Chapter 103 : It’s Canceled

A summons from the Pope?

She wanted to ask for more details, but the nun who delivered the message had already left, giving Tifna no chance to inquire further.

“His Holiness must have something important. You should go. Don’t worry about me.”

“I understand.”

There were things she wanted to ask Lillian, but the summons was ill-timed. She would have to find another opportunity.

She could guess why Oswell had summoned her. After all, her mission was to watch over Lillian.

As Lillian left, she couldn’t help but look at her profile. These past few days, the Saintess had grown paler, as if drained of all color.

At first, Tifna had thought it was the light. But the next day, her face was even paler, and her voice held an unnatural weariness.

Lately, the nuns had been whispering about the Saintess’s frequent distractions. Lillian had never lost focus during prayer before.

Yesterday, she had tentatively asked about her health, only to be met with a clearly forced smile.

“I haven’t been sleeping well lately. But thank you for the tonics.”

Tifna didn’t press further.

Lillian was lying.

And it was the Lillian she knew who was lying, covering for the Lillian she didn’t.

Tifna knew that Lillian went out every night, first to the kitchen, then to the dungeon. Her memory always ended there. Every morning, she would wake up in the corner of the kitchen, the time in between a complete blank.

Lillian, the Saintess, secretly taking care of the demon Milly. And when she was discovered, her memory was forcibly erased.

It was just a theory, with no direct evidence. But once the seed of doubt was planted… if Oswell found out, the punishment would be severe. And as for Milly…

She would likely face even crueler torture.

On her way to the papal study, Tifna bit her lip. Two voices screamed in her head. One told her to tell Oswell her suspicions, the other to keep them hidden.

By the time she reached the study door, she realized she had been knocking, her mind still in turmoil.

Oswell had summoned her for only one reason.

To ask about the Saintess. She had been watching her for days without reporting. He must have grown impatient.

“Come in.”

She pushed the door open. Oswell was translating a scroll, his ever-present scepter placed beside him.

“How is the Saintess?”

Even though she was prepared, the question made her breath catch. The two voices in her head reached a crescendo.

Should she tell the truth, or hide it?

Time seemed to slow. She could feel his scrutinizing gaze on her. She had to decide, now.

The battle in her mind was over.

Tifna took a deep breath, her voice calm.

“The Saintess is well. She has just been praying for the fallen every night, which has left her a little sleep-deprived.”

She couldn’t speak rashly. Not until she had more proof.

“Is that so? I hope she hasn’t run into any… trouble.”

He emphasized the word, as if he knew something.

After a moment’s pause, Tifna met his gaze. “I have reminded her to rest.”

“It would be best if she listened. She never listens to this old man.”

He said it with a self-deprecating tone, but his eyes were cold.

“The holy water’s purification effect has reached its limit.”

The sudden change in topic made Tifna’s heart skip. This was about Milly.

“To completely erase the filth from her, we need to prepare a more thorough purification ritual.”

Tifna’s pupils shrank.

A more thorough purification?

The scene from the past few days flashed in her mind. The sizzling of flesh, Milly’s screams… this “purification” was just torture.

Was he planning to kill her?

“I need to leave the Church to make preparations. The holy water purification will be left to the Saintess.”

Before she could protest, he had taken his scepter and stood up.

As he passed her, Tifna looked at his back.

She felt a familiar aura, not the holy one of a clergyman, but the one she had felt on the day of the crusade, the one that didn’t belong to the Pope.

…

With the Pope gone, the purification ritual, which should have been presided over by Lillian, was not held. It was as if she had forgotten.

Tifna thought she was just giving Milly a break. She had suffered enough.

But the next day, Lillian still didn’t hold the ritual. By dusk, she hadn’t even mentioned it.

This wasn’t normal. It was as if she were deliberately avoiding it.

Tifna didn’t remind her, but she heard the nuns whispering about the Saintess’s strange behavior. A bishop had tried to remind her, only to be coldly dismissed.

On the third day, at noon, Lillian still hadn’t held the ritual.

Tifna found her in the Confession Chamber. At this time, only she would be here.

“Your Holiness.”

Tifna entered and closed the heavy stone door.

Lillian didn’t turn around, just tilted her head slightly. “Is there something?”

Her cold tone sent a shiver down Tifna’s spine. This was not the Lillian she knew.

“Today’s purification ritual…”

“It’s canceled.”