Episode 16| A week of Freedom
For the first time since entering the temple-
Riley was free.
A full week of leave.
No duties.
No disguises.
No "Ryan."
Just... herself.
The moment she stepped outside and further from the temple, she let out a long breath.
"...Finally."
Her fingers moved instinctively to the ring.
The artifact that had become both her greatest tool-
And her constant burden.
With a small twist-
The illusion shattered.
Her body shifted back to its original form.
Her golden hair flowed freely down her back, long and radiant, catching the light like strands of sunlight itself. Her green eyes seemed brighter-softer-yet far more striking without the restraint of her disguise.
Riley stared at her reflection from a magical compact mirror.
For a moment-
She almost didn't recognize herself.
"...It's been a while."
No bindings.
No lowered voice.
No careful posture.
Just Riley Scott.
Or rather-
Mikayla.
A faint smirk touched her lips.
"...Feels good to be back."
Her peace lasted exactly half a day.
Because of course it did.
"Be at the town square."
That was the message sent by a carrier pigeon, how it found her..well who knows.
The message was short.
Simple.
And entirely threatening.
Riley stared at the note in her hand, her eye twitching slightly.
"...This man is unbelievable."
There was no signature.
There didn't need to be.
Only one person would summon her like this.
"Frankie."
Or rather-
Crown Prince Raymond Lucille.
The man who held her debt.
"...Blackmailing me on my day off."
She sighed.
"...Fine."
The town square was lively.
Bustling with merchants, laughter, and the warmth of everyday life.
Riley stepped into the crowd, her presence immediately drawing subtle attention.
It couldn't be helped.
Her beauty-unrestrained and natural-was striking.
Golden hair.
Clear green eyes.
A soft yet radiant aura that felt almost...
Divine.
And leaning casually near a fountain-
Was him.
Raymond.
No disguise this time.
No mask.
Yet somehow-
He still carried that same dangerous charm.
"Well," he said, the moment he saw her. "You clean up nicely."
Riley crossed her arms.
"...You dragged me here for that?"
He smirked.
"No."
A pause.
"I dragged you here for a date."
Riley blinked.
"...Excuse me?"
And just like that-
She found herself walking beside him.
Through the market.
Past vendors and street performers.
Sharing food she didn't pay for.
"...This is ridiculous," she muttered.
"You're enjoying it," Raymond replied easily.
"I am not."
"You smiled."
"I did not."
"You did."
"...That was a reflex."
Raymond chuckled.
Hours passed.
And somehow-
It did feel like a date.
They talked.
Lightly.
Casually.
As if neither of them carried secrets that could unravel everything.
And yet-
Raymond's gaze lingered on her more than usual.
Something about her-
Was bothering him.
Not in a bad way.
In a... familiar way.
Too familiar.
Finally-
He spoke.
"...It's been nagging me for a while."
Riley stiffened slightly.
"...What has?"
Raymond's eyes locked onto hers.
Sharp.
Searching.
"...Are you sure you're not a saintess?"
Silence.
Riley's heart dropped.
"...What?"
"With the kind of holy magic you have," he continued casually, though his gaze said otherwise, "it wouldn't be surprising."
Her fingers twitched slightly.
"...You're overthinking."
"Am I?"
A pause.
Then-
"...You also remind me of someone."
Riley's breath hitched-just slightly.
"...Someone?"
Raymond looked away briefly, as if lost in thought.
"...An old friend."
His voice softened.
"...A schemer."
Riley froze.
"...I don't know what you mean."
Raymond studied her for a moment longer.
Then-
He smiled.
Light.
Dismissive.
"...Yeah. You wouldn't."
He waved it off.
"Forget it."
But Riley didn't relax.
Not even a little.
Because for a moment-
It felt like he knew.
Or at least-
Was close enough to be dangerous.
This man...
He's not normal.
By the time the sun began to set, they parted ways.
"...Same time tomorrow?" Raymond asked casually.
Riley scoffed.
"...Absolutely not."
He grinned.
"I'll take that as a yes."
"...Don't push your luck."
She turned-
Walking away.
But her thoughts were anything but calm.
He's starting to suspect something.
I need to be more careful.
The rest of her leave-
She chose to spend at home.
With her father.
The moment she arrived-
She stopped.
"...What?"
Her house-
Was no longer the same.
What once stood as a modest home had been transformed.
Renovated.
Expanded.
Beautiful.
Warm.
Alive.
"...Riley?"
Gerald stepped out, his face lighting up the moment he saw her.
"My child!"
She blinked.
Still processing.
"...Father... what happened here?"
He laughed warmly.
"You've been sending quite a bit of money."
She rubbed the back of her neck.
"...Right."
"The business has improved as well," he continued proudly. "I reinvested wisely."
Riley smiled.
Genuinely.
"...That's amazing."
For a moment-
Everything felt normal.
Simple.
Peaceful.
But then-
Gerald's expression shifted slightly.
"...There is one issue."
Riley's smile faded.
"...Taxes?"
He nodded.
"The nobles have increased them again."
Her eyes darkened slightly.
"...Of course they have."
No matter how much they improved-
The system would always pull them back down.
Riley exhaled slowly.
"...I'll handle it."
Not now.
Not yet.
But soon.
I just need more power.
More influence.
More control within the temple.
Only then-
Could she truly change things.
That night, as she lay in her old bed, staring at the ceiling-
Her thoughts drifted.
To the temple.
To the plot.
To the people she had become entangled with.
Raymond.
Michael.
Edward.
Seraphina.
All of them-
Closing in.
"...This was supposed to be simple."
A quiet sigh escaped her lips.
"...Make money."
"...Expose the temple."
"...Avoid the plot."
A pause.
"...And now I'm dating the Crown Prince."
She covered her face.
"...What is my life?"
Yet despite everything-
A small smile formed.
Because for the first time in a long while-
She felt something close to peace.
Even if it wouldn't last.
Because deep down-
She knew.
This calm?
Was only temporary.
And the moment she returned-
Everything would only get more complicated.