"You're... Not surprised?" Rachelle asked as she stared at him. Why isn't he surprised after she revealed such a thing in front of him?
"I'm surprised. I have a hunch already about who you are. The first thing that made me think is that you're actively searching for the sword. You might have fooled everyone with your lie, but I wasn't. That's because you're too suspicious." He answered, chuckling as if he wasn't taking this seriously at all.
"Although I was already expecting some sort of a revelation that would happen. I was still at the church when I heard the garden in which the sword of the Goddess resides was closed and everyone was banned from entering. Plus the fact that I felt the ground shake just after I took you there, is already confirming or rather, building up my suspicions about you." He added, explaining why he wasn't shocked like how everyone would react if she were to tell them about what happened.
"I see... I was a bad liar. No worries, I'll fix this trait of mine so that I can lie fluently." Rachelle answered as she nodded her head, didn't know how to react after he accurately figured it out on his own.
So does that mean all the people inside the church knew as well or is it just him?
"Did the people—"
"No. Some priests just told them that it was an earthquake therefore people didn't feel suspicious about it. They didn't dare to question the priests so they just left their curiosity alone. After all, if the entire holy church is your enemy, then they wouldn't let the public know that the sword had been removed from its post." He explained.
"But I must say, I was really flabbergasted knowing that you are the Saintess blessed by the Goddess. Is it possible to have two Saintesses at once or are you one of you a fraud? Because it's impossible for two individuals to become Saintesses." Liam asked, couldn't help his curiosity overtake him.
The fact that the lady in front of him is the Saintess could prove that she is by just having the sword alone. Of course, the others before her couldn't even lift the sword but we're bestowed with each individual's ability as the Saintesses.
But, it was the first time someone pulled out the sword without exerting any strength and she did it with ease. No wonder the church is panicking over the discovery that there's another Saintess.
Much worse, it's Helena's sister.
"Helena. she's a fraud. Believe it or not, whenever she uses her healing abilities, it seems that it shows no improvement at all. She tried healing Tyren and everyone else in front of me, but the magic she showed was so weak that even I couldn't feel how it didn't do anything towards the recipient." She answered, stating her observations about Helena's finding.
"How can you say that?" He asked, trying to see the point in her words. "Because I've been there. She used her magic on me but it's weak, unlike mine where I can just slice my skin," she said as she raised the sword on her hand, letting it cross her palm, making it bleed.
Liam who saw the courage of doing this let out a wince even though he wasn't the one who was injured. "You didn't have to do that!" He exclaimed, surprised with how brazen she acted when it came to decision-making.
"Relax." She said as she spread out her wounded palm, wishing for it to be healed instantly. A ray of light embraced her palm, leaving no trace of the wound that she had inflicted on herself as a way to prove how Helena's magic is weaker even though she's been the Saintess for years now.
As her eyes set on Liam after staring at her palm which she had sliced off earlier, looking clean with no wound left. It's as if the wound was not even there if not for some of it dropping on her trouser.
She wounded herself deeply.
His eyes were wide open, yet his mouth was not gaping widely. Through his eyes, he expressed how shocking it was to see a miracle in front of his eyes. She wanted to laugh at his obliviousness but it's understandable knowing that Helena couldn't do such a thing like this.
"Now that I've shown you what I possessed, you must keep this a secret from everyone else, take this down to your grave and never tell a soul about it. Because if you did," she lifted her sword, pointing at his neck.
The edge of it was almost touching his skin but he never backed away from it, instead, Liam just stared at her, eyes filled with a wave of another emotion, glistening over his brown eyes.
At that point, Rachelle deemed that Liam was committed and devoted to protecting her hidden identity. She could see through his eyes that betrayal had no space in it as it was only filled with loyalty, fully believing in her.
He wasn't even scared of the sword that is currently poking on his neck. One wrong move and everything will turn bloody. When she was satisfied with his silent answer, she removed the sword pointing at his neck, wished for it to turn back into a ring and then proceeded to wear it on her finger.
"The same thing goes with your knight as well, Liam. If any of them tries to speak to everyone about what they saw right now or heard, I will kill every one of them. I am not bluffing, I managed to kill my assassins even without the knowledge of the sword." She added, leaning back on the seat.
Wow, so much for healing herself that she's already weak and very tired. She needs to gain strength and control over this ability if she'll remain weak against the forces of evil.
"Don't worry, Felicia. What my knights have seen or heard, it's nothing for them. Unless it's a direct order coming from me. So be at ease, I won't harm you or cause trouble for you. You don't need to fret yourselves over simple matters." Liam answered, still having the knack to smile at her even though she had threatened him.
"Why are you so nice to me? I don't understand you, Liam. Everyone tried to argue and embarrassed me in front of everyone, but you." She paused, and it suddenly came up in her head as to why he was doing all of this to her, even though they weren't that close, to begin with.
Seems like Liam was taken aback by her question, making him freeze on the spot while he stared at her, lost for words.
Meanwhile, Rachelle just frowned. It's only natural for her to question everyone especially since in this setting, everyone is trying to shun her everywhere. It's very confusing why someone would just appear and act so naturally with her.
"Aren't you scared that your reputation will go downhill? You are friends with the murderer of her mother." She added, smiling at him but at the same time, she hurt herself with her words.
Aren't those the words that were from the nobility? Naming her with words, claiming she murdered her mother?
"Felicia... It's only natural for me to act like this because you piqued my interest. You're something else, your distinction to everyone else makes you different from everyone. You have this own thing that makes me think that you're not alike to those people." He answered, his cheeks flushed red while looking away.
"You're you, no one else but you." He whispered, enough for Rachelle to hear those words coming out of his mouth. That made her speechless, surprised and in disbelief.
"B-but don't misunderstand this! In simplified terms, you are a friend... To me. Yes, that is, a friend to me. I don't question why I am being like this because you and I are friends... Forever." He suddenly exclaimed, making her flinch in her seat.
That scared the shit out of her.
"Forever? I like the sound of that." She answered, chuckling. Her heart gradually opens for this man, allowing her to enter inside. This was the first time that she had ever received such words that held meaning and sincerity over her.
He's the first one to show kindness to her.
"Alright. I trust you that you're not going to turn your back on me and use me to your advantage." She shifted back to their topic. "But what are you doing here in the middle of the woods?" She suddenly asked, remembering why he immediately arrived.
Isn't this quite far away from the Holy Church anymore? As far as she's concerned, it feels like this is not the way that leads to Liam's territory.
"I was about to visit my friend somewhere in the capital but suddenly, I found your carriage with no horse attached to it so I looked for you, hoping you're safe." He answered, looking at her with a smile.
Something about him makes her doubt his answer.
"I see, I have no idea about the roads here so I am not familiar with it." She replied. "Would it be possible to ask you a favour to return me back to my family's castle?" She asked an apologetic smile crossing her lips, acting why all of a sudden.
"Why not? If it's from you then I don't have any reason to reject your favors or simple requests." He chuckled, finding her sudden switch of personality amusing. Seconds ago, she was this fierce lady but now she's suddenly acting shy.
"Thank you for everything, Liam." She earnestly thanked him, grateful to have a friend like him. Liam just smiled, nodding his head while avoiding his beating heart, like a trombone being played.
This is definitely a long ride but Liam will definitely enjoy this more than anyone else.