Chapter 50
“This is… your hometown?”
Lihelin looked over the hill for a moment, then nodded.
“The day before I left for the capital, I walked in those woods you see there. Back then, I had no idea this place would be ruined like this.”
Her eyes dropped, filled with guilt.
“The High Priest probably brought me on this expedition because I know the forests and land here. But instead of helping, I only caused trouble. I don’t know why I’m so foolish.”
Melody guessed why she had come out of Deonis’s tent earlier—most likely to discuss the terrain or strategy.
“Just being able to heal people with holy power is already amazing.”
“Right? To be chosen by the goddess feels like a miracle. I still lack a lot, but being able to help someone… it makes me so happy.”
Lihelin reached out her hand.
“My name is Lihelin.”
“I’m Melody.”
Melody shook her hand lightly.
“If you ever get hurt, please come to me. Though I hope you won’t get hurt at all.”
Lihelin smiled brightly before moving off to speak with another knight. Her smile was so beautiful that even Melody, who had no feelings, felt her heart skip. But to those who loved her, Lihelin was nothing less than a poisoned apple.
In the novel, Lihelin pitied Awhin when he punished himself, and she even shared a bed with him. She didn’t push away Ryan either when he came to her.
And she kept meeting Deonis too.
Nothing ever happened because Deonis refused her, but if he had been tempted like the others, would she have accepted him too?
Or would she have pushed him away for being a mage…?
While Melody wondered, she noticed Lihelin still treating injured knights.
“Priestess, can you remove old scars too?”
“Yes, of course.”
“My wound still aches. Could you heal it again?”
“Me too, please!”
A faint light rose from Lihelin’s fingers. But it was weaker and more unstable than before. Melody stopped her as she finished with one knight and turned to the next. Lihelin’s face looked tired.
“Are you alright?”
“Of course. Just a little exhausted.”
“Shouldn’t you rest?”
“I’m fine. This power was given to me to be used for everyone.”
But the monster hunt hadn’t even begun yet, so most injuries were only small.
“…Does it really have to be for everyone? Just because you were given divine power?”
“Yes. That’s the goddess’s will I was taught.”
“What if the person you love is hurt because of it?”
Lihelin widened her eyes at the sudden question, then thought carefully.
“They would understand. They’d know I’m carrying out the goddess’s will. If they love me, they’ll follow the temple’s will too.”
But Deonis was someone who hated the gods more than anyone. Melody could only sigh at such faithful words. Quietly, she turned away and decided—
To survive, she had to make this doomed love fail even more.
From that day, Melody followed Lihelin closely. Feelings were unpredictable, so she decided to block them before they even began. What she hadn’t expected was that, in the process, she herself might grow closer to Lihelin.
“Would you like some?”
Lihelin offered her bread.
“Oh… thank you. Were you just praying?”
“Yes.”
Lihelin was diligent and devout. She prayed every morning, then immediately began healing. Only when she was completely worn out did she return to her room, pray again, and fall asleep.
Whether on the road or in a village, her routine never changed.
And strangely, despite that repetitive routine, she constantly ran into the male leads.
“You’re with her again today?”
Melody saw Awhin’s face every day, though she had only expected to see him once every few days. But since Lihelin always stayed with the temple side, it was natural.
“I don’t understand why you insist on eating here, where you’re unwelcome.”
She also often saw Deonis when he visited the high priests.
Is this the flow of fate? Melody thought. At least she was glad she had planned to interfere before things could progress.
Deonis clicked his tongue at her, annoyed. Just as he said, the priests glared at Melody whenever they saw her, but she was used to such looks.
“I guess I’m fine. Unless they shoot poison from their eyes, I’ll survive.”
After all, there was once a monster named Celonia that literally spat poison from its eyes. Melody had nearly died from it.
“Don’t you have work? Sir Rohan is calling you.”
Melody pushed Deonis out of Lihelin’s sight. Lihelin bowed uncomfortably as he left. And then—
“What kind of person is the Duke?”
Lihelin’s question made Melody feel that things were going wrong. Was this fate or her own failed efforts? Lihelin was curious about him now.
“Well, he’s my employer.”
“Not that. As a person. Honestly, he scares me.”
“I was scared at first too, but now…”
Melody frowned.
“Now… I don’t know.”
She couldn’t describe it in one word. She pitied him, she wanted him to be happy, she thought he was lonely… but it wasn’t pity exactly. It was something else.
What is it, really…?
She stayed silent too long, and Lihelin spoke.
“You two seem close. He doesn’t get angry at you like he does with me. I guess the Duke really dislikes me, right? Since he isn’t that way with other priests.”
Melody should have boldly said Yes. But the words stuck. In the end, she could only speak honestly.
“He won’t hate you. Never.”
Gods… If Deonis truly must love her, then please let Lihelin only love him in return.
Melody smiled bitterly.
Later, Deonis stood outside his tent, staring at a single glove hanging there.
“What is this?”
“Your glove has returned.”
“Is it a challenge to a duel?”
“Of course not.”
He removed one glove and put on the mismatched one. Rohan looked at him curiously.
That night… Deonis almost touched Melody.
‘Hug me.’
When his gloved hand brushed her shoulder, he barely stopped himself in time. But when she, lying on top of him, began touching his face, he had no strength left to resist.
Her hand traced down his eyes, his nose… He had to grab it to stop himself from giving in to the wild urge to bite down and devour her whole.
It hadn’t gone that far, but he couldn’t deny it—his body had burned hot, desperate to touch her.
