Chapter 21
“Sorry.”
That’s… a bit difficult.
“There’s no space here.”
Don’t you feel something like a wall against the backs of your hands behind my waist?
Yeah. That’s a real wall.
“It’s too cramped…”
I looked up awkwardly.
Even though there was barely any light, we were close enough for me to see his expression.
Arden, looking straight into my eyes from right in front of my nose, squeezed his eyes shut.
He looked miserable.
“……”
“……”
“I don’t know if this will make you feel better, but… I took a thorough shower this morning.”
“…I figured.”
He muttered without opening his eyes — the scent of soap still lingering.
His eyelids tightened even more.
“……”
“……”
And outside, someone with a nasty temper and a loud voice was stomping around.
Inside, Arden looked seriously uncomfortable.
I lowered the hands I had pressed awkwardly against his chest, trying to make him a little more comfortable—
“Please don’t move.”
“…Sorry.”
I couldn’t tell if he was pleading or threatening, but I quietly returned my hands to his chest.
“You just looked really uncomfortable…”
Uncomfortable, or annoyed—hard to say.
“……”
“……”
If only this place were just one handspan wider, it wouldn’t be this awkward.
Or even a bit of light—
No, wait. That might make it more awkward…
Arden’s strong arms wrapped around me, his chest rising and falling against mine with every breath, the hesitant hands hovering near my lower back… it was impossible not to notice.
He told me not to move, yet he kept flinching.
How hard must this be for him? This poor germaphobic man…
Trying to kill the awkwardness, I brought up a completely random topic.
“You know the actor playing opposite Rozena today? He’s handsome.”
“……”
“Seems to be around our age too. They say he’s a year older than me.”
I’d seen the poster in the lobby earlier. Definitely my type.
Arden cleared his throat.
“Older men…”
“Hm?”
“…die faster.”
“……”
“Since he’s a year older than you, he’ll probably die thirty years earlier.”
…Thirty years?!
“I don’t think a one-year age gap works like that.”
I tried to gently protest, but Arden was firm.
With a sigh, he slowly opened his eyes, looked straight into mine, and enunciated each word like he was engraving them into my skull:
“One year is a huge difference. There’s an uncrossable, massive river between one year. I said thirty years, but if he doesn’t take care of himself, he could die forty years earlier.”
“…That serious?”
“That serious.”
“…Sorry. I’ll hurry up and die then.”
I’m two years older than him, after all…
If one year is thirty years, then two years is sixty.
Arden is twenty-one now. So if I’m supposed to die sixty years before him…
Shouldn’t I be dead already?
Goodbye, everyone.
This is the tragic end of Saintess Sena, who failed to save the world…
Please save it in my stead… okay?
Promise…☆
“Ah… I can see the road to the afterlife…”
I staggered dramatically.
Even though I achieved none of my dreams, I guess I lived a decent life…
Arden panicked and practically jumped in place.
“That’s not what I meant!”
“Shh. Quiet.”
People are still out there.
I pressed a finger against Arden’s chest.
“No, listen. What I meant was— I…”
“I know, I know what you meant.”
I snorted quietly against him.
Trying to suppress laughter meant my face inevitably ended up buried against his uniform.
Arden, stiff as a board, finally sighed and awkwardly tightened the hands hovering at my back.
His big hand found the loose ribbon at my waist, grabbed it, and neatly retied it.
After tying it firmly, he hesitated… then tugged the long dangling end—
“Hey—that’ll rip—!”
“I’ll pay for it tomorrow. So please…”
Just stay still.
He whispered.
I had no idea how long we stayed like that.
Has the performance started already?
Just as anxiety crept in, the staff member finally left.
“We’re clear.”
At his signal, I shoved the door open and stepped out.
Above us, an usher called for the audience to take their seats—the show would start soon.
Rozena was probably backstage by now.
I’d have to snoop around after the performance.
“Thanks. I’ll get going!”
I waved. Work hard!
But then—
“Senior.”
“Hm?”
Arden came over and placed the torn black ribbon in my hand.
“Trash goes in the trash bin.”
“Ah.”
“And also,”
“Yes?”
“It’s fine if women die first. If a woman goes first, the man can spend his whole life missing her, then follow after.”
“……”
“It’s cold in the theater. Use this. Give it back later.”
Without giving me a chance to respond, he draped his uniform jacket over me and disappeared.
Left holding the torn ribbon and his jacket, staring in the direction he went, I muttered:
“…So he’s not denying that older women die first.”
Goodbye again, everyone…
I go first… sixty years early…☆
Saintess Seraphina!
DEAD☆
* *
“Sir Arden!”
“Arden!”
“Where did this brat disappear to?”
“Here.”
“Where were you! I thought you bailed to avoid working!”
“I apologize.”
“Why’s your face so red?”
Did you run? the senior knight asked.
Arden just gave a stiff nod and went to stand in his position.
“But Arden, why’d you even come back?”
a colleague asked.
“Weren’t you supposed to go home after your morning shift? The others said you suddenly volunteered to take over this post. Oh…”
Realization dawned on him.
He smirked.
“You volunteered to see Rozena, didn’t you? Acting like you don’t care, you rascal.”
“……”
“Shame though. Our spot is too far—you probably can’t see her well.”
“……”
“Don’t worry, I knew this would happen. So I brought this.”
“……”
“Ta-da! Opera glasses!”
With these, you could probably see even the props backstage.
The colleague generously offered them.
Arden hesitated, then accepted them.
Making sure no one noticed, he carefully wiped them with a handkerchief—
—and lifted them to his eyes.
“Hey, what’re you looking at? That’s the audience side. The stage is the other way!”
“……”
“Arden, the stage is behind you!”
“I’m looking exactly where I should be.”
“Huh?”
What’s he talking about?
The colleague tilted his head.
Arden stared at the audience for a long time before calmly handing the glasses back—
without even sparing a glance at the stage whose curtain had just risen.
“Wow, she’s gorgeous.”
The colleague admired Rozena, who had just appeared in the spotlight.
Then, noticing Arden still staring in the completely wrong direction—not even blinking—he asked:
“Arden, what do you see?”
“Yes.”
“No really, what are you looking at? Got a lover out there or something?”
“Not a lover.”
“Then… a girl you like?”
“……”
“No answer, huh.”
The colleague chuckled, eyes glued to Rozena.
“Still, she’s insanely gorgeous. With this many people here, your eyes just go straight to her, right?”
“…Yes.”
I can only see her.
