147 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Return to Chapter 147 - "The Archbishop Wants to See You" Title: How Could the Villainous Young Lord Be the Saintess? --- Chapter 147 - "The Archbishop Wants to See You" Author: Han Tang Returns | Updated: 2025/4/8 20:30:00 | Word count: 4013 "Mirexia and Wenny have such a great relationship. It's enviable," Aesphyra commented, clasping her hands behind her back, and smiling as she observed their interaction. "I mean, aren't they precisely the childhood friends who share an intuitive understanding?" The tone of her words seemed purely admiring, but perhaps it was preconceived notions at play, for Wenny could sense a hint of envy in Aesphyra's voice. "I'm just here to see if he's recovered," Mirexia replied with feigned nonchalance, though the slight upward curve of her lips was at odds with her seemingly indifferent words. Yes, had Aesphyra not previously told Wenny that Mirexia had watched over him for two whole days until she couldn't hold on any longer, he might have actually believed her dismissive attitude. Originally, Wenny intended to subtly mock Aesphyra, get this woman to reveal her true nature, but now... Well, he was indebted to her, having consumed the comforting food she had brought earlier. He's now looking at Aesphyra with a tinge of guilt. Wait, why feel guilty? Something's wrong; it must be Aesphyra's words that got to him, combined with that strange dream earlier, making him truly believe he was stealing someone else's affection. In fact, his relationship with Mirexia hasn't changed because of this incident, Wenny understood clearly. In the original story, Mirexia had no such thoughts towards Wenny; it was always one-sided on his part. There's no helping it, as this is a world resembling an otome game where men have no choice in spouses. Wenny's fully aware that even saving Mirexia wouldn't grant him greater prospects; being overconfident would likely lead him down the old path of the original plot. The atmosphere had become awkward. Wenny stayed silent, and Mirexia, mindful of Aesphyra's presence, didn't say much either, while Aesphyra just watched them with a knowing smile. There were three people in the room, yet silence prevailed in its peculiar way. "By the way! The monster cleanup has ended now, right? How about our scores?" Wenny suddenly realized a critical issue, breaking the silence. "There's no need to worry. Due to our unique situation and the fact that we thwarted the Bronze Blood's plot, the academy has exempted us from this cleanup task," Mirexia explained. "That's a relief... but if the monster cleanup is over, the abbey should have many casualties, right? Why does it seem like I'm the only one lying here?" Wenny scratched his head. This makes him look like a non-contributor. "Oh, Wenny, who told you the monster cleanup was over?" Aesphyra smiled, a graceful curve on her lips. "Aren't you already back?" "That's because Aesphyra completed the cleanup early, reported it to the instructors, and returned ahead of schedule," Mirexia explained from beside him. "Huh??" Wenny's eyes widened. Well, it's not that surprising. This was an overpowered protagonist blessed by destiny, finishing ahead of the competition is par for the course. At first, Wenny wondered why, when the female lead was in danger, the protagonist never arrived. Now, thinking about it, it was fortunate those Bronze Blood members didn’t encounter Aesphyra. Otherwise, their heads would be rolling in no time. "Is that so? Aesphyra is really amazing," Wenny decided he should compliment her, especially with Mirexia present. "Oh, you're flattering me, Wenny. You're the one truly filled with potential. Sensing Mirexia's crisis in time and defeating the chaotic believers of the Bronze Blood, your strength is truly astonishing." Aesphyra's praise made Wenny sense a hint of something amiss. No, her words weren’t entirely complimentary. Listening closely, there seemed to be more to it. Was she suspecting he had dealings with the Bronze Blood? That their clash was staged to win Mirexia’s trust? Oh, you don’t say. Taking Aesphyra's understanding of Wenny from the original story, she knew him as someone lacking any moral boundary, willing to tread dark paths for power, even converting to demonic worship. This sudden Bronze Blood attack happened out of the blue, and how could it be that when neither the instructors nor the church detected their movements, he did? How could a man with sealed bloodline potential manage such a feat? And how could someone merely in the rank of a sorcerer interfere in Mirexia's battle with the Bronze Blood and make a difference? Say what you will, but analyzed this way, he did seem suspicious. If Aesphyra were to speculate, she'd suspect him of being an undercover agent of the Bronze Blood sent to the academy. In Aesphyra’s eyes, it would seem plausible that this was an elaborate plot from the evil Wenny and the demonic worshipers to deceive the innocent princess. "I wouldn’t dare say that. It was just a fluke, surely the goddess was protecting us," Wenny waved his hand. "Wenny, you're too humble. Considering how powerful those Bronze Blood followers were, almost overwhelming Mirexia, yet you managed to defeat them... surely you're hiding your true capabilities?" Aesphyra hinted, a meaningful expression on her face. Wenny furrowed his brows, finding it hard to decipher Aesphyra’s true intent. It seemed she was suggesting no ordinary sorcerer could have done what he did, yet it felt like she might have genuinely uncovered something, probing for more. "Oh, not at all. It was Mirexia's own skill that prevailed; honestly, whether or not I happened upon the demon's domain is irrelevant. Mirexia could surely handle it alone." Even if Aesphyra doubted any connection to the Bronze Blood, Wenny couldn't truly explain things to her; the coincidence was just too suspicious. But he certainly couldn’t reveal the details of the secret realm, confessing he had awakened his bloodline and sensed the presence of Eurnes's demonic domain, which led him there, right? "Oh? Is that