Melissa had only gotten halfway through his sentence when she suddenly began to cry uncontrollably, catching Leon off guard.

It was as if Melissa herself had only just come back to her senses. Realizing that her eyes and face had become wet, she hurriedly raised her hand and wiped them with her sleeve.

“I’m fine!” Melissa kept wiping away her tears. “This is so strange, why am I...”

After hearing what Leon had said, she did not even know why, but her nose had suddenly stung, and then her tears would not stop flowing.

Leon could only sit there silently, waiting for Melissa to calm down. After quite some time, she finally wiped her tears dry and looked at him. “Mom’s condition has stabilized… does that mean...she won’t die?”

The Church had not sentenced Celie Hesh to death. If the medicine could sustain her life, then in theory, at least her life would not be in immediate danger.

“That can’t be said with absolute certainty,” Leon replied cautiously. “It has only stabilized her condition at its current state. Her body still has many problems, and complications could arise at any time. We still have to find a way to develop a medicine that can reverse the illness.

And your mother’s detention period is five years. During these five years, she can remain in Hamel Town. After that, she will likely be transferred to another institution. If that happens, I won’t be able to secretly give her the medicine anymore. Continuing to sustain her life with medication while she’s under detention could also arouse the Church’s suspicion.”

The Tribunal had only sentenced Celie Hesh to five years mainly because she was not expected to live long. If she survived for a prolonged time under detention, suspicion would inevitably arise.

“Then what should we do...” Melissa grew anxious again.

“I already have a plan for that.” Leon lowered his voice to the faintest whisper. “Before the detention period ends, I will rescue your mother from prison!”

“Is that really possible?” Melissa widened her eyes in disbelief.

The day Celie Hesh had left home to voluntarily surrender at the Inquisition, she had already prepared herself mentally to never see her mother again.

“Through transactions with certain people, I’ve already become the Deputy Director of the Inquisition. If nothing unexpected happens, I may even take the position of Director. Once the conditions are right, I can put my plan into action. Melissa, I will do everything in my power.” Leon spoke with solemn determination.

“Is there anything I need to do?” Melissa asked softly.

“Study well here. Don’t mention what I told you to anyone, and don’t write about it in your letters to your mother either. Your correspondence could be reviewed. Then, just wait.” Leon instructed her. At this point, he hesitated slightly before asking, “Melissa, can you do that?”

Melissa met Leon’s eyes and felt the resolve within them. Her heart stirred.

Without further hesitation, she nodded firmly.

At that moment, she felt another overwhelming urge to cry. She quickly lowered her head and blinked rapidly until she finally managed to hold the tears back.

She finally understood that her earlier tears had not been from sorrow, but from joy. Her mother had a chance to be saved, and at the same time, her “Brother Leon” had returned!

When Leon and Celie Hesh had explained the truth to her, she had been struck harder than ever before.

She knew clearly that she liked Leon liked him very much. To her, he had always been like a hero who saved them, just like a prince from a fairy tale!

But that day, she had learned the truth about her Brother Leon. He was a criminal, and he had persuaded her mother, purchasing her mother’s life through a transaction.

After that, she had not spoken to Leon again. She did not know how to face him, nor what kind of feelings she should hold toward him.

Resentment? Disappointment? Neither seemed quite right. Many nights, she had tossed and turned, unable to sleep because of it.

And now, Leon had once again returned to save them.

She cried tears of joy. Brother Leon had never changed. He was still her hero!

“Thank you for still being willing to trust me,” Leon said with visible relief.

Melissa finally suppressed her urge to cry and lifted her head again. “Since you already had a plan, why did you only come to see me now?”

After calming down, she found herself harboring a faint trace of grievance toward him.

It had been half a year since she had entered the Reformatory. Leon had never visited her during that time, only occasionally sending things.

If she had known his intentions earlier, she would not have suffered so much during this period.

“The plan hadn’t taken shape before. I was afraid that if I spoke too early and something went wrong, you would only be disappointed. Besides, I was worried you might still resent me. When I came here, I was mentally prepared for you to refuse to see me.” Leon replied somewhat awkwardly. “I’m sorry, Melissa.”

“Idiot...” Melissa turned her gaze aside and muttered in a voice only she could hear.

“Hm?” Leon had not caught it.

Melissa shook her head. “I’ve never resented you, Brother Leon. Mom’s illness and our debts were never your fault. On the contrary, you and...”

