CHAPTER 9: The Great Escape (Or Not)

Lidia was just about to hoist herself onto the horse when—

"Excuse me, good sir, but have you seen a young woman around here?"

She froze.

That voice.

That unmistakable, grating, makes-you-want-to-smash-your-head-against-a-wall voice.

Her head snapped toward the sound, eyes narrowing as she spotted the walking migraine herself—Saintess-in-fucking-training Pinopu.

Pinopu stood a few feet away, her holier-than-thou presence poisoning the very air, chatting animatedly with the same damn carriage man who had recommended the knight to her. Standing behind her were two hulking priests, built like they belonged in a gladiator pit rather than a temple.

Lidia ducked immediately, pressing herself against the side of the horse like her life depended on it.

Because, well—it kinda did.

Her mind raced. What in the actual fuck is Pinopu doing here?!

She risked a peek from behind the horse's massive frame. Pinopu was gesturing with an annoyingly delicate hand, speaking with a serene smile as the carriage man nodded along, occasionally pointing in her direction.

Lidia's stomach dropped.

Oh, you son of a bitch.

She should've known that shady bastard was a snitch.

Before she could plot his murder, a deep voice cut through her panic.

"What are you waiting for?"

Lidia's head snapped up to find the knight watching her, brows furrowed in obvious impatience.

"Uh." She scrambled for an excuse, forcing a sheepish laugh. "Well… um. I forgot something!"

He furrowed his brows.

Lidia clapped her hands together in mock realization. "Yup! Super important thing. Can't leave without it. I'll just go grab it real quick and, uh—meet you on the other side of town!"

Then she bolted.

The knight watched her sprint off with all the grace of a drunken goose, sighed, and shook his head, before climbing onto his horse.

But just as he was about to ride off, something caught his eye.

A carriage man was pointing directly at him.

The knight frowned. His gaze shifted to the woman standing beside the carriage man.

She had perfectly styled auburn hair, pinned back with intricate silver clips. Her skin was the kind of smooth that suggested a life free of hardship, her lips curved into a polite, saintly smile that somehow still managed to be smug.

And her eyes. A soft, honey-brown shade that seemed warm at first glance—until you noticed the way they gleamed with sharp, quiet judgment.

Her temple uniform was pristine white and gold, unblemished, draping over her figure in a way that probably had naive fools thinking she was some kind of divine being.

Pinopu was a woman who wore kindness like a mask.

Pinopu turned her head slightly, her honey-brown eyes flickering toward the knight, then back at the carriage man.

Then, with a slow, graceful motion, she handed the carriage man some coins.

The knight's frown deepened.

Pinopu, now apparently satisfied with whatever information she had just bought, turned on her heel and marched toward the knight.

Still seated atop his horse, he barely managed to straighten before the woman stopped before him, tilting her chin up slightly. "Greetings," she said, her voice all sickly sweet and gracious—but with an edge to it. The kind that said she was used to getting what she wanted. "I am Saintess-in-Training Pinopu."

The knight gave her a bored look. "And?"

Pinopu's smile tightened. "I am looking for a maiden."

She paused, as if waiting for some kind of reaction. When none came, she continued.

"A maiden with…"

She gave a vague hand gesture, as if struggling to find the right words.

The knight just stared at her.

"…Dark hair," Pinopu finally said. "Long. Unruly." Her lips twitched, as if she hated having to describe Lidia at all. "Eyes the color of an overripe olive. A rather… chaotic expression."

The knight's eyebrow twitched.

Oh.

So she was looking for her.

Slowly, with no change in expression, the knight nodded. "Yes?"

Pinopu's smile widened.

"Ah," she exclaimed, clasping her hands together in unbearable delight. "Then I assume you know where she is?"

The knight didn't answer.

Pinopu didn't let that stop her..

She straightened her shoulders, smoothing out the front of her robes. "That woman," she lets out, voice full of righteous fury, "is a criminal."

The knight raised a brow.

"She stole something from the temple."

Still, the knight remained silent.

Pinopu's lips parted, and then she added, "Something very valuable."

Had Lidia been there, she would have screamed.

She would have dragged Pinopu by her perfect styled hair and shaken her.

Something very valuable?!

She was talking about the gold sconce!

The stupid gold sconce Lidia had sold for a measly three gold coins!

That was the oh-so-precious treasure she was being hunted down for?!

Lidia would have rioted.

Unfortunately, she wasn't there.

And the only person present was a very unamused knight who had been trying his best to not be seen, only to somehow end up in the middle of a fucking mess.

The knight fought the urge to sigh.

He really didn't want to be here.

He especially didn't want to be dealing with this.

But most of all?

He really didn't want to be involved in whatever weird shitstorm this was.

And yet, here he was.

Unfortunately.

Pinopu clasped her hands together, all graceful and holy. "I need to bring her back to the temple."

The knight stared at her for a long, long moment. Then, finally, he exhaled sharply. "I don't know where she is."

Pinopu frowned slightly. "Are you sure?"

"Yes."

She studied him, as if trying to determine whether or not he was lying.

After a beat, she gave a slow, reluctant nod. "Very well."

And with that, she turned, marching back to her no-neck priests.

The knight finally allowed himself to relax, rubbing the bridge of his nose.

He really should have just left her.

That weird, suspicious woman definitely looked like a criminal.

So why the hell had he helped her?

He had no idea.