Chapter 64
Chapter 64
Saint, You’re So Vulgar! – Chapter 64
It was late into the early morning hours.
Versia swallowed her bewilderment and steadied her breathing.
Right after, what rose to her lips was none other than a faint smile.
Ah...
Normally, she would have felt uncomfortable at this phenomenon, but not now.
After all, even the discomfort she felt in everyday times stemmed from the fact that the reason they had to somehow stick together was gone, didnt it?
If there was now a chance that Asher might push her away, like this, then her original body was actually better.
Asher hadnt used it himself, but in this relationship, possessing the saintesss body was tantamount to holding command authority.
In other words, if he tried to distance himself from her side, she could block him with her position.
Versia felt relief at that fact.
Her heart, which had been racing with anxiety, regained its calm.
A small smile bloomed on her lips.
Would he come rushing to find her right away?
No, it was more likely he was asleep right now.
Hed probably come tomorrow morning, if at all.
Having finished her thoughts, Versia slowly bent down and buried her head in the pillow.
Its okay.
Asher was probably too preoccupied with the fact that his body was back to even remember what happened today.
Hed fluster about as usual when faced with sudden events.
I just need to act like normal, as if nothing happened. And later... yeah, well talk later. Or itd be even better if he forgets.
The anxiety about tomorrow that loomed ahead eased somewhat, and her strength drained away.
Ah, so there are days when this favoritism is helpful.
With those thoughts, she fell asleep.
And so, the next day arrived.
And, regrettably
Youve... come...
Yes.
The tomorrow that actually arrived was far from Versias imaginings.
Good morning, Saintess.
A formal, cold tone.
Straight posture and an expressionless face.
That was how he appeared early in the morning.
It was the first time Versia had seen Asher like this.
She couldnt understand it.
Why?
In her thoughts from the night before, Asher should have come barging in that morning with a flustered expression, insisting they talk about what happened last night.
She would have vaguely brushed it off, dragging out the talk about their bodies.
As the conversation stretched on, the tense atmosphere would naturally loosen up.
Then everything would be back to normal, as if nothing had happened.
But why?
Why is he acting like this?
Why wasnt it like that?
All the words she had prepared vanished from her mind in that instant.
Just the fact that he seemed in a bad mood, and the mere thought that she might be the cause, was enough to make Versia spiral into maddening anxiety.
Versias eyes wavered.
For someone who had lived her entire life exactly as she wanted, she had no ability to cope with unforeseen situations.
She couldnt even swallow her panic.
In that state, she did the only thing she could.
Without any rational judgment, purely on instinct.
Our bodies... switched back.
It was a murmur as she hung her head low, staring at the back of her own hand.
At the same time, it was a forced topic dragged out to somehow steer the conversation toward what she wanted.
But even that wasnt enough to get the response she desired.
Yes, so it seems.
Asher remained unchanged.
Versia felt as if her heart had frozen over.
* * *
Just as Versia had mulled over various thoughts about last nights events, Asher had plenty of his own.
To cut to the conclusion, what came to Ashers mind was a single remark from his close friend Marvin.
Theyve all been spoiled rotten since childhood, every last one of them without manners.
It was an extreme and biased statement, but part of its intent succeeded in convincing Asher to some degree.
The utterly shameless, self-centered way they judged and acted clearly reeked of selfishness.
And why was that? Everyone knew the answer to that question.
Youre too great. Youre in too lofty a place to face others on equal terms.
Versias divine power was an innate calamity.
She was simply too superior from birth to understand others or become like them.
Her environment never bothered to point that out, either.
She was the saintess to all, the Parent Gods angel who had to be revered and served.
Even her lack of trust in him probably fit that context.
In Versias eyes, he must have seemed terribly sloppy and weak.
It was something he could brush off with a well, thats how it is.
In fact, even vaguely aware of this, Asher had never called her out on it.
But now was different.
