The Head Priest is dead? But why is the world so quiet?
âIt will be known that he committed suicide.â
âWhen?â
âTomorrow.â
The plan was to dispose of the body in the forest to the east and disguise it as suicide.
There were many swamps, so it was perfect for removing traces left on the body.
âThatâs why Camilla was so sensitive.â
I understand why she was so feisty at the dinner.
The priestâs death had to have been an accident.
She must have been considering venting her rage on Cedric because she was losing face.
âThe Countess tortured herself with water, thenâ¦â¦ killed him.â
Valhail added hesitantly after noticing my silence.
âI wasnât the one who killed him.â
I was concerned for him.
I know heâs a man without blood or tears, but on Camillaâs orders, Valhail kidnapped and colonized the Head Priest.
Regardless of his own will.
âAre you perhaps feeling guilty?â
I was willing to be his accomplice if I could comfort his torn heart.
âItâs all my fault. I told you to be my motherâs personâ¦â¦ You did nothing wrong.â
Valhailâs hand covered the back of my hand as I pityingly touched his cheek.
âThere isnât anything like guilt, Selina.â
He slowly took my hand in his and brought it to his lips.
âI donât care what happens to anyoneâ¦â¦â
His lips, moist and soft, landed on the back of my hand.
âWhat Iâm concerned with.â
He said, with his lips on the back of my hand.
ââ¦â¦ no one but you.â
His intense gaze caught me.
The air between us was stingingly hot.
I avoided his gazes for the first time in a breathtaking silence.
He quickly let go of my hand when I tried to pull it out in shame, as if he had no intention of forcing me.
âHow come you didnât show up to the dinner party?â
âJust because. Iâm not used to socializing with others.â
That was a very good reason.
âI went to see you.â
âI didnât know that.â
He would have gladly come to the dining hall to see me if he had known about it.
Perhaps he was told that Lady Crawford didnât usually appear in such a setting.
âAh! By the way, are you in any way hurt?â
I had wanted to ask that question since before.
Against the thirty knights of the Marquis of Whiterot, I was worried that he might have been stabbed.
âAny cut or stab.â
âIâm not injured. Iâm all right.â
âAre you certain?â
I stare at him, dumbfounded. Valhail looked at me and carefully re-grabbed my hand.
And draped it over his broad chest.
âYou should see for yourself, Selina.â
The mass of hard muscles pressing against my fingertips tingled the areas where they made contact, as if I were being electrocuted.
ââ¦â¦Should I take it off?â
There was a temptation.
One word from me would cause him to undress without his objecting. As always.
Shoulders, necks, and forearms with my tattoo on them.
I could feel his solid body stiffening as I slowly swept through.
Beneath my little palm, he was tense.
âWhy are you nervous? What do you think Iâll do?â
âWhatever you want, I wonât refuse.â
âYou are so pureâ¦â¦â
I suddenly remembered our first meeting.
âDo you remember it wasnât like this at first?â
Because he didnât say anything, he must have remembered it better than I did.
âYou told me to leave because you donât want me next to you.â
He turned his head and couldnât open his mouth easily, as if embarrassed.
I couldnât take my gaze away from his dashing profile.
On his brow, eyes, nose, and mouth.
It was a clear and distinct profile, as if drawn in one stroke by a master artist.
A strange infatuation boiled over inside me as I stared blankly at his face, as if watching him.
âIt seems all right on the outside, but it may be different on the inside.â
The devil whispered to me.
âEven when heâs sick, heâs a man who never shows it. Obviously, if heâs hurt, I should treat him.â
I pressed my index finger firmly against his chest, as if thinking, and he raised his eyebrows.
âShould I take it off?
His voice carried a certain assurance.
I guess he really didnât get hurt.
âYou really keep your promise, huh?â
He gave a solemn nod of his head.
âI will honor my promise to you.â