Chapter 41
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Friend (3)
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Eliya had lived her entire life without a shred of doubt that she was a remarkably capable woman.
It wasn't arrogance. In truth, she excelled in many areas.
Though the Ruben family wasn't ranked among the top five sacred noble houses like Heresia or Kashimir, it was still a prestigious name. And as the cherished daughter of that house,
she possessed considerable talent, making her selection as a Saintess Candidate a straightforward affair.
She had no trouble wielding Divine Power... and elevating her realm had been just as effortless.
Eliya Ruben was beautiful by nature. Her height was just a touch on the petite side, but her figure outshone even those of women renowned for their curves.
Her purple hair, tied into twin tails, was her greatest charm point, and her large eyes were the key to her endearing impression.
Her feminine allure was equally potent. Her breasts were exquisitely beautiful, and her hips stood out prominently.
With a personality that meshed seamlessly with everyone around her, she naturally drew people in.
It was an environment and temperament perfectly suited to developing her sacred traits.
She wielded her innate charm like a weapon, mingling effortlessly with boys her age, and spending the night with them was no challenge at all.
A little seduction from Eliya, and they fell head over heels like fools.
How many teenage boys could resist the sight of her naked body, especially since she was skilled in the art of lovemaking?
Even most Saint Candidates couldn't hold a candle to her, and Eliya found the process quite satisfying.
She enjoyed the pleasure of sex, and mingling bodies propelled her realm ever upward. Why would she refuse?
In this way, she carved out a solid position for herself. Far behind Lete, of course, but unrivaled as the number two among Saintess Candidates.
She had no grand ambitions for the Saintess throne anyway. Eliya's ultimate goal─in a way, it shared something in common with Evan Lane's.
A comfortable status with fitting honors.
That was enough. Twenty was still too young to paint grand visions of the future.
Thus, her concerns naturally skewed toward the present.
...Her genuine interest in Evan Lane stemmed from that very mindset.
A young man who had once topped the Saint Candidate rankings as a commoner, only to walk the path of decline due to his excessively blessed sacred power.
The first time they met at sixteen, he struck her as an unusual figure in many ways.
Not just his ironclad resistance to her seductions. His chastity ideals, rare even across the entire Sun Church, and his crude habit of spewing profanity without hesitation.
That might have sparked her competitive spirit. She could call it annoyance, too.
How long would he hold out? Would he crumble to this? With the stubborn resolve of a woodcutter hacking at a tree until it fell, she lingered by his side.
The basis for her seduction was her inflated sense of self.
A girl raised basking in universal adoration. Sure, Evan's dismissive gaze like she was a runt chicken had irked her, but her towering self-love and pride wouldn't shatter over something like that.
If anything, it fueled her determination to conquer him.
If she could topple a man who treated her with such disdain... that would prove her superiority as a woman.
Evan would be no different once in bed. Like the others, he'd be ensnared, lost in her depths, unable to escape.
That rash presumption was her miscalculation. And only one thing had gone wrong.
She hadn't considered the opposite possibility from the start.
-If it bothers you that much, how about a thank-you kiss?
No, perhaps two things. Including the words she never should have uttered.
Eliya Ruben hadn't known. She couldn't have known until now, had no way to know.
Living a life adored by all.
Courted by men her whole life.
Never once... had she desperately loved a man or fallen for one first.
"......"
She hadn't known. That the heart's pounding could feel so exhilarating yet so agonizing.
It was pain beyond imagination.
The boy she had come to like despised her actions with utter sincerity.
It hurt too much.
Truly, it ached as if her heart would tear apart.
...It felt like it would rot away.
"Lovesickness."
"Oh."
As Eliya's rambling words trailed off, her vacant expression unchanging, Isabel tossed out a single remark.
It pierced straight to the heart of Eliya's condition. I let out a short exclamation.
As expected of a Special Inquisitor—her insight rivaled any psychiatrist.
"You didn't just think something rude, did you, Evan?"
"......Suddenly grabbing at straws. No way."
And she could even peer into my mind, which wasn't nearly as disheveled as Eliya's.
Truly an Inquisitor. I'd heard even high-ranking black mages with ironclad mental barriers crumbled before her.
"Hmmm......"
Well, with no evidence, Isabel merely rolled her eyes once before turning back.
I sighed inwardly in relief as she refocused on Eliya.
"......Let's start with some deep breaths, Lady Ruben."
To repeat: Yes, that was Eliya—wasting away, unable even to glance my way.
"Too many stray thoughts. There's no need for that anywhere right now. Evan's here, and he doesn't despise you at all."
Her voice soothed body and soul. Gentle, clear, soft.
Probably laced with some sacred technique for mental care. Her eyes indeed shimmered with a faint golden light.
"Hic, ugh....... Hnng......"
But Eliya wouldn't calm easily. Tears streamed down like droplets from her pitiful face, her fingertips twitching as if in panic.
It was hard to watch, but sadly, there was nothing I could do.
Every time I tried to comfort her, her state worsened, so Isabel had ordered me to stay at least five meters away.
Call it quarantine. Felt oddly like I was the plague patient.
"It's okay, it's okay......"
Of course, isolated like this, my role was mere wallpaper.
Eliya suffered if I strayed too far.
So I stood at a proper distance, mouth zipped. Isabel said it was the best I could do.
I smacked my lips in frustration, watching her embrace Eliya.
Though her sudden arrival... had briefly turned me into the world's biggest scum.
Still, with her here, Eliya seemed to slowly regain her composure.
