Chapter 29 A Moment of Leisure (Part 2)
Igter saw that Verafia held a beautifully decorated poetry collection in her hands, seemingly immersed in the dream of poetry. However, upon closer inspection, he noticed the young lady’s small feet, adorned with high heels, were unconsciously swaying. Her beautiful, large eyes, filled with restless thoughts, clearly indicated her mind was elsewhere.
Sensing his arrival, the girl lifted her little head, her big eyes sparkling with a cheerful expression. “Igter, you’re finally here!”
“Is the Young Lady waiting for me?”
Igter walked closer, gazing at the book held in the white-dressed maiden’s tender hands. Seeing her uplifted face once again filled with joy, he couldn’t help but affectionately rub her little head beneath her soft, golden hair, smiling.
“Hmph… Not at all! How could this Young Lady deliberately wait for you, this guy? It’s just that I was bored!”
Verafia turned her head, her peripheral vision catching sight of the young man. She raised her face again, her big eyes glaring with annoyance, her tender red lips pouting in displeasure. “And it’s all your fault, you guy! You ran off by yourself without even telling this Young Lady!”
Igter, on the other hand, was enjoying the sensation of his palm caressing the girl’s smooth, silken hair. The corners of his mouth curved in contentment. Although the “tsundere” personality seemed rather outdated, this little girl wasn’t malicious; she was merely acting spoiled, which made her appear rather adorable.
“Yes, yes, it was my fault for not accompanying the Young Lady. Goddess Princess, I apologize to you.”
Gazing at the maiden’s beautiful golden eyes, which held a mixture of admonishment and affection, Igter readily conceded. He looked at her face, as gorgeous as a work of art, and smiled, his hand gently touching the girl’s slightly puffed, soft, and fair cheek.
In truth, when he returned from the city walls yesterday, it was already deep into the night. Verafia had fallen asleep on the sofa, so he had carefully carried her back to bed.
This morning, when he went to visit her again, the Goddess Princess was still mumbling softly in her sleep, and Igter couldn’t bring himself to disturb her sweet dreams.
After all, Verafia herself was far from regaining her true power as the Goddess of Life. She had already expended nearly half of her divine power to reawaken the lives of hundreds of thousands in Arnorkolon, and during the week when the Church had launched a massive assault on the city, she had used her authority more than once.
Although Verafia always appeared lively and cheerful, seeming completely fine, Igter knew that the toll this had taken on her spirit was immense, far exceeding his own, who was stationed on the city walls.
Therefore, even though Verafia had intended to wait for him last night, she had fallen asleep due to exhaustion.
“Hmph, who wants you to accompany me.”
Upon hearing Igter’s words, the girl pouted reluctantly but didn’t pull away. Verafia’s big eyes suddenly lit up. “But, Igter, you have to compensate this Young Lady!”
Her clear voice, like a song, carried the girl’s spoiled insistence. She raised her head and declared loudly, her eyes sparkling with the joyous colors of transparent, brilliant gems.
Without waiting for Igter’s reply, Verafia unceremoniously thrust her slender, white hands into his. Her soft, fair fingers were like pure jade, and her fingernails, like transparent gem caps, were neatly trimmed and sparkling like jewels.
Along with the girl’s little hands, a delicate crystal bottle was presented. Inside the crystal was a pinkish-white color, like coral.
“Is this… nail polish?”
Igter was slightly taken aback. He then looked at the girl’s offered hands and the slight blush on her fair, tender face, a smile forming on his lips. “Young Lady, do you perhaps want me to…”
“Ugh, it’s all because that little Fei fellow insisted on giving it to me… This Young Lady, I just wanted to try it out.” Being looked at by Igter, Verafia felt a bit shy. Her face, which had just mustered the courage to look up, was now tinged with embarrassment.
Despite what she said, this little girl was clearly looking forward to it. Igter thought with amusement.
Verafia pulled hard towards Igter, shoving the crystal bottle into his hands. Seeing her intentions revealed, she let out a haughty air, leaning back in her chair, her slender feet crossed, and raising her head imperiously.
“Idiot Igter, this is your honor, for this Young Lady to have you do it! Hurry up and serve this Young Lady!”
“Yes, yes, Goddess Princess, it is my honor.”
Igter suppressed a smile, knelt on one knee in a knightly gesture, and gently took the girl’s small hand.
Her tender hand, like a work of art, rested in his palm. Her slender fingers occasionally moved, with soft sunlight casting a hazy, beautiful glow. The warmth of her skin that he touched, combined with the amorous gaze in his eyes, intertwined to stir his heart profoundly.
Igter dipped a brush into the liquid from the crystal bottle. His gaze fell upon the girl’s slightly curved, gentle lips as he carefully began to apply color to her tender, crystalline, and lustrous fingernails.
He suddenly realized that these tender, slender fingers, more magnificent than any treasure in the world, were subtly changing their color in his hands.
Igter suddenly smiled.
Indeed, what an honor it was to be by the side of this girl, who was more precious than his entire world.
He dipped the color and gently applied it. The soft sunlight filtering through the glass illuminated it magnificently, reflecting a brilliant sheen.
Verafia lightly waved her hand. Beneath her long, fluttering eyelashes, her beautiful golden eyes completed a captivating golden moonrise. “Hmm, not bad. What do you think, Igter?”
Her tender hands waved gently before his eyes. Her slender fingertips, shimmering with a soft glow, appeared delicate and charming, like polished jade gems.
It seemed this Young Lady quite liked it. Perhaps it was because, as a girl, she also liked shiny things? Right, even though this little girl was now a goddess, she was still a little phoenix. Little birds also liked shiny things.
However, even though she was a Goddess Princess, her personality was still like a child’s.
Igter thought with amusement. Returning his attention to the girl’s bright and charming little face and her sparkling, expectant beautiful eyes, he couldn’t help but smile. He gently took her little hand and patted her head, saying,
“It looks very good.”
“Hmph, you always say that. Idiot Igter, can’t you be more creative in coaxing girls?”
Although she said this, a crescent-shaped, gentle smile still curved her lips with delight. To the side of her beautiful golden eyes, she suddenly wrapped her arm around Igter’s, insisting,
“It’s not enough. Igter, you have to accompany this Young Lady shopping too! Anyway, Duke Moon’s army has been repelled, and you don’t have anything to do…”
“Of course. Even if Veer hadn’t said anything, I would have requested it from you.”
Igter smiled as he held the girl’s tender hand.
Seeing the girl’s happy and triumphant little face, Igter suddenly remembered. He had come to find Verafia at this moment not only because he wanted to see her, but also because of Duke Robert’s request?
Yes, it was to tell Veer about Her Majesty Raffnos… But it wasn’t a big deal, and since Veer was a goddess, she surely already knew. It was rare to be able to spend time with this girl, so there was no need to spoil her mood at this moment.
Igter thought this. Thus, without much ado, he took her little hand and they walked out of the small building together.
