On the way to the alley, Aaron kept muttering "This is a bad idea Linny..."
He didn't have to remind her, she knew how bad this idea was, but she had to try anyway. Both of them wore robes that weren't of high quality to cover themselves, they didn't want anyone to recognise them. Her pink hair wasn't exactly inconspicuous, she made sure not even one strand stuck out.
Adeline remembered that the place he stayed was near an orphanage, after asking around she finally found it. "Linny, why are we here?"
Aaron's stomach felt like it was twisted into a knot. He knew Adeline didn't take him seriously as an older brother, there was a hint of respect and distance when she talked to Alaric or their father.
He was happy she treated him casually because that meant that they were close, but now he realised that it got them into trouble. They slipped away from their master and are now headed towards some random alley in an already unsafe area. He decided firmly that he wouldn't give in to her whims anymore.
"Shhh. Trust me, brother!"
Aaron being here was pretty important, he was taller than the children of his age, and he looked more like a fourteen-year-old at the age of eleven. With him here she would be safe for the most part.
Just as they entered the alley they heard an argument.
"Heh, future saintess? Do you think I am a fool? Why would I follow you back to the holy temple that doesn't care about our lives?"
Adeline's eyes widened.
Future saintess? Holy Temple? Was... The heroine here? But that wasn't how it went in the novel! Adeline quickly pulled Aaron aside and hid, she needed to hear more of their conversation.
"Forget it, Nora. He doesn't know what's good for him. Why bother if he'd rather stay in this alley than come with us?"
"Edward, please."
Adeline gulped nervously. The protagonists had gathered. Annora, the heroine, Edward the future head priest, and finally, Dimitri.
Nora seemingly had ordinary features, brown hair and brown eyes, but she looked absolutely stunning. One could tell she would grow into a beautiful young lady. She took a good look at Edward too, it was an appearance that would be etched into her mind.
He had platinum blond hair and greyish eyes that were the colour of a storm cloud. An angel that descended to earth was how he was described in the novel, but he had the heart of a demon.
"Listen to him and leave. I am not going anywhere."
Annora couldn't help but clench her fists, she worked so hard to plan and get away from the temple so that she could help Dimitri but he outright refused her. The reputation of the damned Holy Temple ruined things for her again.
There was a complicated look on Adeline's face. This never happened in the original novel, so what was happening? Was it because of her? Was it a butterfly effect?
Adeline could understand the gist of the conversation. Seems like Annora wanted to bring Dimitri back to the temple with her but he refused her adamantly. Edward didn't care for anyone except the heroine, how could he not get angry when someone refused her 'kindness'?
"Let's not stay in this filth anymore, Nora."
Those words seemed to only anger Dimitri more. Those red eyes seemed to hide so many feelings, so much suffering, Adeline couldn't help but empathise. Edward had a habit of extreme cleanliness, standing in such a place was too much for him, he couldn't wait to separate Annora from Dimitri too.
She had been talking about this boy for a while and done so much to meet him, the darkness in his heart was spreading. He was glad that Dimitri refused her help, he wanted them to leave before Annora had the chance to persuade him.
Adeline made sure that they were hidden from Annora's point of view.
What she didn't know was that Edward noticed her. Still, he wouldn't be able to recognise her, right?
Adeline needed a moment to collect her thoughts. All she could think of at the moment was 'This isn't in the book!'. How did Annora know about Dimitri? Is it possible that she was from another world just like her? Where is that damned Goddess?!
Did she bring another person in just like her to change the script?
The Goddess didn't answer. Adeline started worrying. She had to survive, she had to change the plot! The heroine seems to know something, so what is she after? Was she hoping to build her 'harem' earlier on?
"Linny are you okay? Let's leave." Aaron realised that something was wrong with her. This isn't a good area for them to run into trouble, so he decided to grab her hand and drag her back if he had to.
"No!" She pulled her hand back immediately. She couldn't go back now. This was an opportunity that was rare to come by, she just had to snap out of it.
After calming herself she realised approaching Dimitri wouldn't do her any good. She needed a different plan. Just at this moment, the orphanage's lunch bell rang, giving her an idea.