Chapter 72
“……Heren.”
At the quiet call, Hereis smiled and firmly placed his hand on my shoulder.
“Don’t listen to that guy. What if something happens while I’m away from you? Of course I have to stay by your side. Don’t you think so?”
“But the room is so small……”
“Then I’ll just sleep on the sofa, whatever.”
At his carefree attitude, as if even sleeping on the floor wouldn’t matter, Lina jumped up in alarm.
“Huh? That’s impossible! I’ll sleep on the sofa instead!”
“What? No way. Then the two of us will just share the bed.”
Sharing a bed based on status? With my memories of the 21st century, that was unacceptable.
“It might be a bit early, but if you want, I’m always ready.”
Hereis draped his arm over my shoulder, his eyes narrowing shyly.
“What are you even saying? He means I should sleep with Lina.”
I grimaced and shoved his arm off me.
Bang, bang, bang!
Behind me, Ethan pounded on the door as if he were going to break it down.
This was pure chaos.
“Get out here right now!”
“At this rate, he’s going to call everyone over.”
“Shh, no! Don’t open it.”
“Move.”
I pushed aside Hereis, who was blocking me, and unlocked the door.
“Ethan. Don’t make a scene. Heren is a guard, so he can just sleep on the floo—”
“Floor, my ass!”
Ethan yanked Hereis aside and spat out his words quickly.
“No dinner will be served separately, so in 30 minutes, come out. I’ll take you to a nearby restaurant.”
Thud. The door shut right in my face.
“What the…….”
I blinked blankly, and suddenly—
Bang! Ethan opened the door again and snatched Ban from my arms.
“Ugh! Why me?!”
“Biologically speaking, this thing’s male too. So I’m taking it.”
Thud!
As if a storm had swept through, Lina mumbled blankly,
“M-Milady, will it be okay……?”
“Well…….”
At least it’ll be quiet.
Ethan’s room was on the exact opposite end of the hall from Sienna’s.
In other words, the very end.
It was already nerve-wracking having him in the next room, but the end of the hall? Hereis glared at the door, eyes full of resentment.
Holding Ban under his arm, Ethan gave him a sharp look.
“Get in.”
Hereis reluctantly stepped inside, and Ethan immediately shut the door and started scolding him.
“Are you out of your mind? Even if you were a commoner, people would talk. But you’re a noble, and a bachelor at that—sleeping in a young lady’s room? Do you realize what kind of rumors that’ll start? Do you want to ruin Sienna’s chances at marriage?”
His words were sharper than knives, cutting dozens of times over.
If his opponent hadn’t been Hereis.
“What does that matter?”
“What?”
Hereis batted his long lashes sweetly at Ethan’s flustered expression.
“That position will be mine anyway.”
“…….”
“Actually, the rumors would be good. That way, lowly pests who don’t know their place won’t even dare to covet Sienna.”
His voice was calm, but brimming with possessiveness and greed.
“So, it would be best if you didn’t interfere.”
Where had that gentle man who played nice in front of Sienna gone?
Ethan swallowed hard under the glint of those shining blue eyes.
It was both a warning not to interfere again and a silent threat not to approach Sienna.
“……You’re insane.”
“And you only just realized? You’re slower than I thought.”
Hereis replied indifferently and flopped onto the bed.
“If it weren’t for you, I would’ve succeeded. What a shame.”
Ban patted Ethan’s stiff arm like a scarecrow.
“Just let it go. He’s always been like this.”
As Ethan’s arm loosened, Ban slipped out of his grasp and added,
“No matter who it is, if they hang around Sienna, he’ll kill them.”
He might act uninterested in the world, but when it came to Sienna, he lost all reason.
Thirty minutes passed faster than expected.
“Looks like we came out a little early.”
“Yeah.”
Neither Ethan nor Hereis had come down yet; the empty lobby greeted us.
“I’ll go fetch them.”
“That’s not necessary.”
But Lina insisted she couldn’t leave me waiting and dashed up the stairs.
Leaning against the wall, I gazed out the window at the darkness settling outside.
‘Where is Father? He must be in Mendel, right? But what if he isn’t…?’
My thoughts stretched endlessly until an unfamiliar voice cut through them.
“Hello there.”
Who?
Startled by the sudden approach of a stranger, I instinctively stepped back.
Seeing my wary reaction, the man waved his hand.
“Oh, I’m Lucas, the lord’s son. Don’t worry, I’m not suspicious.”
