Inside the confessional booth, Violette stared blankly at the flickering candlelight.

Until the familiar sound of footsteps approached.

Her attention snapped to the rhythm.

Another familiar sound.

Jetri let out a soft sigh after sitting down.

Violette pressed her lips together.

She always felt their chats weren’t truly healing him—he still carried that faint sorrow from their very first meeting.

"Good evening, Sister."

"Mm. Good evening, Mr. Jetri."

The moment Jetri spoke, Violette detected the guilt and unease woven into his voice.

Before she could respond, he poured out his troubles.

"I’m actually here to confess tonight. I hope you don’t mind, Sister?"

*Actually here to confess…*

*As if all those other times were just… unclear…*

An inexplicable tightness rose in Violette’s chest. "Of course not," she said gently. "I’ll listen carefully."

Jetri hadn’t realized his offhand remark had sparked such turmoil in the nun across the partition.

"I…" Jetri hesitated, then bit his lip. "A roommate recently moved in with me."

"Man or woman?" Violette blurted out before she could stop herself.

"A man—why does that matter to you, Sister?" Jetri tilted his head, puzzled.

He couldn’t help but wonder if this was one of life’s great illusions: *She likes me.*

"Because someone as remarkable as you must have found a partner by now," Violette replied with a smile. "I was planning to congratulate you."

Jetri sensed a hint of sarcasm in her words.

But he quickly dismissed the thought.

*How could this sweet, innocent nun be sarcastic?*

*And why would she even be sarcastic toward me?*

*Unless… she really does like me.*

"Uh, sorry to disappoint you," Jetri chuckled awkwardly.

Violette felt a prickle of irritation.

*He’s mocking me again.*

The Holy Maiden’s slender fingers twisted together unhappily.

"So… do you have… improper thoughts about this roommate?" The words slipped out before she could rein in her emotions.

Regret flooded her instantly.

*Why did I say that?*

"I—I didn’t mean—"

"Yeah."

Her flustered apology was cut off by Jetri’s quiet admission.

An eerie silence settled over the confessional.

Violette doubted her own ears.

"Pardon?" she asked carefully. "What did you just say?"

"...I came to confess exactly that," Jetri sighed, shifting uncomfortably. "He’s… just too handsome. And he acts like we have no boundaries at all…"

"Lately, my heart skips a beat around him. But he’s a man. And a friend. I shouldn’t feel this way." Another sigh escaped him.

"..." Violette’s chest felt heavy.

"It’s alright. Attraction is just a feeling—a thought. You haven’t acted on it. God will forgive you."

"What good is God’s forgiveness?" Jetri retorted sharply.

Violette froze, her expression darkening.

A curse word nearly slipped past her lips before she caught herself.

Her eyes widened in shock.

*Did I just… almost swear?*

Flustered but composed, she managed, "Then… I will forgive you?"

Her muddled words left Jetri equally confused.

"You… forgive me?" He tilted his head.

"Eep! No! I—I—I mean… th-that is…" Violette stammered, burying her face in her hands.

*Steam maiden.*

Jetri blinked.

*Kind of cute.*

"Thank you, Sister. I feel much better now."

"Huh?" Now it was Violette’s turn to be bewildered.

"Nothing." Jetri just smiled.

Violette didn’t press further.

Their talks grew broader over time—Jetri even shared glimpses of his past life.

But he glossed over the details, focusing instead on childhood joys and school antics.

Violette subtly hinted at her own identity.

Jetri never made the connection.

This quiet companionship finally ended on Jetri’s graduation day.

"Sister." Jetri’s voice was calm as ever.

"Mr. Jetri." Violette’s lips instinctively curved upward.

Four years of conversations through this wooden partition.

Jetri never sought her true identity.

Violette, however, had uncovered every detail about him.

*Richard Jetri. The ‘problem student’ of Delan Hero Academy. Barely scraping by in every subject. His heart never truly in academy life.*

*The roads and new carriages in Delan Capital? His designs.*

*His mentors called him a ‘wasted talent.’*

But Violette’s knowledge had gaps—like not knowing Richard Jetri would soon depart as the Valiant Hero to slay the Demon King.

They chatted as usual that night.

