“Sir Knight?”
Heliod stood frozen in place, staring blankly instead of approaching. Luisha found his behavior strange and was about to run toward him when someone grabbed her wrist. She frowned deeply and shook her arm free, but her irritation was evident.
“Hey, what’s your problem? I said I’m going to see Sir Knight!”
“Have you lost your mind? Do you think it’s just the two of us here? I’d rather not deal with your mother’s scolding, so calm down for once, will you?”
The speaker was none other than Quessa Jedediah, the eldest son of the Count Jedediah family and Mary’s older brother.
“I came here to pray, and here you are, galloping around like a wild horse… What exactly are you doing in the temple anyway?”
“I already told you, I’m here to see Sir Knight.”
Quessa sighed, ruffling his long black hair carelessly.
“And since when were you acquainted with the empire’s hero?”
“See? This is why you’re always behind on news. Didn’t you hear from Mary?”
“Hear what?”
“I exchange letters with Sir Knight all the time—”
“Lady Arpen.”
Heliod had finally approached, his gaze shifting between Luisha and Quessa. His expression was far from welcoming.
“And who might this be?”
Heliod’s tone was calm, but there was an unmistakable coldness in his voice. He met Quessa’s eyes briefly, and his expression darkened further, his lips pressed into a thin line.
“Oh, allow me to introduce myself,” Quessa said with a polite smile, extending his hand. “I’m Quessa, the eldest son of Count Jedediah. It’s an honor to meet you, Sir Vus—no, I mean, Baron.”
Heliod stared at the offered hand for a moment before reluctantly shaking it without saying a word. The handshake was over in seconds, leaving Quessa awkwardly scratching the back of his head.
Sensing the tension, Luisha quickly pushed Quessa aside. “Quessa, you should go now. I have something to discuss with Sir Knight—just the two of us.”
“Hey, don’t push me! What’s your deal with the Baron anyway?”
“None of your business, so stay out of it.”
Quessa glanced at Heliod, his eyes filled with a mixture of curiosity and goodwill. Heliod, however, acted as though Quessa wasn’t even there and turned to address Luisha directly.
“Lady Arpen, allow me to escort you inside.”
Heliod continued to ignore Quessa completely. It was puzzling since Heliod surely knew better than to slight the heir of a powerful noble family. Luisha frowned and whispered to Heliod, urging him to remember that Quessa came from the influential Jedediah family, known for their vast publishing empire. Whether Heliod understood or chose to ignore her advice, his expression didn’t change.
“Well, I’ll leave you to it. Don’t forget to stop by our house later,” Quessa said, turning away with a chuckle as Luisha waved him off half-heartedly.
As Quessa walked away, Heliod’s jaw tightened at the sight of the man’s neatly combed black hair and tailored uniform. Noticing this, Luisha tilted her head and asked teasingly, “Sir Knight, are you jealous?”
“…Excuse me?”
They stepped into the corridor leading deeper into the temple, and Luisha leaned closer, her voice a playful whisper.
“You’re jealous, aren’t you? Because I was with Quessa?”
“That is not the case,” Heliod replied, though the subtle flicker of his eyelashes when she mentioned Quessa’s name betrayed him. He quickly schooled his expression and asked, “You seem quite familiar with Count Jedediah’s heir.”
“Well, yes, I suppose we are. We’ve grown up together since we were children.”
Heliod’s demeanor grew noticeably colder. While he appeared composed outwardly, Luisha could practically see his composure fraying. She stifled a laugh, watching him.
“In fact, we’re all having dinner together tonight. Mary needs help picking out clothes, so I’ll be heading to the Jedediah estate later.”
“…Is your family close with theirs?”
“Yes. My mother and Count Jedediah were classmates back at the academy.”
Luisha spoke casually, reminiscing about the shared meals between their families. But as she glanced at Heliod, who was now openly sulking, she couldn’t hold back her laughter.
“Sir Knight, you’re definitely jealous! Quessa is bothering you, isn’t he?”
“…That is not the case. I could never…” Heliod trailed off, his voice faltering as he avoided her gaze.
Heliod’s cheeks flushed as he bit his lip, clearly uneasy with the emotions he was grappling with. I stopped walking, smiling up at him.
“So, Sir Knight, it seems you do care about me after all.”
“Care about you…?”
“You know, I confessed to you—or something close to a confession—over there before,” I said, pointing toward the large garden filled with lush greenery.
It was the same place where I had shared my first and only private tea time with the High Priest. Feigning innocence, I looked at Heliod with wide, guileless eyes. He stiffened and covered his mouth, his expression frozen.
“…Was that a confession?”
The pure-hearted paladin looked utterly shaken, his lips twitching as if to say something, only to resort to rubbing his face and blinking furiously. His reaction was so endearing that I couldn’t help but laugh.
