CHAPTER 116: CH 116: RELAXING TIME? - PART 3

The afternoon sunlight filtered softly through the ornate curtains of the high temple, casting faint golden hues across the chamber where High Priestess Jenna sat behind her low table.

The delicate aroma of steeping tea filled the room, but the serenity of the setting failed to reach its occupants.

Jenna’s slender fingers rested on the edge of her teacup, her expression as calm and composed as always, yet the tension in her shoulders betrayed her inner turmoil.

She had grown quieter these past few days—colder, more distant—and though she hid it well from others, Evaya had spent enough time by her side to notice.

The high priestess wasn’t herself anymore.

Ever since they allowed Kana to leave and return home, Jenna’s once-carefree demeanor had dulled.

Her usual playful teasing, the bold flirting that always made Evaya grind her teeth in irritation, had lessened significantly.

At first, Evaya had almost been relieved. For a brief moment, she’d even dared to feel hopeful that peace might return. But that hope quickly soured into unease.

Because if Jenna wasn’t herself, then something else was wrong.

Evaya poured the tea carefully, letting the liquid swirl gently into the porcelain cup. Her brows furrowed slightly, though she kept her gaze lowered.

Her instincts whispered warnings—quiet, persistent alarms at the back of her mind. Something about Kana’s involvement with Jenna was changing the high priestess.

And deep down, Evaya couldn’t shake the sense that trouble was brewing, the kind of trouble that could sweep the entire temple into chaos if left unchecked.

Her grip tightened slightly on the teapot. Should she... intervene? Should she try to separate Kana from Jenna’s influence before things escalated further?

But the thought dissolved as quickly as it came.

Because how?

What excuse could she possibly give that Jenna would accept? The high priestess was stubborn, and her attachment to Kana ran deeper than Evaya dared to admit aloud.

...Or was this just jealousy talking?

The small, quiet voice in her head whispered the question, irritating and unwelcome. Jealousy. Evaya’s jaw clenched, and she mentally crushed the thought before it could take root. No. It wasn’t jealousy. It couldn’t be. This was about Jenna’s safety... about the stability of the temple.

Yes. That was all it was.

Setting the teapot down gently, Evaya placed a steaming cup before the high priestess and straightened her posture, hiding her conflicted thoughts behind a carefully neutral expression.

Jenna, still staring distantly at the surface of her tea, finally spoke.

"Evaya... have you heard anything new?"

Her tone was soft, controlled.

But to Evaya, the intent behind the words was painfully clear. It wasn’t temple affairs Jenna was asking about. She wanted news of Kana.

The bitter taste in Evaya’s chest deepened, though she didn’t allow it to show on her face. She drew in a quiet breath and answered calmly.

"I’ve heard a few rumors, High Priestess. Nothing concrete yet."

Jenna’s eyes lifted slightly, a flicker of hope visible despite her efforts to remain composed. Evaya forced herself to continue, steady and factual.

"They say High Priestess Lumine was spotted heading to the Happy Summer Memories resort for some private business. No one knows exactly what kind of work she’s there for, but it’s causing whispers among the staff."

At the mention of Lumine’s name, Jenna let out a quiet sigh and set her teacup down.

"Lumine... That woman’s been a troublemaker from the very start. She acts on impulse and makes decisions without regard for the temple’s balance. If she’s taking action now, especially somewhere as... remote as that resort, it worries me."

She murmured, her voice heavy with restrained frustration.

Evaya nodded faintly, keeping her thoughts guarded.

"I’ll keep an eye on things."

She said, offering the reassurance Jenna seemed to need.

Silence stretched between them after that, broken only by the soft sound of tea cooling in untouched cups.

Evaya busied herself tidying the table, preparing to leave and give the high priestess the quiet she clearly craved.

She was halfway to the door when Jenna’s voice stopped her.

"Evaya."

The attendant paused, turning back slightly.

"Yes, High Priestess?"

Jenna hesitated, her gaze focused on the steam rising from her tea before she finally said,

"Send a message to Kana for me. Ask her to visit when she has the time. I... would like to make sure she’s alright."

For a brief moment, Evaya’s lips parted, the words forming instinctively on her tongue before she could stop them:

’It’s no longer your role to involve yourself with her.’

But then she froze, closing her mouth before the thought could leave.

Because what would be the point?

Even if she reminded Jenna of her responsibilities, even if she cautioned her against growing too attached, nothing would change.

The high priestess’s resolve when it came to Kana was unshakable, and Evaya knew better than to fight a battle she couldn’t win.

Bowing slightly, she replied softly.

"Understood."

Jenna gave no further acknowledgment, lost again in her quiet thoughts.

Evaya turned and left the chamber, her steps silent on the polished floor, but her mind restless with unease.

Outside the high priestess’s quarters, she paused in the corridor, leaning against the cool stone wall.

For a long moment, she simply stood there, allowing herself to breathe, to untangle the knots of frustration and worry tightening inside her.

Jenna was changing.

Kana was at the center of it.

And now, Lumine was moving in the shadows, involving herself with the private resort and whatever strange work she had planned there.

Evaya’s instincts screamed louder than ever, but for now, all she could do was obey.

With quiet determination, she made her way down the hall, already planning how best to keep watch—not just over Lumine, but over Jenna herself.

Because if danger was coming, Evaya intended to see it first... and stop it before it reached the high priestess.

But somewhere deep down, in the part of herself she refused to acknowledge, she couldn’t shake the image of Jenna’s distant eyes when she had asked for Kana.

And that, more than anything else, unsettled her the most.