Tangled By Fate

"But then, I noticed that you weren't part of the healing group. You were still wearing the temple uniform. I found it weird.

"And afterward, we found out that you were a blessed child. Moreover, you refused to tell me where you were for the six months.

"Since you wouldn't tell me, I had made my assumptions based on the clues you left me with."

Upon hearing his conclusion, Veronica hung her head in shame.

"I know I should have told you but I couldn't. I still cannot tell you the location of the first temple. I'm sorry." She apologized from the bottom of her heart. 

Arthur chuckled. "I understand. It's because I was spying on the temple. You don't trust me enough."

Veronica vigorously shook her head to deny his claim. "It's not like that. Just like in the tower you follow rules, we have to follow certain rules. 

"As the Saint's disciple, I can never tell others about the location of the first temple even if it costs my life. I can't even tell you her name. I was sworn to protect the secrets I know of." 

"It's okay. I understand. I need to tell you everything why we are keeping an eye on the temple."

"You already told me. Isn't it because darkness covered the temple and you went to see for yourself what was wrong? 

"The Saint's duty is to protect the balance between good and evil. If the temple spreads darkness, it will be quite troublesome."

She suddenly remembered something and asked him impatiently, "Did you check how your crystal stone reacted after Lord Alexander died?"

"No, after coming back, all I wanted to do was to see you." Arthur's fingers teasingly trailed down her back, giving her ticklish feelings.

Veronica slapped away his hand under the water.

'This guy takes every chance,' she sighed inwardly.

After that, she suggested, "Then, let's go back and check your crystal. Afterward, you can teleport me to the Alss mountain range. From there, I'll start my journey to the temple."

"I can't do that," Arthur immediately cut off her words.

Veronica steeled. "What do you mean you can't do that?"

Arthur calmly explained, "Have you forgotten what I told you before? Utahill capital is surrounded by neutralizing power. You can't have a magical disguise there." 

He added, "Furthermore, you don't want to take me there. You will be going alone. How can I do that? What if you are in danger?"

"Who is going to wait for me…" she swallowed her next three words -'in the mountains'.

She couldn't let him know the location of the place. 

She silently reached out and touched his arm. 

"Please believe in me. I'm the only one who knows every corner and the paths of the mountains. No assassins or travelers could beat me who lived almost all her childhood nights in the mountains."

It was true that she knew every nook and cranny of the Alss. Not only that, the Rosemary Temple's road was hidden from the normal eyes.

No human could follow her to the temple even if they tried to follow her.

They would find themselves in the circle of a snow maze even if they left marks.

That was the very reason she was this confident.

Arthur replied, "I believe in you. I know you can never fall in danger. It is the danger I'm worried about. It always finds you when you are out of my sight."

Veronica: "..."

'Is he being sarcastic?' she thought suspiciously. 

When he heard no reply from her, he gently persuaded her, "Let's go home and think this through, all right?"

"...Fine…"

As they planned, they went back to the capital city the next day. 

Vincent even prepared lunch for them, not knowing they would use teleport magic.

Also, he had a letter for Catherine. 

He handed it over to Veronica and asked her, "Will you please give it to her?"

Puzzled, Veronica answered, "Sure, you can count on me."

'What actually happened between them in one night that they are exchanging letters now?' she wondered.

On the way, Arthur inquired, "Did Catherine find a lover in the mountains?"

Veronica didn't think too much into it.

"How come? Although his skin color was her type, I don't think they could go that far in a day."

Arthur remarked, "Maybe it's love at first sight. Here, in Tybu, blonde hair is rare."

"He doesn't look like she would fall for her just because of her hair. She has so much potential despite her physical beauty."

"Really? I doubt that," he muttered. 

Veronica took her friend's side, "Just because you don't like her personality, doesn't mean other men won't. She was so popular in the temple. And, she isn't stupid enough to fall for a guy without knowing him first."

Arthur mumbled, "...Still, I doubt that."

He suddenly caught what she just said and grabbed her arm.

"Hey, what do you mean by stupid enough to fall for a guy without knowing him first? Did you think you made a mistake by falling for me without knowing me?"

Veronica averted her gaze. "...I didn't mean that.."

'If I knew that he was a beast in human's clothes, I would have thought twice before falling for him.' She sighed in her heart.

Arthur frowned. His eyes were filled with doubt. "You answered a bit late…"

"Let's go home. Hurry!" Veronica urged him.

After reaching their destination, they changed clothes and headed to Ovior's room.

Ovior saw them and said, "Finally, you are here. We have so much to do."

Arthur went down to business as well. "I know. Did you check the crystal after Alexander's death?"

Ovior was quick to catch on. "To see if the temple's situation had changed or not? I didn't. Is that important right now?"

Arthur delayed the answer. "...I think it is important."

Ovior shrugged. "Why is that? We can check it later. The temple isn't becoming any darker than the last time."