Chapter 63
Chapter 63
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 63
It was such a sudden encounter, but if he thought about it even a little, the responsibility for this situation really lay with Asher.
After all, hadn't he spent nearly two hours here when he said he was just going out for a quick walk?
He hadn't even gone out alone after parting wayshe had left her clearly at the lodging and done this.
She must have tried waiting for him to return, but when he didn't show up, she probably came looking herself.
Versia might look like that, but she was actually quite overprotective, so she might have been anxious the whole time she searched.
Asher felt sorry.
At the same time, he felt awkward.
Because he was utterly confused about how to act between Igor and Versia.
That was the moment.
"What are you doing? Why aren't you coming to my side?"
"Y-Yes..."
Asher slipped over like a shadow and stood beside Versia.
Igor deepened his smile at the sight.
For Asher, it only made his face flush red.
After all, he had obeyed without so much as a peep.
Anyway, that was how the standoff continued.
Asher wanted to tell Igor first that he knew about the body swap.
But Igor was faster.
"Ah, Sir Terbion. You've come looking for the Saintess."
"Yes, Your Holiness."
"It's truly admirable to see you so devoted to your duty as her escort. As expected of someone who serves as a role model for so many Holy Knights."
"You're too kind, Your Holiness."
Igor was pretending not to know.
Only then did Asher realize that Versia didn't like him much.
Well, there was no need to complicate things further, was there?
There might be a day to discuss it privately later.
Igor apologized with his eyes.
Asher responded with an awkward smile instead of words.
"W-We..."
"Yes, Saintess. Thank you for keeping this old man company so late into the night."
That was when he tried to say his farewells.
"Y-Yes... Your Holiness, please take care..."
"Of course."
Whoosh!
Versia roughly grabbed Asher's wrist and pulled him along.
Asher startled and whispered softly.
"S-Saintess! Your hand...! The greetings..."
"Let's go."
Asher felt bewildered.
Looking back, Igor was still standing there, smiling awkwardly in embarrassment.
To leave without even a proper goodbye.
What kind of rude behavior was this?
Asher tried to say they should stop and greet him properly.
But Versia ignored him.
Instead, she gripped his wrist even tighter.
His wrist started to ache.
Asher grew increasingly frustrated with her emotional outburst.
That moment dragged on for a while.
They finally arrived at the lodging.
Right away, Versia blurted out,
"What did you two talk about?"
Asher's steps halted abruptly.
He rubbed his sore wrist and looked up.
Versia's face was full of clear irritation and anger.
Or perhaps it was anxiety.
But quicker than any guess,
'That's what this was about?'
Asher felt baffled that Versia had acted this way just to ask that question first thingnot out of hostility or anything else.
"What did we talk about?"
As she asked again, Asher pressed his lips together tightly.
Something boiled up inside him.
Controlling his emotions was proving difficult.
Of course, Asher knew Versia didn't like Igor.
Maybe she had told him about her hometown, and now she was worried about him spilling it.
But even so.
Regardless of her dislike, couldn't she trust that he had handled it properly on his own?
Even if there was something she didn't want revealed, hadn't it occurred to her that he would try to understand from her perspective?
Such thoughts crumpled together and sank into his chest.
The emotion that surfaced was none other than hurt.
His voice grew curt.
"...I went to the grand cathedral to pray during my walk. I happened to run into His Holiness there and spoke with him briefly. That's all."
"Two hours for just a chat? The two of you? At this late hour?"
"Didn't I say I was praying too? We tidied the holy items together. I can tell you every word we exchanged. It was about why I came to pray so late and stories from when His Holiness was still a trainee. I ate bread with raisins in it while listening to a sermon related to that. Nothing was strange."
"Even if that's all, it's still a problem. Being alone with that old man so late..."
"You've never forbidden me from being with others."
Versia flinched.
Her expression soured.
Normally, Asher would have apologized by now.
But not today.
Versia was being unreasonable.
She hadn't considered him or even Igor.
