LIGHTNOVELONLINE Chapter 23
According to Schartines, the place where she first met Nex was a few years ago at a social club’s courtyard.
“I’m bored. No matter how much it’s for the Church of Light…”
Recommended by Cardinal Beatrice, she had attended a gathering of nobles but left early as she didn’t fit into the atmosphere.
“No one treats me because I’m a vampire. There’s only this meowing guy here.”
“Meow.”
As the lost cat came to her side, she sank into a gloomy mood.
“I’m the newly chosen saintess from the Church of Light!”
Despite greeting those around her, all she received in return were disdainful and strange looks, making her want to cry.
A vampire as a saintess after the first one? Some nobles were whispering about it being a sacrilege.
“It’s unfair. I haven’t done anything…”
While she was chatting with her feline companion.
“With no spirit to even use, you’re worthless!”
Crash!
Like fate, the sound of shattering glass rang out.
As a result, the cream-colored cat in Schartines’s arms jumped up.
“Meow!!”
“Ah! Don’t run away, Mr. Meow!”
Startled by the glass thrown by someone, she rushed after the frightened cat, struggling in her long nun’s habit.
“Ouch!”
In her haste, she tripped over a stone. A hot sensation spread across her face.
“Ugh… it hurts…”
“What’s going on here? Girl.”
Looking up absently at the sky, she saw a man with purple hair draped in a phoenix mantle.
“…Nex Aureus, Count?”
One of the Ten Heroes. Nex, son of Asha Aureus.
A descendant of a legendary figure in the spirit realm known as the Living Sun. He really did attend this social gathering, no doubt about it.
Thud. The sound echoed across the meadow.
“Hmph, clean your nosebleed.”
“Ah, thank you.”
Noticing the blood coming from her nose after she fell, he handed her a handkerchief, and at that moment, Schartines thought he was different from the rumors.
“Meow.”
“So a troublesome thing has stuck around.”
Watching him gently pet the cat that had approached his feet, she felt something odd.
“A person like this is the second saintess? The cardinal must be crazy.”
“…”
The scent of alcohol deeply emanated from the man who spoke harshly.
‘He looks sadder than someone who feels bad.’
While Nex scolded her with a gloomy expression, she saw through his true feelings. She thought that a bad person wouldn’t heal animals.
“Why aren’t you angry? Vampire.”
“…Because it’s true. That I’m not welcomed by others.”
“So, you’re out in the garden like this.”
“Exactly.”
Nex simply smiled, touching his forehead at her words. Did he feel she was different from the noble ladies in attendance?
“…Do you see me as trash?”
“Pardon? Why?”
“Because you’re a vampire, I felt a sense of sympathy. Girl.”
He had an attitude that seemed to intentionally push people away.
Once again, the purple-haired man twisted his face, wearing a mask that seemed to threaten her.
“I don’t know.”
“Hmph, then why don’t you leave?”
“Because you seem like a person who speaks bad words falsely.”
“…Unbelievable.”
To her who had heard countless cruel words from noble ladies not long ago, this felt different. Intuition told her this was a lie as well.
“How can you think of me as a bastard who was labeled a bastard child of the family? Do you think of me as pathetic too?”
“Uh…? Not at all?”
“…”
His purple eyes stared into her red ones for a few seconds as Nex opened his mouth.
“I can tell by your expression. You really are the saintess.”
“…Is something wrong?”
“Um.”
He suddenly became calm upon hearing Schartines’s answer. It seemed as if the buzz from the alcohol had cleared away, creating a noticeable shock. Recognition shone in Nex’s previously unfocused eyes.
“…Saintess, do you also accept confessions?”
“Pardon? Umm. Since you healed the cat, probably?”
‘I heard that this person is the reckless noble the cardinal said to avoid.’
Nex, in a calm voice, asked her for advice. Honestly, she wanted to refuse, but he appeared as someone who had crumbled down.
Ruffling his purple hair, the man began to speak.
