Aria shook her head, her smile filled with gratitude and helplessness.

"It's not the same. She said, "I'll ...... you It's not the same. You're so important, and I'm ...... I don't matter. ”

She was innocent, but she wasn't stupid. For York Tracy, who wants to carry the future of the entire temple, the weight of the increasingly unfathomable Sage Ed Singal and the paladin Temp Arria, who has no time to take a second look, are of course different.

"No one is absolutely 'insignificant'. Ed replied, "At least, for now, you're important to me...... You know what I mean, right?"

When he noticed the ambiguity, he was slightly embarrassed, and in a panic, he gestured between the two with his hand: "I mean, we ...... It's the same. ”

Ariyah smiled and tilted her head, her eyes narrowed a little. When the doubts and panic that had accumulated in her heart were dissipated, she gradually became less cramped than she had been at the beginning. Ed even felt that he had finally seen a little bit of the real Temp Arria, a straightforward and courageous girl who grew up on the streets of Stonebug. Stripped of the responsibilities and etiquette constraints of being a "paladin", she was like an evening primrose blooming in the night, perhaps not so conspicuous, but fresh and comfortable stretching her petals - even if she straightened her waist and was almost half a head taller than him, he still felt that her tall and confident appearance was more beautiful.

"But, of course," he felt he should explain to her, "if you don't want anyone else to know, I'll keep it a secret." ”

The paladin shook his head again: "So, how are you going to explain to the others what we are talking about so sneaky?"

She had realized that her actions would lead to all kinds of speculation, but she couldn't turn back the clock, so she had to take responsibility for the consequences instead of letting the people who helped her take the blame.

"As you say," she said, "I haven't done anything wrong, so I don't need to hide anything." If I can help you, so much the better – I'd love to. ”

She lifted her hand, only to find that she was still holding the dead metal leaf in her hand.

"This," she handed to Ed a little embarrassed, "I'll give it to you...... Maybe you can use it, I mean, do some research or something...... I don't know much about those. ”

Ed took it calmly—he was curious indeed.

“...... It's not golden. He carefully pinched the corners, deliberately showing a hint of regret.

Ariyah laughed out loud and quickly covered her mouth again.

"I can't control this yet. "Maybe later...... In any case, I should never run out of money to spend again. ”

Ed looked at her with envy on his face, very cooperative.

“...... The girl you like will be very happy. The paladin sighed softly.

"I hope so. Ed smiled at her, "We should go back too...... Are you ready?"

The paladin nodded and saluted him solemnly.

"If you need it," she said, "I'm right outside the door." And ......"

She hesitated for a moment, shook her head again, smiled apologetically, and turned to leave.

.

Ed stood alone in the courtyard for a while longer. Not that he didn't think there was anything wrong with going back with Aria - even if he had used his spell to obscure his voice a little, there was more than one person who saw them standing here talking.

He just needed a moment to clear his mind. He hadn't actually planned to let everyone know what was special about Aria right now before he was ready, and she wasn't wrong about one thing, they weren't the same. She doesn't carry enough weight, but is prone to suspicion and rejection...... That's the hurt he didn't want her to suffer.

He wasn't left alone for long. York himself came to him and told him, "Lord Filly Zeri has arrived. ”

Paladins who leave the temple are still trusted and respected...... Perhaps more respected than Ed. They sent someone to the water temple to see if the phantom hadn't escaped, but Ed couldn't tell from York's look if there was worse news - he looked like he was in a state of distraction, as if he was facing some difficult dilemma.

Ed glanced at him several times along the way, but didn't get any response, he remembered what Aria wanted to say before leaving, and simply asked bluntly, "Don't you want to know what Aria told me?"

While York was arguing with another priest outside the door, he and Aria quietly left through the side door...... But since he came here, he shouldn't know who he was staying with just now.

The young pastor came back to his senses, and suddenly froze, and his eyes crossed a rare embarrassment: "No, no, I don't ......"

He stopped arguing in Ed's smiling expression, and bowed his head silently.

"She wasn't quite right tonight. After a moment of confusion, he still opened his mouth to explain, "She had been avoiding you, as if she was afraid of something, and then she looked for you again...... She's someone who doesn't learn to hide and run away from what she says that makes you feel offended...... Or something weird, I can apologize on her behalf......"

His voice grew lower and lower in apprehension and confusion as Ed looked at him and smiled meaningfully.

"Nothing to apologize for. Ed smiled, suddenly feeling a little fun for Tess, "But if you're wondering what she said...... It's best to ask her herself. ”

Obviously, in the pastor's mind, Temple Ariyah is not so insignificant. Even on a night like this, he noticed her every move...... Among the many "important" things, this insignificant little thing made Ed extremely happy.

His smile and breezy tone may have made York realize something. He was a little embarrassed, but obviously relieved, and stopped asking. When they returned to the flower hall where they were entertaining, he didn't say a word to Ariador, who was guarding the door, just nodded slightly as usual.

The moment he stepped through the door, his awe-inspiring aura seemed to be ready for battle. However, the atmosphere in the Flower Hall was nothing short of convivial, and the venerable paladin Philip Zeri was describing the chaos in the temple of the water god as the full moon rose, without feeling that it would detract from the temple's prestige. Compared to the water temple under Fletcher's control, which was like an impregnable wall and majestic but above all the temples, the place in Filly's mouth that was like a chicken and a dog jumping in sudden trouble was suddenly pulled closer to a closer distance, and even the phantom escaped part...... There may even be "some" who have become the appearance of other people, and they have become completely forgivable.