Three days after the annual prayer, we returned to our domain.

  It was a silent ride. I found that Iris was lost in thought. I could not bring myself to disturb her.

  As silence enveloped us, I found myself thinking back to the event at the main church.

  I was outside the building when Iris received the Radiance Blessing from Sister Aria. I overheard their conversation at the end.

  After they were done with it, Iris asked, “Was it hard?” In which Sister Aria replied, “No, it was fulfilling.”

  Then Iris said, “I am glad to hear that,” in return.

  At the end, Iris kissed Sister Aria's palms. It made no sense to me. when I tried to ask Iris about her reason, she only said that it was the right thing to do. I couldn't make anything out of it. Why did Iris do something like that? That act was reserved only for the person to whom you are significantly in debt, like your savior or someone you revere, like your parent. Why does she have to do that? I didn’t think she needed to do it because she received the Radiance Blessing. It is a significant blessing, but not to the extent that she needs to express such profound gratitude.

  on the third day, Iris broke the silence. “Master, do you remember the words I said to you at the main church?”

  “…. Yes.” I was waiting for it after all.

  “… When I first saw Lady Rinna, I thought ‘This person is beautiful.’ I did not refer to her appearance. I referred to something else.” Iris looked outside the window as she said that.

  “What was it?”

  “She was bright. She was like a lighthouse in that dark-filled place.”

  Then she turned to look at me. “I never tell anyone about this except my mother. However, as we are going to marry soon, I have found that I must disclose it to you.”

  “…”

  Stolen from its rightful place, this narrative is not meant to be on Amazon; report any sightings.

  “I can see the light in people. It could be their heart. It could be their soul. I am not sure about its nature.” She tightened her hands.

  It came as a surprise to me. I never knew Iris possessed that kind of ability. It is a significant ability. However, it can bring harm to the user. It is understandable that she always kept it to herself. However, I had mixed feelings about it. I found it disheartening that she didn't share her burden with me. However, I found it relieving that she chose to share it with me.

  Looking back to our youthful days, Iris always insisted on accompanying us whenever we met new people or conducted an investigation. She may use her ability to help us in silence. Any person she introduced us to or warned us about turned out to be exactly as she expected. She had been helping us during our outing without us knowing it.

  “Among all the saintess candidates of that time, only Lady Rinna emitted that white light.”

  “I was fascinated by her. I found comfort in her presence. So, I kept following her.”

  “And I met you, master.” I could find passion in her eyes when she said that.

  “Your blue light enhanced me. Your sense of justice keeps me tied to you, master.”

  I felt my heart flutter upon hearing that. That was new to me.

  “As I followed your back, I came to learn more about you. Before I knew it, I fell in love with you.”

  I was at a loss for words when I heard the real reason behind our love. I felt proud of myself when I listened to that.

  Her following words also solve another mystery for me.

  “The moment I saw Lilia, I thought of Lady Rinna. Lilia also shows the same color. The light she emitted was brighter than Lady Rinna's.”

  It explained why Iris asked for permission to treat Lilia as her daughter at that time. Lilia might enhance iris at that time.

  After that, the silence fell upon us again. I felt that she had a lot more to discuss. Thus, I patiently wait for her.

  After a while, she asked, “Master, what were your thoughts when you met her?”

  “…” I could not answer her. I knew who she was referring to.

  “You do not have to answer. You think she is Black, right?”

  "..."

  “… the moment I saw her, I, too, saw nothing but black.” Iris looked down at her palm.

  “You too?” I tried to confirm with her.

  “Not in that way.” She weakly shook her head without lifting her head. “I came to realize that it was my shadow. I closed my eyes. I saw my darkness. I saw my shadow.” I noticed her voice began to shake as she said it. Thus, I voice my puzzlement to her.

  “… I do not understand.” I could not bear to look at her losing it like that.

  “I could not look at her.” “She was too bright to look at.” She tightened her fist

  “…” I was lost for words when I heard that. She was different from what I thought? What does it mean to be too bright to look at? What does it mean?

  While I was lost in thought, Iris left her face to meet me.

  “But it is no longer that important.” With a new resolution in her eyes, she added, “Master, she is my sister. I hope you will treat her well from now on.”