Unacceptable Aid

Tyre's 'I don't believe him' or 'I can't believe him', in Wendy's view they were both sentences that were difficult to swallow even if Tyre purposedly said it in a direct and to the point manner. It was not the choice of words or expression matter but rather the meaning that greatly troubled her.

"But didn't you just..." It took a great deal of effort for Wendy to not stammer.

She wanted to ask, did Tyre played with her?

"What?" Tyre lightly snorted. It was her first genuine snort since forever. "I only told you more of my story that I didn't tell to others."

"... I thought you are feeling grateful to him and what not?" Wendy forced a smile as her expression became strange. A mixture of awkward and wary that had not gone.

It was hard to accept because when Tyre spoke earlier, while she indeed didn't say it outright, Wendy got a familiar atmosphere just as, yes, it was similar like when Nightingale talked about Prince Roland about his intention to shelter witches.

Expectation. Hope. Excitement.

Was that not the case?

"Don't you also think so?" Tyre asked curtly. "Even though you have never meet Roland in person, just the hearsay would make people doubted their ears if suddenly a person close to you saying he was not like that."

Wendy nodded. Prince Roland was not some noble that had little to no exposure; he was an interesting source of gossip that made him infamous even to non-native. The witches in the camp naturally was not an exception.

The object of ridicule said to be good for nothing and the black sheep of the royal family. Especially when compared to his successful siblings, including the younger princess that was already known for her wisdom since childhood, he was just a nobody.

Roland Wimbledon was simply a disgrace.

Many had said such hurtful words, and it didn't bode well with Wendy who had a gentle disposition. However, it was not entirely false since him being a troublemaker and pervert was something widely acknowledged.

And so, how could that prince of all people make a good impression towards Nightingale of all witches? She even thought the prince somehow cast a beguile spell to Nightingale. Otherwise, it didn't make sense.

While she was pondering the issue, Tyre's voice brought her back.

"As I said, I can't believe him."

Wendy looked up to see Tyre's eyes that reflected a hint of doubt.

"It's only like what, a week since that day? Certainly less than ten days." Tyre looked down to the flickering bonfire. Her sombre expression was hard to fathom. "He said he wanted me to be free and will even help me. But don't you think it's strange?"

"... What's so strange about that?" Wendy wondered.

Based on what Nightingale told her, this prince Roland was a good person. He didn't lie to Nightingale of not fearing the church and wanting to shelter the witches, agreeing the two when even one was enough a reason for the church to ultimately making the prince their target. It's not that Wendy wanted to downplay her issue, but considering his firm stance towards a giant problem like the church, it's pretty unlikely he would lie about this particular matter.

Tyre said without moving her head. "Besides saying I don't need to die, he never really help me. Instead, I was sent here to help his objective."

"What objective?" Wendy's heart sunk. Could it be the prince really had a hidden agenda?

It was a bitter thing to consider, but when it came to nobles, Wendy had heard that some of them had weird interest and were eying to own witches.

Witches had different aura than regular girls, like how a lot of gemstones were like an ordinary stone in shape and hardness but stood out nonetheless. Although she can't verify the rumours, bad stories were indeed abundant.

Regardless of their intention, surely nothing good would come to the witches that unfortunately fell to such people clutch.

"What are you thinking of?" Tyre brought back Wendy from her imagination and didn't attempt to hide her ridicule. "I'm telling you that he didn't give me anything but already making me his agent."

"...Is that so." Wendy mumbled as she shyly covered her cheeks that grew hot and thought, so that's it.

Certainly, in Tyre's view, it could be interpreted that Prince Roland wanted Tyre to show her loyalty first or something along the line before he tried to help her. Wendy tilted her head and started growing worried for Nightingale. If he was such a cunning prince, she might get tricked regardless of the ability that allowed her to tell the truth and lie apart.

But Wendy immediately shook her head. While it was true that she always treated Nightingale as her friend as well as a little sister that she wanted to spoil, she knew the real capability of the witch that went through a lot and won't intentionally underestimate her. Nightingale's ability led her to only see things in black and white? They already knew from long ago that it was not true.