The naive girl Violette once was had faded. The Holy Maiden remained gentle and radiant, but her sapphire-blue eyes held depths they once lacked.

"Tonight… will be our last," Jetri said suddenly.

"What?" Violette’s smile vanished, replaced by stunned confusion.

"Tomorrow, I leave to slay the Demon King."

"What?!!!" Her voice cracked.

"Really? Truly?!" Violette leaned urgently against the partition.

"Mm. I don’t know the details. But…" Jetri sighed, then gave a wry smile. "If all goes well, I might return with the Demon King’s head?"

He meant it as a joke.

"Richard!" Violette’s panic flared. "Why would you suddenly go after the Demon King?!"

"You said—you said this wasn’t your path!" The Holy Maiden paced frantically behind the wood. "It’s too dangerous!"

"I know you’re worried, but don’t panic," Jetri quipped with a corny line. "Delan Hero Academy gave me a life worth living. So even if it’s a death sentence… I owe them this."

"Why be noble *now*?!!!" Her voice rose sharply.

"Hey…" Jetri’s chuckle held sadness. "It’s our last meeting. Send me off with a smile, okay?"

"No!" Violette reached for the partition latch—but Jetri’s hand pressed firmly against the wood from the other side.

"Don’t open it. We don’t need to see each other." His voice turned complex.

"Bless me instead. When I return next time… I might be covered in glory." Jetri stood and left without hesitation.

On her side, Violette pressed her lips tight.

Her sapphire-blue eyes glistened faintly.

*No need to meet…*

*I’ve already…*

*Seen you.*

Facing the cold, silent wood, Violette slowly covered her face.

Soft, broken sobs echoed in the confessional.

She’d wanted to throw caution to the wind—but Jetri had asked not to see her face.

She understood his meaning.

Years of talking had revealed his nature.

As for hers…

He’d likely unraveled her completely.

Jetri knew of her feelings. He’d even warned her—that affection might just be infatuation, born from constant talks and his borrowed wisdom.

He refused to meet her, certain this quest was a one-way trip.

No point leaving an unforgettable memory. If the ending was tragedy, better never begin.

He didn’t know the Holy Maiden had already slipped into Delan Hero Academy to watch him.

Violette’s grief never showed in public. She grew only more poised, more composed.

But she tracked every Hero Squad deployed beyond the capital.

Few ever returned whole.

After Jetri’s warnings, Violette dug deeper—and discovered most squads didn’t fall to the Demon Clan.

They fell to humans.

Unlike the naive girl she’d been years ago, Violette acted in silence.

The Holy Maiden, holding irrefutable proof, uprooted the entire syndicate preying on Hero Squads.

"Damn it…" Celine muttered, flipping through case files of the purged syndicate.

"They’re already dead," Violette said softly, smiling.

"..." Celine sighed soundlessly.

Her sister had changed.

She’d sensed it long ago but respected her privacy.

Later, she’d asked directly.

Violette didn’t hide it: one person had reshaped her.

But it was a good change.

*"Do you want me to drown forever in the pretty lies everyone weaves around me?"*

That’s what Violette had said.

"Your Holiness…" Celine, now hardened after her own provincial Church posting, frowned slightly. "Must you swear at work?"

Promoted to bishop, she addressed Violette formally during duty hours. Only after work did she become her sister again.

Violette didn’t mind—Jetri had mentioned this shift. It wasn’t a bad thing.

The Holy Maiden set aside a signed document. "Any news from the border?"

"Yes. A squad has slain all the Demon Lords and is marching straight for the Demon King’s Castle." Celine’s face lit with hope.

"Oh? What’s their name?"

"Radiant Star Squad."

"Ah…" Violette nodded knowingly, then returned to her paperwork.

Celine did the same.

After a long pause, Violette spoke again.

"Celine. How would you like a Sage for a brother-in-law?"

"What?" Celine looked up, bewildered.

"Nothing."

Violette smiled, her sapphire gaze drifting to the window.

*Richard Jetri. If you don’t come back… I’ll come find you.*

Her serene expression gave no hint of the vow made in her heart—to follow him even in death.

Celine merely frowned slightly before returning to her duties.