“Something like a confession, but not really,” I teased.
“Oh… I see.”
“Are you disappointed?”
“Not at all.”
“You totally are.”
“I am not!”
Heliod’s face turned a deep crimson, and he glared at me with damp, flustered eyes before letting out a long sigh. Just as he was about to say something, I spoke first.
“Quessa and I aren’t like that.”
“…I never asked.”
“But you seemed curious. Oh, but our parents did try to betroth us when we were younger.”
“What?” Heliod’s blue eyes widened in shock.
“But we both opposed it, so it never happened.”
“And now… there’s no talk of marriage between your families?”
“None at all.”
That’s because Quessa already has a girlfriend. She may be the daughter of a modest, unremarkable family, but after a chance meeting with Quessa on the streets that sparked a romance straight out of a novel, they were now happily engaged and awaiting their wedding. Thanks to Heliod ending the war, Quessa hadn’t been conscripted, which had made him all the more overjoyed.
If Quessa ever showed Heliod even a fraction of the affection he felt, Heliod wouldn’t have reacted the way he had earlier.
‘Should I just tell him about Quessa’s girlfriend? Maybe that would ease his guard…’
But I didn’t say anything. Watching Heliod stew in his emotions was far too entertaining.
Oh, this adorable man.
“So don’t worry about it. The thought of marrying Quessa is revolting,” I said with a smirk.
“I see.”
Whether it was my genuine disdain or something else, Heliod’s tense wariness seemed to melt away. Stifling a laugh, I glanced him over and noticed his jacket pockets were full of something. Tilting my head, I asked, “Sir Knight, what’s all that?”
“Ah.”
Heliod furrowed his brows and reached into his pocket. He hesitated for a moment, then his eyes sparkled as he looked at me.
“Chocolates and small candies. Do you enjoy sweets, Lady Arpen?”
“I like them, but I prefer bread. Don’t you need to avoid this kind of thing to stay in shape?”
“Yes, I do. I didn’t buy them—they were gifts…” He trailed off, falling silent.
It didn’t take much to figure it out. Lately, the temple had been swarmed by noble ladies from all factions, leaving behind mementos of their affection. So, these were traces left by the swarm of “flies.” Narrowing my eyes, I slowly approached him. Heliod, clearly uneasy, stepped back.
“Hm, so while I wasn’t around, you’ve been slacking on letters and enjoying the company of these noble ladies?”
“What are you saying? That’s not true at all!”
“Then why do you accept these? Why not refuse?”
“I cannot simply reject them outright… I distribute them among the attendants without eating them. There’s no need for you to concern yourself with this.”
At first, I’d been half-joking, but his words triggered something in me. ‘No need for me to concern myself?’ I backed him into a corner, planting a hand against the wall beside him.
“How could I not be concerned? Until now, Sir Knight, you’ve been mine.”
“People are not possessions. And I could never be Lady Arpen’s—” Heliod stammered, his flustered expression betraying him once again.
Heliod’s eyelashes trembled with embarrassment. Trapped in a situation he clearly found overwhelming, his chest heaved as if trying to contain his growing unease. While his flustered reaction continued to draw me in, my attention shifted elsewhere. After glancing around to confirm no one else was present, I slipped my knee between Heliod’s legs.
“Tell me, how many ladies have ended up in your arms lately?”
“None! Please, refrain from saying such things!”
As my body leaned closer to his, Heliod stiffened further, shutting his eyes tightly. Perhaps it was our height difference, or maybe my own frustration, but my knee didn’t reach where I wanted it to. Scowling, I rose onto my tiptoes, which brought his lips into tantalizing proximity. Heliod drew in a sharp breath, his striking blue eyes locking onto my golden gaze.
“Do you know what the gossip papers from Count Jedediah’s estate are calling you?”
“…Lady Arpen, please step back.”
“The most eligible bachelor.”
I caught his chin as he tried to turn his head away, pulling him back toward me. His blue eyes widened, and his long, trembling lashes became clearly visible as I whispered, “They call you the most eligible bachelor.”
“Those words are meaningless. The interest will fade soon enough…”
Heliod bit his lip, his shoulders twisting slightly as if to escape. But when I applied just a little pressure, he froze, obediently remaining in place. I released my grip on the wall, my hand now brushing down his shoulder.
“Lady Arpen…”
“Maybe for someone else. But not for you, Sir Knight. You’re a war hero with this beautiful face to match,” I teased.
His jewel-like blue eyes, delicate lashes, and graceful, refined features were irresistible. It wouldn’t be surprising if those noble ladies who initially approached him for his status and wealth ended up half-seriously captivated by his looks alone. The thought made me restless.
