Chapter 151: You Poor Girl
Chapter 151: You Poor Girl
Ella and her friends finally arrived at the Holy Cathedral after walking through the Holy Bridge to cross the Serene River.
On the way after that quiet road, everything they passed was the same as any other road, filled with the hustle and bustle of people passing by on their own business.
After receiving greetings from several priests that they met by chance, they were finally able to walk the hallway peacefully to Pope's private area.
"Really like a royal palace, everyone here is always friendly and respectful to you, Ella..." Evelyn muttered a little blankly as if she was remembering her time at her father's royal palace.
It was a bit different, and she only received greetings only from her family. Also, most of the other Royal Household members in the palace only served according to their duties.
Sometimes, Evelyn felt so stiff and awkward towards the people who worked in the royal palace.
"Hmm? That's because this is the Holy Cathedral, in every Holy Church too... Is there anything here that makes you feel uncomfortable compared to the Ariatha Royal Palace, Eve?" As if she realized something, Ella expressed her concern.
"No, nothing, really. I just think back at home, most of the people felt stiff and awkward. Still, here it is very different even though the Holy Cathedral really resembles a palace." Evelyn shook her head. She once again put her jealousy on Ella. Still, she immediately threw such thoughts away from her mind.
"If you sometimes feel uncomfortable at home, you can occasionally play at the Holy Cathedral. Ella will be more than happy to entertain you. Hmm, but, maybe it will take a while until you get home, Eve." Elysia gave a solution that she felt was most suitable for these two princesses.
"Oh my, that's a good thing, I'll always host you whenever you come. Even if you've graduated from the academy, don't forget to visit me, or I'll visit you, okay?" Ella clasped her hands together. She was pleased with the suggestion.
"Un, that's a good idea. I'll also host you at Ariatha Royal Palace when you guys visit. Eh? If that's the case, we don't know where Ely lives after she graduates in nine years..." Evelyn quickly agreed, but she immediately remembered the most important thing.
There was no personal information about her best friend! She didn't want to break her friendship with Elysia just because she didn't know.
Evelyn took Elysia's arm and looked at the latter usual gorgeous bluish-purple eyes. "Ely, please be honest with me, I mean no harm. When you graduate, where will you live, or where is your house? You know what I mean, right? Please don't play around with your words like when you are asked by others..."
Elysia looked back at Evelyn's greenish eyes. They seemed to glow like an emerald.
It also got Ella's interest, and she was so curious about Elysia. Even her grandfather didn't know the aristocratic household named Avery. She was utterly clueless when it came to this one friend.
Not answering frankly by turning things around with the answer that was always played in circles, it was no longer something she could do at this point.
Not after two kind and considerate girls look at her with sparkles of plea in their eyes. And again, not after Elena's support that always gave her a kind cheer.
Elysia sighed softly and then looked out of the hallway window. Stared at the sun that was starting to disappear on the western horizon, then look back at the two girls who were still staring at her.
"Umm, you see, I don't have a house or a place that can be called home anymore. The definite thing that I can give to that question, maybe I will explore various regions without a definite place to stay." An honest and straightforward answer, that was what Elysia could tell them.
Ella and Evelyn seemed to have the same thought about Elysia's answer. They knew it was the honest answer they wanted to know, but suddenly it felt so sad. They misinterpreted it, but Elysia had no clue about it.
Elysia came from the fallen household. No wonder she introduced herself as an ordinary girl despite having a surname. No one knew what happened to Avery Household and what reasons made Elysia want to keep her surname.
However, one thing was clear based on Elysia's answer, she was a girl who was left alone in the world and had no shelter or person to look after her.
Maybe tragedy befell her parents and made the girl who could only rely on herself to seek protection at the academy as a student.
These two princesses arbitrarily made up a sad backstory for her, whereas Elysia was utterly clueless about it. What she saw right now, only two girls with long blonde hair staring at her with a slightly sad face as if they wanted to cry.
Suddenly, Ella stretched out her arms and embraced Elysia. Evelyn silently did the same. Poor Vanessa, caught between three girls.
'Master, help...'
The dumbfounded Elysia suddenly heard a request for help from the white cat in her arms. Because she didn't know about this sudden hug, she quickly freed the cat.
Fresh breath for Vanessa, to be hugged by her master was indeed a comfortable thing. Still, it was a different story when she was crushed by two other girls in her master's arms.
"You poor girl. Ely, you can stay here with me, if you don't have a place called home, the Holy Cathedral will always welcome you. Grandfather already thinks of you as his adopted granddaughter, right? So, we can be called stepsisters. Eh, no, it's sisters." Ella spoke as if she comforted the grieving heart of a young girl who no longer had anyone.
"The Ariatha Royal Palace will also welcome you, it can be a home for you too, Ely. En, since we are best friends, so we can also become sisters. Don't be shy and don't hesitate, I'm there or here with you." Evelyn seemed not to want to lose. She had a strange feeling about her friend who was taken away and claimed by Ella.
The Pope and Ella were so unfair... They made things like a granddaughter for the former and a sister for the latter.
"Ah, um, okay, thanks for the offer and concern from you two... I really appreciate it." Still grateful even though Elysia didn't know why they suddenly seemed to be comforting her.
When she asked Elena, the most reliable person was also a little confused. Elena just guessed it from Elysia's answer, and these two girls had misinterpreted it a bit.
However, at this point, it was hard for her to explain because what she said was right, and what these two girls misunderstood may also be true.
'Ah, just let it go, Ely. This isn't a bad thing, it's actually a good thing for you and proof of how much these two girls care for you. They're two nice girls who want to take care of you hehe...' Elena giggled softly. Elysia had already answered right away with honesty, and there wasn't anything wrong about this, even though it was unexpected.
'Oh, um, okay.' Elysia agreed with that suggestion. She also didn't know what to do or explain at this point. Nonetheless, she must immediately change the topic of conversation. They had been here too long and forgot their aim.
"Um, didn't we want to hurry here because of Grandpa? Maybe he's waiting for you, Ella."
It only took a moment, Ella immediately released her arms from Elysia, and Evelyn did the same.
"Ah, yes, that's right. We have to hurry, come on to my house." Ella took Elysia and Evelyn's hands. She looked somewhat panicked. This was the first time in her eighteen years of life to come home this late.
"Oh, wait, Vann."
"Mew." Vanessa gave her confirmation.
After telling Vanessa to follow them, Elysia allowed herself to be pulled by the girl in a hurry. Ella was worried her grandfather might be waiting for her, and there was no dinner.
As they passed the fork in the hallway near the private area home to the Pope and Ella, an old man strolled leisurely from another hallway.
He saw three girls followed by a white cat walking as if in a hurry, and one girl urged the other two girls to make them walk faster.
Alexander just came back and thought he came home quite late, but apparently not. His granddaughter had just returned with two of her new friends, and they just passed by the other hallway without realizing he was on the other side.
He smiled and shook his head slowly, then he walked faster to catch up with the three girls. His granddaughter had finally found the right friends, and they spent their time together. Nothing could be better than that, and he found peace of mind for her.