Relieved at the settling atmosphere, I found myself glaring idly at the bench.
'What's so special about that thing anyway.'
A baseless suspicion, but understandable—last time, this was near where Lete and I got caught mid-outdoor fun.
A bench with rotten chemistry toward me. The wood grain on the backrest looked almost sadly indignant.
I was locked in this pointless staring contest with the bench when—
"Evan!!"
"Y-Yes?"
A sudden shout made me jolt and turn. There stood Isabel, face twisted in fury.
Beneath her, Eliya fidgeted, gazing up anxiously...
"Evan, have you been calling Lady Ruben a 'slut' behind her back?"
"......Ah."
Isabel immediately grilled me with a rare, murderous aura.
Striding over, brushing off Eliya's pleas, she demanded coldly.
"Answer me. Did Israfeel or I ever teach you to hurl such filth at a girl without a second thought?"
"......"
"We didn't."
No room for excuses. Feeling cold sweat trickle down my cheek, I squeezed my eyes shut then bowed deeply.
"......I'm sorry, Isabel."
"Who should you be apologizing to?"
"I'm really sorry, Eliya."
I spun toward Eliya at once. Carefully gauging her flinch, I bowed solemnly.
"......Can't dress this up as a joke anymore. Even if you took it lightly, I shouldn't have kept going."
"Ah, ah, no. I'm fine...?"
"Sorry. Even as friends, I went too far. I promise never again."
"Th-the nickname part is really okay......"
Before Eliya could finish, Isabel—glaring disapprovingly at my apology—grabbed my nape.
"Gah."
"Come here, Evan."
"I-Isabel, let go of that......"
"Quiet."
Resistance was futile and forbidden. She was stronger physically, and she had been my etiquette tutor.
Leaving stunned Eliya behind, we rounded to the back of the walkway. Only then did Isabel release me.
"Hoo......"
Confirming distance from Eliya, she finally exhaled deeply.
I awkwardly gauged her mood; she fixed me with a fierce glare belying her small frame.
Despite our height gap, I felt myself shrinking.
Always like this facing her.
"Evan."
She murmured my name, and I nodded politely.
"Yes, speak."
"......I'm probably the one who understands you best in the entire Sun Church."
The follow-up might raise eyebrows, but I didn't deny it.
In certain 'areas,' anyway. This woman before me knew me better than Israfeel or Lete.
"I know how someone like Lady Ruben, with her open sex life, looks in your eyes. I'm not so different myself."
Isabel Sedent was a unique case in her own way. Undeniably of this world, yet holding rigid chastity ideals.
As a bearer of blessed sacred power herself, she was one of the few—fewer than five—celibate clergy at the Sun Church headquarters.
Especially since Lete and Israfeel had lost theirs to me.
But.
"That's separate from this. You get what I mean, right?"
"......Of course."
I bowed my head immediately. No arguing here.
Eliya took minimal offense and her reactions amused me, but my words had crossed the line into rudeness.
Seeing my deep remorse, Isabel sighed heavily.
"Good thing Lady Ruben doesn't truly hate the nickname or take it to heart. If she did......"
"......If she did......?"
I swallowed dryly at her ominous pause; suddenly, she whipped out a crescent blade, swinging it wide.
Whoosh—!
The gust from the swing blew my hair back instantly.
Isabel leveled the blade-tip at my chin, a chilling smile on her lips.
"I'd give my old pupil a personal lesson. To remind you of the old days."
"......I'll apologize more sincerely. I'll make her forgive me."
"Yes, you will."
As cold sweat poured, the blade faded away.
First real taste of mortal peril in ages. My heart pounded like it would burst...
"Anyway, Evan?"
"Y-Yes?"
Isabel called again, and I snapped my head up.
Not done yet?
"A homework assignment for my former student."
I swallowed, awaiting. She glanced at Eliya—huddled forlornly by the distant bench—and spoke.
"Within a week, comfort Lady Ruben somehow. Help her shake off the fear that you despise her."
"......Ah."
I flinched briefly, but refusal wasn't an option. Nor did I want to.
I hadn't realized Eliya liked me enough to dread my hatred so viscerally.
But once affection was given... shouldn't it be returned?
Especially since I didn't truly despise Eliya Ruben.
Thoughts clear, I met Isabel's eyes squarely and nodded.
"As you say."
"......Good."
Only then did Isabel's lips curve in satisfaction.
"On the last day, I'll keep Israfeel occupied specially. So she doesn't interrupt your night."
"......"
Pardon?
"Of course, if you don't want to share a bed with Lady Ruben, I won't force it."
"I-Isabel? That means."
"......You two don't seem entirely opposed. She might even like it, surprisingly?"
Lady Ruben, that is.
Adding that with a strangely pleased smile, she spun and waved at Eliya.
"Lady Ruben─! Evan wants to go on a date with you! Up for it?"
"......!"
No chance to stop her. Eliya's ears perked, eyes widening in disbelief, and I gawked at Isabel.
She ignored it, jabbing my chest with her elbow. 'Poke!'
"Bed-sharing was half a joke. If you're against it, no problem."
"......"
"But take responsibility for hurting the girl. The boy I taught grew into a man who upholds basic duty, right?"
How could I say no?
I gave a hollow laugh, unable to shake my head.
Isabel looked up, rising on tiptoes to pat my head with her short arm.
She beamed brightly.
"Good boy, Evan. Do well."
No matter how you sliced it, her smile felt more motherly than Israfeel Hael's.
...Did I pick the wrong parents?