CHAPTER 72……………………………………………
When I opened the gift of pheromones from Cassius, all I could feel was the desire to reach him—nothing else registered.
His hand flinched slightly in surprise but then calmly settled on my waist and back.
I spoke carefully, almost whispering.
“I’m sorry for acting on my own.”
“There’s nothing to apologize for.”
He chuckled lightly and pressed his forehead against mine.
“This is enjoyable.”
I whispered, worried someone might hear.
“Me too.”
“But I’m lacking…”
As he murmured that, he gently bit my lips.
“Ah.”
With a small sigh, I opened my mouth, and he entered. I could feel every movement of Cassius.
As we connected deeply, heat spread through my body.
Breathing became difficult, and I grabbed his collar tightly. He fell toward me with the momentum.
We lay back on a long sofa, just big enough for two, as I accepted him. As he slowly explored, a tickling sensation spread through my mouth.
‘It’s stronger now.’
His pheromones had intensified.
Perhaps he no longer had the capacity to contain them. I felt consumed by his scent. It was pleasant at first, sweet even, but gradually it became overwhelming.
“Huff…”
Struggling to breathe, I gasped and accidentally bit his tongue.
Cassius, who had been on top of me, pulled back. Blood dripped from one corner of his mouth.
I must have bitten harder than I intended.
“I-I’m sorry…”
“No, I’m the one who should apologize. I was too hasty.”
He wiped the blood from his mouth and moved completely away from me.
It ended up looking like I had kissed him first but then rejected him.
But I couldn’t exactly admit that I had wanted to kiss him.
‘We’re not that kind of relationship, right?’
Cassius and I really weren’t in any kind of relationship.
He had been the first to move his lips.
“…I’ll be away starting tonight. It should take about a week.”
“Ah, then I’ll translate and write the journal myself.”
“No. I’ll finish reading it.”
“You can read it?”
“Yes. I’ve already studied the ancient sacred language.”
I was surprised.
The ancient sacred language had only recently started to be properly translated.
While carrying out his official duties for the empire, he had apparently also learned the translations.
‘So he could read it.’
Even so, asking me to read it must have been because he wanted to see me every morning.
I didn’t dislike that he had schemed a little to be with me, even for a short while.
‘If he leaves like this, will he misunderstand that I rejected him?’
I wouldn’t see him for a week, and I couldn’t part with unresolved feelings. I mustered some courage.
“I… I didn’t dislike it earlier.”
“……”
“I was just flustered because it was unfamiliar.”
Cassius’ pheromones had been different from usual, which startled me.
He gave a meaningful smile.
“Next time, I’ll go a bit slower.”
“N-Next time?”
He touched his lips as he spoke.
“You acted on your own twice already. I think it’s fair if I act on my own once, don’t you?”
His words made me recall our first kiss.
Back then, I had kissed him to stop the torrential rain he had unleashed on the princess’ palace.
Even then, I had rushed first.
“You acted on your own immediately.”
Both times!
“Then Sonia, you do it immediately too.”
He added that it would be fair that way. The more he spoke, the more I felt caught up in him.
Flustered, I felt my face heat up.
He chuckled softly.
“You’re still clumsy at containing yourself. But judging by your pheromones, it seems fine if I go first.”
“No, enough joking around. Have a safe trip. O-Of fficial departure!”
With that, I ran back to my room as if fleeing.
Sonia fled like an arrow.
Cassius had more he wanted to say to her.
What exactly was in his pockets making them bulge like that? That he would send Mikael while I was away?
He had promised not to use his abilities without permission, so he needed to ask—but Sonia had vanished.
‘I’ll have to relay this to Isaac.’
Mikael would protect her while he was away.
And above all, he had something else he wanted to say.
‘I was going to ask her to go out with me.’
He couldn’t be satisfied with such an ambiguous relationship, so he filled his pheromones with desire while listing her good points.
As a result, he couldn’t speak properly when her lips stopped his.
He touched his own lips, still feeling the sensation of hers.
Left alone in his office, Cassius inhaled the lingering scent of the omega Sonia had left behind.
He wanted her.
