Come Home with Me

When the Lady of the Land began to get angry, Artie had no choice but to cry out her pure thoughts. If the Lady of the Land was claiming her right to the devildoms which were resting on top of a buried kingdom, then she must be the first monarch of some sort. Artie really had no idea if she was going to make peace with this spirit.

However, the woman laughed in ridicule towards her. Artie could only gamble with her luck… even if she knew that she had no right to do so when someone's life was on the line. It's just that… Heaven was on her side—albeit that she was referring to the idiom instead.

[You have gained a sliver of trust! Active world quest completion: 10%. Apostasy + 20. Total meter points: 146; Veneration 79, Apostasy 67.]

[You have found the Spring of Life! It is now marked on the map! Rewards obtained!]

[Warning! Salvation anomaly! The surrendered life had been returned! The success status of the random event task and its rewards are forfeited.]

[You have gone against the regulations of Heaven's Creation! Apostasy + 35. Total meter points: 206; Veneration 79, Apostasy 102.]

Artie couldn't help but cry inwardly. 'Did you see that, Artie? Congratulations on making your Apostasy points jump so badly that your efforts to avoid it are null.' However, she was still happy to see how Miel almost dove to retrieve the body that had resurfaced. Moreover, she also saw how Jillian flailed around as if she was drowning. 'At least, Miel and Jillian are safe...'

Her eyes then landed on Larkin who was only watching the water recede back into the sands. In the future, he would be able to come find this spring if he wanted. The wife then walked up to the archduke, her black armor seeping away from her and back onto the archduke's body, without the helmet. "Well… it's almost morning. We have to go back."

The archduke then turned to her and smiled sincerely at her direction. For a moment, Artie froze as she felt like her heart started to throb at the image of Larkin smiling so genuinely at her. Even his eyes were definitely smiling. Perhaps it was because she managed to save both Miel and his friend? Or was it because she summoned the Lady of the Land and made amends?

"Let us return. The sun is almost upon us." Larkin then slowly cleared his happy expression before turning to the two, Miel keeping Jillian grounded as the woman didn't know what was happening to her. Artie joined in watching them, wary of startling the once-dead woman further.

[World Quest's preliminary sub-task is commencing! The First Queen of Cupo Magia raved about taking back the land that had degraded into a pleasure house of the demonkind. Your promise of reclamation now rests deep within her heart. Bring the 17 crowns of Galacia to the First Queen.]

[Warning! Diplomacy anomaly! Hastily dealing with the crowns will bring about war. Preparation is a must.]

'Don't worry, System. I won't be rash. Not to mention winning a war, I don't have any capabilities of starting it.' Artie sighed as she went to hug Larkin from the side, the archduke moving his arm so he could pull her close as well. By then, she caught Jillian looking up at them.

"Artie Shen!" Jillian grabbed Miel's shoulders and used him to pull herself up, not feeling any effects of the poison or her bruises anymore. Her eyes stared at the angel, filled with reverence. She then bowed down. "I was wrong to look at you as an enemy. No matter what happens to me in the future, I will serve you with the life that you have given me!" She lifted her head. "Please have me by your side!"

"...Jillian, that life is yours now. I'm not binding you to me in any way, but if you want to stay close, train as a maid-in-waiting in the castle." Artie chuckled. She didn't want a servant even when she was still a simple young mistress of the Shen family. Becoming a maid should be good enough.

However, her refusal struck Jillian differently. She bit her lip. 'I am not fit to serve the Lady Shen as her personal guard. I must train harder… but a maid-in-waiting is...' The assassin looked at Miel who was rather happy about the decision. 'Erm, Miel is a glorified butler, isn't he? Perhaps being a maid would give me more insight...'

The female bowed her head down again. "The Lady had given me a chance to repent and redeem myself. I will be subjected to your service as a maid then!" Jillian then lifted her head and received a smile from the angel. However, that was the only time that she noticed that Artie was in her sleeping gown.

By then, Artie also noticed that Jillian was almost naked and had been standing around with the water shrinking her almost non-existent clothes. The angel quickly ran up to her and took off her faux fur robe. She placed it on Jillian even before Miel thought of sheltering the former prisoner. "You need this more than I do."

"But Lady Shen!" Jillian was not a member of the nobility and had been seen naked by some men before. She didn't think much about her exposed skin. However, the Lady was of noble origins and was yet to marry. Her body should be more sacred even if compared to a lowlife like Jillian.

"It's fine!" Artie flashed a grin before running back to Larkin's side. As her image hid behind him from their sights, she seemed to have vanished. The next thing they knew was that a rat climbed up Larkin's shoulder and hid itself inside the fur collar of the robe.

Miel then went to close the robe on Jillian's body, letting her wear it properly first, and knotted the strings that bound it. "Jillian, it's time for us to go home. Worry not about the crimes written against you, the archduchess has the power to absolve you in exchange for your loyalty."

The assassin only stared at Miel before nodding. However, she whispered onto him as she gently placed her hands on top of his. "I will be nothing but a burden to you. Machiav will never stop until I'm dead. He will make use of all his resources to make sure House Ellis will be destroyed."

"And so shall the archduke." Miel's eyes sharpened at the mention of the threat. "Lord Ellis will not let the people suffer; neither is he willing to submit to those who have ill designs on the land. Rest assured, we will protect you… I will protect you… as I have protected everyone..."

"It seems that I have missed your voice and your words of assurance." Jillian chuckled before leaning her forehead against his shoulder, her arms soon wrapping around Miel's body. "This time, I won't be stupid anymore. I'll come home with you."