"Heh~ Surprised? I knew it~" Monica chuckled, reaching out to ruffle Rebecca's hair. She continued, "I can feel your heart's restless right now. I don't know why, but if you just follow your true nature, all worries seem so trivial. Honestly, I used to care about this 'Holy Maiden' image. Now? I couldn't care less. The bishop's told me countless times—believers keep asking if the Holy Maiden's been replaced! Hahaha~"

Rebecca fell silent. Easy to say, hard to do. Maybe Monica had found her own life creed, embodying the Norna Faith's kindness through her actions. But Rebecca doubted she could ever do the same. If she could, she wouldn't have agonized over her gender for so many years.

Back on Earth, a saying from *The Legend of Ji Gong* went: "Wine and meat pass through the gut; the Buddha stays in the heart." How similar to Monica's creed. She might look like a holy maiden on the surface, but once you got close, you'd find a refreshingly genuine woman—nothing like a saint.

Yet, truly embracing such freedom—ignoring even the Holy Maiden's image, caring only for inner principles—was incredibly hard.

Most people knew the first part of that saying but missed the second: "If the world imitates me, it walks the path of demons."

Not everyone could walk this road. Still, Monica's words lifted a weight from Rebecca's heart.

"Yeah, why overthink it? I don't like guys anyway. Let them talk. I'll just be myself." Rebecca felt lighter instantly.

Just then, the unexpected happened—an absolute shock to Rebecca.

Monica kissed her. Not a friendly peck between girls. A deep kiss.

"WTF??"

"Hee-hee~ So soft~" Monica giggled, pulling away.

Rebecca froze. Lying there, she stared blankly at Monica, mind utterly empty.

"Truth is~" Monica propped her head on her hand, lying sideways beside Rebecca. "Years in the Norna Faith bored me stiff. Since becoming Holy Maiden, I've barely seen men. So I realized—I like girls~~ Hahaha~ But shh, it's a secret! You'll keep it, right~?"

"Why..." Rebecca stammered, dazed.

Monica smirked, leaning close to whisper in her ear: "Because you like girls too, don't you?"

Rebecca was stunned! She still carried memories of being a man. Even as a girl now, liking men? Impossible! Her orientation was clear. But her priority was finding the Demon Potion to regain her male body—not romance. She'd shown zero interest in women. How had Monica guessed?

"Hee-hee~ Your face says I'm right~" Monica beamed.

"You..." Rebecca bit her tongue. Deny it? That'd just look guilty—and betray her true self. Did she dislike girls? Did she like men instead?

"Want to know how I figured it out? Your tells are obvious to me~ Other women might miss them, but I see clearly—we're the same. Remember when you and Kami first came to the Norna Faith? You refused to bathe with her, right?"

*Obviously!* That bath with Kami had made Rebecca so flustered she fainted, humiliating herself. Bathe together again? No way.

"You were shy. Don't deny it—I saw your face~"

"..."

"Also, you both resist and crave closeness with Kami and Laura, right? You want it but feel shy deep down?"

Rebecca stayed silent again.

"And with me? When I hug you, you pull away—but your eyes linger here~" Monica pointed to her chest.

Rebecca's face flushed almost imperceptibly.

"Plus~ Every time I lean close, goosebumps pop up on your ears. Your gaze drifts over my face~ Hee~ I know I'm pretty~ I attract you, don't I~?"

Fine, Rebecca had those reactions—but they were subconscious. She liked girls; beautiful ones naturally drew her attention. Yet intimate contact sparked a battle between instinct and morals, making her both want and fear it. Sharp-eyed Monica had caught this. Ordinary girls wouldn't show such conflicted feelings when another woman got close.

Only a fellow lesbian like Monica would notice. Like others in the hidden love, she probed for kindred spirits—it was instinct. Since such feelings couldn't be shouted aloud, subtle tests were the only way. Flawless Rebecca had been read like an open book.

Only a kindred soul could spot those clues. Rebecca, caught off guard, never guessed the Holy Maiden was a lesbian—and overlooked the signs.

"Scared?" Monica asked, still propped on her hand.

"I never expected this~"

"Me neither, little one~ But girls liking girls? No big deal. Even our Empress has female consorts~" Monica laughed.

"Huh..." Rebecca was genuinely surprised. She'd never researched this world's views—her focus was the Demon Potion. Monica's words revealed a surprisingly open society.

"But you're too young. That kiss? Just stealing a treat~ I don't like you like that! Hahaha~" Monica roared with laughter.

Rebecca puffed up, furious. A "treat"? Jerk!

"Hahaha, mad now!"

"Of course!" Rebecca glared.

"Alright, alright. Don't be mad. I'll let you steal one back~ Here~" Monica puckered up and leaned in.

So insincere. And was that really "stealing back"?

Rebecca blocked Monica's face with her hand.

"Aww~ Rejected~"

"Annoying!"

"Rebecca, do you like anyone?" Monica asked suddenly.

Rebecca froze.

Like anyone? Past life? Maybe crushes, but just teenage fluff. Honestly? No one. Now? No time for love—her quest for the Demon Potion came first. Even that wild night with Maggie was just lust.

She shook her head.

"Perfect~ I'm single too~ But I won't consider a tiny thing like you yet~ Still, from today, be yourself around me~ Come, embrace me~" Monica buried Rebecca's face in her chest.

"Mmm... damn... let go... mmm~" Rebecca squirmed—not from shyness this time, but playful anger at being teased. Yet relief washed over her; someone knew her secret, even just one.

"Hee-hee-hee-hee-hee~"

Rebecca left the Norna Faith before dusk. She glared at Monica's cheerful wave goodbye—but once turned, a smile crept onto her face.

At home, anxious Anna rushed to meet her. Since hearing Rebecca had written a love letter to a boy—and been rejected—Anna had worried herself sick.

*Why did Rebecca like him?*

*What did she see in him?*

*After years in the Dark Forest, had she been tricked by sweet words?*

*Was she heartbroken?*

These thoughts swirled in Anna's mind.

"Where were you? I've been worried sick! Did you... go find that boy?" Rebecca had sneaked out today, returning so late—it sparked Anna's worst fears.

"Sister..." Rebecca suddenly grabbed Anna's hands.

Anna tensed. "W-What is it?"

"Actually, that day I planned to cause trouble in his class~ But Professor Monica walked by, so I faked tears about being bullied. That idiot Glendon made up this stupid excuse to cover for me."

"Really?" Anna sounded doubtful.

"Really! Ask Glendon—or better, his sister. She wrote the letter and got rejected... I'm this pretty~ If I chased him, would he say no?" Rebecca tilted her chin up proudly.

Anna studied Rebecca's face. It seemed true—and easy to verify. She sighed in relief.

"That's good. That's good~"

"Mhm~ Actually, I like you, Sister~ Hehehe~" Rebecca hugged Anna tightly, kissed her cheek, and dashed off.

Anna stood frozen, touching her cheek, utterly dazed.