Biting his teeth, he felt a surge of desire to mark her neck and fill the air with his pheromones.
“Such a lustful beast.”
Because he had used pheromones infused with genuine desire, she had been overwhelmed.
She still couldn’t fully accept her own feelings.
“I won’t give up.”
He murmured the vow to himself.
Finally, Cassius took the diary of the ancient sacred shrine.
In fact, he had already read it all. That was why he needed to go to the healing sanctuary.
Back in my room, I touched my cheeks. My flushed cheeks and hands were burning. I looked at the mirror, my face bright red, not knowing what to do.
While running back, I thought about it, and no matter how I considered it, Cassius hadn’t wanted to just kiss me.
‘He was probably going to ask me out!’
I had misread the emotions in his pheromones and kissed him, so I hadn’t heard the words properly—but he had said “with me…” so it must be true.
I should have listened properly.
As he said, my body had moved on its own, driven by desire, leaving things ambiguous.
Still, since I kissed him first, I figured it might count for something.
I didn’t like vague relationships, so I planned to ask him properly as soon as he returned.
As expected, Cassius quietly left the kingdom.
I learned the details from Isaac. Cassius was heading to the empire. Since it was a secret mission, only Isaac, a few cardinals, and I were aware, so we had to keep it quiet.
And my escort would be Mikael!
Isaac, holding Mikael, told me:
“The sovereign said Mikael will protect Priest Sonia. He’s been persuaded to listen if necessary.”
Mikael was a divine beast passed down through generations of sovereigns.
He wouldn’t obey anyone but the sovereign. Somehow, Isaac had managed it, and Mikael would come running whenever I called his name anywhere in the kingdom.
I watched the cat wagging its tail while nestled in Isaac’s arms.
“Well… he seems reliable.”
Shouldn’t I be protecting Mikael instead?
Mikael had been attacked by a crow. Perhaps it was a warning to take care of the fragile Mikael.
So, Cassius’ divine beast, Mikael, became part of my daily life.
They say a divine beast’s form changes depending on its master.
Under the previous sovereign, Mikael had been a giant eagle, but with Cassius, he was a cat.
‘This tiny cat will protect me?’
Honestly, I didn’t find it very reassuring, but he was cute, so emotionally, I was satisfied.
I looked forward to petting him freely.
“Meow!”
Even if I approached, Mikael glared at me.
“You used to curl up in my arms and purr!”
He had been gentle when I petted him with Cassius’ permission, but now he was very cautious.
Had he forgotten me after all this time?
I felt a little disappointed.
I wanted to stroke his fluffy chest fur and press his paws, but he might use his claws.
If a divine beast attacks, I couldn’t recover on my own, so I only watched from afar, sadly.
All day, Mikael followed me closely, and by sunset, he scratched the window, asking to go out.
“You can sleep with me if you want.”
Honestly, that was exactly what I wanted.
“Meow─!”
Mikael seemed to demand I open the window immediately.
“Tch, fine.”
I opened the window wide, and Mikael climbed onto the roof.
Creak… I heard a weighty sound as Mikael settled on the roof. Perhaps he intended to watch over me from above.
After letting Mikael out, I lay on my bed and read the letters that had arrived.
As soon as Cassius left for his mission, letters for reservations with the confessor started arriving without delay.
While skimming letters from nobles about dates, I found something sent by Lancelot.
‘What’s this?’
It wasn’t a letter but a package—something I hadn’t experienced before. I opened it and read the letter on top.
**“To Sister Sonia,
I heard about the carriage accident on your way to the kingdom.
Upon hearing that you were unharmed, I visited the temple for the first time to offer my thanks.”**
Apparently, news of the accident had reached the empire. I felt sorry for unintentionally alarming him. I continued reading Lancelot’s letter.
**“Do you remember the perfume we talked about when you returned home?
Inspired by our conversation, I created a new fragrance using lily of the valley.
The scent was strong, so I diluted it before attending a party, but the prince seemed very displeased and distanced himself.
Judging by Lord Rundmier’s comment as well, it seems to be a scent that alphas dislike.
I thought you might need it, so I enclosed the undiluted essence.”**