Above all, in a relationship where they had to rely on each other, this arrogance would only poison them both.
Those were the thoughts hed had before falling asleep.
He had planned to earnestly discuss it come morning.
How could he not know that Versia trusted him to some extent?
Up until then, he had held onto a sliver of belief that a serious conversation would resolve it.
The reason the plan went awry was simple.
Their bodies had switched back, and right after, a realization dawned that instilled grave seriousness in Asher.
...
Early in the morning, back in his own body, the first thing Asher felt was pain.
The tips of his fingers were torn up, festering with blood.
There were bite marks on his fingertips.
In other words, it was all too easy to imagine what Versia had been like just before the switch.
As he healed the fingertips with divine power, Ashers expression hardened moment by moment.
Biting ones nails down to this state wasnt normal behavior.
He tried to gauge the reason.
The conclusion he reached wasnt pleasant for him at all.
It wasnt communication. Thats not what the Saintess was trying to do.
Asher wasnt a fool.
Though he was soft-hearted and trusting, he was undoubtedly insightful.
He already knew Versias mindset wasnt normal or healthy.
He could guess that yesterdays conversation had stressed her out.
But if the result was this kind of self-inflicted wound, didnt that say something?
She was twisted.
Versias feelings toward him were clearly favorable, but they werent normal favor.
She wants control.
What Versia desired was control.
The reason she felt stress was because he, who should bend to her will, wasnt doing so.
Why?
Because she sees me as an object?
No.
Versia simply didnt know any other way.
Bonds with others had always been like that for her.
It stirred profound pity.
Asher closed his eyes and furrowed his brow.
In the end, he resolved himself.
Things cant go on like this.
Versia needed to change.
For the sake of her remaining life, someone had to make her.
And that someone could only be him.
Because he was the only other person she listened to.
That was the reason for this coldness.
Asher wanted her to think for herself and learn to consider others feelings.
For him, it was a resolute decision.
However, still
...Your expression doesnt look good.
It hurt.
Versia, still clueless about what she should say, trembled in anxiety and grasped at straws.
Her pitiful sight forced Asher to steel himself over and over.
Sorry about your hand. It was your body, and I handled it roughly.
It was an incredibly difficult thing to do.
* * *
Versia couldnt breathe properly.
Reacting to someone elses emotions and losing control of her body was a first in her life.
Asher was clearly applying some kind of pressure.
He wanted to talk about something.
Versia understood only up to that point.
She had no idea what he wanted to hear.
In her spiraling thoughts, Versia reached a conclusion.
As expected.
It must have been because of the story about the Astarion royal family that shed heard from Igor the night before.
Anger surged in that moment.
Her fists clenched tight, and a murderous glint shadowed her eyes.
That old man...!
Hed ruined everything.
Taken Asher away from her.
But she couldnt vent the boiling emotions.
If she stormed off to the Pope right now and killed him, shed lose even the saintess position that bound Asher to her.
Above all, she wanted Asher by her side in any form.
Her near-obsessive desire continually suppressed her killing intent.
Such a time stretched into the afternoon.
Asher stood perpetually at her right rear.
The guards position, where she couldnt see him unless she turned her head.
If she bowed her head, she could barely glimpse his shadow.
Versia kept her head down the whole time to confirm that shadow remained by her side.
She spoke sporadically.
Asking something as if nothing was wrong, receiving curt replies, and wounding herself in the process.
The point where even that became impossible came quickly.
It was when she sat blankly at the outdoor tea table in the garden.
The silence had lasted about an hour.
During that time, Versias heartbeat only grew faster.
Being together should have been enoughher old thought rang hollow now; Ashers silence tortured her.
The more she realized he no longer held any favor toward her, the more her throat burned.
Before long, Versias eyes had grown hollow.
She turned weakly to look at Asher.
He stared straight ahead, not at her.
His indifference pierced her to the core.
So,
...Have I become hated?
She asked abruptly.
It was less a question and more a plea.