“I’ve already received marriage proposals 23 times. In the end, since things didn’t go my way, I threw a glass.”
“Ah… so…”
“As the eldest son of a ducal family, everyone seems to know nothing will happen if they touch me.”
He sighed lightly and smiled, as if he still felt a slight numbness.
“The noble ladies also come from powerful families… But don’t you think this is wrong, Saintess?”
“I see. Are only bad people gathering at this social gathering?”
“That might be true. Since I’m here.”
Schartines noticed a small wound on his cheek. It seemed he had been cut by shards of glass.
‘…Huh?’
Was that chaos earlier because of this? Yet, to throw a glass at the scion of the Ten Heroes and nothing happen seems…”
“Aren’t you going to heal it?”
“Whether I do or don’t, it’s fine, really. This way is better.”
It felt pitiful, as if he were looking at her, a vampire saintess.
“Reading your expression, I’ve heard some say, ‘Serves you right! That bastard!’”
“That sounds a bit self-important…”
“You’re just being too naive, Saint Mary.”
His violet eyes curved like a crescent moon.
With a face that looked like a fox, she noticed his eyes were slightly red, as if he was about to cry.
“This world is full of deceivers and those who are deceived. Foolish people. By now, they must feel at ease since I’m not around the director, right?”
Spreading his arms wide, he shouted loudly.
“Ah, they say that even if they poke at me, my family won’t take care of it! Since I’m someone without even a spirit!”
“I don’t think that way, though…”
This Nex seemed like a person who built a wall because he didn’t want to appear weak.
Like an animal that bites the moment someone tries to touch it because it is afraid of getting hurt.
“Then what do you think? Second Saintess.”
“I… think you look like a cute fox.”
“What?”
At that time, Schartines looked up at his face carefully.
“…Don’t you think it looks like a monster?”
“Yeah. Just a bit handsome, that’s all.”
“Uh, uh… Is it real? Not a lie?”
The purple and red eyes did not look at each other strangely. Nex’s expression was filled with curiosity.
“Then am I a monster too? Because I’m a vampire.”
“…Probably not.”
“I’m glad to hear that, Count.”
She placed her hand on his cheek to heal him, and the wound from the glass shards closed up.
“People aren’t just what they appear to be.”
“Uh, uh? Saintess… Why?”
At that moment, Nex’s face looked slightly flushed, probably due to the alcohol.
“If a handsome face gets scarred, it won’t look good.”
“…”
According to him later, it was the first time someone spoke purely about himself, not a spirit.
And from that day, it seemed like Nex’s affectionate advances began, as if he had completely changed into someone else.
As if experiencing first love.
“Count Aureus…?”
“I’ve come for morning prayers, Saintess. It’s been a while.”
“It’s still three hours until the church opens.”
“There’s no way.”
He seemed adorable, looking like someone with no romantic entanglements at all.
“Ah, Schartines Saintess. Here’s a donation from the Aureus family to the Church of Light.”
“Thank you, Count Aureus.”
“By any chance, are you free this evening? Second Saintess.”
“I’m not free.”
“Uh… Ah, I’m sorry. Then I’ll take my leave.”
Little by little, Nex, the purple-haired man, began to visit daily to make donations and pray.
“Why are you suddenly doing volunteer work?”
“Ah… Um! I’ve been punished by my family, so I’ve been cleaning the church. Don’t mind me, Saintess.”
“But that doesn’t seem to be something a noble should do…”
“Well… maybe you wouldn’t know, Saintess.”
A few days later, she saw him cleaning off graffiti and signs that insulted her, near the church where she worked.
Given the traces of magic in the hand he hid behind his back, it didn’t seem like he had truly been punished.
“Should I move it here, Saintess?”
“Eek!! You can’t just take the organ that moves with divine power like that!!”
“Ah, I’m sorry, Saintess.”
Such an awkward relationship continued for several months. She tried to push him away and pretend he didn’t affect her, but as he appeared more amiable, her heart slowly opened to him.
