Chapter 378
"It's fine." Evelyn Roland's lips curved slightly as she casually grabbed a towel to wipe her face.
Sebastian Valdemar mimicked her, using the towel to dry his damp hair.
Their unbothered demeanor made Alice Flores relax slightly, her tense nerves easing.
"Achoo—"
The sudden sneeze shattered the quiet. Sebastian sneezed twice in quick succession, the tip of his nose turning faintly red.
Evelyn's brow furrowed. This man clearly hadn't fully recovered, yet he'd stubbornly insisted on coming along.
"Miss Roland..."
Alice fidgeted, her fingers twisting the hem of her shirt.
"Just call me Evelyn."
Evelyn smoothly took over the conversation, her tone understanding.
"Evelyn, why don't you take your boyfriend inside to rest for a bit?"
"Boyfriend?" Evelyn's eyebrow arched, but she didn't rush to correct the assumption.
The man drying his face suddenly looked up, a knowing smirk playing on his lips.
"Did... did I say something wrong?" Alice wrung her hands nervously.
"Don't worry." Sebastian's voice was gentle. "Could we borrow a hairdryer?"
Alice's face flushed crimson. "We... don't have one here."
Evelyn's eyes gleamed. "Mind if I use your kitchen? I need to make some ginger tea. Do you have ginger?"
"Yes! I'll get it right away!"
Alice practically fled the room.
When she returned to the kitchen, the sight before her made her breath catch.
The ethereal young woman stood before the worn-out clay stove, her refined presence starkly out of place in the humble surroundings.
Alice's shoulders hunched instinctively.
"Let me do it."
She knelt with practiced ease, adding firewood to the stove.
Evelyn's gaze lingered on Alice's calloused hands. Though aware of the scrutiny, Alice remained silent, focusing on her task.
"Why is the village so empty?"
"Ah..."
Alice sighed heavily, her voice suddenly aged. "This place used to be lively. Then came the famine. Some starved. Others fell ill. Those who could leave did. Now only the elderly, women, and children remain."
"What about Mount Pilatus? The temple should provide aid."
At the mention of the temple, Alice's hands trembled violently.
"That place... it's not what it used to be." Her voice shook. "It's become a den of monsters now."
Evelyn's eyes turned icy.
"No one's intervened?"
"Who would dare?" Alice gave a bitter laugh. "It's the most popular temple in the city. Too many powerful people backing it."
Mount Pilatus.
The novice monk.
The acting abbot.
Isabella Langley.
The connections snapped into place in Evelyn's mind. Her knuckles whitened as her grip tightened, a cold glint flashing in her eyes.