Chapter 59
Eugene wasn’t wrong.
They were cooperating with shallow promises about a new world, not even knowing what that world would be like.
“We have only one job to do. Don’t forget, Adlen.”
“I haven’t forgotten.”
Adlen replied and then fell silent.
“You’re thinking about it right now. If this Saintess really has all the ominous symbols, maybe things will change? Is that what you’re thinking?”
Annoying Eugene. It’s even more annoying because he’s right.
“Yeah, so what if I am?”
“So what?”
Eugene stood up and said,
“We just need to check it out.”
“What?”
“You’re not the type to hold back your curiosity, are you? We have a spy in the village, so we’ll get news eventually. But can you wait with your personality?”
“Well, I…”
Adlen started to respond but pouted instead.
This is why being too close is annoying. You can’t hide anything when you know each other inside out.
“Were you planning to sneak into the village as soon as I leave for a bit?”
“No.”
“Really?”
Eugene stared intently at Adlen.
“Really, no.”
She denied it, but her voice trailed off.
“Sure, no. If you’re going to make a mess, do it while I’m around.”
Eugene, sounding stern, extended his hand to Adlen.
“Come on, let’s go see if the Saintess is really like us.”
Adlen hesitated but took Eugene’s hand and stood up.
“Let’s come up with a plan.”
“I was going to suggest that anyway.”
Eugene smirked because he knew if he hadn’t spoken first, Adlen would have charged in recklessly.
* * *
Irene healed the young man and the cow, then returned to her room. Beside her, Lani was excitedly praising her.
“You were amazing! Truly a Saintess! You completely put that obnoxious Holy Knight in his place.”
“Enough. It was nothing. Besides, I’m tired.”
“Ah, then you should go to bed right away. You must be exhausted since you woke up in the middle of the night. Should I warm up some milk for you?”
Before Irene could say she was fine, Lani had already dashed downstairs. It wasn’t long before she returned with a cup of warm milk.
After tidying up the bed and placing the milk on the bedside table, Lani continued chatting enthusiastically.
“By the way, do you know?”
“Know what?”
“There’s a boy with red eyes in this village.”
“A boy with red eyes?”
“Yes, everyone tries to keep it a secret, but they can’t fool me. I caught a glimpse of him. After that, I asked around and got my answers.”
Irene could guess why they tried to hide it. Red eyes and black hair were never welcomed anywhere.
Naturally, they would be treated the same in this village.
‘They must have been exploited and abused, or treated as if they didn’t exist.’
Irene pondered this. Meanwhile, Lani stood quietly by her side.
At first, Irene had thought of her as just a maid being dragged around by Mary, but Lani was more capable and perceptive than she seemed.
“I’d like to see him.”
“Then I’ll arrange for you to meet him tomorrow.”
“Alright.”
“Then, goodnight.”
Long after Lani had left, Irene picked up the cup of milk.
She took a sip and tasted the sweetness on her tongue. It seemed to have honey or sugar in it.
‘It’s delicious even when it’s cooled.’
With that thought, she finished her cup of milk.
“A person like me.”
Irene muttered softly. It would be the first time she met someone with the same red eyes.
Was that why? Her heart was pounding.
“It’s you, isn’t it?”
A thick, threatening fist struck the boy’s head.
“You attacked me, didn’t you?”
“N-No.”
The boy denied it, but the young man didn’t seem convinced. Instead, he grew more enraged and swung his fist even more violently.
“You demon brat! I took pity on you and fed you, and this is how you repay me?”
Fed me? What did you ever feed me? Leftover scraps?
The boy’s portion was the remnants that were left in the pig’s trough.
He laughed bitterly, and the young man noticed.
“You’re laughing? You little brat!”
Just as the brutal beating was about to continue, a sharp voice rang out.
“What are you doing!”
It couldn’t be a villager.
Who would interfere when the village chief’s delinquent son was beating up some trash? It had to be an outsider.
But the chief’s son, eyes burning with fury, didn’t seem to notice.
“I can do whatever I—”
He turned around, shouting, but fell silent at the sight of a face he had never seen before.
Though dressed as a servant, everyone knew there was only one house in this village wealthy enough to have maids: the chief’s house, and she always wore old clothes.
So, she could only be the Saintess’s maid who had recently visited the village.
And the Saintess’s maid would be a noble.
No matter how much the chief’s son boasted, he was still a commoner.
“Ah, well, you see,”
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