The Saintess and the Villainess

Chapter 46

"You're really making too big of a deal out of this!" said Anne.

"Anything could have happened to you while I wasn't with you!" said Eva.

"But nothing did happen to me!" said Anne.

This argument had been going on for a while, and more or less going in circles the whole time. They'd continued to argue while Eva helped Anne get dressed for the day and while they'd eaten breakfast together. Eventually they'd tracked down Agis and dragged him into it as well.

"I was perfectly safe the whole time, wasn't I, Agis?" asked Anne.

Agis, who was sitting slumped over in a chair with a dead look in his eyes, stirred slightly. "Hmm, what? Yeah, it was perfectly safe," said Agis. "None of the humans there even seemed to care that we were elves or anything. Or at least the Bastards' Club humans didn't care. We didn't talk much to anyone else."

"The what club?" said Eva. She sighed and grabbed the bridge of her nose. "Never mind. It doesn't matter. Safety concerns aren't even the whole problem. You have no idea what this might do to your reputation. Attending that kind of party immediately after a big scandal..."

"I don't know if it's helpful but the people there all seemed to really like her," said Agis. "She was really popular."

"That's very helpful, Agis," said Anne.

"That's not helpful, Agis," said Eva. "It's not just about what the people at the party thought of her. It's about how attending the party at all will reflect on her character in the eyes of all the people who weren't at the party."

"Okay, but do you know for sure that it will make me look bad?" asked Anne.

"Well, not absolutely for sure, but that uncertainty is part of why it was a risky choice to make," said Eva.

"Yes, but it was my choice," said Anne. "Eva, I know you're only trying to look out for me, and I truly appreciate all your help, but I need to be able to live my own life and make my own decisions without being constantly terrified of you getting mad at me! Plus, I hate to say it, but I'm pretty sure I technically outrank you. So you can't really order me around."

If Anne had been calmer, or if this argument hadn't been going on quite so long, she probably wouldn't have said all that. Pulling rank on her friend felt wrong. But as much as Anne had relied on Eva when she first found herself in this unfamiliar word, Eva's over-protectiveness was starting to get pretty annoying. After all, in her previous world, Anne had been an adult living on her own for quite a while. She was used to a certain level of independence.

Still, having said all that, Anne fully expected Eva to strike right back with an argument just as strong. She braced herself for it.

But there was no counter-attack. Instead, there was a long uncomfortable pause. And Eva, whose expression was usually so unreadable behind that smile of hers, suddenly looked like she was about to cry. Like she was genuinely hurt.

"You... you're terrified of me?" asked Eva, finally. Her tone sounded uncharacteristically vulnerable.

Agis and Anne shared concerned glances.

"I mean... you are a little strict," said Agis.

"We know you mean well, though!" said Anne. "It's just... when people disagree with you or do something you don't want them to, you can be... kind of scary. It's not that big of a deal, though!"

"...I understand," said Eva.

"You do?" asked Anne, nervously.

Eva closed her eyes and turned away. "I will take a step back, as you seem to want me to," she said. "I'm sincerely sorry to have frightened you in any way."