“Thank the stars they didn’t start getting too cozy right in front of us.”
Little Blue’s quip cut through the air like a sly dagger, though deep down, she was secretly hoping for a bit more spice to unfold.
Her eyes sparkled with mischief as she peeked around the corridor’s corner, spying on the scene ahead.
At the corridor’s bend, a master and her servant crouched, watching as Noi, breathless from a kiss, reluctantly pulled back.
A shimmering silver thread stretched between their lips, only for Noi to steal one last peck, reconnecting the delicate strand.
The sight sent Deta’s blood pressure soaring to perilous heights.
“Don’t try to stop me! I can’t take this anymore!”
Deta lunged forward, half her body spilling into the open corridor.
Little Blue, quick as a flash, grabbed her arm and yanked her back, leaning hard against the wall to wrestle the heartbroken princess back into hiding.
Keen as ever, Lyte sensed a disturbance at the corner and shot a sharp glance their way.
But the shadows betrayed nothing, and his gaze found no intruders.
Little Blue clamped a hand over Deta’s mouth, her other hand slipping into her spatial ring to produce two exquisitely crafted cloaks of concealment.
She draped them over herself and the princess, ensuring Lyte wouldn’t catch them eavesdropping on his tender moment.
“Lyte, what’s wrong?”
Noi’s fingers brushed against the sharp angles of Lyte’s face, her touch soft and curious.
“Nothing. I must be imagining things.”
“Then… shall we continue? I want another kiss~”
Noi leaned closer, eager to reclaim the moment’s heat, but Lyte gently held her back, wary of letting her indulge too deeply.
With a quick excuse, he deflected, “You were a bit too enthusiastic just now—your lips are swollen. And you don’t look quite yourself today. Didn’t sleep well last night?”
“Hmm… I slept plenty. Just woke up with a bit of a stomachache this morning. It’s probably nothing.”
Noi caught the hint in his tone and backed off with a reluctant pout.
Instead, she slipped her hand into his, and they strolled side by side down the corridor, their steps light and unhurried.
“Vivi, isn’t your birthday coming up soon?”
Three weeks earlier, after the divine ceremony, Bishop Pria had dragged Noi to fill out forms.
Thankfully, they were optional, so she’d only jotted down her birthdate, drawn from her past life’s memory.
“Yeah, in four days, I think. Are you getting me a gift, Lyte?”
Noi’s eyes gleamed with hope.
She’d never received a proper birthday gift—just a few curt blessings texted by her parents.
Now, she gazed at Lyte, her heart daring to dream.
Lyte’s eyes softened as he considered her question.
“What kind of gift would you like?”
“Hmm…” Noi swayed his arm playfully, slowing her steps as she spoke, her voice warm and earnest.
“As long as I can share a cake with you, I’ll be perfectly happy.”
Every birthday, she’d received a small hospital-issued cake, but she’d always eaten it alone, with no one to share the joy.
The thought of celebrating with Lyte filled her with quiet longing.
“Just eating together? That’s far too simple. I’ll prepare something extraordinary—a gift like nothing you’ve ever seen.”
Lyte’s smile was a promise, and Noi nodded, her heart fluttering.
“I can’t wait.”
From the corner, a bitter mutter drifted out.
“Oh, I can hardly wait either.”
“Your Highness, hush! You’re ruining my show!”
Little Blue calmly pressed her hand over Deta’s mouth again.
If not for the cloaks’ sound-dampening magic, Lyte would’ve surely caught them red-handed.
The corridor wasn’t long, and soon Noi and Lyte stepped into the garden, where blue blossoms had been trimmed away.
They found a pavilion to rest in, while Deta and Little Blue, ever persistent, crept into a nearby patch of grass to continue their covert observation.
“Lyte, the anomaly in Wagner Town should be resolved soon, right?”
“Yep, faster than I expected.”
Their shared smile carried unspoken layers, a quiet understanding beneath their words.
“Hmm… where should we go to get married? I’ve never seen much of the world, so you decide, Lyte.”
‘Married?’
“MARRIED?!”
‘They were already talking about marriage’?
Deta’s blood pressure surged, her head spinning as if she could hear the rush of blood sloshing inside her skull.
She cursed her robust constitution—why couldn’t she faint like some tragic heroine in a comic, spared from witnessing this torment?
Instead, she was forced to endure, her heart twisting as the couple discussed their future.
‘By the grace of Goddess Afiya, what happened this past month? How are you already planning a wedding?’
‘I saw him first! I was the one who fell for Lyte Montis first, who built something with him first! Where did this white-haired village nun come from, cutting me off at the pass?’
“We could travel the empire for our honeymoon,” Lyte said, his amber eyes glowing like spring sunlight spilling through an open window.
