Chapter 445: Something Wrong in the Alley

Something Wrong in the Alley

Aria glanced back at her.

"You’re one to talk."

"Me?"

"You let everyone spoil you."

Videl placed a hand against her chest.

She looked genuinely offended.

At least, she tried to.

"That’s completely different."

Aria raised an eyebrow.

"How?"

"Because I’m charming."

Aria stared at her.

She didn’t answer right away.

For several seconds, she simply looked at Videl.

Then she spoke in a completely flat voice.

"That doesn’t explain anything."

Videl broke into laughter.

She couldn’t hold it back anymore.

Her laughter echoed naturally through the street.

A few people nearby glanced in their direction before continuing on their way.

Aria shook her head.

A faint smile tugged at the corner of her lips.

She had long since become accustomed to Videl’s shameless confidence.

The two women continued walking side by side.

For a while, neither of them said anything.

They didn’t need to.

Their silence wasn’t awkward.

It was comfortable.

Somehow, their relationship had gradually reached that point where silence between them felt just as natural as conversation.

Technically, Videl was a student of the Knight Academy.

Aria was supposed to serve under her.

Videl had told Aria countless times to stop being so formal with her.

She had even asked her more than once to treat her like an older sister.

Aria had refused every single time.

To Aria, respect was not something she could simply throw away because Videl allowed it.

So she continued serving beneath her.

But Videl had never treated Aria like a mere subordinate.

That distinction mattered.

She never ordered Aria around for the sake of showing authority.

She never looked down on her.

When they were together, Videl treated her more like family than a subordinate.

Aria respected her for that.

Deeply.

And Videl, despite being a heroic spirit, had developed a genuine fondness for Aria.

She teased her.

She laughed with her.

She worried about her.

Sometimes, she even acted like an annoying older sister who had discovered exactly which buttons to push.

Aria usually pretended to hate it.

Videl knew better.

After all, if Aria truly disliked it, she wouldn’t still be walking beside her with that faint smile on her face.

Videl’s expression gradually softened.

Her gaze drifted toward the distant streets.

The laughter faded from her face.

A thought had crossed her mind.

"Have you heard anything about Lord Victor?"

Aria’s reaction was immediate.

Her head turned toward Videl.

Her eyes sharpened.

Videl noticed.

Of course she noticed.

A small, mischievous smile slowly appeared on her lips.

"Oh?"

Aria blinked.

"What?"

"You reacted rather quickly."

"I did not."

"You absolutely did."

"I simply answered your question."

"Very quickly."

Aria’s cheeks warmed slightly.

She looked ahead instead of at Videl.

"I was only asking because he’s important."

"Of course."

Videl’s smile didn’t disappear.

Aria glanced sideways at her.

"Videl."

"Yes?"

"Stop smiling like that."

"I can’t help it."

"You can."

"I really can’t."

Aria sighed.

She knew exactly where this conversation was going.

Still, she couldn’t stop herself from answering.

"I just miss Lord Victor."

Videl’s smile widened immediately.

"There it is."

Aria froze.

For half a second, she didn’t even realize what she had said.

Then it hit her.

Her face turned red.

"I mean—"

"I heard you perfectly."

"I was talking about his absence."

"Naturally."

"Not anything else."

"Naturally."

Aria narrowed her green eyes.

Videl was enjoying this far too much.

"You’re teasing me."

"Of course I am."

"You really enjoy this."

"Very much."

Aria let out another sigh.

There was no point arguing with her.

Videl laughed softly.

Aria tried to maintain her serious expression.

She failed.

A small laugh escaped her as well.

For a moment, everything felt peaceful.

Just two women walking through the streets.

Talking.

Laughing.

Enjoying a brief moment of normalcy.

Neither of them noticed the trouble waiting farther ahead.

Their patrol continued as usual.

Videl remained alert.

Even while joking with Aria, she never completely relaxed.

Her eyes constantly moved across the street.

She watched the people passing by.

She noticed small changes in their expressions.

She listened to conversations without obviously listening.

Aria had learned to do the same.

Their patrols had become routine.

Most days were surprisingly ordinary.

There were no massive battles.

No monstrous creatures suddenly appearing from nowhere.

No divine catastrophe threatening to tear the city apart.

Most problems were much simpler.

A dispute between merchants.

A drunk causing trouble.

Someone stealing from another person.

A frightened civilian who needed help.

Ordinary problems.

Ordinary people.

Ordinary decisions.

But Videl had learned something important during her previous patrols.

Appearances couldn’t always be trusted.

A person crying didn’t automatically mean they were innocent.

Someone looking frightened didn’t automatically make them a victim.

And two people standing over someone else didn’t automatically mean those two were criminals.

Things weren’t always as simple as they looked.

People could lie.

Sometimes, they could lie very convincingly.

That was why Videl had stopped rushing into situations based only on what she saw from a distance.

She watched first.

She listened.

Then she acted.

It was a lesson she had learned through experience.

And it had saved her from making more than one serious mistake.

The two women turned onto another street.

Their footsteps echoed softly against the stone.

Aria suddenly slowed.

Videl noticed almost immediately.

"What is it?"

Aria didn’t answer.

Her eyes had shifted toward a nearby alley.

Videl followed her gaze.

Her expression changed.

There were three people inside.

Two men.

And a woman.

They stood in the narrow passage between two buildings.

Something about the scene felt wrong.

The woman was standing stiffly.

Her shoulders were tense.

The two men were close to her.

Too close.

One of them had raised his arm.

From where they stood, it looked as though he was arguing with her.

Aria’s hand instinctively moved toward the sword at her side.

Videl lifted one hand.

"Wait."

Aria stopped.

She looked at Videl.

Videl’s eyes remained fixed on the alley.

She wasn’t convinced yet.

From this distance, it could mean anything.

Maybe the woman was being threatened.

Maybe the three of them were arguing.

Maybe there was another explanation entirely.

Videl had seen enough strange situations to know that the obvious answer wasn’t always the correct one.

She didn’t want to accuse someone without knowing what had actually happened.

So she stepped forward.

Slowly.

Her pace remained calm.

Her hand stayed away from her weapon.

Aria followed close behind.

The alley grew nearer.

The three strangers still hadn’t noticed them.

Videl’s footsteps were quiet against the stone.

She kept her eyes on the two men first.

Then the woman.

She watched their expressions.

Their posture.

Their hands.

Every little detail mattered.

Aria remained beside her.

Her expression was serious now.

The playful mood from moments ago had disappeared.

Videl stopped a short distance from the strangers.

The three finally noticed her.

The two men turned.

The woman looked over as well.

Videl’s gaze moved between them.

Her voice was calm.

But there was enough authority behind it to make all three pay attention.

"What’s happening here?"