“Look at this! Saintess! It’s a spirit!”
“Oh my, congratulations, Count Aureus!”
“…Could you stop using honorifics with me now, Saintess?”
“If you don’t either?”
Thanks to his enthusiastic wooing, his spirit had awakened not long after.
“Chirp!”
Like a little sparrow, a purple phoenix emerged.
*
“So, currently, you are in a romantic relationship?”
“Nex really likes me, so it turned out this way. Junior.”
While Schartines was saying this, a soft smile spread across her lips.
Just the thought of each other seemed to make them glow.
Nex truly is a different person here. In the end, it’s probably because of this saintess Schart.
To other people, a bad man, but exceedingly gentle toward her. Is there anyone who wouldn’t fall for this difference, especially when it’s a lover who understands similar wounds?
‘It’s a similar case to mine.’
Knowing that feeling, I gave a small nod.
The expression of the silver-haired wolf, which seemed cold, softened only towards me. His smile was adorable.
Her steadfastness in the position of saintess. She probably received bad comments too for having animal ears.
A sudden heaviness in my heart.
“Licht Junior. So why did you ask about this?”
“Just, you seem envious.”
I smiled faintly at the nostalgic sensation.
Has it already been five years since I last saw him? How on earth do I find and protect him? Surely, there are some wicked routes around. If possible, I want to help.
“…What’s up?”
At that moment, Mardol looked at me.
“This kind of thing gives a ticklish feeling in the heart, don’t you think? Love stories.”
I quickly thought of an excuse in my mind. No way can I hint at the crown prince any more than this.
“I don’t know.”
Why, what. I wasn’t thinking about you. Look somewhere else.
Only when it comes to this does he become sharp.
Is it because he has a keen observation, or is his sense so sharp? How does he see straight through my inner thoughts even while wearing a helmet? I turned my head to express indifference.
“Hehe. You two seem to be getting along well.”
“Not really… at all.”
“Liar, Licht.”
Even as I spoke with a clenched jaw, the black-haired nun didn’t lose her smile towards me.
As expected, just like Nex, this person is difficult to deal with. To think I would feel this way from embodying love. It was quite fascinating.
Mardol’s amusement was interrupted as she suddenly glanced at the clock tower and said to us.
“Oh my, has it really gotten this late? I’m sorry for holding you back, Junior.”
“Thank you for sharing such great stories today.”
“Be careful, then.”
Due to the darkening time, Schartines stood up.
The glass knight and I bid her farewell, and.
“Licht Junior!! Be good friends with Mardol!”
The second saintess placed an unreasonable burden on me just before disappearing.
The reason being, this pink wave appearing right in front of me.
Now with a ‘Well done’ sticker stuck, it was the status window.
[You’ve found a hidden love line!! Congratulations! ヾ(> ᵕ < ｡] In the end, it wasn’t real-time syncing. It wouldn’t have appeared before I found it, and I realized it during Kainel and Ariel’s route. [As expected, you’re a dedicated player nicknamed ‘Pure Love Black Knight’! Lee Soo-hyun!] [You seem to be deeply invested in the Nameless Saintess route!] [If you hadn’t found this, you wouldn't have seen the Grand Route.. So lucky. (ᴗ_ᴗ] Black Heart's creator. Are you even human? Where have you hidden our precious blue rose again? [Schartines♡Nex 55%] This useless status window really feels like I could just sell it off somewhere. My head began to hurt. It’s no surprise that a game company obsessed with Easter eggs would lay down a trap like this. This is why I want to find the saintess and make her happy. This game world feels too rough and harsh. “A purple fox and... a vampire saintess.” These people need to be protected too. I muttered to myself briefly. I know a few of Nex's routes. The variable would be Schartines. Since she's someone I've never seen before, I don't know how to approach her. It seems a big incident will occur soon. “Right. Exactly.” Ignoring the glass knight beside me who answered my words. To get on the route of our saintess, I shouldn't be with you. Move aside.