Chapter 55 Part 4) A Relaxing Stroll (Patreon)

“Mama!” Lilly ran over and jumped onto Desaray’s back. Desaray had made her way into town to take a look at how things were going, and Lilly had just happened to be out for a stroll herself. As soon as she saw her Mama, she took off running and leaped with everything she had.

“Lilly! Have you been having fun?” Desaray asked. She rubbed her daughter’s head and felt all her problems wash away. Lilly’s smile was all she needed to forget about everything weighing her down.

“Mmm… But Mama, you can’t go down that street there. It leads to the new district where those who are not leveled up yet live.” Lilly pointed to the street just a few blocks away.

“Right. Due to lockdown, we can’t help people level up in the lower-level dungeons.” Desaray had no idea when this had happened, but it seemed that it had become an unofficial law that everyone had to have maxed out ice resistance to live in the capital. While people could travel from place to place with in the kingdom, the normal training sessions had been put on hold due to the current situation. There was no way of telling what was going to happen next.

Desaray frowned slightly. She did not wish to harm someone by mistake. “Maybe I should return…”

“Your Holiness, it is no issue.” An’ne appeared out of nowhere, prostrating herself on the ground as she prayed.

“What do you mean?” Desaray was confused. She did not know why it was not an issue if she was around and she might end up hurting people.

“Everyone who enters the capital is given an ice ward. It is not strong enough to block your attacks but it is strong enough to protect them from your aura. It was specially crafted by Cinder and Regal. But we do ask that you do not go into the area that Princess Lilly had mentioned. There are many children there.” An’ne did have to warn Desaray about this just because she knew her goddess would be very upset if she accidentally harmed anyone.

“Thanks. I will keep away from that area then.” Desaray smiled. She had no idea those around her were trying to make it so she could move around freely. They always did things like this without her knowing. It really warmed her ice-covered heart.

“It is nothing. It is what we should do to ensure that Your Holiness is able to move around freely without worry.” An’ne seemed to always be in apostle mode. She never stopped treating her as a goddess. Juna’s brainwashing had done a number on her. But An’ne was still a good, kind girl. Desaray knew she was always helping the orphan children who would appear from time to time. She spent much of her time preaching and the rest taking care of the children.

She was never asked to do any of this. She did everything on her own, although Desaray did hope that one day, An’ne would find someone she could settle down with. It bothered her slightly to know someone was willing to dedicate their entire being to her like this.

“An’ne have you met anyone who you find attractive as of late?” Desaray decided to ask because she knew An’ne would never say so otherwise.

“Attractive? I dare say I have not. I have not met anyone who I see willing to take the same path as me as of yet. While there are many who worship your Holiness, to be able to put your entire heart and soul into the faith is something not many are willing to do. They are still bound by the worldly items that they hold dear.” An’ne’s reply was not exactly what Desaray was expecting.

Desaray looked at the girl whose only worry was her faith and sighed. The girl was truly someone who did not care about anything else but what she loved. Desaray was not against what An’ne did. She was actually a great help. She did much of the charity work in the kingdom trying to help everyone who came in. But there were times when Desaray worried about the girl’s health.

“I am sure one day you will find that special someone.” Desaray smiled as she reached up and patted An’ne’s head. It had been a kind of habit of hers to do that with the people around her. Desaray wondered if it was because she kept doing it to Lilly. When she thought about the head patting, Desaray did wonder when Lilly was going to tell her, her true race since the little girl seemed to have been hiding the fact that she had scales on her body from the very start.

Desaray never said anything since she did not want to pry but she did wonder if the little one was trying to wait for a certain time to say something or not. Desaray chuckled to herself as she said: “An’ne I plan to take Lilly for a stroll, do you wish to join us?”

“I wish I could, but I was heading over to the temporary refugee camp near the gates to help provide food and shelter. There seems to be a large influx since the angels have appeared.” An’ne replied with a reluctant shake of her head.

“Alright. Be careful. Let Juna know if you run into any troubles, I will come right away.”