Chapter 359 The Villain Lady Arrives 188

Chapter 359 The Villain Lady Arrives 188

As the days passed, Ryan's position in the Church of Light became increasingly stable. His bravery and wisdom won the respect of many believers, but behind this glory, another undercurrent quietly grew. Tariq, as Alice's close friend and comrade-in-arms for many years, keenly noticed the deepening tacit understanding and trust between Ryan and Alice, and this change made him feel mixed emotions.

Tariq often inadvertently caught sight of Ryan and Alice walking side by side. He saw Ryan always looking for opportunities to get close to Alice, to discuss tactics or to share daily trivia. His meticulous care made Tariq feel threatened like never before. Whenever this happened, Tariq's brows would involuntarily furrow, with a hint of jealousy and vigilance flashing in his eyes.

One afternoon, the sun shone through the clouds and sprinkled on the courtyard of the castle. Alice was discussing matters with several elders, while Ryan stood aside, silently recording the key points and occasionally putting forward his own opinions, which made Alice nod in agreement. This scene happened to fall into the eyes of Tariq, who had just returned from outside. His steps slowed down involuntarily, his eyes wandered between the two people, and the dissatisfaction and uneasiness in his heart grew like weeds.

Finally, after a training session, Tariq found Ryan, who was alone in the armory polishing his sword. He approached and said in a low and serious voice: "Ryan, I have something to tell you."

Ryan looked up and saw that it was Tariq. He quickly put down the sword in his hand and stood respectfully: "Lord Tariq, please speak."

Tariq looked around and confirmed that no one was around. He lowered his voice and said, "Ryan, I noticed that you've been hanging around Lady Alice lately. I understand your intentions, but I have to remind you that Lady Alice is the pillar of the Church of Light. Every decision she makes affects the future of the church. I hope that your approach is pure and without any selfish motives."

Ryan's face changed slightly when he heard this, but he quickly regained his composure. He looked directly into Tariq's eyes and said sincerely, "Master Tariq, you worry too much. I approached Lady Alice purely out of my desire for justice and my admiration for her noble character. I want to learn from her wisdom and courage so that I can better serve the church."

Tariq stared at Ryan for a long time, as if trying to read more information from his eyes, but in the end he just sighed softly and said earnestly: "Ryan, I hope you can remember what I said today. Lady Alice is the light of faith for all of us, and I don't want to see her get hurt."

However, despite Tariq's warning, his doubts did not dissipate. Instead, he began to mention Ryan's "abnormal" behavior more frequently in front of Alice, questioning Ryan's motives.

"Alice, you seem to be very close to Ryan recently." Tariq brought up the topic seemingly casually during a dinner.

Alice put down the silver fork in her hand, with a hint of doubt in her eyes: "Yes, Ryan is a young man with great potential. I admire his loyalty and enthusiasm for the church. Our communication is more about how to better serve the believers and protect this land."

Tariq shook his head slightly, frowning, "Alice, you are too kind and trust others easily. Although Ryan performed well, I have to remind you that he may have ulterior motives for approaching you so actively."

Alice's face changed slightly when she heard this. She didn't expect Tariq to have such a deep prejudice against Ryan. She pondered for a moment and said slowly, "Tariq, I understand your concerns, but I also believe in my own judgment. I have seen every move of Ryan. I have seen his sincerity and hard work with my own eyes. We can't doubt everyone who tries to get close to us just because of the shadow of the past."

Seeing Alice's firm attitude, Tariq had to give up even though he was unwilling. However, he did not give up observing and being vigilant about Ryan. Instead, he paid closer attention to Ryan's every move.

As time went by, Ryan proved his innocence and loyalty with his actions. Not only did he repeatedly make great achievements in battle, but he also showed his deep concern for the church and his selfless dedication to believers in his daily life. Every effort he made was like a gentle spring breeze, quietly changing the views of those around him, including Tariq.

Finally one day, Tariq was injured during a mission, and it was Ryan who pulled him back from the brink of life and death regardless of his own safety. At that moment, Tariq looked at Ryan's sweaty and tired face, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He realized that he might have really wronged Ryan.

After recovering from his injury, Tariq took the initiative to find Ryan, and the two sat side by side on the roof of the castle, looking at the sunset in the distance. Tariq was the first to break the silence: "Ryan, I misunderstood you before, I apologize to you."

Ryan was stunned for a moment, then smiled and shook his head: "Master Tariq, you don't have to be like this. I know you are thinking about the future of Lady Alice and the church, and your concerns are sincere."

Tariq sighed and continued, "Lian, I have witnessed your growth and dedication. You are not only a brave warrior, but also a trustworthy friend. I apologize for my previous suspicion and thank you for letting me get to know you again."

Hearing this, Ryan felt a warm current in his heart. He knew that he had finally won Tariq's recognition and trust. He looked into the distance, his eyes gleaming with determination: "Lord Tariq, we are all guardians of the Church of Light. For the love and peace of this land, I will continue to work hard and live up to your expectations."

Tariq looked at Ryan's sincere and determined eyes, and a complex emotion surged in his heart. He slowly reached out his hand and gently patted Ryan's shoulder, as if conveying a silent apology and recognition. "Ryan, you did a great job. I misunderstood you before, but now I see your sincerity and dedication. The Church of Light needs people like you."

Ryan felt the warmth of Tariq's palm, but his heart was calm. He bowed slightly and responded in a humble but dignified manner: "Lord Tariq, your recognition is a great honor for me. I will continue to work hard and contribute all my strength to the church."

However, in this seemingly harmonious atmosphere, Ryan's eyes flashed with an indescribable light - a complex emotion of ridicule and disdain. Deep in his heart, he felt angry and sad about Tariq's suspicion and warning. He was angry that his sincere heart would be questioned so unreasonably; he was sad that Tariq, as Alice's best friend and comrade-in-arms, would be so easily blinded by jealousy and suspicion.

But Ryan did not show these emotions, he still maintained that humble and respectful look, as if nothing had happened. He looked at Tariq's gradually receding back, and a barely perceptible sneer appeared at the corner of his mouth, that smile contained both sarcasm towards Tariq and helplessness and ridicule towards his own fate.