CHAPTER 323: CHAPTER 219: YOUNG GIRL (2)

Her eyes shone brightly, clear and transparent.

Facing her clear eyes, Roland knew it was impolite to keep beating around the bush.

Since he had to face it anyway, he might as well speak directly.

"I heard some rumors, not in your favor."

"Rumors? Like... I’m your secret lover?" Christine put down the quill in her hand, her expression exceptionally calm, as if mentioning a spilled glass of water.

"You already know? Wait, how did you..." Roland’s words trailed off.

He suddenly realized he didn’t really know Christine at all.

Even though they were allies.

"You didn’t get me drunk and take advantage, did you?" Christine even had the mood to joke with Roland.

Roland was at a loss for words.

"Since it’s a rumor, why bother? The teacher said that rumors stop with the wise. Neither you nor I are fools."

Roland pondered a hundred opening lines, but never anticipated Christine wouldn’t care at all.

Seeing Roland’s strange expression, Christine sighed, picked up her quill, and laughed self-deprecatingly:

"Alright, enough pretending, I’m actually furious."

She released her grip, letting the quill shatter into pieces and fall to the ground.

Her eyes filled with murderous intent, her voice turned much colder, "How could I not care? This is an insult to me, and it could even affect the Saintess selection. I know who did it; she’s as good as dead."

"Who is it?"

"My biggest rival, Erin."

Christine said coldly, "First, eliminate your enemies. This kind of childish rumor does little harm to you, since your reputation is already so bad, it can’t get much worse."

After a few seconds of pause, Christine said softly, "Sorry, I didn’t mean to attack you."

"It’s fine, I understand your point."

"Since it’s not aimed at you, it must be targeting me. Such a vicious and accurate rumor must be done by someone who understands me and the Saintess selection the best."

Christine’s eyes flashed with cold light, "Ever since the Holy Spring Revival Ceremony, the only person who could compete with me for the Saintess title is Erin. This is probably not her doing, but her teacher’s."

"Actually, it’s all the same." Roland supplemented the latter half of Christine’s sentence.

"Erin must die."

Christine, bereft of her earlier calmness, gritted her teeth and said fiercely, "Erin surely wouldn’t guess that I would choose the most primitive method to decide the victor."

The most primitive method is murder.

As long as Erin is killed, the official Saintess is undoubtedly Christine.

As expected of Christine, this method of handling fits perfectly with her character.

Although very angry, Christine seemed to still have a decent mindset, at least she didn’t explode on the spot.

With that in mind, Roland was very frank, "Actually, I have a way, but it would cost you greatly."

"You have a way for this too? As expected of the Lord of Light. Tell me, tell me, I don’t believe it could be worse than this rumor." Christine’s eyes lit up.

"The method is to fight poison with poison."

Roland cleared his throat, prefacing before speaking, "Regardless of whether you can accept it, you’re not allowed to get angry."

"I promise, tell me now." Christine was a bit impatient.

Roland bit his lip and laid out Lisa’s bad idea.

Christine was stunned.

Her eyes were a bit vacant, and after a long time, she finally regained her composure.

She had promised Roland not to get angry, first, drink some water, drink water!

Miss Saintess picked up the glass, but before it touched her lips, with a crunch, the poor glass shattered in her hand, crimson blood flowing down her fingers and dripping off the back of her hand.

Roland was about to stand up, but Christine pressed down her right hand, signaling him not to move.

She casually tossed the glass shards aside, murmuring to herself, "Such poor quality."

She moved her palm slightly, the area that was injured just a moment ago was already fully healed.

She chuckled to herself, "My training is still lacking, I can still be ruled by negative emotions."

"No, emotions are part of being human, avoiding them entirely is impossible. The suggestion I made was just off the cuff, whether to use it is up to you."

Christine nodded and said softly, "A terrible yet perfect idea."

Her fair fingers reflected a gentle glow under the light, beautiful like a work of art.

"Look, this is the blessing of the Goddess, I can easily heal myself no matter how badly wounded."

"That’s supposed to be a good thing, but now it’s troublesome. The purity screening is meaningless to me. Even if the areas that shouldn’t be damaged get injured, they can be restored."

Christine’s face blushed slightly as she sighed, "If a glass of water accidentally spills in the middle of my pants, it can’t be explained away no matter what."

Roland was silent.

Of course, he knew this. Christine was undoubtedly the Saintess without dispute, but if she couldn’t pass the purity check, she would be disqualified from participating.

When unable to win fairly, resort to underhanded means to disqualify; he’s definitely seen this tactic before.

He also knew Lisa’s suggestion was useful, but he couldn’t persuade her.

Christine was silent for what seemed like a century before she slowly spoke:

"Roland, before making a decision, I have a few questions."

"I will answer truthfully. If I really can’t answer, I will choose silence."

"No silence allowed." Christine shook her head.

Although a bit willful, she knew Roland wouldn’t refuse.

"Roland, if the rumors were true, would you find it embarrassing?"

Roland’s mind went blank.

Even after a thousand more chances, he wouldn’t have guessed Christine would start with this question.

It really is impossible to guess a girl’s thoughts.

After several seconds, Roland’s mind regained consciousness. He knew Christine wasn’t really asking if she should be his lover, but wanted to know her own allure.

What madness, having the mood to ask such a question right now.

"It would be my honor." Roland did not lie.

Christine is one of the top beauties in the Magic Mirror charm rankings, in the top five, who would refuse?

She was only held back by her unassuming figure, otherwise, she would be third.

Christine asked softly, "This idea wasn’t yours, was it, Sif?"

"Why do you think so?" Roland was puzzled.

"I’m asking you. Only a woman could come up with such a jerky idea."

"It’s Lisa. She wants to help you, no malice, you can’t give her trouble."

Christine remained silent.

Roland really doesn’t understand women, helping her maybe true, but no malice is absolutely not it.

In Miss Saintess’s eyes, Roland, Sif, and Lisa’s triangular relationship was obvious even to a blind person.

Lisa would absolutely not want to add another person to it.

For Lisa’s little thoughts, Miss Saintess only wanted to respond with one word.

"Pah!"

There isn’t only love in this world, foolish love-struck fools don’t understand the joy of following the Goddess to the peak.

Only a fool would fall in love, let alone in a love triangle.

"Roland, one last question. Do you like Sif or Lisa?"

Roland was dumbfounded by Christine’s question.

He used to think Lisa and Sif often had erratic thoughts until he met Christine.

After thinking it over a bit, he stretched out both hands, pressed them together against his chest.

"Shameless."

"Let’s go with what you said. Don’t say sorry, this issue is because of me, actually, I’m the one causing trouble for you and your two lovers."

Christine slowly lowered her head, sighing softly.

Roland desperately wanted to comfort her, but couldn’t find the words, so he had to bid farewell and leave.

This was the best choice, but also the most helpless choice.

Christine must do this if she still wants to become the official Saintess.

Preserving purity comes at the cost of becoming a laughingstock.

After descending the stairs, Roland took one last look back, gaining more respect for Christine.

As expected of a Saintess chosen by the Goddess, maintaining her composure even in such situations.

Though angry, she never lost her composure, though unwilling, she chose the best answer.

Roland, dragging his weary feet, headed towards the Governor’s Mansion.

Just as he was about to reach it, a dull thud sounded from behind.

He turned back in shock, just in time to see the temporary Holy Hall collapsing with a crash.

...

Alright, he took back what he said earlier.

Christine was, after all, just an under eighteen-year-old girl.

...