She was headstrong by nature, but today it was especially bad.
"It was just everyday conversation. I really don't know why you're acting like this."
Asher's expression was cold.
His tone lacked its usual warmth.
Embarrassment spread across Versia's face.
Was it so shocking that things weren't going as she expected?
She furrowed her brow and said,
"Don't you trust me at all?"
Sometimes, expressions said more than words.
This might be one of those times.
Asher didn't hide the disappointment he felt.
Versia's lips parted and closed repeatedly, fumbling for words.
"I was just worried..."
"Worried about what?"
"......"
"You can't even tell me that."
Asher held back from saying more.
He could have said something even more hurtful.
He could have sneered that she was acting this way because she had something to hide.
Restraining himself like that was the only patience Asher showed.
Asher let out a deep breath.
Versia's fingertips twitched.
To that, Asher said,
"...You don't seem in the mood to talk more tonight. Let's discuss it tomorrow."
It was a clear dismissal.
Versia's eyes wavered.
She lingered, looking down at Asher without leaving.
Asher asked,
"Or would it be easier if I went to the knights' barracks?"
She raised her hand.
But,
"...No."
Thud. Her hand fell limply right after.
Versia turned wordlessly, opened the door to the lodging, and left.
* * *
Everything that happened to Versia after Asher left was beyond her control.
It was just a late-night stroll, and only within the church grounds.
She couldn't imagine any major incidents, and expecting him back within an hour, Versia waited.
But as time passed, Asher didn't return.
The emotions that came to Versia then were quite complex.
Worry, and a bit of irritation.
Her chest felt stuffy knowing he knew she was waiting, yet he still didn't come back.
That's why she went looking herself.
'Don't make me worry.'
She planned to say that and end it.
She couldn't because she saw Igor.
The one person Asher absolutely shouldn't meet in the church, coming out of the cathedral with him.
Her heart pounded wildly that instant.
Her mind went blank at the thought that Igor might have mentioned something about her from before she came to the church.
Of course, she had to admit what needed admitting.
It was rude and inconsiderate.
Versia knew that too.
It was just that Asher's reaction reached an area she hadn't anticipated.
'Why?'
Why had he made such a cold face?
Why had he dismissed her?
Curling up on the bed, Versia pulled the blanket over her head, trying to calm her thudding heart.
The feeling that something had gone wrong wouldn't stop.
Asher wasn't supposed to make that face at her.
He was supposed to always smile at her, or at least pout and glare shyly if not.
He was supposed to affirm her always, and never distance himself from her.
That Asher had pushed her away for the first time.
And in that moment, he hadn't hesitated even a little.
She couldn't help but think,
'Did he hear? Yeah, that old man must have said something.'
He must have heard something she didn't want him to know.
That's why he was disappointed.
Then the answer became even more hopeless.
Because Versia had no excuse for it.
So Versia thought about the possibility of Asher pushing her away from now on.
It felt hopeless.
'What should I do?'
What about tomorrow? If she apologized, would he accept it? If not?
If he said he didn't want to see her today, would she have to spend the whole day without him?
And the next day too?
And the day after?
'I have to stop it...'
She couldn't.
Asher was in the Saintess's body now, and if she didn't call for her escort, he would have to stay in this barracks.
That would be utterly horrific.
Crack. She bit her nail.
In the darkness, Versia brooded with hollow eyes.
'I hate it.'
She wanted to be by his side.
She hated the cold look in his eyes when he saw her.
She hated the thought of him never needing her again.
Her spiraling thoughts extended even to dissatisfaction with 'this state,' which she had once joyfully accepted as being connected to him someday.
That was when her stress pierced the threshold.
Snap
Her nail tore off, and right after, something strange happened.
"Huh?"
Versia opened her eyes wide and looked around.
Her original room that she had left.
And a high-pitched voice.
Versia touched her chest.
There was a swell.
"Ah...?"
Her body was back to normal.
Extreme stress.
The second trigger for the swap had been discovered.