CHAPTER 136: CH 136: I’M BACK - PART 3

High Priestess Jenna’s fingers tightened slightly around the folds of her robe as she forced a calm, composed expression back onto her face. Inside, however, her chest tightened with unease.

Her lips curved faintly into a polite smile as she spoke.

"Of course, High Priestess Lumine... please, come in."

Evaya, standing just behind Jenna, leaned forward subtly and whispered, just low enough for Jenna to hear.

"Mask your emotions, High Priestess. Someone like her... will use any weakness she sees."

Jenna’s gaze didn’t waver, but the tension in her shoulders betrayed her mood.

She gave the slightest of nods, acknowledging Evaya’s warning, yet the moment her eyes met Lumine’s sharp, knowing stare, she realized it was already too late.

High Priestess Lumine’s soft, lilting voice broke the silence, carrying a sweetness that somehow felt like a blade.

"Oh dear, Jenna... such a cold expression, even for me? I came all this way, hoping to see you, and this is the welcome I receive? I even brought you souvenirs from my little trip. But perhaps I was mistaken to believe you’d appreciate such gestures."

She sighed dramatically, placing a hand delicately on her chest.

The words were gentle, but the weight behind them wasn’t.

Jenna controlled her breathing, willing herself to stay composed. She bowed her head slightly, her voice steady and formal.

"That was thoughtful of you, Lumine. Thank you for your kindness."

Evaya, however, narrowed her eyes at the elegantly wrapped box in Lumine’s hands.

Something about the High Priestess’s sudden generosity didn’t sit right with her, and the faint curve of Lumine’s lips only deepened her suspicions.

Still, she remained silent. Without grounds to refuse, they had little choice but to accept the offering.

"Please, leave it on the table."

Jenna said calmly, gesturing toward the side.

But rather than excusing herself, Lumine sank gracefully onto one of the cushions, smoothing the folds of her robe as though she owned the space.

Her eyes swept slowly across the room before settling back on Jenna with a mischievous glint.

"Well? Aren’t you going to serve me tea?"

The audacity in her tone made Evaya’s fingers twitch, but Jenna merely inhaled deeply, hiding her irritation behind a serene smile.

"...Evaya, prepare some tea for our guest."

She instructed, her voice calm but slightly strained.

"Yes, High Priestess."

Evaya replied, bowing slightly before stepping away.

As she entered the adjoining room to prepare the tea, Evaya kept her expression neutral, but her thoughts were racing.

Lumine’s sudden appearance, the calculated tone in her voice, and the perfectly timed "gift"... it all reeked of deliberate provocation.

She was dangerous, and Jenna was already walking on thin ice.

While the tea brewed, one of the temple guards approached Evaya, leaning close to speak quietly.

"Lady Evaya. Another set of guests has arrived for High Priestess Jenna. It’s the same group as before — the ones who were granted special entry by her orders."

He whispered, his tone hushed and urgent.

Evaya froze, her heartbeat quickening. Kana.

Her gaze flicked instinctively toward the other room, where Lumine sat waiting like a predator circling prey.

A chill swept over her at the thought of Lumine meeting Kana and the others now, especially with Jenna already under pressure.

She turned sharply back to the guard, lowering her voice to a whisper.

"Send them back. Quietly. Do not announce their arrival here. I’ll handle it later."

The guard nodded, beginning to turn —

But before he could move a step, a smooth, silken voice cut through the air.

"My, my! And what exactly are you whispering about over there, Evaya?"

Lumine drawled lazily from her seat, her chin resting delicately on her hand.

Evaya froze mid-breath, her shoulders stiffening.

Lumine’s eyes sharpened like a blade cloaked beneath silk as she tilted her head ever so slightly.

"Why don’t we have the guard share his little message with everyone?"

The guard paled visibly, glancing nervously between Evaya and Jenna before stammering,

"H-High Priestess Jenna... there are... more guests waiting for you outside."

Jenna’s composure cracked for just a moment, though she quickly forced her expression back into calm neutrality. She turned to the guard firmly.

"Tell them I am occupied and cannot receive anyone right now. They’ll have to return later."

She expected the matter to end there — but Lumine leaned forward suddenly, her delicate smile widening like a cat catching the scent of prey.

"Oh? Unexpected visitors?"

Her tone was dripping with curiosity.

Jenna’s lips parted, but Lumine spoke over her before she could reply.

"Now I’m terribly curious. Bring them in."

Lumine purred, her voice carrying just enough authority to make the guard hesitate.

The room went silent.

Evaya’s hands clenched into fists at her sides as her chest tightened with dread. She didn’t even need to look at Jenna to know she felt the same.

Kana... was about to walk into the one situation Evaya had prayed to avoid.

And Lumine — sharp-eyed, cunning, and dangerous — was already smiling as though she had found something far more interesting than she’d expected.

Evaya stood rooted to the spot, her hands clasped tightly in front of her to hide the faint tremor in her fingers.

In her mind, she whispered a silent prayer, begging the gods for this to pass without incident, for Lumine’s interest to fade, for Kana and the others to remain unnoticed.

’Please... let everything go smoothly. Don’t let anything happen here... not now.’

But even as the words formed, a cold unease coiled in her chest, gnawing at the edges of her thoughts.

No matter how much she prayed, something deep inside told her the gods weren’t listening this time.

The weight of Lumine’s gaze, sharp and predatory, pressed against the room like a tightening noose.

Evaya drew a steadying breath, forcing her expression into calm neutrality, but her heart refused to settle.

Somehow... she knew this was only the beginning.

Evaya’s lips parted slightly as she swallowed the rising dread, her pulse pounding in her ears.

She wanted to believe everything would be fine, yet the tension in the air was suffocating.

No matter how hard she tried to reassure herself, a quiet, chilling certainty lingered—something was about to go wrong.