Right after Alicia had shaken off her pursuers and escaped.

Saint Bellia was furious in her hideout.

The family she had kidnapped to give despair to that girl had been taken away.

Bellia, who regretted not just killing them outright instead of keeping them barely alive, berated the returning fairies, telling them to chase after and capture them.

But the fairies refused Bellia’s words.

「No! It’s scary!!」

「Hiding is useless!」

After the fairies were initially repelled, Bellia had coaxed them, saying that if they concealed themselves, the opponent would have no way to counter, and sent them to pursue again.

But this time, an Elf had joined the opposing side, causing great damage.

The Elf’s arrows, which pierced through their kind with every shot, seemed to have become a great trauma for the fairies.

Bellia was getting a headache.

Who on earth was that priestess who invaded and took away those family members?

No, more than that, how did she even enter this place?

Bellia, who had stolen power from the World Tree, had made it so that no one except fairies could come in and out of this place.

But how was that invading priestess able to enter without any issues, remove the hostages without being detected by anyone, and leave?

That would be impossible without the World Tree’s power.

‘No, wait a moment.’

Bellia thought about it.

Without the World Tree’s power, what the priestess did was nearly impossible.

Then did she have the World Tree’s power?

Where on earth…?

If such a thing existed, there’s no way I wouldn’t know…

‘Ah…!’

It dawned on her.

What came to Bellia’s mind was a memory from hundreds of years ago, when she set out on the journey to defeat the Demon King.

A treasure given by the World Tree to a young priestess.

She still remembered how the World Tree directly bestowed a treasure containing its power for her great achievement.

How much had she secretly envied that scene while watching with a smile at the time.

‘Why had I forgotten about it?’

If that treasure existed, it would explain how someone could enter this place.

Bellia’s expression twisted with anger.

“If that’s true… I must find it… that treasure immediately…”

In Bellia’s mind, hostages no longer mattered.

Bellia immediately took action.

Another divine revelation came to Cardinal Gerald just before the incident where four bodiless heads were discovered in the Central Church.

‘Find the believer who is with the priestess’s family, for that one is an apostate.’

In truth, anyone who had long believed in the World Tree should have sensed something strange about this revelation at this point.

The World Tree Yggdrasil is a merciful being who loves all life, even if they don’t worship it or if they change their object of worship.

Because of this, the World Tree Church has also long recognized other religions, and there has never been a time in history when they took a hardline stance even if someone converted.

For words like “apostate” to appear in a divine revelation from such a World Tree…

But for Cardinal Gerald, who was elated that a second divine revelation had come to him, such concerns didn’t matter.

But even so, Cardinal Gerald had no way of knowing.

The priestess’s family clearly referred to the Duke Ignis family.

But Duke Ignis had been out of touch for several years, and the same was true for the rest of the family.

The only person whose whereabouts could be known was Eve Ignis, the priestess’s older sister, but she was away on a mission with the Magic Corps.

Moreover, Eve Ignis was known to have an extremely strong dislike for the church among the Duke Ignis family.

For her to be with a church priest? It was unimaginable.

While pondering such thoughts, Cardinal Gerald received a report the next day that could serve as a clue.

The Melrot woman was with the Duke Ignis family.

The divine revelation had come true.

Then the apostate was none other than Alicia Melrot.

The apostate had to be eliminated.

But Alicia Melrot was strong.

Though still young, she wasn’t in a high position in the church, but she was a battle priest with formidable physical abilities in addition to strong holy power.

She was someone who had received several recommendations to become a holy knight instead.

Gerald immediately went to the barracks where the holy knights were stationed and assembled them.

“The Central Church’s Second Holy Knight Order has assembled.”

The commander of the Second Holy Knight Order stood before the Cardinal in full armor.

“What about the First Order?”

“They have left for expedition training!”

“I see.”

The First Holy Knight Order, which could be considered the elite of the holy knights.

They had welcomed new recruits and were currently away on expedition training.

‘It can’t be helped.’

He had wanted to deploy the elite First Holy Knight Order as a precaution, but there wasn’t enough time to wait for their return.

Anyway, even if the opponent was strong, she was just one battle priest, and the Second Holy Knight Order should be able to subdue or eliminate her—that’s what Gerald judged.

“I will give a mission to the Second Knight Order.”

“Yes! Understood!”

“Currently, there is information of Alicia Melrot being sighted in Duke Grace’s territory in the western part of the Palaginya Kingdom.”

“What? Do you mean Sister Alicia?”

At the commander’s query, Gerald inwardly chewed ‘Hmph… what sister…’ and continued.

“…That one is an apostate. Go and eliminate her.”

“…What? An apostate?”

“Yes. An apostate who dared turn away from the World Tree. You must eliminate her.”

“But… but…”

The commander’s expression was filled with bewilderment.

She had been a fellow member of the church eating from the same pot, and suddenly she was an apostate?

As the commander hesitated, Cardinal Gerald raised his voice with his eyes glaring.

“This is an order.”

“Cardinal… but our church…”

“Are you defying my words?”

Seeing the Cardinal glaring at him, the commander felt a chill run down his spine.

The one who currently had a tight grip on the church was Cardinal Gerald, who could be called the top of the Cardinal faction.

Who knows what would happen if he incurred his wrath.

If it were just himself, it wouldn’t matter, but considering the numerous members of the knight order…

‘I don’t understand how things are turning out, but…’

In the end, the commander bowed his head as if surrendering.

“…I will obey the order.”

“Hmm… you should have done that from the start.”

