DYBA 15

Chapter 15

“The thief was doing what?”

At my words, Shain asked back as if it was absurd.

Yeah. I know my words sound ridiculous. But.

‘What can I do, it’s the truth.’

Of all things, the item that came out of the shop was a pillow!

‘Let’s just brazen our way out.’

I’m the victim here, after all!

I pointed straight at the thief with my index finger and spoke.

“He’s a thief who came to steal Siren’s Reverse Scale.”

Then, with the same finger, I pointed back at myself,

“He threatened me, so I used my ability and just put him to sleep.”

“Huh, what kind of nonsense….”

Shain made a face as if he’d heard an unbelievable lie.

But after examining the thief, who was groaning and asleep, he reluctantly agreed.

“…I see who it is. The sect leader of the Shai-bin faction. Tch, I thought he’d been acting suspiciously lately.”

Shain raised his hand towards the thief as if there was nothing more to see.

Then, a stream of water shaped like a rope poured from his fingertips and tightly bound the thief.

“Siren’s Reverse Scale is here too. How utterly stupid.”

Typical of humans. Shain muttered softly and sent the thief away somewhere.

I glanced at Shain and cautiously opened my mouth.

“Uhm…… May I go now?”

I caught the thief and proved my innocence, so I can leave now, right?

“No.”
“Huh?”

Why not?

Shain rolled the case containing Siren’s Reverse Scale and continued.
“Because I need to know why you came here. How did you get in?”
“Well, I met Envy-nim and opened the door—”
“What method did you use exactly?”

That’s what I’m trying to explain right now?

But judging by those suspicious eyes, he probably won’t listen to a word I say.

‘What’s the use of perfectly incapacitating and handing over the thief? Now it looks like I’m the one being framed!’

I should have chosen an item that would let me escape instead of a weapon, regardless of what the thief was doing.

The future that awaits me already feels distant.

No, I can’t see it at all. It feels like there’s no next for me……

‘Am I going to be locked up with the thief?’

See you soon.

Bing—!

[Arte: Huh? Ciela, you’re still here?]
[Envy: What, what~? What are you two doing here without me~? Haha]

Thief, sir. Let’s never, ever meet again.

‘Arte-nim, Envy-nim!’

I almost sobbed as I called out to my saviors who appeared just in time.

My exclamation, which had been met with nothing but question marks, was short-lived.

‘Please help me! You see, I just ran into a thief……’

After I quickly explained the whole situation, Envy said she’d look into it and disappeared.

Turns out, this place where I was standing was the spot where oracles were delivered.

To cut to the chase, Envy-nim was truly the best god ever!

“Ha, why would Envy-nim vouch for your innocence……?”

Shain stiffened momentarily upon confirming the suddenly delivered oracle.

His trembling eyes were a bonus. He stared at me with a dazed expression.

‘Is that really so shocking?’

If it weren’t for Envy-nim, an innocent person would have almost been arrested, and that’s no big deal?

But saying that out loud—

‘Ugh, of course I can’t.’

Might mean all my efforts to fix this could go down the drain.

In times like this, it was better to just put on an innocent face that said, ‘Envy-nim said something about me, but I don’t know why.’

‘Let’s be satisfied that the misunderstanding is cleared up.’

Since even Envy spoke up, surely he’ll let me go now!

……or so I thought, but my hope was utterly shattered the next moment.

“Is it true?”
“Huh?”
“That you came here… because you wanted to see me?”
“Huh?”
“That you… cried because you missed me?”
“Whaaat???”

Me? Would I? Would I really?!

I had no idea how he reached that conclusion.

Bing—!

[Envy: Ciela, did you think I’d let you go? My top donor, and now my benefactor who even caught a thief? Yeah, I can’t let you go~]
[Envy: You’re mine—no, you’re our Shain’s!]

And she calls herself the Goddess of Benevolence! She’s just full of jealousy!

To make matters worse, whatever Envy wrote next made Shain’s pupils shake even more violently, as if an earthquake had hit.

“All this time, you’ve loved—”
“Uwah, no!”

My actions came before I could even hear the rest of his sentence.

Afraid he’d get the wrong idea if I let him continue, I temporarily covered his mouth with my hand.

“Fi-filter out the later part! How could I possibly see the High Priest like that!”

Let alone love, I didn’t even have a crush on him. ‘Shain Adielle’ was the very embodiment of fear to me.

“…….”

Shain, too, seemed to think that sounded wrong, as his trembling eyes instantly calmed down.

Watching his reaction, I slowly lowered the hand covering his mouth.

I thought he’d say something right away, but surprisingly, Shain just stared at me intently.

‘Is his face hardening even more…?’

I couldn’t figure out why, and as I was nervously swallowing dry saliva,

“So the latter part is all lies, is that what you’re saying?”
He slowly opened his mouth and asked. I immediately nodded to Shain, who had understood my words correctly.

“Yes! The latter part is all nonsense—”
“But then, why are the corners of your eyes swollen?”

Shain took another step closer to me.

Because I had been covering his mouth, the distance was closer than usual.

‘I-I can feel his breath.’

Hesitantly, I instinctively stepped back. But I couldn’t go further.

Chin.

Because he lifted my chin with his hand. Unlike before, his touch was careful.

‘He’s not actually believing Envy-nim’s words, is he? Unless he’s overcome by heatstroke, really?’

Amid my confusion at Shain’s strange behavior, Envy’s status window, which suddenly popped into my head, tormented me further.

[Envy: Heheh, everything is going according to plan……!]

The fact that she’s seriously marking me as Shain’s bride candidate is just…

‘……Just send me to jail instead.’

My heart feels like it’s shriveling up under that gaze!

I just rolled my innocent eyes around.

Right then.

Swoosh.

Shain’s hand, which was holding my chin, moved up and brushed the corner of my eye.

“……!”

So surprised, I stared at Shain with wide eyes.

He still had a cold, stiff expression, as if he himself didn’t know what he was doing.

“It’s a lie, correct?”
“O-of course. This is, you know…”

It’s not tears, it’s just that I yawned and my eyes watered!

I was too embarrassed to say that outright, it was driving me crazy.

‘Let’s get him off me first.’

Being this close, I feel like I can’t even lie properly.

I subtly pulled my body back and retreated. Only then did Shain seem to reflect on his actions, his face twisting sharply.

And then he stepped back, acting as if *I* was the one who had touched *him*.

‘Hah, really. I’m the one who should feel more offended?’

I’m the one who got falsely accused by Envy-nim!

‘See, why is he, usually so cold and rational, believing that and getting upset on his own?’

With a face full of even more bitterness, I opened my mouth.

“I wasn’t crying. It was just, because of pollen allergies. My eyes suddenly watered, so Envy-nim must have misunderstood.”
“There are no flowers underground.”
“I had the window open on my way to the temple. Achoo! See, my nose is still itchy? Haha…”

It was a fairly decent excuse. I rubbed my nose awkwardly and laughed.

Shain didn’t press further after my answer and firmly closed his mouth.

‘The stiff expression is still the same, though.’

But no need to tire him out with more excuses, right?

‘A strong denial can become a strong affirmation. It might backfire.’

Of course, escaping this awkward situation was the top priority.

I naturally changed the subject by glancing out the window.

“Oh my! The sun is already high in the sky! High Priest, I have a lot to do today. I think I should be going now!”

Bing—!

[Envy: No! Shain, don’t let her go! Noooooo!]

What do you mean, no.

“I can really go now, right?”
“…Yes. The misunderstanding has been cleared up, after all.”