so?" Aesphyra hadn't heard about the specifics of the demon domain from Mirexia, just the general account—that Mirexia was ambushed by the Bronze Blood, followed by Wenny’s arrival, after which they jointly tackled the threat and safely returned from the demon worshipers' realm. "Yes, essentially." Mirexia nodded almost imperceptibly, her demeanor unchanged. Naturally, she didn’t wish to conceal Wenny’s contributions, but he had implored her to keep his secret, emphasizing it as a shared secret between them, one not to be disclosed. So Mirexia spoke cautiously, summarizing the account to instructors as Wenny requested. Whether out of gratitude for saving her life or personal motives, Mirexia was committed to keeping Wenny's secret. Not that she’d admit the latter aloud, of course. "Oh, I see." Observing their reactions, Aesphyra's smile remained inscrutable. “With all this said, is there anything currently troubling you?” A polite nun entered, breaking the tension among the trio, addressing Wenny. "Thanks to your care, Sister, I'm almost fully recovered," Wenny replied. "In that case, might you accompany us? Our subdivision's archbishop wishes to meet with you, and we've consulted with the Karryleman Academy. They've consented," the sister replied, her hand gently resting over her heart's cross pendant, exuding piety and humility. The Archbishop of Fánghuī Church? Wishing to see him? Wenny raised an eyebrow, about to decline, when he caught Mirexia’s flickering gaze beside him. In that moment, he understood the meaning within Mirexia’s eyes. "Of course, but I'd like to visit the restroom first," Wenny said with a smile directed at the nun. "Surely the archbishop can wait that long, right?" "Of course, take your time," the nun replied with a smile and exited the room. "Ahem, well..." With only the three of them left, Wenny was about to come up with a reason to send Aesphyra off when, to his surprise, Aesphyra spoke first. "Mirexia and Wenny, since there’s nothing pressing anymore, I’ll take my leave," Aesphyra said, eyeing them with a smile. "Oh, all right then. See you later, Aesphyra," Wenny replied, instantly recognizing that Aesphyra wasn't leaving because she had something to attend to, but because she sensed that he and Mirexia had something private to discuss. Clever as always, she chose to withdraw without being asked. That sharp intuition of hers is truly something... There's seemingly nothing she can't perceive. Under Aesphyra’s gaze, Wenny felt immense pressure. At first, he had naively thought of the destined protagonist as merely someone blessed with good fortune, but after interacting with Aesphyra frequently, he began to comprehend the extent of her capabilities as a reincarnated individual, understanding why she could be the protagonist, and consequently feeling a deep sense of inadequacy. Even in a direct confrontation, Vanessa wouldn't be her match. Wenny felt beads of sweat forming on his forehead. "See you next time then, Mirexia." "Goodbye." After exchanging farewells with Mirexia, Aesphyra departed. "Mirexia, has the archbishop seen you as well?" Once the footsteps faded away completely, Wenny understood the unspoken signal Mirexia had given him earlier and finally spoke up. "Yes, he’s interested in the same matter regarding you," Mirexia nodded. "Okay, let's make sure our 'accounts' match, so nobody notices anything amiss. How did you explain things initially?" Mirexia recounted what she had communicated to the Fánghuī Church, and after their discussion, Wenny and Mirexia left the abbey together. "Greetings, Princess," as soon as they stepped out, they were met by two fully armored knights clad in shimmering silver armor. After addressing Mirexia, the knights turned their attention silently to Wenny, who stood beside her, observing him without a word. The design of their armor and their armbands were unmistakable, identifying them unquestionably. These two were the Holy Radiance Cross Knights of the Fánghuī Church. They had once been the trusted sword and shield of the saintess, now serving solely under the pope. Observing Wenny, who was the nominal descendant of Fasyris, they showed no sign of respect. "Well then, Mirexia, I guess I'll go with these two knights," Wenny said with a smile, unfazed. "Do you need me to accompany you?" Mirexia asked, her face remaining impassive, although a hint of concern flickered in her eyes. She was somewhat aware of Wenny's stance towards the Fánghuī Church. "No need, you've been bothered too much lately. Besides, your presence might trouble these knights." Glancing at the knights, Wenny didn't need further explanation; it was obvious they had come specifically for him. "Understood," Mirexia acquiesced, noting Wenny's lack of intent for her to accompany him. This was, after all, the fortified campus of Karryleman Academy; nobody would dare act recklessly here, not even the Church. Anyone attempting harm on a student in such a place would be causing a serious diplomatic incident. Moreover, though the Fánghuī Church might've strayed over the years, they still represented human allies. "Let's go, gentlemen," Wenny said, watching as Mirexia walked away. The cheerful demeanor fell from his face, replaced by a neutral expression as he glanced at the knights. He could show pleasantness to ordinary nuns and priests, but these two were different. As members of the church's knightly order, they were closely associated with those who had ransacked his family home then. It was hard to separate them in his mind. The Holy Radiance Cross Knights said nothing unnecessary, hands on their sword hilts, leading the way. The atmosphere turned chilly, both sides unwilling to exchange even a single word, their mutual dislike clearly etched on their faces. "Wenny, you finally woke up, huh? You were sleeping like a log, where you headed now?" came a familiar voice suddenly. Wenny turned to see his teacher, Fei, approaching. Even before Wenny could respond, he noticed a peculiar shift; the knights in front of him seemed to adopt a more respectful stance upon seeing Fei. This baffled Wenny.