"Is this really all you wanted?"


    "Uh... Yes" she replied, her cheeks flushing with embarrassment.


    Currently, the two of us stood within the grand cathedral.


    I anticipated that she would request something more significant than a mere attendance in this sacred ce.


    She could have asked for any favor, considering I would''ve apanied her regardless.


    Reflecting on Louise''s evident admiration for Elena, I had assumed her to be quite religious. However, the extent of her devotion became more apparent now.


    It just goes to show that you can''t truly know everything about a person without spending time with them.


    As the cardinal led the prayer, his voice resonating through the majestic cathedral, Louise sang along with the choir, it seems that she had memorized the lyrics.


    The day had been filled with rituals and ceremonies, all centered around the goddess that Louise held in such high regard.


    I don''t really like doing something that might praise that bitch but….


    ''Well, whatever, as long as she''s happy, I''ll happily oblige with all of her requests today''


    As the mass concluded, we made our way back to my room, Louise wearing a satisfied smile that was evident to anyone who looked at her.


    It was then that she approached me with a hint of apology in her tone, "Uhm, I''m sorry Adrian..."


    "Hm? What for?"


    "For taking you there. I know you have no interest in all that stuff, but I just really wanted to experience what it was like to have a prayer in the grand cathedral."


    "Don''t be. Besides, I also enjoyed myself here and there."


    Louise chuckled, "Hehe, you don''t have to lie, you know. You were basically half-asleep half of the time."


    "…"


    "W-well, that was... Sorry" Caught in my own words, I stumbled


    Herughter continued as she observed my awkwardness.


    "But is it really alright for you to not be devoted like that? Aren''t you the hero?"


    "I don''t think so… Considering I became one without even praying to the goddess once"


    "Hmm that''s interesting…."


    ''Your tone doesn''t scream interest though?''


    Tuck…!


    Tuck…!


    Our steps echoed throughout the halls we passed by.


    Looking at the bizarre sceneries here and there. We continued to talk about nonchnt stuff but as our topics ran out.


    "…."


    "…."


    An awkward silence settled between Louise and me.


    Even though I felt this urge to spark a conversation, there was this weird vibe that talking would only make things more awkward.


    Louise seemed a bit fidgety, lost in her thoughts, and I could tell she had something on her mind.


    Our walk back to my room was filled with this ufortable tension, and when we got there, Louise looked like she wanted to say something but kept holding back.


    "Uhm Adrian?"


    "Yes?"


    "D-do you perhaps…. Uh-uhm— You know what It''s nothing…."


    The air was thick with unspoken words, and it felt like we were both dancing around some invisible topic, neither of us brave enough to bring it up.


    "Well then, goodbye Adrian. See you tomorrow."


    "Yeah…?"


    And just like that, my day ended.


    As I sat there, I couldn''t help but wonder, what was it that she wanted to say?


    The awkwardness level cranked up a notch considering her room, and Analise''s, was right next to mine.


    Louise took these awkward, almost robotic steps back, and I couldn''t help but scratch my head about what was going on in her mind.


    She even made this small bow before closing her door.


    She does realize we will meet each otherter, right?


    It had be a sort of unspoken agreement for both of us to be present whenever Analise prepared dinner.


    ….


    The evening arrived, and as expected, I found myself at the dinner table, waiting for Louise to join.


    Yet, as time passed, there was no sign of her.


    Analise, always the gracious maid, informed me that she had already prepared something for Louise in advance, mentioning that Louise wasn''t feeling well.


    But she was fine just a while ago though?


    Unexpectedly, the door creaked open, and in walked Elena, holding onto the sacred relic of the goddess – that cursed white baton.


    I was taken aback; I thought that relic was to remain sealed until further usage. When and how did she get her hands on it?


    ….


    "Stupid! Idiot! Dumb! Moron!" Louise''s frustrated outburst echoed in her room as she violently punched her pillow, each smacknding with force.


    Despite the intensity of her emotions, Louise''s hits seemed almost weightless, the sound muffled by the soft material.


    "You had your chance, Louise! Why would you say stuff like that? And why invite him to a mass of all ces? You''re such a dumb idiot!" She continued to berate herself, gripping her hair in frustration.


    Tears welled up in her eyes as she spiraled into a frantic and self-deprecating depression.


    "Master, I think you should stop now..." Cecilia said.


