FLBE Chapter 1 Part 3

“Oh, Liena.”

 

 

 

“Huh? Anton?”

 

 

 

“I-I’m sorry. I messed them up… Haha…”

 

 

 

Under the cool smile of the man, the herbs Liena had carefully laid out were scattered messily. Although he was laughing, Anton’s expression seemed awkward and embarrassed.

 

 

 

Suddenly, Sonny’s words from earlier came to mind.

 

 

 

‘That aside, did Anton confess to you?’

 

 

 

Finally, Liena understood why he had come. She had a feeling that soon her expression would become even more awkward than Anton’s, which made her feel uneasy.

 

 

 

Since collecting herbs was her hobby, she could gather them again if he disturbed them. However, the sight of the nervous man, who seemed ready to overturn all the well-arranged herbs, further unsettled her already chaotic mood.

 

 

 

“It’s alright. But what’s the matter? Did you get hurt somewhere?”

 

 

 

Trying to change the subject, I hesitated. He was always shy, but today his face was so red that it seemed about to burst. Just by looking at Anton’s state, she already knew what he wanted to say.

 

 

 

As she stepped outside after she opened the door, Anton staggered backward. As if he had made up his mind, he began to speak with determination. Liena hoped he wouldn’t muster the courage like usual this time. Then, she wouldn’t have to say hurtful words to such a dear friend. But he was summoning his courage.

 

 

 

“Um, Liena.”

 

 

 

“…hm?”

 

 

 

“I have something to say…”

 

 

 

Sigh, what could she do?

 

 

 

“Anton.”

 

 

 

“Yeah?”

 

 

 

Liena cut him off before he could confess. Startled, Anton blinked wide-eyed. She felt sorry, but there was no other way. At the moment, she couldn’t think of any other way to keep him as a friend.

 

 

 

“Sorry, but I’m not feeling well right now. If it’s not something urgent, can we talk about it later?”

 

 

 

“Oh… you’re not feeling well? Why? Are you sick? Let me get you some medicine! Oh, but you probably have more medicine than I do.”

 

 

 

Despite everything, Anton worried about her and rambled on. It made her pity him even more. She knew she should tell him the truth for his sake, but honestly, she was unsure. She had no confidence that she wouldn’t hurt him or that she could face him with a smile tomorrow.

 

 

 

She couldn’t accept his confession without genuine feelings. That would only be deceiving him further. Despite knowing that, if she were to hear his confession, she might end up saying yes even if she didn’t like him like that. That was just her damn personality.

 

 

 

Her wretched personality that couldn’t refuse was a trait ingrained in her due to her profession. As an inexperienced junior nurse, she had no choice but to adapt to the preferences of her superiors to avoid being laid off.

 

 

 

So, she chose to avoid it. She wanted to avoid this situation for now. What right did she have to hurt him with her words? If she couldn’t say or do anything, avoiding the situation seemed like the best option.

 

 

 

“Sorry, Anton.”

 

 

 

“Oh, no, it’s alright. I came suddenly and disrupted your rest. I should apologize. It’s nothing serious, so don’t worry too much, Liena.”

 

 

 

“Yeah, let’s meet tomorrow then.”

 

 

 

“Sure. I’ll go now. Take care of yourself.”

 

 

 

Liena watched the retreating back of the man who hurriedly turned and ran away. She saw him hiding his hands behind his back and looking flustered the whole time, but she didn’t ask. However, the moment she saw the bouquet of flowers he quickly hid in front of him, her heart sank.

 

 

 

It seemed he had realized it too. That’s why he was running away with such a heartbroken expression. She wanted to avoid hurting him, but in the end, she hurt him anyway. Her already anxious heart felt even heavier.

 

 

 

Liena stood rooted to the spot for a while, then dejectedly walked back home. She was already worried about how to face Anton tomorrow. That was why she didn’t like one-sided love. Because either giving or receiving hurt was something she hated in such situations.

 

 

 

Trying to shake off the bitter feelings, she headed to the bathroom. A quick shower or bath and an early bedtime seemed like a good idea in many ways.

 

 

 

After a hasty shower, Liena sat in front of the mirror, drying her hair, but her movements suddenly froze. A strange sense of unease surged up her spine.

 

 

 

Approaching the mirror with a sense of dread, she gasped in amazement as she looked at the area above her left chest.

 

 

 

“What, what is this?!”

 

 

 

Her face turned pale as she observed a strange sigil that had suddenly appeared on her body. Above all, the blurry image was becoming clearer and clearer. Once again, her chest felt the same pain, similar to the sensation she felt when she heard from Sonny that the saintess had died.

 

 

 

“What on earth… Saintess? C-could it be…?!”

 

 

 

As she thought of the saintess, something flashed in her mind. One of the forgotten contents of the novel quickly passed through her mind. The strange black pattern engraved on her big left chest and the faint shimmering light above it.

 

 

 

The mark on Liena’s left br*st was none other than the symbol of the saint, representing her as both the saint and the omega just like it was mentioned in the novel. Thanks to the author’s detailed description and added illustration, she recognized the pattern easily.

 

 

 

What amazed her, even more, was that while she remembered almost nothing except the content of the female lead and male lead in the novel, this particular symbol remained vivid in her mind, as if it were meant for the present moment.

 

 

 

“Why, why is this on me…!”

 

 

 

Shocked by the unexpected situation, Liena trembled as she touched her br*st with a trembling hand. However, it felt as if it had been there from the beginning, and there was no foreign sensation.

 

 

 

Shaken by the shock, she shuddered to the point where her teeth chattered. Tears welled up in her eyes at this unexpected situation. 

 

 

 

The mark of the saintess could only signify the misfortune of the deceased saintess, which was now upon her.

 

 

 

The mission of the saintess and her desperate life as an omega.

 

 

 

Is this why I was brought here…? To be used like this? To be placed in the body of a nameless extra with no presence? For all that time?!

 

 

 

Her life until now felt meaningless. If this was her fate, then why did she even dream and live with such determination? Liena lost herself in despair.

 

 

 

As she remained lost in her thoughts, a sudden chill ran through her body. At the same time, someone came to her mind.

 

 

 

‘The Emperor!’

 

 

 

He would come. She was certain that the man would come to seek her as a replacement for the deceased saintess.

 

 

 

“I don’t want to die. I didn’t live so hard just to die like this! I have to go. I need to hide where he can’t find me.”

 

 

 

Feeling threatened by the sudden misfortune, Liena hurriedly packed her belongings. She only took a few clothes and the money she had saved over time. Leaving just a note for Sonny, she left the house.

 

 

 

The scattered herbs rustled beneath her feet. Suddenly, Anton’s face, who was facing her before, came to her mind.

 

 

 

“I did well by not listening. I’m sorry for leaving without saying goodbye, my friends. If I survive, I’ll definitely come back.”

 

 

 

Despite not being able to bid farewell to her friends and fleeing like a fugitive, the unexpected situation left no room for her to shed tears. Liena escaped to the farthest place from the palace.

 

 

 

She was driven by instinct—the instinct to escape from him and the desperate instinct to survive.

 

 

 

She didn’t want to live and die like the saintess, reduced to a plaything for the Emperor’s desires. Overwhelmed by the sudden turn of events, Liena found refuge deep in the mountains, hiding herself away.

 

 

 

Even though she hid so well, she couldn’t understand how the man managed to find and approach her…