Wayne was arm in arm with Cushing, his future father-in-law. After downing two glasses of high-proof distilled spirits, and with the help of his deltoids, biceps, and pectorals making up an iron triangle, Cushing firmly pinned Wayne in place, "Brother Wayne, I’m entrusting my daughter to you; you mustn’t let her suffer in the future."
"Don’t worry, Brother Cushing, I’d rather suffer myself than let her suffer."
Hearing this, Cushing’s tears fell on the spot; those unaware of the situation might have thought they were at a wedding.
The Knight Sister didn’t fit in with the mood, watching the brothers discussing marriage and weddings and wondering why the Church had become after she had just slept.
The others were one thing, but Wayne was the next Sun Knight, and Cushing was the current Knight Entourage—they were not ordinary members of the Church.
The Church deteriorated with each generation; if the Heavenly Father’s Court were to invade on a large scale, and with the help of angels descending to the Mortal World, could the Church withstand the Angelic Holy Spear and the Holy Swords?
Life wasn’t easy, the Knight Sister sighed and retreated behind a tree, out of sight and out of mind.
At that moment, Philomena, beguilingly beautiful, walked over with her twins. Her presence was so commanding that not only did the women scurry away, not wanting to be caught in the same frame as her, but even the muscular men unconsciously broke out of their manly composure.
Seeing Philomena’s arrival, Wayne’s heart skipped a beat; just in case, he sent out a distress signal through telepathic transmission.
"Mina, what brings you here?"
Wayne pushed away the hefty arm from his shoulder and, under Cushing’s puzzled gaze, walked towards Philomena, who did not hide anything and looped her hand through Wayne’s arm.
"It’s your birthday today, and as your girlfriend, I’m here to celebrate it with you. After all, I’ve already met your parents," Philomena’s tone was gentle, her words tantalizing.
The muscular men of the Sun Church rolled up their sleeves, glaring at the intruding High Priest, ready to pounce on Philomena and drench her in blood once Cushing gave the signal.
What else could they do, wrestle and defeat the Legendary Mage?
One Life Force Field from the Legendary Mage, and they’d all be sent flying.
Cushing was furious, but didn’t have much anger left. His intuition told him that Wayne must have his reasons, which could all be explained. This move was the Sun Church’s great victory—playing the Sun Knight successor manipulating the High Priestess of the Moonlight Church.
"Big Sister, this makes things difficult for me!"
Wayne felt a tingling in his scalp and, draping his arm around Philomena’s slender waist, led her behind the tree, where upon seeing the Knight Armor, he sheepishly said, "Valkyrie, could I trouble you to make some room?"
Valkyrie, completely numb, grumbled about the Goddess’s hasty decisions and gave up her spot to the two.
"Mina, what are you doing? Today isn’t my birthday."
"How is it that you can celebrate a birthday for another girlfriend at home, yet I can’t come to the birthday party?" Philomena cast a glance at Wayne, "Or are you saying that I’m not in your heart, and there’s no place for me in this home?"
The damaging impact left Wayne speechless; it was all the playboy’s fault, not Philomena’s.
Seeing his silence, Philomena gave a cold laugh and lifted her veil, leaving a lipstick mark on Wayne’s face: "Don’t you dare wipe it off; I’ll come back to check in an hour."
With that, she left with her two bodyguards.
Not going far, she ventured to the manor’s second-floor study.
Chris had invited her to Wayne Manor today, to take a tour and to meet her other comrades-in-arms.
They got along quite pleasantly. With Chris vouching, Veronica thought the new commander was alright; they would need such a valiant warrior for future sieges.
Viley didn’t view, thinking how could a great man languish under others. She saw Philomena as rebellious to the bone and destined to become a formidable foe someday.
The twins guarded the door; four heads met in the second-floor study, and overlooking from above, they had a perfect view of the garden below.
Philomena stood in front of the window, discontent with herself for sinking to the level of playing with little girls when she noticed a figure in a black robe led by the Butler into the garden and then taken by Wayne behind the tree.
"That’s her, Saint Anastasia of the Dark Church."
"Isn’t the Holy Maiden supposed to remain pure for the Goddess? How could she degrade herself this way?"
"A Holy Maiden can resign; she’d been in the position for many years, and it’s normal for her to want to pursue her own life."
"Normal, how? What if the Goddess arrives one day and chooses the wrong person? Wouldn’t she see everything?"
The four muttered among themselves. Before Philomena could start her telepathic exploration, Wayne and Anastasia emerged from behind the tree.
At first glance, there was nothing amiss, but a closer look revealed that the lipstick mark on Wayne’s face had been wiped off.
"I told you so, the Dark Church’s Holy Maiden has fallen!"
"It won’t take many days before we hear of the Dark Church selecting a new Holy Maiden. Want to bet against me?"
"Then wouldn’t you always win?"
After Anastasia left, the four sat around in the study.
"It’s strange, what is the Dark Church’s Holy Maiden doing at my birthday party? Are we intimate?" Viley pondered.
"It’s not important. Her very presence here has proven everything."
Philomena, worried, glanced at Chris. Remembering the bet, she cursed Anastasia’s blasphemous actions internally. This was a great disrespect towards the Dark Goddess—reporting to the Dark Church would surely result in a certain capture.
"That’s all good and well, but her appearance is just too coincidental..."
Viley tilted her head, "Is there a possibility that Wayne invited her here, to put on a show for us?"