MLBR 35

chapter 35

Heraise was cutting through the darkness at an unnatural speed. His hunched figure darting wildly through the forest looked no different from a beast.

What weighed on him was the fact that he hadn’t gone straight to the Grey mansion. But there was something he had to confirm.

I shouldn’t have let it slide.

He had been mentally prepared for this—it was something he had foreseen. But his mind had been scattered.

Ever since Philena had told Whisler she needed time, Whisler had changed.

No… more precisely, he became furious.

Even though the situation didn’t call for it, a derisive laugh slipped out of Heraise. Damn it, he should have pinned down his mistake instead of floundering. Cursing under his breath, Heraise’s face hardened.

Until Philena told Whisler she needed time, there had been no threat at all. And that much, Heraise had expected.

Whisler thought Heraise wasn’t even worth considering. Or rather, he used to think so. He probably thought Philena’s time with Heraise was nothing more than a passing whim, just playing around a little before inevitably returning to him.

That’s how arrogant Whisler had been.

Still, he isn’t oblivious. Otherwise, he never would’ve risen to his position or maintained such a reputation.

After that meeting, Whisler began to feel threatened. And from that point on, Heraise had the distinct sense that he was being watched.

Of course, being aware of it, Heraise had been as cautious and prepared as possible. Whisler hadn’t caught even a hint of his meeting with Count Blique, nor the contract they had signed.

All his attention had gone into preparing for the party. He had been too pressed for time to look into why Philena hadn’t sent her draft script.

The problem had exploded today, without him even realizing it.

“……Most of all, Philena accepted my confession.”

The moment he realized Whisler was about to spew that dogshit speech, he knew he had to intervene. Whisler had planned to reclaim Philena as his girlfriend right then and there.

If he had left it alone, things might have gone exactly the way Whisler wanted. Whisler was spotless, while Philena was only just beginning to shake off her reputation as a villainess.

“I couldn’t understand why he came on so recklessly all of a sudden…”

Whisler was the type to take the safest route possible. He hated even the smallest bit of trouble and avoided it at all costs.

For someone like that to suddenly declare the status of their relationship—especially when the mood with Philena wasn’t even amicable—was no ordinary thing.

“It means something provoked him.”

Whisler must have been convinced that what was happening between Heraise and Philena wasn’t just a temporary “fling.” That their relationship would turn into something real—romance, even.

That alone had been enough to provoke him.

“Damn it.”

Heraise arrived at the villa, torn between laughing and crying. The darkness pressing in behind him felt unusually heavy tonight.

“Ah, hell. What kind of fucked-up situation is this?”

Shrouded in shadow, his body began to twitch abnormally. Like an insect undergoing complete metamorphosis, his muscles bulged and swelled.

Turning into a monster, Heraise stepped into the villa. His heavy, dragging steps felt strangely unsteady, as though in confusion.

—Let’s date. Is today our first day?

For a moment, his mind was filled with Philena’s beautiful face. Soft, fresh colors, like a watercolor painting, painted over everything—even as his body twisted into something beastly, his heart thumped violently.

Heraise clutched at his chest with a massive, reddened hand that had burst forth.

“I’m really… such a mess, aren’t I?”

When Philena unexpectedly accepted his confession, he had been happy. So happy he couldn’t tell if he was standing on solid ground or floating in the clouds.

His smile twisted.

“If it’ll all disappear anyway, why am I being so selfish?”

He had deliberately tried to delay things, knowing Whisler would interfere more aggressively if they officially started dating. But Philena had accepted.

After the party, he should have at least scolded her lightly. Or, at the very least, come up with another excuse on the spot—like calling it “just getting to know each other.”

I shouldn’t have let instinct take over and sat there fluttering with excitement.

Philena’s reputation hadn’t fully recovered yet. And now Whisler would certainly come at them with even more calculated malice.

…And my secret might be exposed sooner than expected.

“Ghh—ah…”

Losing his voice, transformed into a hulking beast, he took one final step. Clinging to what little reason he had left, he slammed his fist into the bookshelf.

With a loud crash, wood splintered as the shelves collapsed. And then reality hit him.

The contract he had hidden between the wall and the shelves—was gone.

The moment he confirmed it, the beast’s face went completely blank.

This time… I really don’t know what to do.

It must have been Whisler who took it. In the past, maybe he wouldn’t have, but now—now that Philena had accepted Heraise’s confession—he would act ruthlessly.

Heraise had no idea how to stop him. Not a single idea came to mind.

Maybe it was because he wasn’t human.

“Grrrrr.”

With a final animalistic growl, the villa’s doors burst open. Knights of House Grey stormed in.

The beast, whose only refuge had been invaded, went berserk. Yet even in his frenzy, he restrained himself from using his full power, clinging to the last threads of his blurry mind.

Because this beast—still had to return to House Grey.

Meanwhile, the party had resolved much for both Heraise and me. Heraise had shown his willingness to sacrifice for his family, while I had managed to plant in the nobles’ minds that I had simply been misunderstood all along.

If the Saintess’s Prophecy Day went according to plan, expanding my social connections would be easily handled. I was well on my way to becoming a popular noblewoman, rather than a villainess.

“Mother, greetings.”

Sitting in the center, I bowed my head and raised both hands. Beneath the dazzling lights, my mother once again looked divine today.

Prayers for Whisler’s impotence, for the success of my and Heraise’s plans. After offering the usual important petitions, I relaxed back into my seat.

Without me realizing, the priest began a sermon.

“Since the Saintess came to us, the heavens shine and nature sways in verdant waves. To preserve the peace we now enjoy—”

Ah, nothing important. Not about me. I’ve read enough scripture; my faith is fine.

I only needed to open my ears when something piqued my interest.

“Mother has said, always be grateful for the blessings we have received. So today, in this place, we will also raise our wishes for those who came before. Beginning now.”

One by one, unfamiliar names rang out. Likely the names of all the Saintesses who had given prophecies in the past.

As a priest faithful to scripture, he seemed to be listing them all, from the very first Saintess to Mille. The string of strange names continued—until suddenly, an old man jerked up his head.

“No—! How could you, how could you leave out our Saint?! Wasn’t there also a Saint?!”

Noticing he wasn’t far from me, I rose from my seat. Then I moved far away from him, to make clear I wasn’t with him.

“By Mother’s side, there weren’t only Saintesses, but a Saint as well! Are you planning to erase even the fact that he existed from this temple?! This is a conspiracy!”

Despite the man’s booming cries, the priest did not react. Instead, she smiled gently. Soon, knights came to restrain him.

Better not get dragged into this just because I’m still the villainess.

Wrapped in a veil and lowering my face to the floor, I carefully slipped out of the crowd.