"Good day, Your Grace."
A Holy Knight of the Order Church greeted the archbishop standing before the church.
Looking at Leina, Annan saw Colette in him and felt a pang of sorrow... Valencia's own daughter had suspected he was an impostor just because he had been too kind to her...
"Teacher, what's wrong?"
Lai had never seen his teacher like this...
"Today is Colette's birthday, and I just had a fight with her." Annan grew more serious and asked earnestly, "How do you balance your family and the Church?"
"Have you forgotten? I'm an orphan..."
"Oh..."
Oh. His student was about to arrest him again.
But perhaps sensing Annan's sadness, Leina didn't do it right away. He quietly watched Annan return to his room.
Watching the pedestrians on the street outside the window, Annan let his mind wander. What would happen if he went back to the North now? Would he see Levis? Was there still time to stop Augusta?
But today was probably like the archbishop's room in Valencia: he could only move around Strange Tales City.
Lai barged in again without knocking, carrying a stack of official business.
"Leave it there." Annan didn't turn around. He told Leina to prepare a carriage and flowers.
"Teacher..."
"Not now. I'll deal with all that after I get back from the Palace."
"What I meant was... if my parents were still alive, I'd try to balance the Church and my family..."
Lai was clearly hinting that Annan should care more about his family... Even Valencia's student thought he devoted too much attention to the Church.
"Thank you," Annan said sincerely.
He boarded the Carriage and arrived at the Rosella House for the third time.
Once again, he offered flowers, Colette answered with biting sarcasm, and the door slammed shut. Annan didn't