"You should not have allowed Lord Cassian to go out, Lady Cavendil."
In the gloomy ghoul tunnels, Miranda carried an Eternal Lamp and walked firmly along the dry ground beside the drainage ditch, staying close behind another girl dressed for travel.
"He is our only Extreme Realm Knight," Miranda said solemnly. "That leaves the tunnels poorly defended."
The rats ahead were startled by them and fled wildly in every direction.
"He is my Extreme Realm Knight." The Eldest Miss of Emerald City, Cecilia Cavendish, corrected her coldly.
"That is precisely why, Lady Cavendil," Miranda said without changing expression as she avoided a pool of sewage beneath the Eternal Lamp's light. "Protecting you is his first priority."
Shilai said scornfully:
"So now you're going to babysit me in his place?"
"Your Highness Tales is concerned for your safety, so he sent me here. Compared to the regular soldiers, a female bodyguard is the better choice."
"I don't need anyone to protect me." Shilai remained as aloof as ever.
"I agree," Miranda said without the slightest irritation. "The problem is that our enemies probably hope for exactly that."
Shilai stopped in her tracks.
She turned around and stared at Miranda with an unfriendly gaze.
The female swordswoman stopped as well, her expression calm. She gave a polite nod.
"Ma'am?"
Shilai glanced at her several times and gave a cold snort.
The next moment, she suddenly leaned against the wall, bent down, and lowered her head. Then she vanished before Miranda's eyes!
"Wait!"
Miranda was startled and hurried after her.
"Where are you going?"
Miranda raised the lamp and finally saw that the place where Shilai had disappeared was a hole in the inner wall. The opening was low, concealed, and narrow, making it difficult to distinguish in the dim light.
"I'm taking