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    Taken aback by his sudden admission, her curiosity about Lance flew away. Liena was unsure how to react. Yet, her expression remained grave.

     

     

     

    Despite hearing a handsome man’s confession, her heart raced not with excitement, but fear. The alpha’s nature. To Liena, that was terrifying. An alpha’s nature was mere lust.

     

     

     

    “Ah, you’re wary of me again. I’ve laid bare my honest feelings, yet you’re frightened. That’s disappointing.”

     

     

     

    “Roan……”

     

     

     

    “Don’t worry. I’ve said I’d protect you. Though I’m a top-righteous alpha and a man, I’m also the Pope, and I’ll protect you as such.”

     

     

     

    Despite his firm words, Liena couldn’t erase the look of doubt from her face.

     

     

     

    “How…How can I believe that?”

     

     

     

    “On the day of the holy ritual, you were overwhelmed by my pheromones. Of course, I almost got completely overwhelmed by yours as well.”

     

     

     

    “Ah…”

     

     

     

    It seemed like he was talking about a time she couldn’t remember.

     

     

     

    “If I weren’t the Pope then, I would have sought your body.”

     

     

     

    “!”

     

     

     

    “Honestly, it was really hard to resist. But I did resist. I barely managed to escape from you.”

     

     

     

    “How could you do that? The Emperor—”

     

     

     

    Liena almost slipped up and mentioned her intimate moments with Rhetrik but clamped her mouth shut. She was still curious, though. How could an alpha resist an omega’s pheromones?

     

     

     

    Catching the question she left unfinished, Roan leisurely took a sip of his tea smiled slyly, and said,

     

     

     

    “Don’t compare that man to me. I am a different kind of being than that worthless emperor.”

     

     

     

    “Worthless…”

     

     

     

    It was fascinating to hear such words about Rhetrik, the strongest male lead in this universe, from anyone other than Roan. Perhaps it was possible because he, too, was a high-tier alpha.

     

     

     

    “That’s why, Saintess, you must also help me.”

     

     

     

    “Huh?”

     

     

     

    “Do you know how hard I’m struggling to resist your enticing pheromones right now?”

     

     

     

    “Ah!”

     

     

     

    Liena instinctively curled up. Even though she knew she couldn’t hide the scent she was emitting at will, it was the best defense she could muster.

     

     

     

    “I will help you. From controlling your pheromones to using your divine power, I’ll teach you everything, even though it might be difficult. I hope you’ll follow along diligently.”

     

     

     

    “…Yes. I’ll do my best.”

     

     

     

    Putting her fleeting fears aside, Liena clenched her fists. There’s always a way out, no matter how dire the situation. Whether there was one top-righteous alpha or three, the threat to her was the same. She had to enhance her own abilities to survive among them.

     

     

     

    Liena resolved to change her grim ending.

     

     

     

    * * *

     

     

     

    The atmosphere in Rhetrik’s office was as tense as if a war was about to break out. The gaze between the two men was filled with murderous intent.

     

     

     

    Lance, who usually carried a carefree smile, now showed a visibly tense expression. The mood suggested that one of them might lose their life today.

     

     

     

    “You’re bold. I didn’t expect you to show yourself before me.”

     

     

     

    “Well, you’ve been looking for me so earnestly. Thought I’d give you a break. Ah, and of course, I have something to say.”

     

     

     

    Despite the sharpness in their eyes, scouting for unexpected attacks, the tone of their voices remained surprisingly relaxed.

     

     

     

    “Something to say… How dare you sneak into my home and covet what’s mine? Oh, have you come to confess your sins?”

     

     

     

    “What a boring joke. I’ve merely lent what I could enjoy to you for a while. But this time, I’m rather interested.”

     

     

     

    “Seems you really wish to die.”

     

     

     

    It happened in an instant. A large broadsword sliced through the air, targeting the spot where Lance had been sitting. However, Lance had vanished, leaving the sofa he was sitting on to be split in half.

     

     

     

    Lance, having concealed his presence, reappeared by the office window and clicked his tongue.

     

     

     

    “Always that temper. Can’t you even hold a conversation?”

     

     

     

    Using warp magic to evade, Lance barely escaped Rhetrik’s fearsome sword strike. Wiping the blood from his cheek, Lance frowned. Even with preparation, Rhetrik’s sword was faster than a blink. He nearly lost his head.

     

     

     

    “To talk with me, you need to be polite. I’ve let it slide this time, but next time, your head will truly fall. So, watch your words.”

     

     

     

    “Huh… Your skills are still formidable. But I didn’t earn the title of Tower Master for nothing. Keep provoking me, and who knows what will become of this palace?”

     

     

     

    “The palace can be rebuilt, but your head will be the first to fall, so I’m not particularly worried.”

     

     

     

    Rhetrik spun his broadsword with ease, sneering. But Lance wasn’t the type to be intimidated by this.

     

     

     

    “The palace can be rebuilt, sure, but can you say the same for the lives of your beloved empire’s citizens? Ah, perhaps the Saintess can heal them? But it seems the Saintess hasn’t been able to bestow her blessings yet.”

     

     

     

    Rhetrik’s eyes flashed dangerously at Lance’s taunting.

     

     

     

    “Looks like a lengthy conversation won’t work. I’ll keep it short. I’ll be taking the Saintess with me soon.”

     

     

     

    “Hah, that’s laughable.”

     

     

     

    “It seems you’ve hidden her in the temple because of me. Do you think that’ll stop me from taking her?”

     

     

     

    Rhetrik, about to attack again, suddenly lowered his sword and tilted his head, asking,

     

     

     

    “Just one question. You’ve been holed up in the sky, uninterested in the outside world, so why suddenly take an interest in this Saintess?”

     

     

     

    “I’ll say it’s for the same reason as you. I’ve completely fallen for her pheromones. Her lips are quite sweet, too.”

     

     

     

    “Then you must die.”

     

     

     

    Lance quickly concealed himself to evade the broadsword swung by Rhetrik, now enveloped in a dangerous golden aura, a sight not seen in normal circumstances.

     

     

     

    Without revealing himself again, Lance made his final statement,

     

     

     

    “I’ll give you a few days. Enjoy your time because once I take her, you won’t be able to see the Saintess anymore.”

     

     

     

    “Come out.”

     

     

     

    Expanding his sensory field, Rhetrik scanned the surroundings, but Lance’s presence was no longer detectable. Clenching his teeth, Rhetrik hurried towards the temple.

     

     

     

    Meanwhile, perched atop the highest point of the palace, Lance clutched his deeply cut arm and grimaced. He nearly lost his arm.

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