FLBE Chapter 7 Part 1

Time had flown by, not only with the learning of ‘how to control pheromone’ but also with the studies of healing abilities. Liena had been diligently learning and practicing to the point where her fair skin turned bright red under the sun.

 

With her long, disheveled hair tightly tied back, Liena continued to practice her healing powers in a corner of the temple garden even when Roan was momentarily away. She gently touched a withered wildflower and concentrated her mind. Then, as if it had become a habit, she muttered in a soft voice.

 

“It’ll be okay now. I’ll heal you. So trust me and cheer up.”

 

At that moment, a white light flickered from Liena’s palm. It was the same bright white light that had emanated from the symbol engraved on her chest.

 

Suddenly, the drooping wildflower seemed to regain its vitality and bloomed brightly. Liena smiled proudly and gently stroked the wildflower as if to praise it.

 

“Child, now everything’s good. You look so pretty when you’re strong like this.”

 

Seeing the once pitiful wildflower bloom so beautifully made Liena feel prouder than ever. It felt as if her own life would soon blossom just like the wildflower.

 

During this time, Liena had undergone many changes. Fortunately, not every day, but quite often, she had skillfully catered to Rhetrik’s surging s*xual desires, and they had spent ordinary days eating and sleeping together. As a result, Rhetrik, who had once been only terrifying, now felt somewhat familiar.

 

Every day, she came to the temple to learn from Roan about storing pheromones and healing. Once she got the hang of it, she improved quite rapidly after the initial difficulty.

 

Now, she could somewhat manage her pheromones so that neither Rhetrik nor Roan was inconvenienced. However, since her healing powers were still not proficient, Liena went around the temple and the palace, healing everything that seemed to be in pain, as part of her practice.

 

“Are you doing this again? I told you it’s strenuous on your body…”

 

“Roan!”

 

Liena smiled broadly at the sight of the white-robed man walking towards her. Roan seemed to become more handsome as the days passed. While learning various things from him, they had also become quite close. Without any hesitation, Liena ran to him, took his hand, and brought him to where she had been.

 

“Roan, look at this. Isn’t it pretty?”

 

“Hmm, it’s a wildflower. It resembles you, Saintess.”

 

“Really? I thought so too.”

 

“Did you use your healing power again on something that was just a bit withered?”

 

“It wasn’t just a bit. If left alone, it might have died quickly if a storm had hit.”

 

Liena looked sorrowfully at the wildflower, her spirits dampened. Roan gently stroked her head and said,

 

“I worry because of your tender heart. Soon, the procession will start, and if you keep this up with everyone you meet, you, the Saintess, will collapse first.”

 

“Procession?”

 

Liena’s eyes sparkled with curiosity.

 

“There’s still some time left, but from now on, it might be better to learn about blessings instead of healing powers. That won’t be easy, so you must be prepared.”

 

“Huh?”

 

“So you must take care of your health as well.”

 

“But what procession are you talking about?”

 

Liena persistently pressed Roan, who was trying to gloss over the subject.

 

“You can never just let go of your curiosity, can you?”

 

Roan smiled wryly and slipped Liena’s hand into his arm. Then, as if taking a leisurely walk through the garden, he slowly moved and said,

 

“Soon, the harvest festival will begin. In accordance with it, the Imperial Palace and the temple will travel throughout the empire to bestow blessings upon the people.”

 

Ah… So that was it.

 

Memories from the novel she had read came back to her. It was the scene where the deceased Saintess traveled to bless the empire’s people. That procession made Rhetrik celebrated as the Emperor by the citizens.

 

They respected and loved the empire and Rhetrik for his handsome appearance, innate combat skills, and his concern for the welfare of his people, without truly knowing his true nature.

 

All the hard work was done by the Saintess alone. Tsk.

 

As she pouted, Roan stopped walking and looked at her curiously.

 

“Do you dislike it?”

 

“Huh? Oh, no, that’s not it…”

 

It wasn’t that she disliked bestowing blessings. She was merely discontent that the previous Saintess’s hard work was overshadowed by Rhetrik.

 

To be honest, Liena was very excited at the moment. Since her arrival, she had only moved between the palace and the temple, never once seeing the outside world. The thought of finally seeing the outside world filled her with excitement.

 

“Ah! Roan.”

 

“Yes?”

 

“Will we… visit Ferti Village too?”

 

“Ferti? Are you referring to the small village in the southern region?”

 

“Yes.”

 

Liena’s face gradually turned red, her heart thumping with anticipation and her eyes sparkling with hope.

 

“Is there someone there?”

 

“Well… It’s where I lived before coming here. And where my friends are.”

 

“Ah… I see. Hmm.”

 

Roan furrowed his brows, seemingly lost in thought, which caused Liena’s expression to harden.

 

“Why…? Aren’t we going there? Because it’s a place where poor people live?”

 

Liena’s voice rose slightly, and Roan looked at her quietly before smiling and caressing her flushed cheek.

 

“Of course not. Lady Vertia cherishes and cares for the underprivileged even more.”

 

“Then why won’t you answer me?”

 

“Actually, this time, the plan was to go to the northern region. The last place visited by the previous Saintess was the southern region.”

 

Lies. I never saw the Saintess there during my time of living there!

 

After entering this world, Liena had never seen Rhetrik, let alone the Saintess. This meant Roan was either lying or hiding something.

 

Hiding her true feelings, Liena stubbornly persisted. She felt that if not now, she might never see her friends again.

 

“Why can’t we just go everywhere? That would solve everything.”

 

“Haaa, Saintess.”

 

“Just go everywhere. I’ll do everything. I can do it. They’re also citizens of the empire! Why the discrimination!”

 

Tears welled up in Liena’s eyes, making Roan look troubled. There was a specific reason for choosing the northern region for this procession, but her tears were weakening his resolve.