    Louise, caught up in her own emotional storm, seemed oblivious to Cecilia''s advice.


    The high-ranking spirit knew that her master was still navigating theplexities of love, and even she couldn''t fathom why Louise had let things go awry.


    Despite this, it was her duty not only to protect and serve but also to support Louise''s happiness.


    "Cecilia~~ do you think Adrian thinks I''m weird now? He even fell asleep. I must be very boring, right? Right.... Uwahh!" Louise eximed, her voiceced with sadness as tears streamed down her face.


    Cecilia couldn''t help but shake her head, observing her distraught master with a mix of empathy and frustration.


    While she agreed with Louise''s self-criticisms, she refrained from voicing them aloud, even going so far as to deter the talkative Tn, coiled around her scaly body, from making any potentially unhelpful remarks.


    "Master, honestly, although you did have a few stumbles here and there, I don''t think you were entirely at fault for the ruination of this date!" Cecilia spoke up, trying to inject a sense of reassurance into the room.


    "Nn?" Louise responded, looking at Cecilia with a mix of confusion and curiosity.


    "Everything lies in Master Adrian''s fault!" Cecilia eximed, her words ringing with conviction.


    Louise raised an eyebrow, clearly surprised. "How could you me Adrian like that, even though he put up with me the whole afternoon? If anything, I was the one at fault."


    "No, Master. It was his fault after all!" Suddenly, Cecilia used the end of her tail to carry her to the nearby mirror. "He couldn''t see this! Even after all the time you spent preparing, dressing up so prettily like this, he didn''t make onement whatsoever. He didn''t evenpliment you for anything. Andstly, he was also quite awkward throughout the whole date."


    As Louise looked at herself in the mirror, she couldn''t hold back her tears.


    After all, everything Cecilia said was the pr opposite and there were logical reasoning behind Adrian''s actions.


    Her dress was pretty? Sure, if youpared it to other nun outfits out there.


    Why did he notpliment her or make a slightment about her?


    That was probably just because Adrian was too nervous to say anything or simply because he couldn''t find anything good topliment her with.


    And awkward? That was her all along.


    Her nervousness got to her from the beginning all the way to the end.


    I mean, what kind of person would enjoy their date in a cathedral singing along in a mass like that? Anyone would be bored.


    Honestly, she knew this couldn''t even be considered a date to begin with. For Adrian, it was probably just some weird outing that she invited him to.


    "Ma-master?" Cecilia was shocked by Louise crying even more. She hesitated for a moment before approaching, concern etched across her face.


    Louise sniffled and looked up; her eyes red from the tears. "Cecilia…. Don''t talk to me…"


    "M-master!?"


    After that night Louise didn''t talk to Cecilia…. As she realized she would only get her heart even more broken.


    ….


    The next morning, Louise found herself standing once again in front of Adrian''s room. Knocking twice, she could hear Adrian approaching.


    "Good morning, Louise," he said, looking at her somewhat awkwardly.


    "Good morning" Louise responded, fighting the urge to run away in embarrassment. She knew she needed to set matters straight.


    Moreover, she had to up her game.


    Back at Estelle Academy, she realized a dark aspect of herself was about to awaken, and she loathed the idea of that emerging in front of her beloved friends.


    The growing envy inside her intensified day by day, especially with the way Adrian treated all the other girls.


    Although he treated her nicely, that was the extent of it – niceness, not intimacy. And she wanted that!


    Louise was well aware that she wasgging far behind the other girls when it came to Adrian. But today, she decided, would be different.


    "Adrian, can I ask you another favor?" she inquired with determination.


    "…ok" Adrian responded, his curiosity piqued.


    This time, Louise was determined to make the best of her chances.


    She took a deep breath, steeling herself to express what had been on her mind for quite some time.


    But a maiden''s heart was quite frail and could lead you to decisions you never anticipated.


    The cloudiness of the mind sometimes blocked your vision, hindered your judgment, and ultimately made you say things you didn''t truly mean at the moment.


    Her eyes locked on his lips.


    "Can I kiss you?"


    ???


    "....."


    "....."


    She then saw Elena''s head pop out just behind Adrian.


    Silence hung in the air, the weight of those words echoing in the air.


    Louise''s heart raced, her face turning blushing red.


    This time she truly meant it.


    She wanted to die…!