FLBE Chapter 8 Part 4
by SYLPH“Haaaa, anyway, since I have sinned against her with my own words, I must go and ask for her forgiveness quickly.”
Thinking of Liena brought a smile to Roan’s lips. His steps quickened as he headed towards the temple.
* * *
Roan hurriedly boarded the carriage and returned to the temple in haste. His steps were urgent as he walked towards her, but they halted when he saw her small figure from a distance. Wherever she was, whatever she looked like, his gaze was drawn only to her now, his heart racing every time.
She was squatting down, seemingly practicing her healing powers again. Her persistence was as formidable as she seemed gentle.
“I’ve told you to take it easy.”
Roan’s eyebrows arched like a stern teacher’s, but his lips curved in a smile as if he were looking at a beloved.
It baffled him why she poured her healing into wildflowers. As the head of those who served a god who watched over all, Roan felt those tiny plants she so diligently cared for seemed trivial.
No, they felt even more insignificant because he thought they were sapping her lifespan, things he ordinarily wouldn’t care about.
The small figure ceased fidgeting and stood up, clapping her hands happily with a bright smile. Her jet-black hair, reminiscent of the night sky, fluttered in the wind. Even as she wiped the sweat from her brow, her face was brightly lit with a smile.
Every action of hers was etched in his eyes, and Roan found himself unable to look away. It seemed he had fallen for her more than he had realized. But it wasn’t bad. After all, he was prepared to do anything for her.
Suddenly, a small gust of wind blew from somewhere, Liena frowned and turned around. At that moment, Roan’s halted steps moved hurriedly. Soon, his pace slowed again as he saw Liena’s face brighten up as she looked at him.
“Roan!”
His steps, which had slowed down, halted at the sight of a woman running towards him with a face as bright and innocent as a child’s. However, unlike his halted steps, his heart raced wildly.
The woman who took his first time. She must have had no choice either, being a woman with a tender heart. A woman who feels pity even for wildflowers would have willingly sacrificed herself, even if it was scary and unpleasant when someone closer to her was suffering.
Knowing this, Roan’s obsession spurred another kind of greed. She was a woman who had led him to ruin, who had plunged him into desire, who even now shook his very soul.
“I don’t expect you to feel the same about me. But stay by my side until death. In return, I’ll give you everything.”
The woman who had received his firsts was beautiful, sublime, lovely, and endearing. Roan’s feelings for Liena grew uncontrollably, to the point where he couldn’t bear the thought of anyone else having her.
“Liena……”
Murmuring her name, Roan embraced her as she threw herself into his arms, holding her so tightly it could almost crush her. She was irresistibly endearing as she nestled into him without hesitation.
“Ro, Roan…!”
Startled by the overwhelming embrace, Liena struggled a bit.
Regaining his senses, Roan quickly loosened his grip and held her steady.
“Are you alright?”
“Haaa, haaaa. I almost suffocated to deat—”
She gasped for air and coughed repeatedly.
“Sorry. I got lost in thought for a moment there.”
“Phew, what kind of thoughts make you nearly squeeze someone to death?”
Roan gave a bitter laugh at the woman’s face, which quickly turned playful as if she was teasing him. No matter what expression she made, she looked lovely, and watching her made him want to touch her; he was really no different from a completely corrupted demon. It felt like his emotions were no longer his own.
“Why are you out here? You should still be resting.”
“Fli…Flipping the topic again. And who is worrying about whom? Should you even be walking around like this? Where have you been? Are you really alright?”
Her curiosity was endless, yet Roan found it profoundly endearing that it was all directed at him.
“I’m fine, thanks to you, the Saintess.”
“Your face is still pale, though?”
Among Liena’s pretty face as she scrutinized his face with her round eyes, her lips, plump and red from their previous night together, caught Roan’s gaze. Remembering how he had kissed and bitten them all night, Roan’s face heated up.
“Uh…? You’re turning red again. Are you sure you’re okay? It seems like you have a fever—”
As Liena reached to touch his forehead, Roan quickly pulled her wrist down and turned away, coughing to cover his discomfort.
Her smile faltered, unable to continue speaking at his rejecting gesture.
“H-Have you eaten?”
Even as he stuttered unusually, Liena pouted over his refusal of her touch.
“Saintess?”
“Why are you acting like this, Roan?”
“Huh?”
Her voice was petulant, almost sulking, at which Roan just adjusted his clerical robe and leaned closer to meet her eyes.
“Sometimes you’re so incredibly kind, and other times you push people away so coldly. I’m just worried about you, Roan.”
“Hmm, you felt hurt.”
“How could I not be?”
In the midst of it all, Roan could only see her pouting lips. Just the sight of Liena was enough to stir him uncontrollably.
At the moment, he could feel an embarrassing bulge forming below. He had turned away to hide it, but unintentionally, he had hurt her. Even now, his mind was lost in thoughts of her lips, proving the emperor’s accusation of his corruption was not entirely wrong.
“Tell me honestly, why are you acting like this? You said the pope does not lie, so tell me truthfully.”
Truthfully… How would she react if I were to tell the truth? Would you despise me?
“Saintess.”
“Yes?”
“I believe I have mentioned before that I am also a man?”
“Yes?”
“And I have already confessed that I have fallen deeply for you. Did I not?”
“…”
Liena’s eyes, which were filled with displeasure, now showed confusion. He had done this before, confessing calmly with a gentle face.