172: Chapter 172 Revisiting the Church! Ezra's Daughter! Return!

The next day, in the early morning.

Helena brought her younger brother, Aidan, to the Church of Dawn in Frostwind City.

This time, they were not greeted by a nun, but by Priest Ezra himself.

He personally arranged for a middle-aged priest who was quite accomplished in healing divine arts to treat Aidan.

During the treatment process, Ezra brought over a young lady and said to Helena, "This is my daughter, Scarlett Ashton."

Scarlett looked to be about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing a capable-looking light blue dress, with a bright and generous smile.

"Hello, Miss Helena." She extended her hand, "I have heard my father mention you; I am very pleased to meet you."

Helena grasped her hand and also smiled, saying, "Hello, Miss Scarlett."

The two began to chat.

Scarlett was very talkative.

From the weather in Frostwind City to the business environment in Gino City, and from the business environment in Gino City to the shops she often visited, the conversation flowed naturally, without making anyone feel awkward or forced.

Helena was initially a bit reserved, but gradually, she was infected by the other's enthusiasm and relaxed.

While they were talking—the priest carefully examined Aidan's legs.

He closed his eyes, his hands hovering above Aidan's knees, with his palms emitting a faint, milky-white light.

That light, like flowing water, slowly seeped into Aidan's skin, muscles, and bones.

Aidan nervously gripped the armrests of his wheelchair, fine beads of sweat oozing from his forehead.

A moment later—the priest opened his eyes, retracted his hands, and a look of satisfaction appeared on his face: "Fortunately, the delay was not too long; the bones and meridians have not completely necrosed. It can be treated."

He smiled at Aidan: "It might hurt a little, bear with it."

After saying this, he closed his eyes again, pressed his hands together, and began chanting a long prayer.

As the prayer proceeded, the light in his palms grew brighter and brighter, and then, it surged into Aidan's legs!

Aidan let out a muffled groan, his body trembling violently, his teeth chattering together.

Helena subconsciously wanted to step forward, but was gently pressed on the arm by Scarlett: "Don't worry, this is normal."

Sure enough, not long after—Aidan's trembling gradually subsided.

He slowly opened his eyes, looked down at his legs, and tentatively moved his toes.

Then, he held onto the wheelchair armrests and slowly, slowly stood up.

"Sister..." He raised his head and looked at Helena, his eyes red: "I can stand up."

Helena walked up quickly, looking her younger brother up and down, her beautiful eyes slightly moist.

After the treatment ended, Helena once again solemnly thanked Priest Ezra.

Ezra remained in that gentle and kind manner, smiling and waving his hand: "There is no need for such formalities. Helping each other between friends is only natural."

He paused, and with a meaningful look at Helena, said: "If you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can come to me at any time."

Helena nodded, and with Aidan and Portia, left the church.

In the church, Ezra and his daughter stood side by side, watching the three leave.

At this moment, Scarlett put away the smile on her face, turned to her father, and asked in a low voice: "Father, the other party is just a maid from the Golden Flame Earl Manor... Why do you value her so much?"

Ezra did not answer immediately. He took a letter out of his sleeve and handed it to his daughter.

Scarlett took it, unfolded it, and looked—a moment later, her eyes widened.

It was a piece of intelligence.

It recorded in detail the recent affairs of the Golden Flame Earl Manor in Gino City.

"According to reliable information," Ezra said slowly, "now, the external affairs of the Golden Flame Earl Manor are basically all handled based on the opinions given by this Miss Helena."

Scarlett's hand holding the letter tightened slightly.

She had checked Helena's background.

A girl from a commoner background, with excellent university grades.

But that was all.

Among commoners, she might be quite outstanding.

But in the world of nobles and transcendents, it counted for nothing.

But now— "A meteoric rise," she muttered.

Ezra looked at the direction where the figures had disappeared in the distance, and said somewhat meaningfully: "So, my daughter. Sometimes, a person's value does not lie in themselves, but in what stands behind them."

The next day, in the early morning.

The fog in Frostwind City had not yet dissipated, and the area in front of Helena's house was already bustling.

A carriage was parked by the side of the road.

Helena's mother, Martha, stood at the doorway, counting the bundles over and over again, her fingers trembling slightly.

Her father, Old Payne, stood tall, wearing a formal suit without patches.

