Chapter 23: A Secluded Abode

After Lovelenica departed from the church, she first ensured no one was tailing her before proceeding towards a quieter district within the royal city.

After all, Imeline harbored a certain wariness towards her, and Lovelenica had no desire to remain under the surveillance of Imeline’s puppet familiars.

The destination Lovelenica sought was a residential area within the royal city; although the houses here were modest two-story villas, they paled in comparison to the grand estates of other nobles. This district was typically favored by moderately affluent merchants or younger nobles who preferred not to reside in their family homes.

She intended to rent a house here, as acting in her true form for any future endeavors would necessitate finding a suitable place to change in the city’s nooks and crannies each time.

Truth be told, changing clothes was not the primary concern. More importantly, she had long since grown weary of the Crimson Family and their sycophants, utterly unwilling to continue living alongside them. Even if she would eventually have to return, Lovelenica yearned for a space of her own.

As for the funds required for renting, Lovelenica had accumulated a substantial sum from rewards and stipends earned during her missions within the Church over the years, most of which remained untouched. This amounted to a considerable savings, and while it might not suffice to purchase a small villa outright, renting one for a year or two would be effortlessly managed.

She walked directly to the base of a towering Gothic bell tower, which served as the Contract Notary Office for this residential area, where all transactions, whether for renting or purchasing property, were conducted.

“Hello, Reverend Sister. How may I assist you today?”

Lovelenica pushed open the large door and entered the Contract Notary Office, approaching the front desk where a receptionist respectfully greeted her.

“I wish to rent a house that is somewhat secluded and not particularly conspicuous.”

“Certainly, please wait a moment.”

With that, the receptionist retrieved a rolled parchment from beneath the counter. She unfurled it, revealing a map that detailed the distribution of houses within the residential area and their availability.

Vacant houses were scarce, for the area boasted a pleasant environment, low foot traffic, and reasonable prices, naturally making it quite popular.

“The houses marked in green are available for rent, Reverend Sister. Do any of them catch your eye?”

“What about this one?”

Lovelenica pointed to a green-marked house on the outskirts of the residential area, nestled beneath a towering ancient tree.

According to the map, the house’s front entrance lay directly beneath this tree, effectively obscured. Not only were there no other houses nearby, but the street itself remained unfinished, ensuring that virtually no one would witness her coming or going from this location.

“Uh… Reverend Sister, are you truly certain you wish to rent this particular house?”

The receptionist glanced at the spot Lovelenica indicated, her expression betraying a hint of discomfort.

“Why? Is there something wrong with renting that house?”

“No, no, not at all.”

The receptionist quickly waved her hand, hastening to explain to Lovelenica.

“It is available for rent, but during its renovation, the planning was rather poor. Both the windows and the front door are completely obstructed by an ancient tree, and the royal authorities prohibit us from felling it. Consequently, the house receives very little natural light, and we worry you might find it unsatisfactory.”

“Poor natural light?”

Lovelenica’s eyes gleamed; for her, the drawback of poor natural light was, in fact, an advantage. While her true form did not fear sunlight, exposure to it caused a degree of discomfort and accelerated the depletion of her already limited power. Thus, a lack of sunlight was, for Lovelenica, an undeniable boon.

“If the natural light is poor, will the rent be cheaper?”

“The rent… no, it’s not cheaper.”

Upon hearing this, Lovelenica understood why the receptionist had appeared somewhat troubled when she chose this particular house. The prices were not set by them, yet they bore the brunt of customer dissatisfaction. Each time they introduced this property, they likely faced attempts at haggling, despite being unable to arbitrarily alter the rates.

“Reverend Sister, the rent is not determined by us. Even with poor lighting, this house commands the standard rental rate…”

“It’s fine.”

Lovelenica waved her hand, signaling to the receptionist that further explanation was unnecessary.

Her inquiry about the rent was merely for confirmation; while a lower price would have been welcome, its absence was of no consequence, as she was not wanting for such a small sum.

“I’ll take this one then. How much is it to rent for a year?”

“Eh? Reverend Sister, are you truly certain you wish to rent this particular one? Perhaps… I should still show you around first?”

“Hmm… very well. You may lead the way.”

Lovelenica pondered for a moment, then decided to let the receptionist guide her for a tour. Viewing it on the map was too vague; an in-person inspection would provide a more direct impression.

Consequently, the receptionist tidied her counter, emerged from behind the desk, and led Lovelenica to the entrance of the house.

Upon reaching the entrance, Lovelenica discovered the reality was even more pronounced than she had imagined. Opposite the house’s front door, instead of a street, lay a dense thicket of young trees. Directly before the entrance stood a colossal tree, its trunk wide enough for four people to embrace, whose lush branches extended into the courtyard, completely obscuring the villa’s windows. It was no wonder the receptionist had repeatedly emphasized the issue.

Had the situation not been made clear, complaints would undoubtedly have followed.

However, for Lovelenica, this was precisely what she desired.

The receptionist escorted Lovelenica into the courtyard, and subsequently into the small villa itself. Inside, there was no extravagant furniture, only the most basic amenities and fixtures. Any desired renovations or additional furnishings would require her to personally fund and arrange for them.

Nevertheless, the fundamental furnishings and facilities were in perfect condition. After the tour, Lovelenica remained entirely satisfied with the environment. Following this, she returned with the receptionist to the Contract Notary Office.

The rent for this small villa was 200 gold coins per month, amounting to 2400 gold coins for a year. With nearly ten thousand gold coins saved over the years, Lovelenica possessed more than enough to cover a full year’s rent with ease.

After paying the gold coins, Lovelenica affixed her signature to the two contracts presented by the receptionist. Once signed, the green mark on the parchment map vanished. The receptionist filed one copy of the contract on the second floor of the Contract Notary Office, while the other was handed to Lovelenica.

One contract was to be retained by the Notary Office, and one by Lovelenica.

Thus, Lovelenica had successfully rented the small villa.

She eagerly returned to the small villa alone. Although its environment and facilities could not compare to the Crimson Family’s estate, here she was unburdened by their hangers-on.

For Lovelenica, freedom and comfort were integral aspects of her environment. Staying here promised far greater solace than returning to the Crimson Family’s residence.

Naturally, Lovelenica had other matters to attend to that day.

Presently, Lovelenica lay sprawled in her room, patiently awaiting the arrival of nightfall.