If father knew… Ah, you don’t want others to know, right? That’s why you use Sylviega…”

“Mmm…”

I nodded.

But actually, it was just a coincidence…

“At the time of the ceremony, that name… I wasn’t hiding it intentionally… I was just afraid…”

“I understand, Paylo… I… understand…”

The girl’s soft words, accompanied by a gentle breath, blew softly in my ear.

It tickled a little.