There was also the fact that she was still wary of Tyre and can't fully believe her words. Wendy decided to prob her cautiously. "Won't it because the prince simply believe you?"

"Don't jest," Tyre replied coldly. "Do you even believe what you were saying?"

Nobody in the right mind would honestly believe an assassin that tried to have his life, such thought was understandable. Following that premise, Prince Roland must have the intention to use her if he prevented her suicide attempt and allowed her to live. Even Wendy can't help but sympathise with Tyre after hearing all that.

"Anyway, I thought I was still a pawn being used by others." Tyre looked up to see the witch in the eyes. "How could I not think like so? This place is not safe, yet he wanted me to go and stay for a while?"

"With us sisters together living in the mountain is possible," Wendy said hurriedly. It was unknown whether she was trying to justify their reckless action or comforting Tyre. "We already living here for some time."

"I'm not talking about the mountain though." Tyre leaned back slightly, just enough that her chin pointed at the witch in front of her, "The danger I'm talking about is you all."

Tyre believed the mountains were more manageable, though the mountains were indeed very dangerous in the months of the demons with all demonic beasts roaming around that made it impossible to stay for even a short time alone.

Wendy frowned and said firmly, "We won't hurt our kin."

"Not you perhaps." Tyre nodded, but she didn't elaborate that she was in fact not a witch, so she was not her kin per se. "If not because I tried Nightingale's power... No, even then I thought she was collaborating with the prince to trick me."

"Veronica is not like that." Wendy quickly rebutted.

"Who knows really? I only met her recently after all, and she appeared so suddenly." Tyre was not talking figuratively either.

"That's, I guess you're right." Wendy smiled as she could easily imagine Nightingale suddenly appeared out of nowhere.

The tent then sunk into a strange silence for a while.

As Wendy was thinking to ask some things to break the ice, Tyre beat her to it by letting out a sigh.

"She said... that she had watched our confrontation."

Needless to say, it was about Roland and Tyre.

"Nightingale did?" Wendy expression turned strange as she exclaimed in surprise. "Then, could it be?"

"Yes, she also mentioned her power had another ability and could tell the truth and lies apart? The reason she appeared suddenly to His Highness back then was said precisely because of that."

Simply put, Nightingale was impressed by the prince's action at the time. Wendy sighed inwardly at the revelation.

In a way, it was indeed a beguiling spell. But a question appeared in Wendy's mind. Did the prince already know about Nightingale's whereabouts that he started to talk like that? It was a possibility, but she put a stop to the thought because in the end what he spoke must be the truth or else Nightingale won't be convinced.

"Haa, let's not talk about him." Tyre let out a sigh and trying to steer the topic. "What do you think about Nightingale proposal?"

Wendy paused a bit before shaking her head. "What is it? No, she didn't mention anything like that."

"She's playing safe huh? I guess it worked out since even without that she already had such a grim expression." Tyre said indifferently.

"That girl... I guess she still upset since then." Wendy said bitterly.

"Nah, she's just sulking." Tyre waved her hand. Since she was not involved in their problem, she can be seen as an unbiased observer and could see that Nightingale was indeed just embarrassed and a bit sulky from not being believed.

"I hope so." Wendy could only reply as such.

"Anyway, since Nightingale didn't tell you then I will reveal it then," Tyre spoke with the same disinterest. That was her purpose to come in the first place. "The Prince said he wants to help the witches and if possible, shelter them all in his town."

"That's absurd." Wendy blurted out in response immediately.

Although she already knew the prince view from Nightingale, actually trying to help them all was too ambitious it made him suspicious.

"Is that so?" Tyre smirked. "Did I tell you what he wanted to help you all from?"

Wendy blanked out for a moment before pondering the question. She frowned till a drop of sweat formed, yet Wendy could only reluctantly give one answer.

"... Is that not out of our hiding?"

What could be the thing witches most afraid of? With all said and done, wasn't it the need to run from persecution? It was done so horribly that most witches tried to escape even from their family and friends at the first chance when they noticed their changes.

But what she heard from Tyre wasn't the simple confirmation that Wendy wanted.

"Save the witches from Cara and her Holy Mountain and bring back as many witches as possible."