Her younger brother, Aidan, looked proudly at the neighbors watching from all around.

"Have you heard? That girl Helena was chosen by the Earl Manor!"

"Isn't that right? I heard she was the only one chosen from all of Frostwind City..."

"Tsk, what 'chosen'? Isn't she just going to be a maid? What's there to be proud of?"

"You can't say that. That's the Earl Manor in Gino City! I heard that the monthly salary for just a maid is enough to feed our whole family for half a year."

"Good heavens, the Earl Manor actually sent a squad of knights to escort her?"

"Indeed, ten whole men, dressed all shiny and bright. The one leading them might even be a knight lord!"

"Sigh, if only my daughter had this kind of fortune..."

"Forget it, with that ugly girl of yours, she can't even write her own name properly. I heard the Earl Manor wants talented women, understand?"

"Hahaha, that's true..."

The neighbors gathered in groups of twos and threes at the alley entrance, watching the scene at Helena's doorstep.

Some stood on tiptoe to look, others whispered to each other, their gazes following the figures moving in and out of Helena's house, their tones mixed with envy and curiosity.

Helena walked out of the house, turning a blind eye to the surrounding chatter.

"Miss Helena, is everything ready?" Portia asked.

"Yes," Helena nodded, preparing to board the carriage, but her peripheral vision suddenly caught three figures at the alley entrance.

She froze.

It was Lucille, Enid, and Laila.

Her three university roommates.

The three of them stood side by side there, wearing their school's uniform dresses.

Lucille's eyes were a bit red, Enid bit her lip and said nothing, and Laila gripped the hem of her skirt.

Helena hadn't expected them to come.

Lucille stepped forward first, her footsteps a bit hesitant, but she still squeezed out a smile: "Helena, are... are you really leaving?"

Helena looked at her and nodded.

"The Earl Manor's carriage is already at your doorstep, could it be fake?" Laila followed up, her tone feigning lightness, but her voice was a bit tight: "You're something else, setting such a big thing without saying a word, not even telling us."

"I..." Helena paused, hesitating, "I didn't know how to say it..."

Enid finally spoke, her voice very soft: "We will miss you."

Helena took a deep breath and curved her lips: "I will write back."

"Then you must live well," Lucille sniffled, "A place like the Earl Manor is not like our school. If you are bullied..."

Laila sighed, stepped forward, and reached out to straighten Helena's collar: "Alright, don't dawdle, don't keep the knight lords waiting. Go."

Helena took a deep breath, her gaze slowly sweeping over the three faces, her lips moved, as if she wanted to say something, but swallowed it back.

After a moment of silence, she finally spoke, saying softly: "If, I mean if... you encounter any difficulties in the future, you can write to me; I might be able to help find a way."

After saying this, she didn't wait for the three to reply, and turned to board the carriage.

Portia saw this and looked at the coachman in front, saying: "Let's go."

"Giddyap—" The coachman cracked a loud whip, the northern draft horses took their steps, and the carriage wheels slowly began to turn.

Portia waved her right hand, and the knight squad behind her immediately split into two columns, guarding the front and back of the carriage.

Iron hooves stepped on the stone road, emitting a rhythmic beat, and the whole street was trembling slightly.

The onlookers automatically cleared a path.

Lucille, Enid, and Laila stood in place, watching the carriage that was gradually moving further away, somewhat dazed.

"It seems... she is quite valued at the Earl Manor." Laila said suddenly.

"Yes," Enid softly agreed, "even coming back, she has knight lords personally escorting her."

Lucille didn't speak, just blinked her eyes, a subtle look flowing in her pupils.

She had already secretly decided in her heart that when she graduated next year, she would go directly to seek out Helena...

The carriage slowly drove out of the city gate of Frostwind City, along the main road, heading in the direction of Gino City.

Helena lifted the carriage curtain, taking one last look at the grey-white city gradually receding in the morning light.

The flags on the city walls fluttered in the wind, and the church spires were plated with a layer of golden brilliance under the rising sun.

She was born here, grew up here, and spent nineteen years of her life here.

She had once thought that she would be like most girls in this city...

But fate had given her a turning point.

She gently lowered the curtain, leaned back against the carriage wall, and closed her eyes.

The carriage continued forward.

Heading towards Gino City.