Theia lightly tiptoed back to the last carriage, her footsteps almost silent.
In the cramped space, Eve was quietly lying in her sleeping bag.
Her breathing was steady and rhythmic, her chest rising and falling gently with every breath.
Theia cautiously unbuckled the quiver and dagger from her waist.
She placed them in a corner with soft movements, terrified of making even the slightest noise.
Then, she rummaged through a wooden crate to find another sleeping bag.
She gently spread it out next to Eve, carefully smoothing the edges.
The carriage felt exceptionally crowded, filled as it was with Lin Gui's supply crates.
The air was thick with the faint scent of wood and leather.
There was barely enough space for three people to lie side by side; even turning over was a struggle.
Looking at this narrow space, Theia couldn't help but recall her original fantasies.
She had hoped that being in this enclosed space with Lin Gui might lead to some heart-pounding moments.
At such an intimate distance, perhaps in the dead of night...
But... that man had no sense of romance.
Now, his eyes were set only on the goal of reaching Shield City as quickly as possible, and he was indifferent to everything else.
And...
It would be one thing if it were just one man and one woman, but now...
It was one man and two women.
At the thought, Theia couldn't help but let out a soft sigh.
Her gaze fell upon Eve's peaceful sleeping face.
Theia suddenly narrowed her eyes, her eyelashes trembling slightly in the dim light.
She remembered Eve's abrupt words from before.
And at the mine, that form of address hadn't seemed like a mere slip of the tongue.
The phrase “demon wife” had been lingering in her mind.
Now that Lin Gui wasn't here, it was the perfect time to ask.
Theia opened her mouth, wanting to clarify things.
Yet, she felt embarrassed about waking the soundly sleeping Eve.
Her extended hand paused in mid-air, her fingertips trembling slightly.
She crouched by the sleeping bag, biting her lower lip in conflict, unconsciously twirling a lock of silver hair with her finger.
Her hand hung suspended, caught in a dilemma.
She was like a kitten hesitating over whether to steal a treat.
Just then, suddenly.
A pretty face loomed large in front of her without warning.
Warm breath brushed lightly against her cheek.
“Wah!”
Theia was so startled she jumped backward.
Her heel slammed hard into a wooden crate behind her, producing a dull thud.
She frantically steadied herself against the crate.
She patted her chest, breathless with fright, feeling as if her heart were about to leap out of her throat.
Eve had woken up at some point and was now propped up on her elbow.
A mischievous smile played on her face.
Seeing Theia's frightened state, she couldn't help but chuckle softly, her shoulders shaking.
Her laughter was crisp and pleasant, like a bird's song in the morning or a bubbling forest stream.
It echoed softly in the small carriage.
Theia's face flushed crimson as she tried to compose herself, adjusting her collar to hide her earlier lapse:
“Since you were awake, you should have said something!”
“Popping up silently like that nearly scared me to death!”
Eve clapped her hands playfully, tilting her head as her eyes curved into charming crescents.
“Squeak?”
Theia was completely stunned, her mouth hanging open for a long moment.
In the end, she could only shake her head helplessly and let out a soft sigh.
This Holy Saintess seemed quite different from what she had imagined.
“Cough, um...”
Theia began awkwardly, her fingers twisting the hem of her clothes as her gaze shifted restlessly.
Eve sat up elegantly, resting her hands lightly on her knees.
Her posture was as dignified as a true Holy Saintess, but the amusement in her eyes betrayed her actual mood:
“Eve Isaiah.”
“You can just call me Eve.”
“Cough, I'm Theia Windrunner.”
“You can just call me Theia.”
After their brief introductions, Theia noticed that Eve was staring at her with a constant smile.
Even though those eyes remained closed, she could feel a focused gaze, as if Eve could see right through her thoughts.
“Cough, um... is something the matter?”
Theia turned her face away uncomfortably.
She felt like her secrets were being peered into, and her ears began to burn.
Eve tilted her head slightly, her short hair swaying with the movement.
“Don't you have questions for me?”
“Uh—how did you know?”
Theia's eyes widened in surprise.
Eve explained with a light laugh.
“A certain someone was reaching out her hand and pulling it back just a moment ago.”
“Your hesitance right beside me was really quite obvious.”
Theia was momentarily speechless, then her embarrassment turned into mock annoyance as her cheeks flushed bright red, like a ripe apple:
“If you were awake all along, then don't pretend to sleep!”
