Chapter 120: Becoming a Big Shot

Peretti stood quietly before the gates of Brest. The wind lifted strands of her white hair, as if tugging at something she was reluctant to let go.

Sennahita’s figure gradually faded into the dust beyond the city walls. Only after she completely disappeared did Peretti slowly withdraw her gaze, a trace of complicated melancholy flickering in her eyes.

“…Haa—”

She let out a long breath, her thoughts in disarray.

At least she’s gone.

But with so many people coming and going… could that letter really reach the Beast Princess?

Sennahita was just a s*ave who had drifted through human lands for years. On the beast side, she might have no family, no support—perhaps nothing at all.

The border situation was unclear, and the internal state of the beast race was even more of a mystery.

The more Peretti thought about it, the heavier her heart became. Whether the letter would arrive… seemed entirely up to luck.

“Hey! Are you leaving or not?”

An impatient shout interrupted her thoughts.

A guard knight tapped the butt of his spear against the ground, clearly trying to drive her away.

“If you’re not going out, don’t block the gate. Can’t you see the line behind you?”

“Sorry.”

Peretti collected herself, nodded politely, and turned to merge into the bustling crowd. Her black cloak flickered among the moving figures, quickly becoming unremarkable.

She followed the flow of people forward, but the heaviness in her heart didn’t lessen.

The situation in Brest was far more serious than she had initially expected.

The unusual movements of the beast race at the border faintly carried the scent of war. Compared to that, the filth between nobles and commoners within the city was hardly worth mentioning.

What unsettled her even more was that despite the chaos at the border, even nearby Falisa showed no signs of it.

Behind this, the local nobles must have been desperately suppressing the news. Even at the brink of losing their lives, they still refused to stop their filthy s*ave trade.

“Nobles…”

Peretti shook her head lightly, her tone filled with indescribable mockery and helplessness.

“A bunch of lunatics no one can understand.”

Just as she was thinking, she suddenly heard a series of light footsteps.

Looking up, she saw a little girl with twin braids running excitedly toward her.

“White-haired big sister…”

The girl stopped in front of her, tilting her small face up, blinking her round eyes as if confirming something, staring blankly at her white hair.

A moment later, she spread her arms wide without hesitation and called out in a crisp voice—

“Big sister, I want candy!”

Peretti froze for a moment, instinctively glancing around.

The street was full of passersby, many dressed far better than her—yet this little girl had run straight to her.

“Little one, why did you come to me for candy specifically?”

She crouched down, softening her voice as much as possible.

“Marian told me!” the girl puffed out her chest, speaking with complete confidence. “Marian said there’s a white-haired big sister who gave her candy before, and it was really delicious! I want some too!”

Her carefree tone carried the unique innocence of a child—only someone so young and untouched by the world could ask for warmth so directly.

“…Marian…”

Peretti’s heart tightened.

She immediately recalled the timid little girl hiding in the corner of a small room.

So her name was Marian.

She took out a delicately wrapped piece of chocolate from her clothes, placing it into the girl’s dirty little palm, then gently patted her head.

“Here. Eat slowly—don’t choke.”

The chocolates given to her by Ino were plentiful. Giving away one or two meant nothing.

This scene seemed like a silent signal. A few children who had been hiding nearby suddenly gathered courage, hesitantly walking over, their small faces filled with longing.

“Big sister… I—I want one too.”

“Me too.”

Looking at their cautious expressions, Peretti’s face showed a rare, genuine smile.

“Don’t worry, everyone will get one. One at a time.”

Like a magician, she kept pulling chocolates from beneath her cloak, handing them out to the children gathering around.

Their laughter rose and fell, dispersing much of the heaviness in her heart.

“You seem to like children.”

A cool female voice suddenly sounded beside her.

Peretti turned her head to see Anasha standing there with her arms crossed. Her posture was straight, her expression neutral, quietly waiting for the children to disperse.

She had come alone this time.

Peretti understood—Anasha had likely been observing her for a while.

She withdrew her hand, glancing at the now nearly empty stash of chocolates in her cloak, and spoke softly:

“I just think… if a child goes their whole life without ever tasting candy, that would be a real regret.”

“Even years later, when they can finally afford one themselves… all they’ll taste is regret.”

She paused, her gaze falling on the still-lively children in the distance, a trace of warmth in her eyes.

“I can’t do much. At the very least, I want them to know their childhood wasn’t completely broken.”

Anasha fell silent for a moment. Her gaze lingered briefly on Peretti’s white hair before she suddenly spoke, her tone firm—almost probing.

“You’re the high-ranking priest, Peretti, aren’t you?”

It wasn’t a question.

It was a statement.

The smile on Peretti’s face faded. She let out a helpless sigh, her tone carrying a sense of resigned fatigue.

“…I was wondering if I could stay carefree for a few more days. Seems that was just wishful thinking.”

“Simple. Once I register your information, you can go wherever you want. No one will stop you.”

“Heh. Once all those tedious procedures are done, I probably won’t have a single peaceful day again.”

“A heretical priest like you… this is the first time I’ve ever encountered one in all my years.”

She couldn’t help recalling their first meeting.

Back then, Peretti had behaved frivolously and unrestrained—like a complete rogue. With that eye-catching collar around her neck, nothing about her seemed remotely devout, let alone fitting for a high-ranking priest.

And yet, in her actions…

None of those so-called devout high-ranking priests in the church could compare to her.

They only clung to church rules, deciding the life and death of patients within their walls, while turning a blind eye to suffering beyond.

But Peretti would step in to stop pointless conflicts. She would spend her own money to give sweets to children who had never tasted sweetness.

This “lack of devotion”…

Was far more moving than their rigid piety.

Peretti said nothing more. She mounted a horse with Anasha, heading once again toward the church.

When they stepped into the main hall, Peretti paused slightly.

The hall was filled with people—familiar faces at a glance. At the front stood the bishop.

But that kid named Mingtong was nowhere to be seen.

“Lady Peretti, you’ve arrived!”

The bishop spotted her immediately, his face instantly filling with respectful smiles. He hurried forward and gave her a deep bow.

This action stunned everyone in the hall, their eyes full of disbelief.

After all, high-ranking priests and bishops were normally of equal rank—colleagues.

When had a bishop ever shown such deference?

Only the bishop himself knew—

His back was already drenched in cold sweat.

The report he had received a few days ago clearly stated:

Peretti was a high-ranking priest personally appointed by the Pope—directly under his authority.

Her rank was one level above ordinary high-ranking priests.

In terms of hierarchy…

She was his superior.

Yet in all of Brest, there wasn’t a single person with a higher rank than Peretti—not even an equal.

And their first meeting with this superior…

Had been when she was bound and being escorted to an interrogation room—

Inside his own church.

At the mere thought of it, the bishop’s heart pounded violently, his voice trembling slightly as he spoke—afraid that this lady might hold a grudge.