CHAPTER 75: ANOTHER ’ARIA’?

Besides Mel, Lila, and Aria, students stepped into a Memorial Whale one by one,

The Whale’s fin opened like an airlock, revealing a starry interior that had the students gasping in shock, as they were carefully led inside by the Royal and Holy Knights.

All except three of them, however.

Mel watched as the scowling Third Princess grumbled against the Holy Knight’s touch, her brows furrowed as she drummed her tiny fists against the steel armor.

Despite the Holy Knights’ caged helmets, Mel could feel their quiet amusement, one even patted the tiny princess’s head affectionately.

Curiosity piqued by the strange sight, she approached, waving a hand. "Hello!"

The Knights tilted their heads toward her, the Holy Crests on their armor gleaming with the gold-laced emblem of the Church.

One of the Knights jolted, the hand patting Selaria’s head stopping mid-motion as he glanced her way.

"Oh. Is this Mel?!"

A manly voice echoed through the slits of his helmet as he darted toward his comrades.

"Oi, everyone! Pink hair, golden eyes, sticks with a blue bun twenty-four-seven—this has to be Mel, right? The one Chief Saria and Sergeant Emilia mentioned?"

Saria and Emilia?

Hearing two familiar names, Mel’s lips curled with delight. "Oh? What did they say about me?"

Another Holy Knight, standing to the right with his shoulders slouched as though the armor chafed more than protected, sighed:

"Wouldn’t know. Emilia didn’t say much—she got dispatched East to deal with the elves."

The third knight, standing on the left, coughed twice. His voice cut through the air like a blade.

"Military matters aren’t for civilians. Remember your place, squires,"

"Oh, please. You’re the new weird one I’ve never heard of!"

The knight with the manly voice shrugged and pointed proudly at himself. "Brewly. No surname! Raised myself to Knight Commander in a blink!"

The slouching knightess mumbled, "Uh... Shirley Whitesbane. Just doing an overtime shift ’cause the Saintess demanded it."

The stern knight gave his companions a quick, assessing glance before focusing his attention on Mel.

Mel blinked in confusion. "Wait, did you say ’Aria’?"

The knight nodded firmly. "That’s me."

"Oh... I see."

Mel’s lips twitched as she tried to stifle a laugh, her eyes examining the caged helmet of ’Aria’ once again.

Then she stared at ’his’ chestplate, slightly bloated as if something was within it.

Someone forgot to take off her extra pads.

Mel chuckled softly, then bent down to the tiny princess’s level, deciding to set aside the mystery of the ’second Aria’ for the moment.

Startled, the Third Princess froze as she hung her head, unwilling to meet Mel’s gaze. "Wha-what?"

Mel’s brow raised, her voice light and gentle. "Nothing much, Selaria. Though I am interested in why you’re here."

"Just because..."

A defensive tone almost raised as Selaria glared back.

Yet as she met her sincere eyes that bared no resemblance of hostility from the nobles she used to converse with, she dodged her gaze again.

With a little heavier tone laced with guilt, she muttered. "I... I know I’m not in Class 1-A for this... but my Father still sent me here."

The Third Princess clutched her skirt, blushing in shame. "I would rather study in the library, but at least I got to meet the famed Holy Knights here..."

Famed, huh?

Mel tilted her head towards the Knights again, the Brewly Commander laughing in a self-gloating manner, and Shirley spun her helmet around as if rolling her eyes.

For ’Aria’ the Knight, she merely stared at the Princess, groaning. "We were just a bunch of rascals at the Western Borders, don’t mind us."

"I mean..." Shirley twirled her gauntleted thumb. "We ought to be proud for a little, fending off those demons at the Western Borders."

"And now treating it like a tourist hotspot! Ha!" Brewly slapped his chestplate in a sharp thud. "Though most of the work was done by the Saintess, it ain’t the same for the { First Year } like us."

"{ First Year }?"

As Mel was about to inquire more, ’Aria’ the Knight interrupted. "We’ve been dawdling long enough. Don’t waste our time when we could’ve been doing our jobs."

The knights chatted amongst themselves for a while, their helmets clinking as they grumbled about returning to their posts.

Mel noticed Aria the Knight casting a lingering glare at Aria the Elf, as if their shared name sparked an unspoken grudge.

Despite the hidden tension, Mel shifted her attention back to Selaria, whose eyes sparkled with childish wonder, clearly amazed.

Smiling softly, Mel patted Selaria. "Didn’t expect you to be such a military enthusiast."

"I-I don’t really know..." Selaria’s brows knitted together as she cast a regretful look, staring at the Holy Knights now leaving. "Admiring them because they fought off the Armies of Pride... isn’t it only natural?"

The Witch of Lust hummed, glancing at Samantha, who worked with the Royal Knights, and ’Aria’ the Knight, who knocked his gauntlet against his comrades’ armor, urging them to stay focused.

"I treat them as part of my everyday life, so I didn’t know."

Mel chuckled as she recalled the colorful cooking of her Sis Saira. "Still, I admit I admire them just as much as you do."

A glint of excitement flickered in Selaria’s eyes, just for a moment, before her face flushed with embarrassment.

Royals were not meant to show vulnerability. Even if Selaria didn’t honestly believe in that ideal, a remnant of pride had been etched into her all the same.

She shook her head, desperately showing a scowl. "Please don’t tell anyone about what happened earlier..."

Mel teased gently, "You mean like when you tripped over your own feet?"

"Tha-that too!"

Exhaling, she turned toward the queue. "Don’t follow me... I always like time to myself."

Mel’s memory drifted back to the lunch hall yesterday, remembering how Rosana said she had advised the little princess to become more independent.

Awed by how the Heiress’s influence on the Third Princess ran deeper than it appeared, she watched Selaria’s back as it retreated, her gaze desperately avoiding a certain teacher.

Mel glanced back at Lila, her Emerald eyes frowning as if conflicted.

She clenched her hands. "Jealous?"

Lila’s brows hurriedly loosened, brushing a hair lock to hide her blush. "I-I was so distracted by the other ’Aria’ again that I didn’t dwell much on it."

Sister Saria. Hide yourself better next time.

Mel’s smile strained, yet her voice remained steady and cheerful. "Is that so, Lila?"

Lila pouted, her toe tapping the grass impatiently. "Fine. That’s a lie. I did care a little... about how you talk to someone other than me."

But just as she cared for her Sister Leia, wouldn’t she be hypocritical if she didn’t allow Mel to care for others as well?

A flash of realisation crossed Lila’s face, her hands over Mel’s tightening.

"Hehe. I’m glad." Mel chuckled as she cupped Lila’s cheek. "Feel free to be pettier. It only makes you cuter."

A rosy blush spread across Lila’s cheeks from ear to ear, as she muttered. "Let’s... let’s just get on the Whale. Everyone was waiting."

"Of course, my Lila."

My Lila.

A happiness bloomed within Lila’s chest, her body fidgeting under Mel’s grasp.

She thought back to her insecurity that morning and found it somewhat unlike herself.

Instead, her mind drifted as she pondered: How much of Mel belonged to hers? And how much of her belonged to Mel’s?

Giggling to herself at the silly question, she let Mel lead her towards the Whale’s interior.

[ Envy had a sudden gleam of self-reflection! ]

[ Envy favourability: 91 - 94 ]

[ Envy Awakening Progression: 34% - 36% ]