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chapter 27
I had intended to explain that I remembered, but Herace made an unusually foolish sound. Then, suddenly, his eyes vanished from view.
Thinking that Herace hadn’t heard me, I spoke clearly.
“I mean, the visual pleasure I get from your appearance, Herace, is greater than that from Whistler’s. And your appearance, like a sculpture displayed in a museum, is much harder to forget.”
Whether it was difficult for him to understand what I just said, Herace’s hand, which had been holding mine, slowly slipped away. I could feel him stiffening.
Unsure of how to explain it more simply, I turned my body and reached out toward his face.
“Focus, Herace.”
I didn’t grab his face recklessly, not wanting to dirty his skin with my filthy hands. I let a few words hang between us as I carefully traced his face. My fingers hovered in the air, resting first on his hair.
“Blonde hair, shining like gold, truly radiates light. Gold surpasses silver, after all.”
Next, his nose.
“A nose rising at forty degrees—classic sculpture features.”
Then his eyes.
“Red is intense, yes. But your eyes, Herace, have a peculiar quality—they often seem to hold light. Unlike Whistler’s red, which is like neon, yours have depth.”
Finally, his lips.
“…Herace’s lips have a defined ridge. Both upper and lower lips are rather full—”
At that moment, breaking the strange silence, Herace lightly pushed my wrist away. Leaving that hand in place, he lifted my other hand with his own.
Carefully, Herace held my chin and brought his hand close to his lips. He touched my lips like I would, but maintained a closer distance.
There was no sensation. Despite the tender, longing touch, I felt nothing.
Regaining my composure, I asked,
“You didn’t wash your hands either, did you, Herace?”
Otherwise, there would have been no reason for him to hesitate. Normally, he would have already touched my lips without hesitation.
Herace stepped back slightly and bowed his head. His shoulders trembled as if he were holding back laughter.
“No, seriously… Philena—”
He couldn’t continue and burst out laughing. The vibration tickling my ears wasn’t unpleasant—it sank into my chest warmly.
Before making any real plans, we first caught up on each other’s lives. Since I had already sent him a letter, Herace began speaking.
He had been busy helping his parents. He added that this wasn’t a one-time thing; it would happen often in the future.
“You don’t need to worry about the Saintess.”
“Really?”
Herace answered calmly.
“After checking your recent movements following your letter, I found nothing suspicious.”
Sitting next to me, Herace turned his body fully toward me. He pressed the sofa with his elbow and touched his temple.
“Our dear girlfriend, you were quite worried, huh?”
“Not too much—just moderately. But you don’t need to worry.”
I added confidently to instill trust.
“Though my response skills are lacking, my learning ability is above average, so I’ll be more careful next time.”
“Good. As you said, it’s best not to upset the Saintess.”
Herace held my hand resting on the sofa. His warmth and touch seeped into mine, yet I didn’t flinch. A significant improvement.
“I’ll let you know in advance. Whistler from the noble Gas family, a distinguished branch of the Grey lineage, will likely be protecting the Saintess.”
“The Gas family?”
I feigned surprise, opening my mouth wide. Herace’s eyes narrowed as he looked at me.
“Philena, you knew?”
Though my act of dodging Whistler’s attention had improved, it seemed it didn’t fool Herace. Thinking how perceptive he was, I twisted the truth slightly.
“A little. She’s the Saintess, after all. The Gas family, of the Grey lineage, could logically protect her—that’s what I imagined.”
Apparently satisfied, Herace didn’t press further.
After the Saintess Ceremony, she receives the blessing of light. Between ages 20 to 25, her magic is amplified.
From the ceremony to the first Saintess prophecy, numerous noble families request the temple to protect her. After review, the temple decides which family will protect her, taking her opinion into account.
It’s a measure to reassure the empire’s citizens. When the Saintess is high nobility, her family usually protects her, but sometimes she could be lower nobility or even commoner.
In the remake, Philena received protection; previously, Mille was protected by Whistler.
“By the way, Philena,”
Herace leaned in with a sly smile. Unlike his lips, his eyes weren’t smiling.
“How was your meeting with Whistler?”
“Didn’t you get my letter? I wrote everything in as much detail as possible.”
“I got it, but you didn’t mention how you felt. That’s the important part.”
Herace casually tossed a statement I couldn’t refuse.
“Was it this boring?”
“My feelings? Wait a moment.”
I closed my eyes, recalling that day as meticulously as possible. Analyzing my feelings this thoroughly wasn’t something I usually did, so it wasn’t easy.
Herace, seemingly unbothered, said lazily,
“Being with me—was it better, or with him?”
“It’s hard to compare. With Whistler, I enjoyed the thrill of revenge, but with you, I like it because I look forward to what comes next.”
Herace’s face was difficult to read—satisfied or not. He lightly placed his head on my shoulder and tapped the back of his hand.
“…That’s not it.”
“Then what is it?”
I couldn’t see Herace’s face. Silence fell as he remained still.
After a moment of thought, I gave another answer.
“Even more than the thrill of revenge, I prefer being with you, Herace.”
After all, Herace was the one who made me look forward to tomorrow. In that sense, Whistler and Herace couldn’t be compared.
“Our dear girlfriend, you know lying has consequences, right?”
Unlike before, Herace’s voice became light and cheerful. I realized I needed to stay alert amidst this emotional rollercoaster.
“I told the truth. I like being with you more than Whistler.”
“Shall we… kiss?”
“…What?”
My eyes went wide.
Up until now, the only physical contact had been holding hands and him kissing the back of my hand. And now he suddenly proposed a kiss?
This was fast. My heart started racing uncontrollably.
“Philena, will you allow me?”
Herace rested his face on the sofa armrest and looked up at me, his gaze intense. He guided my hand toward him.
He wrapped his strong arms around my waist and leaned forward. His face approached quickly, tilting at an angle. His lips passed—not to mine, but behind my ear.
A small laugh escaped me.
Herace toppled onto my side, laughing heartily.
“Really… who’s going to eat whom? Wait, girlfriend, why are you so stiff?”
