Pudding followed closely behind Lloyd. Along the way, she noticed many individuals wearing bubble head coverings greeting him respectfully.
Coming from the Charlotte Family, she immediately recognized them as Celestial Dragons.
However, these Celestial Dragons were nothing like the arrogant nobles she had imagined. When they faced Lloyd, their expressions carried clear flattery and restraint.
Even within Mary Geoise, the so called Holy Land, Lloyd stood far above the rest.
Pudding quietly muttered under her breath,
"As expected of Brother-in-law..."
Lloyd's senses were sharp. He suddenly stopped.
Pudding, who had been walking with her head lowered, failed to notice and walked straight into his back.
Lloyd turned and looked down at her. She was rubbing her forehead with a pained expression. A faint, knowing smile appeared on his lips as he spoke,
"What did you just say?"
Pudding's face flushed instantly. She waved her hands in a panic.
"N....nothing I did not say anything. Where are we going?"
Lloyd did not press her. He simply turned and continued forward.
"To my place."
"...Your place?"
Pudding blinked repeatedly. Then, as if struck by a terrible realization, her expression changed dramatically.
In her mind, Celestial Dragons were infamous for collecting slaves to indulge their twisted desires.
And now Lloyd was taking her to his residence.
Did that mean...
Her thoughts spiraled wildly. Her face shifted from pale, to stiff, and then strangely red.
Lloyd noticed the sudden change in her expression, but before he could question it, a voice called out from behind him,
"Saint Lloyd!"
Lloyd raised a brow. The voice felt familiar. He turned around.
Not far away stood a young woman wearing a bubble head covering. Her hair was styled high, and her features were delicate and attractive. She was staring at him with obvious excitement.
When their eyes met, she rushed toward him without hesitation.
The suited attendants behind her panicked immediately. They knew that the Celestial Dragon protective suit was not designed for running. If she tripped and fell, they would pay with their lives.
Unfortunately, their fears became reality.
After only a few hurried steps, the young woman stumbled forward.
Before the attendants could reach her, a sudden pulling force drew her toward Lloyd. In the next moment, she was steadied firmly in front of him.
Still dazed, she looked up.
Lloyd tilted his head slightly.
"Sharlia?"
Hearing her name spoken, Sharlia's cheeks flushed. She clasped her hands together, her voice shy and soft.
"Saint Lloyd, you still remember me..."
The attendants behind her were stunned. They had never seen her behave this way.
Still, considering who stood before her, it made sense.
In the Holy Land, Lloyd's status was nearly equal to that of the Five Elders. Even Saint Rosward, Sharlia's father, would show him the utmost respect.
Lloyd waved his hand dismissively.
"I have some connection with your family. How has Saint Rosward been recently?"
His tone carried the authority of someone far older, and in truth, he was.
Sharlia lowered her gaze.
"Father is well. He mentions you often."
Lloyd's expression remained unchanged, though a trace of amusement flickered in his eyes.
Mentions him often?
Perhaps recalling the time he had nearly terrified him senseless.
Sharlia then noticed Pudding standing behind Lloyd.
Pudding was studying her with curiosity. She had not encountered many female Celestial Dragons, let alone one as refined as Sharlia.
When their gazes met, Pudding prepared to greet her politely.
However, Sharlia frowned slightly. A trace of disdain appeared in her expression.
She was familiar with nearly every Celestial Dragon in Mary Geoise, and Pudding was clearly not one of them.
Still, since Pudding was accompanying Lloyd, Sharlia did not act openly. She simply looked away, dismissing her presence entirely.
Pudding was left confused by the reaction.
Sharlia turned back to Lloyd.
"Saint Lloyd, are you returning home?"
"Yes. If you have nothing else to say, I will be leaving."
Without waiting for a reply, Lloyd continued forward.
Sharlia hesitated for only a moment before stepping forward and grabbing his sleeve.
"Saint Lloyd, please wait."
Lloyd's expression darkened instantly.
"Sharlia, mind your conduct."
A faint but overwhelming pressure spread from him.
Sharlia trembled and immediately released his sleeve. She bowed deeply.
"I apologize, Saint Lloyd. I was being improper. I was actually on my way to your family residence. I did not expect to meet you here, so I wished to accompany you."
The pressure vanished as quickly as it had appeared.
Lloyd frowned slightly.
"What business do you have there?"
Under his gaze, Sharlia's face reddened even further.
"I... I wanted to visit Saint Garling. I have gone several times recently, but you were never there..."
Lloyd paused.
"You have gone several times?"
He stared at her, genuinely surprised.
"For what purpose?"
Sharlia avoided his eyes. Her voice dropped to a near whisper.
"Just to visit Saint Garling..."
Lloyd's brows furrowed deeper.
"So he met you?"
From his understanding, Garling kept others at a distance. Aside from Lloyd himself, few people could approach him freely. Entertaining a young noble like Sharlia seemed unlikely.
Yet her next words struck him completely off guard.
"Yes. He did. Saint Garling is quite satisfied with me."