After a playful tussle with Shanoya, Chu Yan suddenly realized he had yet to take a bath and promptly made his way to the bathhouse.
This time, the executioner was absent.
As he immersed himself in the warm water, the rising steam enveloped him, whisking away his fatigue.
Chu Yan pondered the executioner, sensing something rather unusual about her...
"There seems to be no discernible difference in every aspect, not that anyone would dare impersonate someone of her caliber. However, her tone of voice seemed to have changed slightly, and her figure appeared fuller."
Yet, it was said that some women experienced fluctuations in their physique due to various factors—morning and night, or at certain times of the month—perhaps that was the reason.
He genuinely had no reason to suspect that the executioner had been replaced; after all, what would be the motive?
Such a laborious endeavor just to stroll around with the title of executioner all the way to the Dead Sea border seemed illogical.
This doubt never settled in his mind, and Chu Yan soon forgot all about it upon finishing his bath.
After quickly dressing, he let his damp hair fall freely, allowing it to dry in the breeze.
As he returned to the corridor, his gaze unexpectedly caught sight of a figure.
"What is the executioner doing over there?"
*
At the end of the lord's corridor lay a small open terrace.
In this less-than-three-square-meter space, an aging table and chairs offered a direct view of the distant oceanic abyss.
Amidst the shifting winds that ranged from fierce to gentle, one could sense the desolation and solitude brought forth by the void of the sea.
The executioner stood there, holding a warm cup of tea, gazing out into the distance.
Her posture remained straight even in relaxation, her long legs clad in high-heeled boots radiating a sharp, competent aura, the pointed heels akin to weapons ready to strike at any disrespectful intruder.
She evoked the imagery of a silent yet poised python, its fangs subtly exposed.
Suddenly, upon hearing footsteps behind her, she turned.
The dim yellow light from the corridor illuminated her figure, the eye sockets of the dragon mask reflecting an enchanting crimson hue, while her bright red lips resembled roses entwined with thorns—both alluring and perilous.
"Little one, why are you not resting? We must rise early for our journey tomorrow."
The executioner observed the tall young man before her, his shoulder-length black hair glistening with moisture, his androgynous features transforming into a softer visage at this moment, akin to a graceful and gentle maiden, exuding an aura of innocence.
Who could have imagined he was the one stirring the city of extreme ecstasy into chaos?
"I've just finished my bath and was preparing to sleep when I happened to see the executioner here, so I came over to greet you. Are you lost in thought?"
"No, I merely discovered this terrace and decided to enjoy the view before sleep. Such a place is rarely visited, with few opportunities to come here."
Were it not for a dragonborn undergoing family trials, she would likely never have set foot in this spot.
Typically, those who frequented the Dead Sea border consisted of the regiment escorting taboo practitioners, traveling merchants, or those with less than noble intentions.
Noticing that Chu Yan seemed to have more on his mind than just a casual greeting, she inquired:
"Is there something you wish to discuss with me?"
"Yes."
Chu Yan naturally wished to inquire about matters concerning the church but was unsure how to broach the subject, as the information could be significant or trivial.
If his questions were too vague, he might inadvertently expose the predicament of the nun downstairs.
In the eyes of most, the executioner might engage in light-hearted banter when in good spirits, yet when serious issues arose, her demeanor could shift to one of ruthless indifference.
Much like her title of "executioner" implied.
However, recalling the familiarity they had shared in the bathhouse, Chu Yan hesitated, contemplating whether to initiate a similar closeness, perhaps a hug...
It was possible her demeanor today might be more distant, merely because the earlier interactions were part of the assessment process, hence more formal.
Considering she had previously offered to wash his hair, a simple embrace now should not be construed as offensive.
After a moment's indecision, Chu Yan wrapped his arms around the elegant woman before him, his movements tentative, the fullness yet coldness of her feminine form pressing against his chest.
Sossia was momentarily taken aback beneath her mask, surprised and uncertain.
She could hardly believe someone would dare to hug the executioner—such an act would be tantamount to courting death. Yet, the unexpected nature of Chu Yan's action revealed only one thing—
Tiffany had taken her identity and grown close to this child...
This was something Tiffany had failed to report back to her upon returning.
"Chu Yan, it seems your worries are quite profound?"
Sossia responded to his embrace with nonchalance, her delicate fingers weaving through Chu Yan's hair, helping him dry off.
It would not do to reprimand him, as that would inadvertently reveal that the previous executioner was not the same as she.
Perhaps this moment warranted documentation to show Tiffany how enthusiastically the little rascal had embraced her~
"Yes, in fact, I concealed some troublesome matters during the day that I did not dare to voice."
"Do share."
"On the second floor, there are nuns residing at the church, but they do not interact with us, remaining quite reclusive. Recently, while the Sirens were active, I was ensnared by their song and a peculiar celestial phenomenon, plunging me into unconsciousness.
Yet, there were no practitioners among the taboo users skilled in healing; they were forced to bring forth a nun to treat me."
"You fainted? You only mentioned cheering on the front lines but did not mention being injured."
The woman clad in a solemn uniform lightly grazed her fingers along Chu Yan's neck.
Though it appeared alluring, her true intention was to assess his physical condition through her magic, and thankfully, he was unharmed.
"I intentionally induced my fainting; there was no injury, merely an evasion of the Sirens' enchanting song."
When Chu Yan reported the outcome of the battle against the Sirens during the day, he merely recounted the results, showcasing the Sirens' magical cores, but he refrained from detailing the hardships he had endured.
This was a delicate matter, particularly concerning Connie's demise.
"Very well, so you're now worried that your rudeness towards the nun might incur the church's wrath?"
"Yes," Chu Yan replied, nodding sheepishly.
"Fear not, even though the one who acted was a taboo practitioner, she merely brought the nun forth to heal you. Should the church dare to chastise the dragonborn for this, how could they ever expect to request the dragonborn's assistance in the future?"
"That's a relief!"
"Is there anything else you have kept hidden?"
"There is indeed a small matter, but it is of little consequence..."
Fortunately, as he was embracing the woman, he need not meet her gaze; otherwise, his evasive eyes would betray him.
Having asked something slightly sensitive, Chu Yan dared not delve further into church-related matters, fearing the executioner would pry, hastily shifting the conversation:
"By the way, Executioner, what is... our relationship? You seem particularly kind towards me."
"..."
Tiffany's behavior was truly reckless in her use of her identity.
"This is inconvenient to articulate; however, if generalized, one might liken it to a parent-child relationship."
Could it be that she was a relative from the household...? Chu Yan mused quietly:
"I see, so perhaps we must avoid displaying familiarity in public?"
"Correct~ In public, we are merely acquaintances, but in private, we can be familiar."
The executioner observed as Chu Yan pondered who her official relative might be, a knowing smile gracing her lips as she retrieved a magical stone with photographic capabilities.
"Little one, you can now hold me a bit closer, resting your face against my collarbone. We depart tomorrow, so let us capture this view behind us."
With a flash, the magical stone illuminated as if a camera's shutter clicked.
After the moment was immortalized, the pair returned to their respective chambers to rest.
Sossia, however, eagerly produced her communication magical stone, impatient to share the recent photo with Tiffany!