Chapter 63: Heart Sound

It might be a bit out of the blue, but…

After being possessed into this world, I’ve had this thought at least once.

What if.

Just what if.

If I were to settle down in this world, would I pursue pure love?

Or would I pursue a harem?

It’s an utterly idiotic dilemma, but…

After seriously pondering it, the conclusion I reached was the harem.

Honestly, it’s something any man would dream of.

And I didn’t want to lose the women who poured their affection on me, nor did I want to share them with other men.

‘Is it wrong to pursue a harem in a world I’ve been possessed into?’  

There’s nothing wrong with that, is there?

Thankfully, I have women who love me.

And fortunately, I have the ability to make them happy.

So, I decided to take multiple wives, but…

Understanding their feelings was another matter entirely.

Isn’t that just human nature?

Wanting to be loved, feeling jealous.

Wanting to be closer to the person you love than anyone else—it’s only natural.

Of course, there are unique cases like Milinarize, but…

At least from what I’ve seen, Justia seemed to want to monopolize me to some extent.

“To think His Grace was in a romantic relationship with the High Priestess… I had no idea…”  

In front of the bedroom, heated by midsummer’s warmth.

Justia muttered with a shocked expression.

Her face flushed from witnessing the indecent scene, yet she couldn’t look away.

Gently pushing Milinarize aside, I got up from the bed.

“Wait a moment. Let me explain how this happened—”  

“S-Sorry for barging in like this!”  

Tap-tap-tap—  

The sound of hurried footsteps echoed down the hallway.

Justia’s golden hair swayed as she ran away.

Damn it. 

She shows up out of nowhere and just leaves like that?

‘First Eileen, then Hene, and now Justia…’  

Chasing after fleeing women was getting old.

I stretched out an invisible hand toward Justia’s retreating figure.

[Activating Authority.]

[Seizing what is far away.]

Whoosh—  

“Eek!”  

Two invisible hands instantly caught up to Justia and wrapped around her waist, eliciting a cute scream.

At the same time, Justia’s legs seemed to go weak, as if she were being tickled.

I swiftly carried her back and placed her on the bed.

Plop.  

“I can’t just let you leave like this. Stay here for a moment.”  

“Huh? W-What—”  

“I’ll be right back.”  

Leaving Justia flustered on the bed, I took Milinarize’s hand and led her out of the bedroom.

Thud.  

“Phew.”  

Closing the door behind me, I let out a shallow sigh.

The stiffness in my lower body from the skin contact with Milinarize had already subsided.

Standing in the hallway of the residence, I spoke to Milinarize.

“Sorry. It looks like I’ll have to continue your service another time. As you can see, Her Highness the Princess has come to visit.”  

“Understood. Though it’s terribly disappointing, I shall abide by Beherit-sama’s words.”  

“Thanks for understanding. You said you’re leaving for the Church headquarters tomorrow morning, right?”  

“Yes. I plan to depart first thing in the morning. If I leave my post vacant for too long, the old men in the Church might start poking their noses in.”  

Milinarize adjusted her attire as she spoke.

Her lips glistened with saliva from our intense exchange.

If I sniffed the air, the scent of a woman’s pheromones was unmistakable.

‘Still, it’s a shame to cut things off when the mood was heating up.’  

But for now, I had to focus on Justia.

Suppressing my regret, I had to see Milinarize off.

‘Once I get the Emperor’s permission to establish the Duchy, we’ll have more time together.’  

I could always make up for lost time with Milinarize later.

Just as I was about to send her off, she spoke up.

“Beherit-sama. There’s one more thing I’d like to mention.”  

“Hmm? What is it?”  

“I think… I can sense traces of a god on you.”  

“What?”  

I tilted my head at Milinarize’s words.

Traces of a god? 

What the hell is she talking about?

Is she just worshiping me as a god like usual?

But as I stood there dumbfounded, Milinarize elaborated.

“I’ve had my suspicions for a while, but after kissing you just now, I’m more certain. It’s hard to describe precisely, but…”  

“It’s fine. Explain in more detail. You sense traces of a god on me?”  

“Yes. It’s as if you’ve made contact with a god—there are remnants of divine power. But from what I can tell, the source of that divine power seems to be… Estreya.”  

Milinarize’s ruby-like red eyes fixed on me as she spoke.

‘Estreya?’  

I silently repeated the name in my head.

How could I forget that name?

I knew it better than anyone—it belonged to a character who appeared in the final act of the original story.

Because.

The Goddess of Stars, Estreya, was the one who bestowed the protagonist with the Blessing of the Stars.

‘But she senses Estreya’s traces on me? Does that mean I’ve received the Blessing of the Stars?’  

Immediately, I turned my focus inward to observe my mana.

Hmm…

I don’t feel anything like the Blessing of the Stars.

But then Milinarize spoke again.

“There’s no need to worry. I just wanted to let you know that the Goddess of Stars, Estreya, seems to have taken an interest in you. It doesn’t feel like anything bad.”  

“I see. I’ll keep that in mind. Thanks for telling me.”  

“I’d be glad if it was helpful.”  

Milinarize bowed politely.

The Goddess of Stars, huh.

I’d been planning to gather more information about this world while at the academy.

Thanks to Milinarize, I’d gotten a valuable lead.

“Then I’ll retire to another room. Please call if you need me.”  

“Got it. Rest well.”  

“Yes.”  