“Then I’ll take you to a hidden paradise, where we’ll hold our wedding and live out our days in quiet peace. How does that sound?”
In his past life, Lyte had passed through countless breathtaking places during his adventures, but duty had always pulled him onward.
Now, he wanted nothing more than to savor the journey with Noi, to let their bond deepen through shared moments, laying the foundation for a proposal.
“Your choice is my choice. As long as you love me, I’ll never say no.”
Noi’s sweet smile revealed a dimple that melted Lyte’s heart.
And shattered Deta’s.
‘What do I do? How can I win?’
Her despair deepened when she noticed the sapphire necklace gleaming at Noi’s throat—a hero’s gem, Lyte’s gem.
“He even gave her that…”
Deta’s voice trembled with defeat.
As a child, Lyte had told her that one day, he’d give his hero’s necklace to the girl he loved.
She’d dreamed of being that girl, never imagining that in just a month, Noi would claim it instead.
“I need answers. I need to know who this woman really is!”
Deta ground her teeth, her gaze darkening as it fixed on Noi’s… notably ample chest.
Little Blue nodded absently, adjusting the holy sword at her waist.
Around her own neck hung a lower-tier blue hero’s gem.
“Relax, Your Highness. Who could outshine your beauty? Lyte’s just been charmed by that white-haired nun’s… unique style. A forced match can still be sweet. With Lord Xuanwu and the Emperor’s backing, who could stand in your way?”
“You’re right. Lyte’s obsessed with his hero’s duty, and as the Chosen One, only someone of my stature is worthy of him. That little church nun, dreaming of rising above her station? She’s got some nerve.”
Deta’s view of Lyte was still rooted in the hotheaded boy she’d known as a child, a misunderstanding that doomed her to misjudge him.
“Little Blue, send word to the church’s head. Tell them I’m here and to send Lyte to me at once!”
“Right away, Your Highness.”
***
‘Ouch…’
After their garden chat, Noi and Lyte headed to the cafeteria, but halfway there, a sharp pain stabbed through Noi’s stomach, as if something inside were being torn apart.
She crumpled to the ground, trembling.
Without hesitation, Lyte swept her into his arms, cradling her in a princess carry.
He rushed to the cafeteria, where Tina was groggily eating after waking up.
“Miss Tina! Please, check on Noi!”
Seeing Noi curled up in pain, Tina’s eyes widened in alarm.
She instructed Lyte to carry her to the infirmary and lay her on a bed for a thorough examination.
“No external injuries… Noi, are you still conscious?”
“Mm…”
“Where does it hurt? Tell me everything you’re feeling.”
“My stomach… it’s heavy, like there’s a blender inside. My chest feels tight, too, and… down there, it’s uncomfortable. Like something’s leaking.”
Tina’s brow furrowed as a suspicion took shape.
She glanced at Lyte, scribbled a list of painkillers on a slip of paper, and sent him out to fetch them, buying herself a moment alone with Noi.
“Don’t move, Noi. I’m just going to lift your skirt for a quick check.”
“Mm…”
After inspecting, Tina’s eyebrow shot up.
“My dear sister, don’t you keep track of your cycle? This much bleeding isn’t normal. Even with your strong constitution, it shouldn’t hit you this hard…”
“What… what are you talking about?”
Noi’s mind was foggy with pain, unable to parse Tina’s words.
“Sweetie, you’re on your period! Don’t you have any pads?”
“Period…? Isn’t bread for eating…?”
Tina’s jaw dropped.
How had Noi grown up without knowing this?
Did she endure this agony every month, writhing in bed?
After a quick lesson on menstruation, Noi finally grasped her situation.
“So… this means I can have a baby?”
Tina nearly choked.
“That’s what you’re thinking about right now? Aren’t you in pain?”
She was exasperated, tempted to shake some sense into this naive girl and teach her the basics of women’s health.
Chenxi arrived, drawn by the commotion, but before she could say much, Tina shooed her out.
“Go grab some pads—no, wings—for Noi’s emergency!”
“Oh? I always carry some. Unlike certain redheaded nuns who borrow mine every time and won’t spend a few coins to buy their own.”
Nuns in the church were many, and carrying a spare pad was a practical habit.
Casting a pointed look at the penny-pinching Tina, Chenxi rummaged in her pocket and pulled out a neatly packaged pad.
“Alright, silly Noi, take off your underwear. Ugh, it’s all bloody. Tina, grab a fresh pair from Noi’s room!”
Once Tina returned with clean underwear, Chenxi demonstrated, tearing open the package.
“Stick the wings here, on the bottom of your underwear. Got it? Then just put it on. No need to be shy—it’s good quality, crafted by elves. It’ll last a while. Change it when it gets wet.”
After a thorough scolding from both Chenxi and Tina, Noi finally stemmed the bleeding.
‘Being a girl is so hard…’