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Chapter 88: The Scene He Longed For

With her hands resting on her knees tightening slightly, Alice’s breathing grew heavier.

Simon wasn’t exaggerating.

Even though Roy always downplayed his own experiences, and Alice rarely witnessed his blood-soaked battles, the truth was he had been to the gates of death more than once.

The prince of the Lionheart Kingdom’s rebellion, the horrific attack during the Trial of Blue, the Cassandra Family’s crusade, and the battle to reclaim Snowwind Fortress at the empire’s border.

Every time, Roy managed to pull through. But who could guarantee he could keep doing so?

Perhaps his veins were shattering, his life fading, or perhaps he was just lost in a haze…

Especially after the last time, when Roy was attacked by the Necromancer faction while he was in a state of amnesia. If it weren’t for the girls present who fought to save him, and if Roy hadn’t had some means to resist soul attacks…

Remembering the pain that the False King’s blood brought to Roy, Alice felt her heart wrenching, making it hard to breathe.

It was at that moment that Simon spoke up again.

“But you can save him.”

“As long as you join the Holy Light Church, you can command the entire Eastern Continent to back him up.”

“The secret of the False King’s ascendance to a higher rank can also be laid bare by you.”

“If that’s not enough assurance, once you unleash your true power and step into a higher tier, you can personally fight for him.”

“The fledgling Lionheart Princess can’t do it, the elven nightingale can’t do it, the dual-class witch who only has power but limited influence can’t do it either…”

Sitting back down in front of Alice, he rested his hands under his chin and said earnestly, “Only you can save him.”

Joining the church meant parting ways with Roy.

Alice’s first instinct was to refuse, but when the words were on the tip of her tongue, she found herself unable to voice them.

Because what Simon described was exactly the scene Roy hoped for, wasn’t it?

“If one day you become a remarkable figure, make sure to take care of me, okay?”—

Though unspoken, Alice had already discovered Roy’s hopes.

He had always fought against the fate imposed by the False King’s blood.

This time, during the Saint’s Trial, Roy had come to uncover the secrets of breaking through the False King’s barriers, hoping to gain the power of the Holy Light Church, wanting to ascend to the position of a Saintess himself.

If this was what he longed for…

“I need time to think.”

“Of course, it’s a critical matter and can’t be decided lightly.”

Simon narrowed his eyes: “But please don’t discuss this with Roy.”

“Eh?”

The last time, Simon had misjudged Alice’s relationship with Roy, leading to a failed persuasion.

But ultimately, that was just due to misinformation and bias.

The Seraphim would never make the same mistake.

“I understand your bond. He will surely be reluctant to let you go and deny your joining the Church. He might miss this chance to change his fate.”

“He’s a kind person and would be willing to sacrifice himself for you, but that’s not what you want to see, right?”

Simon sighed deeply, appearing empathetic: “I know this is a difficult choice. To be with him means you cannot protect him, and to protect him means you cannot be with him, but sometimes fate is that cruel.”

“True love is letting go, not possession.”

Alice fell silent.

As a maid, repaying her master’s kindness was only natural.

As a Saintess, protecting her knight was also only natural.

As a girl…

Even having little understanding of love, Alice didn’t grasp its essence.

However, she instinctively didn’t want to see Roy continue down the painful path marked by the False King’s blood.

True love is letting go, not possession.

If that’s the case, even if it meant sacrificing herself, even if it meant not being able to be with him… as long as Roy could be happy, that would be the best ending.

Even without Alice giving an answer, Simon saw her determination in her pained eyes.

Simon smiled gently: “When dawn breaks tomorrow, I will come to take you.”

“The choice is yours. For him, trust that you will make the right decision.”

————————

That evening.

Alice didn’t tell Roy first. Instead, she met with a few girls to reveal her decision.

Joining the Holy Light Church would mean parting ways with Roy.

Two continents apart, two factions separate, alone in the largest power in this world; it would be hard for them to even meet again.

Even if their bond remained, it also meant their relationship would end here.

“Are you serious?”

“Did this guy get cursed or something?”

Xue Nuo and Leanna both struggled to believe that the little maid who wanted to stick to Roy all day would say something so outrageous.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Charlotte was even more bewildered, her CPU seemingly smoking.

Holding her forehead, Charlotte wondered aloud: “Let me ask, why do you want to join the Holy Light Church?”

Alice repeated Simon’s words.

“So, to protect him from the fate of the False King’s blood, Alice can only join the Church.”

However, as soon as those words were spoken, the atmosphere froze.

Charlotte’s expression changed first as she stepped forward and grabbed Alice’s collar.

Her crimson eyes burned with anger: “Are you looking down on me?”

“Without you, we can’t protect Roy? Is that what you’re saying, huh?!”

The pressure of Sequence 6 surged uncontrollably, the terrifying heat distorting the air all around.

Bearing the brunt of Charlotte’s fury, Alice calmly countered: “…Isn’t that so?”

“I am not targeting any of you.”

“Everyone here, including me, our powers cannot protect him from the fate of the False King’s blood, can they?”

Leanna frowned slightly, clutching her chest tightly.

Forget about protecting Roy; her demon bloodline could bring danger to him. Even disregarding the demon race, the head of dark magic was lurking, eyeing her power.

Xue Nuo, who had seen Roy nearly die in front of her, could only bow her head in silence.

As a mentor, she should have been responsible for protecting her student.

Sequence 5 might help him for a moment, but what Roy faced was far more than just one or two strong foes; it was countless cultists. Moreover, with a battle inevitable with the imperial royal family, how could she protect him when she was spread thin?

Even Charlotte felt Alice’s blunt words pierce her, igniting her anger even further: “You damn…!”

But before Charlotte could lash out, Nia clapped her hands from the side, interrupting her tirade.

“That makes sense.”

“But I want to ask, do you really think leaving him and joining the Church is the best ending for him?”

Alice lowered her eyes, bitterly saying: “It’s inevitable…”

Once just a maid, now a Saintess.

Even if she left, as long as she could be his strength, that would be enough.

The protection of a Saintess was precisely what Roy had always desired, wasn’t it?

“Anyway, he still has you all, doesn’t he?”

Nia’s expression trembled, then she coldly laughed: “Alright then.”

“Let’s say we love Roy deeply, and he forgets about you entirely; would that be fine?”

“…It would be fine.”

As soon as the words fell.

No one expected a resounding slap to land squarely on Alice’s face.