“Um, could you help me up first?”
Aphrodite’s voice was distinctly weak. At this moment, she was still half-lying on the ground in a rather undignified posture, her whole body limp, unable to stand up on her own.
Lia was startled out of her chaotic thoughts by the sound.
She quickly walked over to Aphrodite, crouched down, and reached out her arm.
“Sorry.” Lia’s voice had regained its usual coldness.
She slid one arm around Aphrodite’s back, the other supporting her arm, exerting a gentle force, trying to help her up.
However, the moment their bodies drew close, that familiar scent—warm sunshine mingled with a faint sweet fragrance—once again lingered at Lia’s nose.
…As expected, it’s still this scent. Sweet and warm, really… kind of like a freshly baked cake.
It should have been the pure aura of Holy Radiance, so why did it evoke such a comforting hunger?
The thought sprang up uncontrollably. She instinctively held her breath, trying to ignore the strange sensation, and focused on helping Aphrodite up.
Because Aphrodite was almost completely powerless, the whole process was inevitably awkward.
In order to better support her, Lia had to move in even closer. Her gaze naturally fell to Aphrodite’s collar, which had loosened slightly with the movement.
Then her gaze froze.
On Aphrodite’s chest, on that fair skin, there was a distinct bite mark, faintly tinged with red!
Even though she remembered clearly the “crime” she’d committed, seeing the “evidence” she’d left behind with her own eyes was an entirely different experience.
A wave of shame, as if a tsunami, instantly flooded Lia. Her cheeks flushed bright red in an instant, even the tips of her ears dyed pink.
She could even feel her face burning up.
I’m dead, I’m dead! How could I leave such an obvious mark!
In the midst of this overwhelming shame, there was something Lia herself didn’t notice.
Deep in her eyes, a faint, nearly imperceptible glimmer flickered past—a primal yearning, pure and instinctual, awakened by the “delicious” scent before her.
At the same time, an almost inaudible mutter, like a sleep-talker’s dream murmur, slipped from between her lips, pressed together in nervous tension:
“…I really want… to take another bite…”
The voice was as light as a breeze, dissolving into the air.
Yet, almost simultaneously, Aphrodite—leaning heavily on Lia’s support—seemed to sense a peculiar feeling in her daze.
Not a sound, more like… the sensation of being watched by something dangerous.
Her heart suddenly tightened, and a faint sense of unease crept up.
Huh? What’s going on? This chill down my spine… Could it be she’s…
Frightened by what had just happened, Aphrodite reflexively turned her head and looked at Lia, who was just inches away!
Their eyes met.
Lia was caught completely off guard by Aphrodite’s sudden gaze—her heart leapt in alarm!
Did she notice I was staring at the bite mark on her chest?!
Lia assumed Aphrodite had caught her slip and the blush on her face.
Her formidable adaptability and years of habitually masking her feelings kicked in at once.
Forcing down her frantic heartbeat and the heat on her cheeks, Lia tried to restore her usual calm—aloof, with just a hint of confusion:
“What’s wrong, Aphrodite?” she asked with forced composure, her hands still steadily supporting her. “Are you feeling unwell anywhere?”
Aphrodite studied Lia closely—her gaze was clear, and though her cheeks were tinged with an unnatural flush, there was no sign of the frenzy or delirium from before.
Seems I was overthinking… Maybe it was just exhaustion playing tricks on me.
Honestly, she’s scared me into getting Hysteria.
Aphrodite let out a breath, amused by her own hypersensitivity.
“Ah, it’s nothing,” Aphrodite shook her head hurriedly, casually finding an excuse to cover her awkwardness, “Maybe I’m just a little dizzy after treating you, still feeling a bit weak.”
Hearing this, Lia felt as if her heart was pricked by a needle. The shame that had just begun to fade surged up again, even mixed with a trace of guilt.
Yes, the reason she’s so weak is all because of me… If she hadn’t helped me calm my Devouring Heart Syndrome, Aphrodite wouldn’t have had to exhaust herself so much.
And yet I… I was staring at that bite mark, letting my mind wander.
The guilt made Lia’s movements even gentler and more cautious.
She carefully adjusted her strength, half-carrying Aphrodite to help her completely off the floor. Then, step by step, slowly and steadily, she guided her to the only soft, large bed in the room.
“Careful, sit down slowly.” Lia’s voice softened unconsciously as she helped Aphrodite to sit on the edge of the bed.
Once Aphrodite was settled, Lia stepped back half a pace. She glanced at Aphrodite’s still-pale face, a complicated look flashing in her purple eyes, then she bowed deeply and solemnly.
“Aphrodite,” this time her tone was deadly serious, “truly… thank you so much. You’ve saved me again.”
The sudden, formal gratitude caught Aphrodite a bit by surprise. She quickly waved her hand, trying to lighten the mood.
“No need to be so polite. Besides, it’s really nothing, after all, it’s… um, just part of what I should do.”
She’d wanted to say “no trouble at all,” but, thinking of her current weakened state, felt a little guilty, so she switched to a vaguer “just part of what I should do.”
With the thanks out of the way, the atmosphere in the room seemed to ease a little.
Aphrodite looked at the girl standing before the bed—upright, yet inexplicably tinged with a sense of loneliness. Suddenly, a question came to mind.
She smiled gently, her tone casual as she asked, “Come to think of it, after all this time, I still don’t know your name. I can’t just keep calling you ‘you’ all the time, can I?”
The question dropped into Lia’s heart like a stone cast into a calm lake, sending ripples through her mind.
Name…
Lia froze, a flicker of struggle and hesitation flashing quickly through her purple eyes.
Tell her my real name? Tilia Stuart?
No! Absolutely not!
Wasn’t that exactly what Mother warned me against…
Lia’s true identity was far too sensitive.
The current Chief Administrator of the Church, the Elves’ celebrated prodigy, Tilia Stuart—was actually someone with Demon blood, prone to periodic loss of control, and might even endanger others, a “monster”.
If this secret were to be exposed, not only would she be doomed, but it would implicate the entire Stuart Family.
That was why Lia had harbored thoughts of silencing Aphrodite—at the root, it was all to protect that secret.
Now, though for various reasons she had given up on erasing memories, it was still impossible to voluntarily reveal her identity.
Then, a fake name?
Lia vaguely remembered that, during her two times losing control, she had mentioned her name in a muddled state.
After a short silence, Lia raised her eyes, looking calmly at Aphrodite, and said softly in an emotionless voice:
“Lia.”
She paused, seeming to choose her words, then added, “Just call me Lia.”