Sophie instantly recognized the voice-it was Eliza. She sneered at the closed gate, lier expression full of disdain. "Eliza, since you know I''m here, why won''t youe qua! Feeling guilty about your family, are your


    Imode, Eliza had been carrying a bucket of water back to her quarters when she overheard Sophie''s voice.


    Since arriving at Saint Grace Nunnery, she quickly adapted to life there. She attended morning and evening prayers without fail and diligentlypleted her assigned chores.


    After surviving life on the streets in her past life,ving a roof over her head and food to eat felt li


    like more than enough.


    i praceful, with a tiny plot for growing vegetables.


    Besides, the munnery had even given her a small, private courtyard. It was simple but I She had nned in trud to her garden today, but as she passed the main gate with her water bucket, she heard Sophie''s sickly sweet voice, pretending to be concerned. Clearly, she was up to no good.


    "Guilty!" Eliza''s voice was ice-cold, "I''m a min now. 1 have no family. So I don''t see what I''d have to feel guilty about."


    She picked up her bucket, ready to


    y to leave.


    Tre so selfish. Did your Outside, Sophor scoffed, "No family, huh! Then why did you steal your mother''s memorial que! Eliza, you''re so : Dn and Mathew when you took Caroline''s memorial que?"


    ou even think about


    Then, her tone turned smug. "She wasn''t just your mother. And if Father finds out, do you think he''ll let you off easily? But if youe back with me now. I might even put in a good word for you. After all, you know Father loves ine must-


    Before Sophie could finish gloating, the gates of Saint Grace Nunnery suddenly swung open.


    Before she even saw who did it, a bucket of ice-cold water came phishing out with a loud whooshe


    Sophie gasped as the freezing water drenched her from head to for


    And before she could even react, the gates mmed shut again. For a long moment, she just stood there, stunned. Then, her face twisted with rage.


    She pped the gate, hier voire serveching. "Eliza, have you lost your mind? You linle bitch, how dare you throw water at me! Just wait till I tell Father and my brothers about this!"


    Though she hadn''t seen who was behind the door, she knew it had to be Eliza. And she was right.


    Inside, Eliza leaned casually against the door, still holding the empty bucket, thoroughly amused. Hearing Sophie''s furious shricks outside, she


    see what they


    at they think they can do to me now


    "Go ahead and tell them," the said mockingly. "Ed love to see


    Then she turned to the Reverend who had helped her and silent


    silently mouthed thank you.


    Without sparing another dought for Sophile, Eliza happily carried her bucket back to her courtyard.


    Dutaide, Sophie seethed, but with no way to force the door open, she had no choice but to enhur the long, bumpy ride back home.


    And sure enough, the moment she returned, she wasted no timeining to Gabriel and the others.


    The reactions were exactly what she wanted. Gabriel and the Stonor broilers were furious-especially Dn, who swore that when Eliza came bark, he''d make her pay for this


    Howrses, that was assuming liza ever came back. If she didn''t, their threats ineant nothing


    had no choice but to keep making the grueling trip to Saint Grace Nunnery. Day after day, she endured the long, bone-rauling journey between Haven City and Mount Westin


    And after all that effort, the still had caught a single glimpse of Eliza-she couldn''t even get past the


    teven get past the nunnery gates.


    she hadidered sneaking in with a prayer group, but Saint Grace Nunnery rarely had visitors


    The gates had been shut for days, and the few people who did show up look a the nunnery''s ft of closing its doors without warning


    After days of waiting wil


    one look and left withoutint. It seemed everyone was used to


    no result, Sophie finally lost patiener. Nor bribed a vige woman to ask how long


    the nunnery would stay closed.


    The answer son came back. The Holy Lady was


    the country. The nunnery would be closed for a month


    10.18 AM D


    "A month?" Sophie clenched her teeth in fury.


    "Damn it! Eliza and those old nuns have been making a fool out of me! If I hadn''t paid for this information, who knows how much more time would''ve wasted" she thought.


    She shot onest re at the locked gates before turning on her heel and leaving.


    Inside Saint Grace Nunnery, Eliza had just finished copying the Bible. She put down her pen, feeling calm and satisfied with her work. Carefully. she spread the still-damp pages on the table to dry.


    "Time to fetch water, she said to herself.


    Life in Saint Grace Nunnery was quiet and simple-something Eliza hadn''t experienced in a long time, not since her past life.


    She liked it. The only inconvenience was the water supply. Every day, she had to haul water from the mountainside.


    Of course, she could use the stream water from her pocket farm, but ever since discovering its miraculous properties, she had been careful


    Also, Mary checked on her back injuries frequently. If her wounds healed so fast,


    it would raise suspicion. So, she only used the water to tend the medicinal herbs


    in her pocket farm, helping them grow stronger.


    Dressed in her habit, Eliza stepped out of her room, picked up two wooden buckets, and made her way up the mountain path.


    As she walked, she thought about the scripture Mary had assigned her to memorize a few days ago-The Magnificat.


    She had almost mastered it, though there were still a few lines she struggled with


    ncing around and seeing no one nearby, she started reciting aloud. "My soul proims the greatness of the Lord, my spirit rejoices in God my Savior, for he has looked with favor on his lowly servant..."


    Step by step, she climbed the stone path, her wooden buckets swaying gently in rhythm with her voice. The words rang clear through the forest, blending with the rustling leaves and distant birdsong.


    Engrossed in her recitation, Eliza didn''t notice the figure sitting on a small bridge downstream, just beyond the stream.


    Nn''s eyes suddenly snapped open. Blood-red.


    He was in bad shape. His face was pale, drenched in sweat, his breathing ragged. His brows were tightly furrowed, his expression twisted-like a wolf on the verge of losing control.


    Had Eliza seen him, she would have instantly sensed the danger radiating from him, the silent warning to stay away.


    But she didn''t. And as her voice carried through the trees, Nn''s bloodshot eyes


    locked onto her.


    色