It sounded almost fantastical. Given Miquella's renown, if word of it spread, it would no doubt turn into a beloved legend.
Yet it had simply happened, without explanation. All one could say was that a strange fate truly bound the Promised Consort and the gentle Saintess together.
Looking around, the situation seemed stable enough.
The twisted ancient roots showed no sign of damage. If anything, they felt as though they were still quietly growing.
Leda's expression spoke for itself.
As the Empyrean's most trusted confidante, her concern ran deeper than the others'. She worried that these two outsiders, after hearing such a miraculous story, might harbor ill intentions toward the Lord her master had chosen.
Malenia, on the other hand, looked completely unfazed. She had heard this story hundreds of times.
There was little to worry about. The Ancient Dragon still had her king, and her half-sister could barely manage herself.
Ranni sat on the knight's shoulder, pretending not to care, though her thoughts were anything but calm. Lansseax's interest was written plainly across her face.
Nolan scratched his head and sighed.
"Who knows how it ended up like this."
He had long since lost interest in researching the mysteries of reincarnation from another world. Lifting his gaze, he searched for the troublesome Saintess.
His intuition guided him to the hollow at the base of the massive roots—the place where the Promised Consort had first been reborn in this world.
It was an inconspicuous corner, so well hidden that no one would find it without deliberately looking.
Not a speck of dust lay there. A single root, neither too thick nor too thin, hung among the tangled mass. Beneath it shimmered a stretch of deep blue water.
In the middle of that sturdy root was a hollow, just large enough for one person to stand at its entrance.
Curious, Nolan carefully leaned in and peered inside.
A delicate little face came into view, smiling faintly in sleep. A silver-haired girl, her long hair cascading like a waterfall.
Her soft, adorable features made him pause. It was the kind of sight that felt like a dream you wouldn't want to wake from.
How old is this Saintess, anyway? And she's still drooling in her sleep?
He looked down at her flushed cheeks and let out an involuntary chuckle, drawing the others' attention.
"Ah! Am I dreaming? Is that Nolan!?"
Trina rubbed her sleepy eyes and slowly sat up. When her blurry gaze focused on the familiar figure, her eyes lit up.
"Did I wake you?" Nolan asked with a wide grin.
If his return had somehow ruined her attempt at ascension, he would accept whatever punishment she chose—even if it meant offering himself in recompense.
"It wasn't you. It was my own fault… This attempt failed in the end."
Trina leaned closer, her expression still hazy with sleep.
But when her nose brushed lightly against his, she jolted as if struck by lightning.
"Huh? This isn't a dream! It really is Nolan!"
She sprang to her feet—only to smack her head on the root above.
"Ow!"
Clutching her head, she crouched down in pain.
"Why did you come back?" she asked after recovering slightly, looking straight at him.
"Because I heard some big villain was trying to catch you. As a Golden Needle Knight, of course I had to come back and protect my Saintess."
He smiled brightly.
Trina stared at the face she had seen even in her dreams and instinctively opened her arms.
Nolan understood immediately and reached in, gently lifting the Saintess out from the hollow.
Ranni, perched on his shoulder, narrowed her eyes.
Something was off.
Nolan didn't look enchanted. Trina didn't seem reluctant. But the intimacy between them was excessive.
A hug? Why not let Leda do it?
Hey. Golden Needle Knight Captain.
Say something.
Someone is getting awfully handsy with your lord right in front of you, and you're just standing there?
"What? Someone's trying to capture me? Who?"
Trina froze at the words.
Nolan lowered his head and examined her closely. The confusion on her face didn't look fake.
"You really don't know?"
"I don't. What do you take me for, the Greater Will?"
She shot him an exaggerated glare. "If I knew everything, I wouldn't have let you slip back here so easily."
She rolled her eyes and grabbed his cheeks with both hands, kneading them hard in mock irritation, her lips puffed out in protest.
Nolan had a rough grasp of the situation now. He didn't know how many plans Miquella and Trina had made behind the scenes, but the chances of this girl lying to him right now were slim.
Since that was the case, there was no point in keeping him in suspense.
He turned and walked back with long strides, explaining everything he knew about the Dynasty of Blood.
"Hmm… You mean the Formless Mother worshiped by the Dynasty of Blood? The so-called Mother of Truth who longs for wounds?" Trina frowned.
She wouldn't claim to know everything, but she was well-read.
Back when she had searched for a cure for Malenia's Scarlet Rot, she had combed through countless ancient texts from the Golden Order's archives.
It didn't take long for her to recall which deity Nolan was referring to.
"You know about her?" Nolan asked.
"A little."
Trina curled up comfortably in Nolan's arms, her expression thoughtful.
"From what I understand, her power is quite peculiar. I didn't expect her to surface at a time like this. We might even need to borrow her strength one day."
Plotting already. And this time, against a god.
No wonder even the Malenia from the game had called her the most terrifying Empyrean.
For a sister who adored her brother and sister so much to receive that kind of judgment, it said everything about how extreme her methods could be.
"Wait, this is…"
Trina had just been about to use the excuse of being frightened by villains to lean against Nolan's broad shoulder.
With her looks and apparent age, it would have seemed perfectly natural.
But when she lifted her head, she suddenly noticed a smaller figure sitting above.
More strangely, the aura coming from that little figure felt… familiar.
"This…"
Nolan was debating whether to help Ranni brush it off. She had made it very clear before that she didn't want anyone to see her in this state.
Yet to his surprise, Her Highness showed no intention of pretending to sleep. Instead, she opened her eyes wide and glared right back.
Weren't you supposed to stay asleep?
Nolan felt a headache coming on. If this silent standoff dragged on any longer, things were bound to get messy.