Chapter 12: The Blessed Maiden is Very Angry?
Just as Aeron returned to his lodgings full of ambition, ready to dive into a 12-hour sleep to prepare for the next day, he realized he seemed to have forgotten something today.
And what he had forgotten was now blocking his path.
"You... dare to come back?"
Blocked by a scowling Cartethyia, Aeron found himself facing the most difficult predicament since his transmigration.
As the saying goes, everyone makes mistakes in life, but Aeron had chosen the worst possible moment to commit the most unforgivable mistake—he had damn well forgotten Cartethyia at the café.
Back then, upon learning that Capollo was the one who caused his death, Aeron had been too agitated. He dragged the betrayer back to Montelli and immediately engaged in intense strategic battles with Carlotta.
"You-you-you're still not resting, little Carte? Staying up this late will incur the Sentinel's punishment of stunted growth, you know?"
"Since when did the Sentinel give such teachings? And it's only afternoon now?"
Damn it. It seemed the overload of information these past two days had caused Aeron's brain to short-circuit.
While Aeron was still figuring out how to calm the Blessed Maiden before him, Cartethyia had already begun advancing step by step toward him.
"Abandoning the esteemed Blessed Maiden alone in a café for half a day... Priest Aeron, it appears you still lack refinement in respecting others."
Cartethyia's voice was soft yet sharp as needles piercing through Aeron. With each step she took forward, Aeron instinctively retreated, until his back pressed against the cold stone wall with nowhere left to retreat.
"Look... just let me explain, little Carte, I..."
Aeron attempted to deflect with humor, but Cartethyia's piercing gaze rendered it ineffective.
"Explain?" Cartethyia tilted her head slightly, the Crown of Thorns casting dangerous shadows in the dim evening light. "Explain how you used the Blessed Maiden to achieve your goals, then cast her aside like a discarded toy?"
"Hey, isn't your wording a bit problematic here!"
Aeron tried to defend himself, but any verbal justification felt pale and powerless in the face of his own behaviour.
"So you just left me waiting there for three hours! I watched the staff's expressions shift from respect to pity, and finally to concern!"
"W-well, that's not so bad, right? They're Montelli's people after all, they probably didn't harm you...?"
"Their Green Branch Laurel Salad was delicious!"
"Then isn't that fine? Wait, why did you order that at a café too?"
"But that's not the point!"
Cartethyia suddenly raised her voice, standing firmly before Aeron. Her pure eyes held sixty percent anger, thirty percent grievance, and ten percent of something Aeron couldn't decipher.
"Who promises not to hide things anymore one second, then runs off alone the very next!"
She poked Aeron's chest forcefully with her finger. Though it didn't hurt, the gesture carried full intensity.
"Every time, you go off doing dangerous things alone without even discussing them with me! Do you see me as some porcelain doll that needs to be protected and kept in a safe corner?"
Pretty much.
Ah no, better not say that out loud.
"It's fine, I can't die anyway. It doesn't matter if this happens a few more times."
Aeron once again tried to justify himself with this excuse, but it was clear this line of reasoning no longer worked on Cartethyia.
"Using that excuse again..."
Seeing Aeron's unrepentant attitude, Cartethyia made up her mind.
Since words were useless, she would make up for it with action!
Without another word, Cartethyia grabbed Aeron by the collar and began dragging him toward the guest room.
"???"
Even though Cartethyia currently possessed little strength, her physique as a Resonator far surpassed that of Aeron, who was merely a normal human.
"Come on, inside with you!"
"Wait no! Blessed Maiden, please don't!"
Aeron still wanted to resist and struggle, but then he saw the resonance mark on Cartethyia's forehead glow faintly.
"Don't use Resonance Power for something like this!"
Then came a "Bang!"
The door was locked, and Aeron was thrown onto the bed by Cartethyia.
Now, he faced the Blessed Maiden's furious pale blue eyes.
"Now we can have a proper 'talk,' Priest Aeron."
"T-talk about what?"
Aeron instinctively swallowed hard, trying desperately to get his brain working.
"L-little Carte, it's getting late. Being alone together like this could damage your reputation if word got out. Maybe we could talk tomorrow..."
"Reputation?"
Cartethyia immediately cut off Aeron's excuse, showing no intention of letting him leave.
"What reputation does a Blessed Maiden who gets casually abandoned by her companion have left? Or should I say, why would I care about reputation when facing a priest who repeatedly throws his life away before my very eyes?"
As she spoke, Cartethyia moved closer to Aeron, trapping him in the confined space.
"I..."
Aeron wanted to say something more, but this time Cartethyia forcefully pressed her finger against his lips to silence him.
"I don't want to hear any more of your twisted logic right now, Aeron."
Thus, Aeron was forced to meet Cartethyia's gaze.
"I know you can't die, but I still don't want you to bear the pain and fear of death alone."
Hearing these words, Aeron was stunned. He hadn't expected this was what Cartethyia cared about.
You should have said so earlier! This makes things much easier.
"It's not like that, little Carte. These are things I have to face alone. There's no need to drag you all into it."
"..."
But contrary to Aeron's expectations, Cartethyia's expression darkened further.
She seemed to want to punch him hard, but her raised hand ultimately landed gently on Aeron's shoulder, and then... she started pressing him down onto the bed?!
"???"
Aeron instantly snapped out of his brief guilt and emotion, his body stiffening.
"Weren't you going to rest? Since you wouldn't listen no matter what I said, this is the only option left." Cartethyia's hands continued moving, even with a certain forcefulness.
Cartethyia firmly pressed the struggling Aeron down onto the soft bedding. Then, she herself sat sideways on the edge of the bed, one hand still holding Aeron's shoulder while the other began somewhat clumsily pulling the blanket over him.
Oh right, of course.
"Sleep." Cartethyia's voice came from above, slightly softer than before yet still carrying an undeniable finality. "I... I'll be right here. Until you fall asleep."
Is... is that right?
Aeron lay down on the bed, able to feel the weight of Cartethyia sitting by the bedside and her gentle, measured breathing.
He truly hadn't expected his actions to provoke such strong disapproval from her.
'It seems I'll need to be more careful in the future...'
As Aeron pondered this, the accumulated exhaustion of recent days surged forth, overwhelming his body.
Regardless, tomorrow would be an important day. Aeron could only accept Cartethyia's kindness as his eyelids grew heavy, sinking into the first peaceful sleep he'd had in days.
Listening to the gradually steadying breathing beside her and watching Aeron's face shed all pretense in slumber, appearing tranquil at last, Cartethyia let out a soft sigh. The fire in her eyes had long been replaced by a complex tenderness.
"Fool..." she murmured under her breath, carefully tucking in the corner of his blanket.
"After we resolve the Dark Tide matter, I'll properly repay you."
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