Chapter 34
“Sigh, I got way too emotional.”
Heat rushed to my head, and I felt like I’d really be in trouble if it kept up, so I squeezed my eyes shut.
Fortunately, Raven didn’t say anything more.
My fingertips grew rapidly cold, which probably meant my face had turned pale too.
‘Hmph, you knew I was sick, yet you pushed me like that?’
The sub-male lead is really something. It’s all about the female lead for him, huh?
To be honest, in my past life when I was writing this story, Raven was my favorite.
No particular reason—I just liked the handsome setting with his blond hair and blue eyes.
‘Now, not so much.’
Ever since entering this novel, I realized handsome looks aren’t everything. After all, a person’s character is what truly matters.
‘Ugh, but I shouldn’t be feeling this much pain, right?’
Chills have been running through me since before the banquet, which feels ominous. Holding out until the end is clearly impossible, and whether I can last even midway is questionable.
‘Huuuugh…’
By the time the cold was raging inside me, making my teeth chatter hard, the carriage arrived at the banquet hall.
To show Raven I wasn’t interested, I tried to get out of the carriage alone, but—
“Don’t be stubborn in the wrong place.”
As if reading my thoughts, he took my hand and led me.
I didn’t pull away. The chilly night air made it hard to stand.
I slowly entered the banquet hall. Fortunately, the hall was comfortably warm.
The chill inside me lessened a bit, but now the heat was making my head spin.
‘This damn incurable illness!’
I definitely took my medicine before leaving, but this still happened. At least it gave me an excuse to refuse dancing with Raven.
His Majesty, the Emperor, seemed disappointed, sulking over the wasted opportunity, but…
*Ding.*
[The God of Light and Knowledge, Pride, has donated 500 florins!]
[Ahem. W-well done…?]
‘Of course, naturally! Yes, yes, Lord Pride!’
I was extremely happy—I could both shake off Raven and earn money.
*Ding.*
[Arte has donated 52 florins!]
[T-then! Our Ciela isn’t interested in anyone but Tetetay!!]
Even though I’m still a bit annoyed about being left behind, since Arte was happy, I couldn’t help but crack a small smile.
After that, I became a wallflower at the banquet.
Maybe because of my pale complexion or the rumors swirling around me. The lack of dance requests was actually a relief.
“Hoo…”
The dizziness remained.
‘It feels like the world is spinning.’
Outside, I’d get chills; inside, I’d get dizzy. This body is truly a mess.
‘If Tetetay were here, at least I’d have some healing.’
Looking to the right, Raven was dancing conspicuously with noble ladies while watching me.
Looking straight ahead, nobles who had heard rumors about me were glancing at me with fearful eyes.
So, what about looking to the left?
‘Oh, Priest Shine is here.’
And he keeps making eye contact. This is driving me crazy. Why does our gaze only meet when I look his way…?
‘This won’t do. I’ll head to the terrace.’
I’d rather have the chill seep into my bones than endure this intense heat accompanied by staring.
I quietly slipped away to the empty terrace. *Whoosh.* The cool breeze felt nice against my clammy skin.
“Ugh, I wish it could stay like this until the music ends.”
Through the crack in the terrace door, the music flowing in was only on its second song.
I really wanted to leave the banquet hall like this. Unfortunately, you could only leave after the third song ended.
“Please be a short song.”
Fortunately, my wish came true. A short piece of music, about 20 minutes, echoed through the hall.
It was a symphony expressing the warmth of spring, and a smile naturally came to my face.
But that smile didn’t last long.
*Ding—!*
Amidst the calming symphony, an annoyingly cheerful sound pierced my mind.
[Pride is…]
[Envy is…]
[Arte…]
[Excessive donations have been detected. Streamlining the status window.]
[Total Donation Amount: 1,239 florins.]
[Envy: Ciela! Aren’t you going to talk to our Shine? Do you know how much he’s been thinking about, missing, and liking you—]
[Pride: Ahem. So, Ciela? Are you really going to break it off? Why? Don’t you like our Raven? What’s wrong with him?]
[Arte: Both of you, stop eyeing our Ciela! ໒꒰ྀི⸝⸝≖⃙⃚᷅ ᎔ ≖⃙⃚᷄⸝⸝꒱ྀི১]
[Envy: Hey, you! Don’t you dare steal my believer! I had her picked as Shine’s bride years ago!]
