Saint

Chapter Nineteen: The Witch’s Bargain

“I admit I went too far, but is such a threatening tone really something an elf would say?” Hecate rubbed her swollen forehead, eyeing the recording stone Selina toyed with, her expression tinged with resignation.

“Don’t blame me. You’re the one who started scheming, Miss Witch. Just because elves are good-natured doesn’t mean we’ll let ourselves be held at gunpoint,” Selina retorted.

With Hecate’s true identity revealed, Selina breathed an inward sigh of relief. If it had been Alastair, the legendary alchemist, she’d have been dealing with an unpredictable stranger. But Hecate was different. Having crossed paths in her past life as Kant, Selina knew her well. Witches sought amusement, not trouble, making them far easier to handle than erratic alchemists.

“You’re nothing like your sister…” Hecate muttered, still rubbing her head.

“My sister is my sister, and I’m me. She’s kind to outsiders, but I’m not. For those who scheme against me, I always repay in kind,” Selina said sharply. Her silver blades, summoned back, flew into her hands. She deftly sheathed them behind her back, hidden once more.

“So, Miss Hecate, why disguise yourself as Alastair? Let’s be clear: if you can’t give a valid reason, your actions could be seen as deliberately harassing an elven princess. Are you trying to make Tianqi Academy an enemy of the Elven Kingdom?”

Selina’s tone was razor-sharp, her words cutting deeper than her blades. Did Hecate think elves were pushovers? As Kant, she might have brushed off minor slights, but as the legitimate second princess of the Elven Kingdom, yielding to such blatant provocation would only invite ridicule toward her entire race.

As a royal, her every action represented her people’s honor and dignity. Elves might lack the aggressive dominance of other royal bloodlines, but as one of the ancient divine races, their strength was the foundation of their enduring legacy.

Facing the elf princess’s relentless pressure, Hecate’s mouth parted slightly in surprise. In the dim light, Selina’s emerald eyes gleamed with clarity. As if realizing something, Hecate recovered from her brief shock and chuckled lightly.

“Heh, I didn’t expect Carina to raise such a sharp daughter. Your personalities are so different—it’s surprising. But you’re right. I owe you an explanation, or it’s disrespectful to the elves.”

Hecate slowly approached the table at the tent’s center, gently turning the crystal ball there. Its radiant, multicolored light gradually illuminated every corner of the enclosed space.

“Before I answer, I have a question. Your Highness, where did you get that necklace with the gemstone swords?” Hecate’s tone carried a probing depth.

Selina’s fingers twitched involuntarily at her side, but years of cultivating royal composure kept her expression steady. “Trying to change the subject? It’s just a simple trinket. Or is the vice principal grasping at straws because she can’t justify her actions?”

“You know whether it’s nonsense,” Hecate said, smiling faintly. “But if you don’t understand, I can be clearer. Your Highness, have you heard of Hestia, the Goddess of the Hearth?”

Selina’s thumb tightened, but she remained silent. She couldn’t discern Hecate’s intent. The only connection to Hestia was using the gemstone sword to mask her soul strength. Had Hecate detected that subtle fluctuation?

“Silence means acknowledgment,” Hecate said, reading Selina’s expression. She stepped closer, circling her. “That’s why I tested you.”

“What’s it to you? Whether I carry something tied to Hestia is none of your business. Has Tianqi’s scope expanded to inspecting students’ personal belongings?” Selina countered.

“Anything involving gods ties to the world’s fundamental power struggles. Even if Hestia has faded from public view, divine matters are never trivial,” Hecate replied, her finger resting lightly on her red lips as she leaned near Selina’s shoulder, her voice laced with a witch’s playful glee. “And as an elven royal inheriting Themis’s blood, is it wise to worship a foreign goddess?”

“Labeling others carelessly isn’t a good habit, Miss Hecate,” Selina said, making a final stand. Her identity was exposed, and Hecate had even sensed her tie to Hestia. Without a resolution, she’d have to abandon her enrollment and find another way.

“Testing my knowledge, Your Highness? As a long-lived witch, I do know a bit more than most,” Hecate teased. “That crystal sword necklace is an apostle’s token, granted only to those favored by a god. So, Princess Selina, you’re not just the Elven Kingdom’s princess but also Hestia’s saintess, aren’t you?”

Witches were indeed cunning. Despite their infuriating thrill-seeking nature, their sharp insight was undeniable. Fully exposed, Selina sighed, loosening her clenched fingers and turning to face Hecate.

“You’re right. But my response is… I refuse to answer. And I’m withdrawing from this exam. Tianqi allows voluntary withdrawal, so as a non-candidate, I should be free to leave, right?”

Her plan exposed, retreat was the best option. Her leverage wasn’t enough to counter Hecate’s knowledge of her secrets. But Hecate didn’t step aside. She gazed at Selina, her purple eyes flashing with a sudden, warm smile.

“Of course you can leave. But what if I guarantee that everything that happened today stays between us? What would you choose then?”