Commander Zenon of the Second Holy Knight Order decided to set out as ordered for now.

But he had no serious intention of carrying out this mission.

In the end, Cardinal Gerald had to receive a report a few days later that the target had already left Duke Grace’s territory.

A small garden within the academy grounds, not far from the dormitories.

There were several chairs and tables set up there for people to drink tea or have light refreshments.

Usually, it would be a place frequented by nobles who often have tea time, but in the case of the academy, commoner students led by their noble friends were also commonly seen.

“……”

“He… here’s your black tea, my lady.”

Luca placed a teacup in front of Riel with a tense expression.

Riel picked up the cup and took a sip.

And behind her, Luca, and in front, Phyllis and I were holding our breath watching her.

After a moment.

“Yes. It’s delicious!”

When Riel said that with a bright smile, Luca’s expression, which had been frozen with tension, brightened.

“Fufu… it was worth the education.”

As Phyllis muttered that from behind, I unconsciously nodded.

That child Luca. She must have worked incredibly hard.

Of course she did… her face was completely lopsided with exhaustion.

“…Phyllis, you worked hard too.”

“No, but… being so nervous even when the young lady is around is a problem… I’ll have to fix that later.”

…Yeah.

I bet she’s not tense because of Riel, but because you’re standing in front of her, Phyllis.

I was about to say that but decided against it and took a sip of the tea Phyllis had brewed for me.

Mm, delicious.

When Riel and I went to academy classes, Phyllis would train Luca.

From cleaning to laundry, cooking, tea brewing, and even combat techniques and assassination skills.

…The last two items are probably not things a normal maid would learn.

Perhaps because of that, Luca could often be seen with evident signs of fatigue among the attendants who came to meet us after class, but the results were there—Luca’s household skills improved day by day.

Phyllis and Luca retreated, and only Riel and I remained seated at the table facing each other.

“So what’s up? I thought we had tea time almost every day.”

When I said that, Riel smiled brightly.

“Well~ there have been a lot of things going on lately, right? And I felt like the time we spend together has decreased a lot.”

Indeed, lately we’ve spent a lot of time with Emilia or Senior Iris.

And since the Mushin Festival, occasionally Aria and Feris join in too.

…Those two still cower when they make eye contact with me, though.

“…Are you uncomfortable or something?”

I couldn’t help but smile at Riel’s anxious gaze.

“How could that be? You’re always welcome.”

“…Hehe.”

Riel smiled brightly again.

At that moment, as if suddenly remembering something, Riel opened her mouth.

“Ah, that’s right! Come to think of it, summer vacation is coming soon.”

“Huh… has it already come to that?”

Come to think of it, the weather had started to get quite hot.

I thought I was feeling the heat more severely because I lived in a cold place, but it seemed that the summer vacation season was already approaching.

“Yes! So… I was wondering what Kyo’s plans are for summer vacation.”

“Hmm… I’ll probably spend it normally back home.”

The academy’s summer vacation is a period of just under two months.

As someone who doesn’t handle heat well, I have a strong desire to return home.

Besides, there are also mountains of things I need to do when I go back during vacation…

“Yeah… so, you know, that is…”

“……”

Riel was mumbling something, trying to say something but hesitating.

“…Yeah… that is…”

“Um… Riel…?”

“Huh? Yes?”

I also had something I wanted to say to Riel.

But since Riel spoke up first, I was going to listen to what she wanted to say first, but I felt Phyllis giving me a hint from behind.

Because of that, I unconsciously called Riel, and she stopped what she was about to say and looked at me.

…Oh whatever. Let me speak first.

“If… if it’s okay with you… would you like to come to the Count’s territory during the vacation?”

“Huh…?”

“No, it’s just… Mother also wants to see Riel again… and I’d be happy if Riel came with me…”

Riel was looking at my face with a surprised expression.

Well, if I suddenly ask if she’ll come to our house during the vacation, of course she’d be surprised.

“And… Emilia also lives in the Count’s territory… so you might be able to meet her.”

…I used Emilia as an excuse too.

I felt a bit guilty, but it’s not like it’s a lie, right?

“So… what do you think?”

Riel, who had been staring at me with wide eyes.

“Ahahahaha!!”

Suddenly she started laughing loudly.

What’s this, why is she suddenly laughing…?

“Um… Riel?”

“Ahaha… no, it’s okay… I’m just curious, that’s all.”

Uh… I don’t know what’s so curious.

But Riel was smiling with a bright expression, clearly amused by something.

“Yes, I’ll go. There’s no one at my house anyway.”

“Really…!”

Great!

I calmed my anxious heart while inwardly shouting that.

“So… what were you trying to say, Riel?”

“Huh? That?”

Riel smiled broadly.

“I don’t think I need to say it anymore!”

…

What was it really?

It was about time for the tea and refreshments to run out.

“Young master, young lady.”

Phyllis quietly approached and spoke.

When Riel and I focused our attention on Phyllis, she took out an envelope from her bosom.

“A telegram arrived for the young master. It was at the dormitory.”

…

When did she go to the dormitory?

…Well, it’s silly to think about that now.

I received the envelope from Phyllis and looked at it.

The sender of the telegram was none other than Princess Aine.

I opened the envelope and looked at the short sentence written on the paper inside.

…Calming my surprised heart, I handed the paper to Riel.

Riel also opened her eyes wide in surprise when she saw the sentence written on the paper.

[Lord Andrew Ignis, Duchess Rachel Ignis. Returned to the Duke’s family.]