SHK CH 584 (Patreon)

When Sol finished his discussion and gave his warning to Aurora, he immediately left the Chapelle and started going towards Camelia’s office.

Since he decided to reforge his relationship with Camelia, it was important to have some good time with her from time to time. Camelia may have manipulated him but all of this had been for his own good.

They said the way to hell was paved with good intentions and Sol could see this firsthand from the events that happened. He could not entirely fault Camelia for the reason she did what she did was simply because he was unable to inspire her with confidence back then.

He stopped short in the hallways when he saw Camelia holding her hand near the open window for a small and cute red bird to sit on.

A small breeze made her golden hair float while a sun ray shone on her hair, giving her a halo and a holy aura beyond compare. When looking at her in such a setting, it was hard to see her as some super pervert woman who enjoyed taking it in a place where the sun didn’t shine.

“I can feel very rude thoughts coming from you.” Camelia arranged a strand of hair and the bird, startled, immediately flew away. There was a regretful expression on her face but it vanished soon as she turned to pout at Sol.

“Heh.” Sol smiled and approached her before hugging Camelia. A hug that was reciprocated as she settled in his large and muscular arms.

“I always feel strange when I realize that you are now taller than me.” This was not the first time she had noticed this but every time she did she always marveled at this reality.

This was also a constant reminder to her that Sol was now a man and that he did not need cuddling from her.

“So. Have you decided what you will do with Aurora?”

“I did.”

Camelia looked in the direction where Aurora should be and frowned, “I understand that you want to believe in her but I believe it would be better to end her.”

It was quite the drastic measure even for Camelia but after all, once bitten, twice shy. Lilith was not the only one who had been traumatized by what happened all those years ago. In fact, Camelia might have been hurting even more if in a different way.

“Even to this day. My deepest regret was not listening to my instinct and leaving Ibuki to join our team at the insistence of Mars.”

The fight against Echidna may have been gruesome but they had everything handled and were about to seal Echidna. If only Ibuki had not stabbed them in the back then history would have been very different today.

If only she had been assertive. If only she had been more careful. If only she had believed in her guts and done what she thought was right.

Myriads of regrets that would exist forever in her heart as she continued to wonder. What if…What if…Again and again.

Thinking about this, Camelia soon took a decision but,

“Don’t even think about going behind my back.”

She was startled and looked up only to be met with a calm confident look. As if he could see all her thoughts.

“I know what you are thinking. It truly isn’t hard to do so and here I will tell you again. Don’t. Do not act without my explicit order in this matter. Otherwise, all you will accomplish is messing with my plans. Understood?”

“But…”

Sol wished to tell her that there were no buts. That there was nothing to discuss. But he knew that such actions would only result in the opposite of what he wished to happen.

He scratched his hair a little before finally sighing. “I guess I have no choice but to tell you what I believe  I have found out. But I will do so after the war. By then I should be able to confirm my theories. This is why it’s imperative that you listen to me. Do not hurt her. Do not even try. Leave her alone.”

“Sol…”

“Don’t you trust me?”

Sol asked while cringing inwardly when he saw her hurt expression. This sentence was like a prebuilt sentence for wannabe manipulators and the first step toward pure gaslighting in most cases. What was the person supposed to answer in such a situation? Say ‘No I don’t trust you.’?

Sol knew very well that he could corner Camelia easily in the current situation. But this was not his goal. An acceptance born from coercion and manipulation would always be filled with doubts and hesitation and at the most decisive moment, it would crumble like a sand castle.

This is why. He changed his words,

“Please. Trust me on this case. I am not blind to the situation. I know what and why I am doing so. So, all I can ask you is…Believe in me and my judgment.”

Camelia bit her lip strongly. So much that one could wonder if blood may even be drawn out.

This was a very important decision but looking at his pleading expression she knew that Sol would not relent.

Was she about to make a mistake again? Would history repeat itself? Camelia wished in moments like this that she could read the future. She did not know what could be the best decision in this situation.

In the end, though…She closed her eyes and took a deep breath before looking at Sol with resolution.

“I believe you. Even though this is eating at me. I promise you that I will not act behind your back.”

“Thank yo—” “But!”

Camelia interrupted him. This was something rare for her but she was fighting her inner demons, “I have a few conditions and I beg you to accept them.”

She knew she could not force her so-called condition on him. But this was the only way she would accept keeping a potential traitor. If he refused then she would kill her no matter what.

Even if it would tear her apart to see him hate her. Sol needed to be alive in order to hate her and a live Sol was better than a dead Sol.

“Go on.”

“In fact. I only have two conditions. One she needs to be bound by a curse that will end her if she makes a mistake.”

“Already done. I told you I knew what I was doing.”

Camelia nodded, “Two. I want her to leave the Church and go live in Babel.”

If there was one secure place in this entire world. Then it was Babel. As long as Ambrosia had her gaze on this woman then she had nothing to fear.