“Pretend to sleep?” Eve wore a puzzled expression.
“I wasn't pretending.”
“Liar! I saw that your eyes were closed!”
“Hmm...” Eve tapped her rosy lips with a slender finger, looking thoughtful.
“Is it possible that I always have my eyes closed?”
Theia froze.
She carefully recalled her experiences with the Holy Saintess over the past few days.
It was true; Eve rarely opened her eyes.
Even when moving about freely, her eyes were always lightly shut as if she were in perpetual contemplation.
“Why would you do that?” Theia couldn't help but comment, tilting her head in confusion. “Can you even see where you're going?”
“It is to maintain the mystery of the Holy Saintess.”
Eve answered calmly, a trace of undetectable helplessness in her voice as she smoothed a wrinkle in her sleeping bag.
“Every Holy Saintess does this.”
“If I don't, I'll be punished by the Disciplinary Officer.”
Theia blinked, suddenly realizing something, and leaned in closer to whisper:
“But right now, there's no one from the church following you.”
Eve suddenly paused, her body stiffening slightly.
She seemed stumped by this simple question, her breath even hitching for a moment.
It was as if she were realizing this fact for the very first time.
She sat in a daze for a moment, then tilted her head in confusion.
Then, under Theia's surprised gaze.
She slowly opened her eyes, the movement as gentle as if she were performing a sacred ritual.
Those eyes were clear and bright, shimmering in the dim carriage.
Even though the potion had altered the color of her pupils, starlight could still be seen within them.
She blinked, her expression filled with a touch of novelty.
It was as if she were seeing the world for the first time, her eyelashes fluttering lightly.
“It seems... that is true.”
“Alright, Theia, what did you want to ask?”
Eve opened her eyes wide, a shallow smile lingering within them as she gazed warmly at Theia.
Theia hesitated for a moment, her fingers twisting nervously, before finally gathering her courage:
“Um, remember when we were in the mine, and Lin Gui was about to hit you with a brick?”
Eve nodded, a playful curve rising at the corners of her mouth.
“Oh—you mean that little game. I remember.”
“Was that a game...”
Theia pushed down the odd feeling in her heart, her cheeks slightly flushed as she continued:
“At that time... when you mentioned me to Lin Gui, you said ‘demon wife’...”
“That person... you meant me, right?”
Eve smiled faintly. Under Theia's expectant gaze, she nodded gently, her eyes dancing with mischief.
Theia excitedly leaned into her space, her hands unconsciously grabbing Eve's sleeve.
“Which means... in the end, Lin Gui and I...”
“They say the Holy Saintess knows Prophecy—you must have seen a future where Lin Gui and I are together!”
Eve didn't answer directly, the smile in her eyes deepening.
She gazed at Theia's expectant face and gently shook her head.
“Theia, do you know why prophets throughout the ages never speak a prophecy that involves an individual?”
She paused, her voice becoming ethereal and distant, as if coming from another dimension:
“Let me tell you a story.”
“Thirty years ago, there was once a gifted young hero.”
“At the age of sixteen, he had already reached the Transcendent Rank. He was hailed as a genius seen once in a century.”
“A prophet happened to see his future by chance.”
“‘You shall turn the tide in an epic battle and become the hero who saves the kingdom.’”
Eve's voice gradually grew lower, carrying a hint of regret:
“Upon hearing the prophecy, the hero was ecstatic.”
“He stopped training hard and spent his days carousing in taverns.”
“Whenever someone questioned him, he would say proudly: ‘Since I'm destined to become a hero anyway, why should I work hard?’”
“Three years later, demons attacked the city.”
“That former genius couldn't even withstand a single blow from a Hero Rank demon.”
“Under the watchful eyes of the masses, he fled in shame and was never heard from again.”
Eve gently took Theia's hand, her palm warm:
“What a prophet observes is but one among ten thousand possibilities.”
“The moment a prophecy is spoken, the future may change.”
“This is why it is said that nine out of ten spoken prophecies never come to pass.”
Theia's face gradually lost its color, her fingers tightening unconsciously.
Eve let out a mischievous laugh.
She leaned close to Theia's ear, her warm breath tickling the elf's earlobe:
“Which means, if I told you the details of the prophecy...”
“Then you and Mr. Lin Gui might actually end up never falling in love.”
Seeing Theia's pale face, Eve continued with a wicked grin, her eyes flashing with a prankster's light:
“Maybe Mr. Lin Gui will end up with me.”
