“Vivi, no more sleeping in. It’s time for confession today.”
In a room bathed in soft, golden light, a girl lay on her side, her slender legs entwined with a crumpled quilt, her snow-white hair blending seamlessly with the sheets.
A dark-haired boy crouched by the bedside, his presence carrying a crisp, refreshing aura.
He gazed at the girl’s adorable sleeping face, a mischievous grin tugging at his lips.
His finger playfully poked her soft, springy cheek.
“Mmm…”
A faint whimper escaped her lips as Noi’s eyelashes fluttered, delicate as the trembling wings of a butterfly.
Lyte’s’s heart melted at the sight.
“Alright, I’ll let you sleep a bit longer.”
He crossed his arms on the edge of the bed, resting his chin atop them, content to quietly admire the unguarded beauty of her slumber.
Her plain white nightgown had ridden up, revealing the tender flesh of her thigh, with the faint outline of black lace underwear peeking through.
She shifted, her cheek now facing Lyte, who still crouched by her side.
Her shapely hips twitched restlessly with the movement.
Her pale, dainty feet swayed back and forth, her consciousness still lingering on the edge of a dream—a blissful one, it seemed.
“Phew…”
Lost in deep sleep, her mouth grew dry, and her small, pink tongue slipped out, adorably nestled between her cherry lips.
With gentle care, Lyte brushed a strand of her hair behind her ear, revealing a delicate earlobe and a glimpse of her alabaster neck.
“Mmm…?”
A soft whimper escaped her as her tongue retreated, startled.
Noi’s eyes slowly opened, only to squint against the sunlight streaming through the window.
“Awake? Did yesterday wear you out too much?”
Lyte stroked her hair, his voice tender with concern.
“Ugh… After dragging me shopping and then straight to training, I’m exhausted. Should’ve never brought you those desserts.”
She shot him a playful glare, her lips pursing in mock indignation.
Idly, she toyed with Lyte’s distinct, bony fingers, tracing them one by one, teasingly tugging and letting go, testing his patience with every touch.
“Need to stay in bed a bit longer?”
His large hand, splayed across the sheets, enveloped her soft one.
Lyte leaned forward, his cool, faint scent enveloping her senses.
Noi’s eyes, still hazy with sleep, fixed on the handsome face so close to hers.
Her delicate chin tilted upward with a hint of pride.
“Kiss me.”
Without a word, Lyte obliged.
His knees, taut against his trousers, climbed onto her bed.
He pulled her into his arms, his thin lips brushing against the smooth curve of her neck.
“Mmm… I love you~”
Her body trembled with joy, overwhelmed by the tender care she’d long yearned for.
Noi’s breath hitched, her heart bursting with uncontainable delight as she poured out her love once more.
Her soft murmurs were like a fragrance drifting through a secluded valley.
Lyte, seeing the radiant happiness on her face, leaned in again, pressing a gentle peck to her lips.
“This is our first morning kiss. Tomorrow, we’ll do it again.”
Noi snuggled closer, her cheek pressed against his, whispering in his ear.
“You have to kiss me every day. No backing out.”
***
“Lyte… what if your family stops us from getting married?”
In the spacious dining hall of the church, Noi nibbled on the breakfast Lyte had brought from outside, her voice tinged with worry.
The dark-haired boy sitting beside her answered calmly, “My only family is Black Tortoise. If she disapproves, we’ll elope. Find a quiet little village in the mountains and live our lives slowly, undisturbed by anyone.”
In his past life, the hotheaded, foolish Lyte might have been shackled by his duties as the Chosen One, too afraid to defy Black Tortoise’s authority as his guardian.
But reborn, the once-mighty hero no longer feared her, nor did he wish to bear the burdensome responsibilities of the Chosen One.
Like the kiss Noi had longed for, he had chosen to fall into the ordinary, turning his back on the tiresome battles of his past.
“Mmm…”
Noi’s face lit up with a joyful smile.
Crossing worlds to meet the tender, attentive Lyte felt like her greatest stroke of luck.
With a firm but gentle touch, Lyte wiped a stray breadcrumb from her lips with a napkin.
“Lyte, how many kids do you think we’ll have?”
Imagining their future, Noi sipped her milk delicately, her cheeks flushing as she sought her partner’s thoughts.
“…It’s a bit early for that. Let’s save the future for the future. Gotta leave some surprises, right?”
