A Desperate Intervention

The encounter between Mylian and Eveming was merely the prelude. Should their relationship be permitted to blossom unchecked, Stella’s arduous efforts would amount to naught.

She had to separate them, and quickly! Even if that proved impossible, she resolved to join them.

Fueled by a desperate will to survive, Stella pushed resolutely through the throng. From the hushed murmurs of onlookers, she pieced together the true sequence of events.

Mylian had simply been seeking directions, minding her own business, when an unseen shove sent her tumbling into the path of the Saintess’s carriage. Her suitcase had been mercilessly crushed beneath its wheels, and now she stood defiantly, demanding an explanation from the Saintess’s retinue.

“Begone! You wretched commoner!”

The Saintess’s silver-armored guard barked at Mylian to leave. However, Mylian fixed her gaze upon the eyes hidden within his helmet, silently conveying her hatred and fury.

“Are you blind?! Why did your carriage run over my luggage! You could have stopped!”

Mylian’s retort was shockingly loud. The surrounding crowd instantly fell silent, every eye fixed on her as if watching a riveting play.

“Your luggage is not as important as the Saintess’s journey. You simply failed to secure it yourself. If you don’t leave now, I’ll make you suffer!”

The silver-armored guard seemed disinclined to offer further explanation. With a hardened resolve, he pressed his sword against Mylian’s neck, threatening the young girl before him to know her place and depart.

“What kind of ‘adult’ are you! You’re nothing but the Saintess’s lapdog! All you high-and-mighty nobles are the same!”

Mylian, seething with anger, jutted her neck forward. The silver-armored guard recoiled, his brow visibly furrowed, and in the next instant, a genuine murderous intent flared within him.

Just as disaster loomed, two voices cried out simultaneously.

“Stop!”

“Hold it!”

Mylian instinctively turned, her eyes finding the familiar black-clad youth pushing through the crowd, striding swiftly toward her.

At the same moment, Eveming, who had also called out, widened her eyes. She recognized the youth shielding the ‘obstructive girl’—it was none other than Della from last night!

“Are both of you intent on opposing the Saintess?”

The silver-armored guard seemed not to have heard his Saintess’s words. He frowned, staring at the black-clad youth, his sword rattling in the wind.

“I told you to stop! Sheathe your sword!”

Eveming urgently flung open the carriage door to intervene. The guard had never witnessed such an anxious expression on the Saintess’s face; she had even personally disembarked.

“Saintess, these two just now—”

The guard attempted to justify his actions, but Eveming cut him off, her tone now one of direct command.

“Return to your post. You have gone too far.”

Eveming glared at the guard, leaving him no choice but to fall silent. He reluctantly sheathed his sword, obeying her command as he returned to the driver’s seat.

“Phew… that was truly perilous. I apologize for my guard’s rudeness toward both of you. Please forgive my delayed intervention.”

Eveming bowed slightly in apology. Stella, however, was unconcerned with formalities. Her primary focus was Mylian’s condition, prompting her to turn back immediately.

Mylian, having just unleashed her fury, was now overcome with dejection. Her violet eyes swept over the wreckage on the ground, where a shattered photo frame and a crushed necklace stood out starkly.

These two items were Mylian’s most cherished possessions, brought from her original home.

“Might the two of you join me in the carriage for a moment? So many people are watching.”

Eveming glanced around, offering a gentle reminder. Yet, Stella raised her right hand, palm facing the Saintess, saying, “Please wait.”

“Hmph…” The guard eyed the black-clad youth with disdain, but Stella, hidden beneath her dark attire, paid him no mind.

Stella pulled a white handkerchief from her sleeve. She carefully picked up the photo frame from the ground and wrapped it, along with the faded, yellowed photograph, even though the picture itself was torn from being crushed.

“Take this for now. It must be very important to you.”

Stella handed the wrapped photo frame to Mylian. Mylian took the handkerchief, her lips pressed tightly together, sorrow and indignation swirling in her eyes.

Alas, this will be even more troublesome to repair now.

Stella then cast a glance at the necklace on the ground. Only the chain remained; the original embedded beads were long gone.

After tidying up the ground as best she could, Stella finally addressed Eveming.

“Saintess, we are ready now.”

“Please, then.”

Eveming extended an inviting hand. Stella turned and took Mylian’s hand, and fearing she might hesitate, Stella whispered to her.

“I can fix it. Get in the carriage first and hear what the Saintess intends to offer as compensation.”

Upon hearing that it could be repaired, Mylian’s eyes visibly brightened. She silently chose to follow behind Della, entering the carriage just as the Saintess closed the door.

Thump-thump-thump.

The carriage drove away as if nothing untoward had happened, leaving the crowd behind.

Inside the carriage, a silent tension enveloped the three. Stella occasionally met Eveming’s gaze, but Eveming, fearing a complaint, always averted her eyes first.

Though it didn’t unfold exactly as I’d anticipated, at least I secured something my sister cared about. This could still be a good start.

Stella hadn’t managed to prevent Mylian and Eveming from meeting, but her intervention had been effective. At the very least, the two hadn’t established a direct connection.

“I never expected to encounter the Saintess here,” Stella began, initiating conversation. Eveming, seated opposite, nodded softly.

“Indeed, neither did I. There was a slight unpleasantness just now. Please forgive my oversight in managing my subordinate. I will compensate you for your losses.”

Eveming bowed in apology, hoping Della wouldn’t pursue the matter further and wishing for a private resolution.

“Compensation… that was the only photograph I had to remember my parents. Now it’s been destroyed by your subordinate. How dare you speak of compensation?”

Mylian’s voice was a cold statement of fact. She lifted her head fiercely, the light in her violet eyes like a sharp dagger piercing Eveming’s heart.

Eveming was startled by Mylian’s fierce gaze. The Saintess, accustomed to a sheltered life, was clearly facing genuine anger for the first time.

“Oh… I’m so sorry! I didn’t know he would do that, nor did I realize the photo was so important to you. I will do my best to compensate you.”

“Compensate? With what?!”

Mylian, still in a fit of rage, lunged at Eveming, the perceived ‘culprit.’

“Ugh!”

Eveming, terrified by the sudden movement, squeezed her eyes shut. Fortunately, Stella grabbed Mylian, pulling her back by the waist.

“Calm down! If you truly provoke the Saintess, you won’t be able to go anywhere!”

“But she! She’s the one who didn’t control her subordinate and harmed me!”

“I told you I’d help you fix it! Stop provoking the Saintess.”

Stella exerted all her strength to restrain Mylian. Thankfully, Stella was slightly stronger than Mylian at the moment, and Mylian’s chronic malnutrition meant her strength quickly waned.

“Hmph… I’ve truly had enough.”

Mylian seethed with resentment, yet for some inexplicable reason, as she gazed at Della’s silver mask, her emotions slowly began to calm.

Mylian lowered her head, feeling utterly lost, as if she had returned to the snowy night from yesterday, only to feel even greater sorrow and grief.

“I will fix it. I promise, Miss Mylian.”

“Take it. I hold no hope.”

Mylian pushed the wrapped photo frame back to Stella. Stella quietly put it away, and finally, everything seemed to be under control.

“Saintess, may I trouble you with a request?” Stella looked at Eveming.

“As long as it is within my power.” Eveming placed her right hand on her chest. She held a slight fondness for Della due to his recent actions.

“Take her home. Her home happens to be the same as your destination,” Stella said, gesturing to Mylian beside her.

“Eh? This… could she be the noble daughter of the Candace family?!” Eveming gasped, covering her mouth in surprise.

Mylian looked up, an astonished expression on her face toward Stella. Her closely guarded secret had been abruptly revealed.