“Or perhaps he'll choose that Princess...”
“Or someone else entirely...”
Theia abruptly pushed Eve away, her voice tinged with panic:
“That's impossible!”
“Aside from anything else!”
“There's no way Elvia would give up her status and power in the Royal Capital for Lin Gui!”
“And Lin Gui wouldn't give up his travels for her either!”
Eve gave a mysterious smile, her fingertip tapping her chin. “One can only hope... so.”
Eve's words were pointed, but she quickly changed the subject.
“So now, Theia, do you still want to know the details of the prophecy?”
Theia's hair stood on end. She waved her hands frantically, her voice trembling:
“No, no, no!”
Suddenly, she realized something and her eyes grew wide as saucers:
“Wait! You've already revealed it!”
“You told me that Lin Gui and I would be husband and wife in the future!”
Theia grabbed Eve's shoulders and began to shake her, her voice turning into a tearful wail:
“What if it doesn't come true now because you said it?! You have to compensate me! Waaaah!”
Eve laughed joyfully, gently patting Theia's back as she spoke tenderly:
“That's why you have to work hard~”
“Now that you know this possibility exists, you must seize the opportunity.”
Theia looked up, her eyes watery and her lips pouting slightly:
“You... you're just messing with me, aren't you?”
Eve blinked, smiling without a word, her eyes gleaming with mischief.
Sunlight streamed in through the carriage window, illuminating the two frolicking girls.
Warm patches of light danced across the cramped carriage.
After their playfulness settled, Theia shrugged.
“Fine, I'll just stick to my original plan.”
As she spoke, she pulled an exquisitely bound book from a wooden crate.
The edges of the pages were slightly curled, clearly having been read many times.
The book was titled 《The Elven Prince's Moonlight Love Song》.
The cover depicted an elegant elf and a handsome human prince embracing under the moonlight.
Theia curled into her sleeping bag, finding a comfortable position while secretly plotting.
I've heard that human girls learn romance techniques from novels like this...
Maybe I can find a useful method to get that guy, who never takes the initiative, to finally wise up.
With those thoughts in mind, she began to read intently by the slivers of sunlight filtering through the window.
From time to time, she would nod thoughtfully.
Just then, a faint fragrance approached.
Eve quietly snuggled up next to Theia.
She chanted a short incantation in a low voice.
A soft orb of light glowed between the two of them, making the pages much clearer.
It was the Light Magic—Glimmer.
Eve and Theia sat shoulder to shoulder, reading the novel together.
Theia intentionally slowed her pace of turning the pages, but she was mentally recording the romantic scenes from the book.
I see... giving flowers, holding hands, sweet talk... and preparing surprises for festivals.
Hmm... I wonder what kind of gifts Lin Gui would like?
A magic book? A diamond ring? Roses?
“The reason you're being so proactive with Lin Gui...”
Theia asked nonchalantly as she turned a page.
Her eyes were still glued to the plot, trying to find more techniques.
“...is it also because you saw a future where you're with him?”
Eve's movements suddenly stopped.
Her fingers unconsciously curled, lightly pinching the hem of her clothes.
A moment later, she turned her head, a complex light flashing in her eyes.
“Yes.”
She described it, her voice carrying a forced lightheartedness.
“I saw a very beautiful scene.”
“On a hillside covered in small white flowers.”
“Mr. Lin Gui placed a white flower crown on my head.”
“The sunlight hit the side of his face; he looked so gentle.”
“We held hands, walking together in the sunset.”
“In the end, we returned together to a two-story little treehouse in the countryside.”
As she spoke, her enthusiasm grew and her eyes sparkled as if she were truly seeing the scene.
Theia couldn't help but comment, forgetting to even turn the page:
“Didn't you say the prophecy won't come true if you speak it out loud?”
“You described it in such detail—what if it doesn't happen now?”
Eve smiled faintly but did not answer.
It won't.
Because... I made all of that up.
In the future I saw involving him, there was only one thing...
And that was...
Being killed by him.
Her fingers gently brushed over the book's pages. Illuminated by the Glimmer spell, her smile remained gentle.
Deep in the depths of her eyes, there was neither hatred nor sorrow, but rather an almost maniacal sense of delight.
Theia didn't notice anything unusual about Eve at all, still immersed in the novel's plot.
Occasionally, she would let out a soft gasp of realization, continuing her “romance strategy research.”
Rate on N.U.