Lyte shrugged, feeling the topic was a tad premature.
“Hmm… Do you think a boy or a girl would be better?”
With a probing tone, Noi asked casually, her eyes locked on Lyte’s expression.
He saw through her little game, a smile spreading across his face as he patted her head.
“Boy or girl, neither matters as much as you, their silly mom.”
“Hmph~ You pass.”
With a satisfied hum, Noi handed him the nearly empty milk bottle.
Lyte took it naturally, finishing it off before tidying up her breakfast remnants.
It was time for work.
As Noi entered the confessional, she spotted Chenxi leading a gray-haired boy with bird-like ears and small wings, seated on a chair outside the wooden partition.
The boy’s forehead glistened with sweat, his breathing labored as he gripped a bag tightly.
Their eyes lit up when they saw her.
“Miss Noi! I’ve got urgent news!”
Sano Frazer leapt from his chair, too anxious to even hand over the local specialties Simon had entrusted him with, eager to share that Simon had been taken.
“Let me explain.”
Chenxi pressed a hand on Sano’s shoulder, urging him to sit and catch his breath.
Through her account, Noi learned the full story: Simon had been knocked out and abducted by a minor noble, Sato Gris.
“That bastard Gris! Where did he take Simon? Do you know?”
Noi’s voice was sharp with urgency.
She couldn’t bear the thought of losing one of her few friends to some unknown fate.
“I know. After knocking Simon out, the workers split into two groups. The ones carrying Simon headed back to the city, likely toward the lumber mill.”
Chenxi, hearing Sano’s explanation, couldn’t help but quip, “Gris seems obsessed with Simon. Did Simon swindle him or ruin his life? Why does it feel like Gris wants to turn him into slime or something?”
Without wasting words, Noi tossed Simon’s specialties into her system space.
Chenxi headed to the cafeteria to call the Demon Suppression Division and alert Xing Chen.
The church’s ubiquitous clocks glowed with an eerie light, silently recording their exchange.
“Ding~”
The ten o’clock bell tolled, signaling the shift change as another nun took over the confessional.
***
“La la la, off to see Lyte! It’s been almost a month since we last met.”
In a lavish room within the imperial palace, the empire’s grand princess adorned herself with the elegance of a blooming peony, tending to her skin with expensive creams at her vanity.
A spirited maid in blue, her sword at her side, spoke coolly, “Your Highness, please hurry. The capital’s situation is delicate. The emperor wishes for you to take refuge in a southern town. Dawdling won’t do.”
“Tch… Father’s just too cautious. Besides, seeing Lyte is important! I need to perfect my makeup so he’ll fall for me all over again after a month apart!”
Humming a tune, the grand princess expertly applied a bold layer of lipstick.
‘Perfect.’
This was a rare chance, and she intended to deepen her bond with Lyte in that quiet little town, ensuring he wouldn’t stray to other women.
She’d once thought Lyte a clueless oaf, oblivious to romance.
But now, suddenly enlightened, he’d matured into a rational, magnetic man, captivating the princesses and noble ladies of the capital.
To outmaneuver her rivals, she’d orchestrated a petty noble to challenge Lyte, leading to a duel and a subtle push to have Lyte exiled for “training.”
Now, she could join him in the south, sightseeing and nurturing their romance.
Unfortunately, the Sin Domain chose that moment to launch a full-scale assault on the capital.
Four captain-level mutants attacked in a suicide mission, and the guardian White Tiger betrayed them, leaving the empire reeling.
Her travel plans were shelved, and she could only watch as Lyte drifted to a small southern town.
“Little Blue, do you think Lyte will fall for me?”
Fretting over her ability to enchant him, the grand princess studied her reflection, turning to her blue-clad maid with a troubled expression.
“Whether he likes you or not, it’s out of his hands. The emperor will soon decree your marriage, and Lady Black Tortoise approves of you and Mr. Lyte. Unless he renounces his titles as hero and her disciple, it’s unlikely he’ll refuse.”
“That makes sense.”
The grand princess nodded, brimming with confidence in her assured victory.
“Knock, knock, knock~”
The maid opened the door, exchanging words with the visitor before turning to the princess.
“Your Highness, the starship is ready. We can depart anytime.”
The grand princess gave herself one last look in the mirror, satisfied with her flawless appearance.
She rose from her chair, brimming with excitement.
“Let’s go! Tomorrow, I’ll see Lyte!”