I slipped onto the seat beside him the moment he muttered an excited "yes" without even sparing me a glance. For an instant, I swore I saw his shoulders stiffen, as though regret already gnawed at him. A faint, amused curve tugged at my lips—so much easier than I expected.
He asked me questions, one after another, his tone casual, but I was already accustomed to giving answers on the spot. That much came naturally, molded into me from years of being the Saintess of the Holy Kingdom. My face remained composed, my tone light, though behind it all my mind spun far ahead of his pace.
Out of the corner of my eye, I caught sight of a boy with dark hair, always glued to Luca's side. His expression was sad,almost to the point of crying, but quiet. Is he in the team as well? I wondered. A soft laugh nearly escaped me. But isn't he useless?