Milinarize bowed and withdrew.

Her ample hips swayed beneath her snug priestess robes as she walked away.

Glancing down, I noticed the ring on her left hand.

‘She’s wearing it on her left ring finger too.’  

She’s wearing my artifact gift like an engagement ring, as if it’s the most natural thing.

Is that really okay for the Church’s Saintess?

Well… I’ll trust her to handle it.

‘Alright. Now to deal with this.’  

After Milinarize disappeared down the hallway, I turned back to the firmly shut bedroom door.

Justia was inside.

Normally, this would be a heart-pounding situation, but my head throbbed from being caught in an intimate moment with Milinarize.

‘If Cheonryeo were here right now… Just imagining it is terrifying.’  

That guy would’ve made a huge fuss over this rom-com-like scenario.

Good thing I stuffed him in the closet.

‘Enough distractions. Time to go in.’  

I couldn’t leave Justia waiting forever.

But… She didn’t jump out the window and escape with Levitation, did she?

“…No way.”  

I swallowed dryly.

Suppressing the unease creeping up my spine, I strode forward and opened the door.

Creak—  

“Ah!”  

“Hmm.”  

“…”  

“Your Highness. What are you doing with my pillow?”  

“Uh, well… This is… It’s not what it looks like…”  

“Not what it looks like?”  

“Uuu… This is my first time in a man’s bedroom, so I got curious and…”  

Justia quietly set the pillow down.

Unless I was mistaken, she’d been sniffing it.

How should I put this?

It feels… weird.

I don’t think my pillow smells bad, but I doubt it smells good either.

But as I closed the door and approached, Justia clenched her plush thighs tightly.

“Ahem. Did you finish your conversation with Milinarize-sama?”  

“Yes. Sorry to keep you waiting. I appreciate your understanding.”  

“Mmm. It’s fine. I’m the one who showed up unannounced.”  

“But I heard you had something to say. What is it?”  

“Ah. That is…”  

Justia hesitated.

Now that we were face-to-face, her outfit stood out more.

Not her academy uniform, but a casual yet revealing dress.

Damn. My lower half is getting excited again.

But as I was distracted by her deep cleavage, Justia gathered her courage and spoke.

“Do you remember… when you told me I was special to you?”  

“Of course. I’ve felt that way since the first time we met.”  

“You remember. That’s… really touching.”  

“No need for thanks. I remember everything I’ve said.”  

“But, you see…”  

“Yes?”  

“When you say I’m special… Honestly, it doesn’t feel real.”  

“???”  

My eyes widened at Justia’s words.

W-What’s this about?

Did I do something wrong?

Is it because I’ve been fooling around with too many women?

As my mind raced with possibilities, Justia clarified.

“There are so many beautiful women around you.”  

“Uh… Yes.”  

“I don’t mind that. It’s only natural for someone as remarkable as you to have multiple wives. But…”  

“But?”  

“I’m supposed to be your special woman. I want to be your first. But it doesn’t feel that way… and that makes me sad.”  

“…”  

“I got my ring later than the others. I had to watch you kiss another woman. While others were having formal meetings with you, I was far away…”  

“H-Hey…”  

“You’re the only one for me… Without you, I’m just a weak woman… I feel like your attention is slipping away, and it scares me… What should I do?”  

Justia’s voice trembled, her eyes glistening with unshed tears.

I thought she’d come to talk about some trivial worry, but…

She’d been feeling like this all along?

It’s true I’ve been busy lately, and we haven’t been in touch as much.

‘Damn… What should I say?’  

Why is she so attached to me?

Maybe the isolation she endured in the royal palace plays a part in her insecurities.

Either way, I couldn’t leave her like this.

Without a word, I gently embraced her.

“Ah.”  

“Justia. Can you hear my heartbeat?”  

“Yes… I can.”  

“Is it beating fast?”  

“Yes. Very fast.”  

“That’s because I’m with you.”  

“B-Because of me?”  

“Yes. My heart races when I’m with someone I love.”  

“Someone you love…”  

“What about you, Justia?”  

“My heart is racing too. Like… it might burst.”  

Justia whispered while nestled in my arms.

Perhaps because we were so close.

Though she spoke softly, her tone was slightly higher, making her sound unbearably cute and endearing.

“I see. Your heart is racing too. In sync with mine.”  

“Yes. It is.”  

“Listening to our heartbeats like this… It feels like they’ve merged. Isn’t that strange?”  

“It is. Strange…”  

Justia’s voice was warm with emotion.

Her soft breasts pressed against my chest, separated only by a thin shirt.

A tantalizing sensation spread from my chest throughout my body.

Pressed tightly together, our ears were filled with the sound of our pounding hearts.

I drew out a single thread of the purest mana from my heart and sent it toward Justia’s.

“!”  

She gasped slightly and looked up at me.

Our noses nearly touched in the close embrace.

Staring into her eyes, I moved closer and whispered gently into her ear.

“There’s no need to feel insecure. As I’ve always said, you’re incredibly special to me.”  

“Special to you…”  

“Yes.”  

“Then… prove it.”  

“Huh?”  

“Make me yours… Teach me love.”  

Justia gazed up at me with damp eyes.

Her heated breath brushed against me as she waited.

Hmm. This is what I think it is, right?

Justia’s plea to be loved passionately.

Her words made me hard, but…

I couldn’t help but hesitate.

Because.

I don’t have any condoms at home right now.