chapter 10
Someone suddenly grabbed the back of her neck as she was moving forward and shoved her backward.
“Do you want to die?”
Startled, Skylar lost her balance and staggered, but the man reached out again and caught her arm.
“W-Who…?”
The moment she slowly raised her head, she froze in even greater shock.
“You’re…!”
Though it was dark, there was no way she wouldn’t recognize him.
Broad shoulders stretched straight across, a solid chest obvious at a glance, and a height so tall she had to crane her neck to look up.
With the sea behind him, his blue eyes shone sharply, almost fiercely.
“Why are you here, Lord Declen…?”
“Who knows. More importantly—”
The suffocating moment didn’t last long. Declen released her arm and smirked.
“You call me by name so easily. We’re not friends.”
“I-I’m sorry.”
“No need to apologize.”
Still frozen, Skylar moved her lips, stunned by his unexpected presence.
Tilting his head slightly, he smiled.
“I was worried you might’ve forgotten my face, but it seems that’s not the case.”
It was the same smile she had seen before—like a predator contemplating how to deal with its prey.
Caught off guard, Skylar stammered.
“There’s no way I could forget. You’re my benefactor.”
“You’ve grown.”
Ignoring her confusion, he casually looked her up and down, then announced,
“Let’s go inside for now.”
Like a prisoner under escort, she followed him back into the villa, but the inside was eerily silent.
“Would you like some tea?”
At this late hour, it felt awkward to wake Esther.
As Skylar tried to excuse herself, he shook his head.
Declen gestured toward the seat across from him, looking thoroughly displeased.
“Sit. This won’t take long.”
“……”
Reluctantly, Skylar sat down, and he immediately spoke.
“Someone will come for you at dawn tomorrow.”
“…What?”
“Everything’s ready. Just come as you are.”
“W-Where are we going? I’m still in training.”
Skylar stuttered, eyes wide like a startled rabbit.
She was supposed to stay here until she was publicly announced as a saint candidate.
There were still three months left.
“So you’re just going to stay here as some saint candidate nobody?”
His voice was low, but it cut like ice.
“I told you to stay quietly at the orphanage. And now you’ve been dragged to the temple to become some saint candidate.”
“There were circumstances.”
It was a long story. She hesitated, then gathered her courage to explain.
“A clueless country girl, completely fooled.”
“…What?”
“What did Soleon say to persuade you?”
“Persuade…? What do you mean?”
“Do you even know what a saint candidate does?”
Her mind couldn’t keep up with his mocking tone.
As Skylar hesitated, his words struck like blades.
“You think you’ll just enjoy wealth and honor? Be respected by everyone and live comfortably?”
“I’ve never thought that!”
“What do you think a saint candidate actually does? Say it.”
The man, lounging lazily, curved his lips at her as she rose in frustration.
Running a hand through her hair, Skylar steadied herself.
“They travel to areas damaged by monsters and provide healing, assist in important temple ceremonies, visit abandoned desert border regions to offer support, and bless people.”
“And?”
“They also host foreign dignitaries, sponsor nobles, and receive sponsorship.”
That was why she was learning not only holy power training but also etiquette and refinement here.
Leaning back crookedly, Declen pressed further.
“And?”
“And…”
She couldn’t think of anything else. After pondering, she recalled one more thing.
“They heal candidates for the commander of the holy knights.”
“Do you know how that’s done?”
“…What?”
“Come here.”
Declen beckoned with his finger as if calling a puppy.
Her pride stung, but the fact that he had once saved her life weighed on her.
Hesitating, she stepped closer. Suddenly, he reached out, intertwining his fingers with hers one by one—then pulled her toward him.
“W-What is this?!”
Losing her balance, Skylar ended up leaning over him as if falling onto him.
Their faces were so close she could feel his breath. Her heart pounded wildly, as if it would burst from her chest, and heat rushed to her head.
“This is how the contact is made for healing.”
“That’s a lie, right?”
“I’ve volunteered at healing centers before. I studied at the temple too. Healing was done by manifesting holy power—there was nothing like this!”
“Because it’s not just healing.”
“…What?”
“When you come into contact with monsters, holy power becomes contaminated. Just like land touched by monsters for too long can’t recover without purification.”
“……”
“That purification is done through contact. The deeper the contamination, the deeper the contact becomes. You have that power too—beyond healing and defense.”
“……”
“Judging by your face, Soleon didn’t tell you this part, did he?”
“….”
As if nothing had happened, Declen released her.
Then he drove the point home.
“Eight years ago, you made a promise. That when you became an adult, you’d come to me.”
It was true. Skylar nodded.
Standing up, he declared,
“In four days, at dawn, someone I send will throw a stone at your window. When you get the signal, come out through the back door. Without anyone knowing.”
After glancing at the speechless Skylar, Declen walked past her and left the villa.
“Why do you look so troubled, Lady Skylar?”
“Oh… it’s nothing.”
“You looked really serious. You’re not sick, are you?”
“No. I’m fine.”
Despite Esther’s repeated questioning, Skylar shook her head.
It was a short break after the morning lesson. After a light lunch, they were having tea in the small garden behind the villa.
“You haven’t been eating properly or sleeping well these past few days. Are you really okay?”
Since they were together almost all the time except when sleeping, Esther’s persistence was relentless.
Skylar avoided her gaze.
“I just… feel more and more pressured.”
“…What?”
“I think I’m only now realizing what it means to be a saint candidate. The worries and concerns keep piling up.”
Tomorrow at dawn would be the day Declen had mentioned.
The closer it got, the more conflicted she felt.
“I see.”
Perhaps convinced, Esther backed off.
“That makes sense. Actually, it’s perfect timing.”
“What?”
“You know today’s dance practice, right? A special guest is coming.”
“What do you mean?”
As Skylar tilted her head in confusion, she suddenly felt a hand rest on her shoulder without any warning.
“Ahh!”
No one here should be touching a saint candidate without permission. Startled, she whipped her head around.
The man smiled brightly.
“It’s been a while, Skylar.”
“……”
“Didn’t you miss me?”
“L-Lord Soleon?”
Caught off guard by the unexpected guest, Skylar barely had time to think before the lesson began.
The location was a spacious hall used for both banquets and dining.
With the tables and chairs pushed aside, Skylar stood in the center, holding Soleon’s hands.
“Good. Move your foot a little further back.”
“Yes.”
She nodded and followed his instructions.
“Oh—”
The large hand holding hers lightly shifted, then wrapped around her unsteady waist.
Their bodies pressed close together, and Skylar’s face instantly turned red.
Noticing her flushed expression, Soleon called out to the musicians playing in the corner and gestured toward the door.
“Let’s stop here for today. You’ve learned the basics.”
“Yes.”
It was a relief—her heart felt like it might explode. She quickly stepped back, pulling her hand away to create distance.
Soleon looked down at his hand with an unreadable expression, then suddenly suggested,
“The weather’s nice today. Shall we take a walk?”
“My next lesson…”
“One day won’t hurt.”
The two left the estate and began walking side by side along the coastal cliffs.
Looking out at the breathtaking natural scenery, Skylar felt as though she were in a dream.
Below them, waves crashed endlessly against the rocks, while above, the cliffs were filled with wildflowers and dense heather bushes.