“Ah.”
I recalled what Ethan had told me.
‘The lord has a son. Rumor has it he’s a notorious womanizer, so be careful.’
‘Can we trust that rumor?’
‘I saw him hitting on the priestesses who came with us.’
‘…….’
‘Don’t even talk to him if you meet him. And don’t punch him either, unless you really have to.’
So this guy was the infamous playboy, huh?
I subtly scanned Lucas’s face.
‘Hmm… Maybe I’m too used to seeing Hereis’s face every day? He’s handsome, but compared to him, a little lacking…….’
With a slick smile, Lucas asked,
“I don’t think we’ve met before. Are you part of the young duke’s party, by any chance?”
If I said yes, the news would surely reach Noah’s ears.
I drew a sharp line.
“No, I’m a priest.”
“A priest? That’s odd. All the priests already arrived a few days ago.”
“I had circumstances that delayed me.”
“Ah, I see! No wonder. There’s no way I could have failed to notice such a beautiful priest. Hahaha.”
“Uh… r-right……”
So the rumors were true.
I hadn’t expected to experience it firsthand.
He flirted as naturally as breathing, and I stared blankly at him with dead-fish eyes.
“What are you doing here, then?”
“I’m waiting for Priest Ethan. We were supposed to dine together.”
Sorry, Ethan. I’ll borrow your name for a bit.
“Oh, you haven’t had dinner yet? Then why not join me? I haven’t eaten either, busy as I’ve been.”
“That’s quite all right.”
“Do you like duck? Our chef makes an incredible duck dish. And there are some things I’d like to discuss……”
His endless advances made my face stiffen.
“Unfortunately, I’m allergic to duck, so that won’t work. Please excuse yourself now.”
Even at my cold dismissal, he didn’t budge.
Instead, he smirked and stepped closer.
“Then at least tell me your name.”
Persistent bastard. Should I just knock him out?
‘Freezing that silver tongue solid wouldn’t be a bad idea.’
Yes, let’s freeze him.
I was just reaching into my sleeve for my wand when—
“Sweetheart.”
A deep voice, a strong arm wrapping around my waist.
I didn’t need to look to know who it was.
Perfect timing. With relief, I nestled into Hereis’s embrace.
Then, shamelessly, I pouted.
“Why are you so late? I was waiting.”
“Sorry, someone was causing trouble. Did you wait long?”
“Mm-hm.”
“Then I’ll make it up to you with a delicious dinner. And this is…?”
He tucked my hair behind my ear gently, but his eyes glinted coldly.
“The young lord.”
“Oh, really……?”
I nodded, confirming his suspicion.
His lips smiled, but his eyes certainly didn’t.
Under that icy gaze, Lucas faltered.
“Y-you already have a lover……?”
“Yes.”
Would he really back down? I wasn’t so sure, so I raised the stakes.
“Mendel may be different, but in the capital, even priests can marry.”
“Th-then?”
“We’re engaged.”
I subtly showed off the ruby ring on my finger.
Lucas’s face instantly twisted with dismay.
“M-my apologies.”
“It’s fine. Ah, and here’s Priest Ethan now. We’ll take our leave.”
Seeing Ethan coming down the stairs, I grabbed the chance to leave.
Carrying Ban under his arm, Ethan rushed down, spotted us, and sprinted over.
“Sienna, did you beat up the young lord? Did you grab him by the collar?”
“I didn’t! I held back, okay?”
What kind of nonsense was that?
If I had at least cursed him out, I wouldn’t feel so wronged.
“Then why does his face look like that?”
At Ethan’s suspicion, I glanced back. Lucas’s face was pale, like he’d seen a ghost.
“What the… why is he like that?”
“Wasn’t it you?”
“I said no!”
If anything happened, it wasn’t me—it was him.
I tugged on Hereis’s hand.
“You. Did you do something to him?”
“What do you mean? I was right next to you the whole time.”
Hereis looked falsely aggrieved, his eyes drooping.
“Then why does that womanizer’s face look like that?”
“Maybe he realized how badly he messed up.”
“That guy? He didn’t seem like the type to have that much conscience……”
“Anyway, forget him. Let’s just go eat. You said you were hungry.”
“Why are you changing the subject? Suspicious.”
I stared at him intently, demanding the truth. Hereis shyly lowered his gaze.
“Don’t look at me like that, it’s embarrassing.”
“Ugh.”
Unable to take it, Ban gagged dramatically at his behavior.