[Envy: You! Pride, what makes you so confident? You’re out!]
[Pride: Are you picking a fight out of jealousy? You’d better watch it. ^^]
[Arte: Our Ciela already has someone—]
[Envy: What are you talking about?]
[Pride: Lord Arte, you’re out too. ^^]
It was a joyous thing to receive over a thousand florins from a single conversation, but…
‘Why are these gods acting out in front of me…?’
Do you really have to bicker in front of a sick person?
Even though they were just words floating on the status window, I felt like my ears would start bleeding.
The sudden noisy atmosphere made me shake my head.
I didn’t even have the energy to talk back, so I quietly turned my body toward the door.
‘The music will end soon, too.’
The best course of action seemed to be leaving this banquet hall as soon as possible.
‘Let’s quickly escape this shackle and bondage and go home!’
What I need most right now is a cozy bed.
As the chills began to seep back in, my hands trembled slightly as I reached for the door.
But then.
*Thud!*
“Huh…?”
The door suddenly opened. Since it opened outward, my hand, suspended in mid-air, leaned forward.
Am I about to fall? Just as I squeezed my eyes shut—
*Thump!*
Someone’s arm wrapped around my waist, holding me steady. At the same time, my floating hand landed on the man’s shoulder.
“Th-thank you.”
It happened so quickly that my heart was pounding. I bowed my head to thank him.
“You’re welcome.”
‘……Huh?’
But the voice sounded familiar. I reflexively looked up.
“Can you stand properly, Lady Ciela?”
Priest Shine was looking down at me from less than a hand’s breadth away.
*Ding.*
[Envy: Thaaat’s it! Shine, well done!!!]
‘What do you mean, well done?!’
Can’t you see I’m frowning right now?!
“Yes, yes! Of course.”
Flustered, I pushed him away and took a step back. Shine’s expression stiffened slightly. He probably found touching me utterly disgusting.
‘He saved me, yet he’s the one in a bad mood.’
What kind of good deed comes with bad thoughts?
Still, I was grateful he saved me from falling, so I forced a smile.
“……”
……Well, because of that, Shine’s expression stiffened even more, but that’s none of my business.
‘I’ve given a perfectly polite greeting, so I can go now, right?’
I subtly checked his reaction and shifted my foot sideways. But strangely—
*Tap.*
Shine blocked my path again.
‘What is it? What’s going on?’
Is this some new form of provocation? Is there some deep meaning, like, “since my mood is ruined, you should suffer too”?
As I was flustered by his inexplicable behavior, he finally broke the silence.
“My apologies. I didn’t realize you were here.”
“Ah, yes. Well, I was just about to leave anyway. Please use the terrace, Priest.”
So, could you move aside now…?
Despite my subtle urging, Shine remained unmoved. Instead, as if he knew nothing, he spoke again.
“Have you been… well lately? The day you left the Church of Envy, you caused quite the scene, didn’t you? I was starting to think it’s a hobby of yours.”
“Haha?”
It was clear he stopped me just to ruin my mood too.
“I’m doing just—fine, so you don’t need to worry!”
“Is that so?”
He lowered his eyes slightly and gave a small nod. Yet, his brow remained deeply furrowed.
“Well…”
He seemed to have something to say, his lips moving slightly.
Thinking it might be important, I waited quietly, but Shine eventually shook his head.
“If that’s the case, then that’s good. Have a pleasant time, Lady Ciela.”
“You too, Priest.”
I was curious about what he was about to say, but—
*Ding.*
[Envy: Why, why couldn’t you say it! Shine, you were worried about Ciela for some reason! You were actually worried the whole time, why couldn’t you say it!!!]
[Envy is pounding the wall with fists, shouting.]
Thanks to a certain noisy god, I lost any desire to ask.
I clenched and unclenched my now-frozen hands and walked past Shine.
I could almost see Envy’s status window flashing before my eyes, screaming *Nooooo—!* I ignored it cleanly.
The banquet hall was now filled with a calm, melodic tune.
After telling Lucian and my parents I’d leave first, I quietly slipped out of the banquet hall.
I declined Lucian’s offer to take me home by carriage and headed outside alone.
But the second person to block my way was—
“Changed tactics, I see?”
Raven glared at me with menacing eyes.
