บท 165: Back Home [2]

"It's about Ethan," Christina said, her expression serious as she looked at me.

"What about him?" I asked calmly, walking toward a bench.

I needed a place to rest—my back still hurt like hell whenever I moved.

I sat down, and Christina followed, sitting right beside me.

"The church members came to meet him," she whispered softly, and my expression hardened at her words.

"Specifically, Lady Irisveil came just after he returned from Ekari Kingdom."

"...Why?" I asked, feigning calmness, though inside I was anything but calm.

"I don't know," she replied, shaking her head, her eyes dropping to her hands. "Even my father doesn't know."

"...I see," I whispered, leaning back against the bench, glancing at the evening sky.

"The church has asked the royals to keep him safe at any cost," Christina mumbled, leaning her body on me, her head snugly placed on my shoulder.

"What happened to Olesia?" I asked as I remembered that girl.