The next afternoon, Just as he promised, Yello descended into the Iris Mountains riding a large coach pulled by two pegasi. The coach was not alone, several others also followed after it.

‘Who did he take with him this time?’

‘The minister-to-the-right came to see his daughter off, but you brother and the others will be returning to the capital with me. Lady Chloe will be departing to the Nansonia Convent after all.’

Looking plenty surprised, Leddorio turned his attention to Lady Chloe, who affirmed Yello’s words with a nod.

‘Momo had already roughly recovered after all. But I was truly surprised: I didn’t expect her to want to come with me too.’

Yello asked the miss just like he did with Chloe. The young lady voiced her desire to come in recompense for the troubles she had caused.

‘Ah may not ‘member anythin’, but that ain’t change the fact that Ah did it. Don’t worry. Imma do these ascetic practices an’ git so strong Ah ain’t gun’ be possessed any more. You mun watch me!’1

Momo declares throwing her fist in the air, but she is probably imagining a different kind of self-discipline. Chloe only wryly smiles at her and gently pats her disheveled short hair.

‘It would be reassuring for me to go with someone I know; but is this really fine, sir? For two ladies designated as saintesses to go atone in the convent together?’

‘That would drastically down further the trust towards the Sacred Church, I guess. But that gives the opportunity for drastic changes too. I’ll hasten the pace so as to grant your wish before you come back.’

The contents of the strictly confidential conversation that they have, which even warranted the prevention of tapping devices, were still unknown to Leddorio. As for Chloe’s wish, he had a vague idea about it but was still in the need to sort his heart out before he recognizes it himself. The last conversation they had before Momo woke up was really his last chance.

The luggage including the additional purchases that they had was carried towards the coach en route to the convent. It was momentarily postponed due to Momo’s fall into witchery, but the plan still remains the same.

On the other hand, Locke had apparently returned to the Corundum Kingdom ahead of them. Leddorio wondered for a moment whether Locke truly didn’t feel the need in himself to see the two ladies off, but he realized that the man will probably visit the convent anyway, which to him was slightly off-putting. The young prince still feels quite conflicted for the man, and he doesn’t have any idea in himself how he should think of him.

‘Pastor, Mistress, I’ve been in your care. May I still stop by when I return?’

‘I’m not sure. There’s no dungeon anymore, so this might be the right time to close it off.’

‘You stupid husband! At least, try to keep it up until she returns! —You can come whenever. I felt like we got a daughter, so it was quite fun.’

As the lodging mistress held Chloe tightly, the young lady’s eyes got teary. Bowing her head again, Chloe soon realized her father’s stare. She wiped the tears and faced her father anew with the corner of her eyes raised.

‘I will be heading off, father.’

‘Yeah.’

‘Father.’

‘What is it?’

‘Was I.. a “disgraceful daughter“?’

The duke’s eyes opened wide. His mouth then moved, only whispering in low breathe:?Who dared to say that—??But as he noticed his daughter’s gaze, seemingly intent on preventing him from looking away, the duke merely stubbornly closed his eyes. Maybe, the duke did not say it in this reality. It was just a line in the game; a future possibility, something as close as a single misstep away.

I may not remember anything, but that doesn’t change the fact that I did it. Don’t worry, I’m gonna do these ascetic practices and get so strong I won’t be possessed anymore. Just watch me.