At that point, the face of Bishop Leona or rather, Miss Rena the Witch flashed through her mind, and her heart suddenly ached.

“On the contrary, you and Miss Rena have always been helping us. In the end, accepting the conditions was Mom’s decision. I didn’t actually do anything.” Melissa spoke softly.

“You endured all of this. That already makes you strong.” Leon changed the subject. “By the way, today is your birthday. I ordered a cake to be delivered. They said it can be shared with the other children during dinner. And I have a gift for you. Since items brought in here need to be inspected, I didn’t wrap it.”

Leon took out the prepared gift. It was a beautiful box of hair accessories, with a comb and a small mirror inside.

Luxurious gifts were not suitable for the Reformatory, so he had chosen something practical for a girl.

Melissa’s hair had grown quickly. Since she had sold it last year, nearly a year and a half had passed, and she had grown over twenty centimeters of short hair.

Melissa stared blankly at the opened case.

She took it and slowly held it in her arms. After a long while, she looked at Leon. “Thank you, Brother Leon.”

“If you need anything, contact me anytime. I’ve already instructed the gatekeeper. Just give him your letter and tell him it’s for Leon Set, and he’ll send it directly to me.” Leon took out his gold-plated pocket watch and glanced at it. Visiting hours were nearly over. “Time’s almost up. I should go.”

“Brother Leon, when will you come again?” Melissa looked at him reluctantly.

“I have to travel out of town to take an examination. I may be away for a few days. I’ll prepare your mother’s medicine in advance. If nothing unexpected happens, I’ll come see you next week.”

“Alright. I’ll wait for you.” Melissa’s eyes shone brightly.

“Then I’ll be going.” Leon smiled and stood up. For him as well, this meeting had eased a knot in his heart.

“Mm...” Melissa also stood up, but suddenly thought of something, her expression shifting slightly.

She opened her mouth to call out to him, then hesitated.

“What is it?” Leon noticed the change in her expression.

Melissa quickly shook her head and forced a smile. “Nothing, it’s just...don’t forget, alright?”

At that moment, the elderly gatekeeper entered and nodded to Leon. “Sir, time’s up.”

“Alright.” Leon nodded in response and waved at Melissa. “Take care.”

“Goodbye, Brother Leon.” Melissa waved back.

She watched his departing figure as he stepped out the door, her gaze unconsciously turning desolate.

In that fleeting moment just now, she had actually wanted to ask him something about Rena.

She had always wanted to know what kind of relationship existed between Leon and Rena. After meeting him again, that feeling had only grown more urgent.

But she had not asked. It was not so much that there had not been enough time it was that she did not dare to ask.

She vaguely knew the answer. To rescue Rena, Leon had confessed everything to her and her mother, taking out nearly all his money to make the transaction. How important Rena was to him did not need to be said.

Just thinking about it made her chest tighten painfully.

Leon’s past help to them had been out of sympathy. Now, his determination stemmed from a sense of responsibility for her mother’s sacrifice at a critical moment.

But what about her? What was she to Brother Leon?

From beginning to end, whether saving her mother or helping Brother Leon, she had done nothing. That left her feeling deeply powerless.

To her, Leon was a hero, a prince from a story, someone incomparably important. But to Leon, how important could she possibly be?

She knew clearly that she was not a princess. To Leon, she was probably nothing more than a younger sister.

She did not want to hear such an answer, so in the end, she did not dare to ask.

Melissa bade farewell to the elderly gatekeeper and walked toward the dining hall.

If she wanted to become someone important to Brother Leon, she had to be like Miss Rena someone useful to him, even someone indispensable!

What if she became a Witch as well?

The thought flashed through her mind, but she quickly realized how unrealistic it was.

No.. her mother and Brother Leon would never agree.

And as for becoming a Witch as formidable as Rena, Melissa simply did not have that confidence.

Suddenly, she recalled something the Monastery Matron had once said in class:

“You study here because it is the Church’s grace bestowed upon you. To demonstrate that the mercy of the gods is equal to you all, students who perform excellently here may receive our recommendation quota. We will recommend you to the district Church academy. There, you may have the opportunity to serve within the Church...”

Brother Leon served within the Church while also engaging in dangerous work. Would he need someone else, likewise serving in the Church, to assist him?

At that thought, Melissa silently hugged the jewelry box tighter in her arms.