Chapter Sixty-Six: Will You Marry Me?
Clad in a white dress, Agnes stood gracefully in front of the two-story building in the center of the palace.
The presence of a duplex home in such a place felt somewhat out of place, yet after Shaya left, Miss Witch did not erase it as she usually would.
In the past few days, she had occasionally come here to take a look inside, curious about the novel items from Shaya’s hometown.
At the same time, she felt a sense of curiosity.
How much had the world outside changed after more than ten thousand years of her being sealed here?
Although she could conjure any book and draw knowledge from it, she could not comprehend the wonders of things she had never seen.
Miss Witch sighed softly.
Ever since Shaya began appearing at the palace from time to time, her formerly dull and lifeless existence seemed to have gained some vibrancy.
Moreover, Agnes’s expressions had increased.
Except for smiles.
She still could not understand how to express the happiness Shaya spoke of.
Was it merely the corners of her lips turning up?
But if her emotions did not change accordingly, that action would be meaningless.
Only at the moment when Shaya changed her shoes for her and when she tasted strawberry ice cream for the first time did she feel a bit of lightness in her heart.
Agnes remained silent for a moment, walking quietly into the courtyard and then lowering her gaze to the flowers blooming in the flowerbed.
That red plant called Manjushahua.
Agnes gently closed her eyes, unsure of what was on her mind.
Suddenly, a familiar spatial fluctuation arose, prompting her to instinctively open her eyes and, a bit flustered, wave her hand. The building before her instantly vanished like ripples in water.
“……”
After erasing the building, she felt a tinge of regret.
Miss Witch took a deep breath and directed her gaze toward the entrance of the main hall.
Expecting to see the familiar figure of the young man, she instead found a small girl covered in blood standing before her.
With white hair that fell to her shoulders and eyes tinted red, this was the standard characteristic of a Bloodsucker.
Agnes frowned.
It wasn’t her identity she was curious about; it was her earlier, careless action of erasing that building that left her somewhat dissatisfied.
Ultimately, it seemed to be caused by this unknown person in front of her.
So Agnes cast an unhappy glance toward the Bloodsucker girl.
Octave was currently bewildered.
Shivering, she lay on the ground, struggling to raise her head to look at the figure before her, wrapped in distorted lines and black mist, her already frail body further chilled by a pervasive, sinister force that felt like it was gradually taking her life.
The vitality of Bloodsuckers was incredibly robust, there was no doubt about that; even if severely injured, they could recover quickly with enough fresh human blood.
Yet at this moment, Octave felt that, alongside the encroaching chill of the dark power within her, the Bloodsucker’s strong life source was experiencing irreversible depletion!
Octave tried to struggle to her feet, but under the influence of the black mist, her whole body was icy, and her limbs would not obey her.
After all, she was a Bloodsucker!
A cold-blooded creature!
How could she feel cold?
This was terrifying.
This was undoubtedly the most powerful being she had ever encountered!
Perhaps, even rivaling the legendary ancestor of her kind.
“Y-Your Excellency……”
Octave’s voice unconsciously carried a hint of a sob.
In her heart, she had a strong urge to point at Shaya and curse him out. In the real world, with just a bit of rest and some blood replenishment, she might have escaped.
But now, what kind of fire pit had he pushed her into?!
“Who are you?”
Agnes glanced at her indifferently, aware that the Bloodsucker girl was feeling unwell due to a lingering trace of black mist curse in the hall. With a gentle wave of her hand, a cool, moon-like light descended from the sky and enveloped Octave.
Like a human receiving sunlight, as a moon’s vassal, Octave felt warmth surging through her originally cold body.
She instinctively let out a comfortable sigh.
“I-I am Shaya’s friend. My name is Octave, a member of the Caerus family, a Bloodsucker with pure lineage.”
Octave was still clinging to a certain strange pride.
Miss Witch gently furrowed her brow.
She looked at Octave and softly said, “The Caerus surname sounds somewhat familiar.”
“Oh, I remember now. Wasn’t that the one who often followed Beatrice around… that sycophant?”
Miss Witch reflected and suddenly felt that this term Shaya had used last time perfectly described the girl’s previous behavior.
Upon hearing this, Octave appeared dazed.
As a core member of the Caerus family, she certainly knew of Beatrice.
That was the name of the Goddess of the Bright Moon!
In the present world, those who worshiped the moon would never mention it directly, as speaking its name was a kind of blasphemy against the Deity!
Octave, feeling dizzy, got to her knees.
She had initially thought the being before her was as powerful as the ancestor of Bloodsuckers, but now it seemed utterly laughable.
The way the other party mentioned “Beatrice” clearly carried a tone of condescension, even a hint of mockery.
Deity’s starting point!
This was what Octave surmised after reassessing the situation.
Thus, she immediately cast aside any shred of pride in her heart, becoming humble.
“As for the Shaya you mentioned…… who is he?”
Miss Witch remained silent for a moment before asking.
She had her suspicions but wasn’t certain.
“He, he comes here often. He said if you don’t know who he is, I should tell you one thing.”
“What is it?”
Octave cautiously glanced at Miss Witch: “Cinderella and the glass slipper.”
Although she did not understand the underlying meaning of these words, she suddenly felt that Shaya was somewhat impressive.
What kind of formidable person could cultivate a relationship with such a being?
Having regained her composure, Octave slowly began to piece together some things.
Looking at the black mist enveloping the outside of the hall and remembering Shaya’s earlier request for the forbidden book, she roughly guessed the true identity of the being before her.
That witch who nearly destroyed the world!
With this thought, a look of panic instinctively flashed in Octave’s eyes.
Seemingly sensing her discomfort, Miss Witch glanced at her before turning away and walking back to her red velvet chair in high-heeled sandals.
Staring at the chair that had been occupied for countless years, Agnes involuntarily recalled the sofa in Shaya’s home.
After discreetly pressing her lips together, Agnes gently waved her hand.
Instantly, a perfectly identical leather sofa appeared before her.
She adjusted her dress, lightly sinking her slender body into the soft sofa, crossing her legs, her high heels slipping slightly to reveal her delicate, pale soles.
After a moment of silence, she spoke: “What is Shaya’s full name?”
Miss Witch suddenly recalled that since the first meeting, when Shaya had tricked her into giving her true name, she had seen him so many times but didn’t even know what he was called.
Perhaps their interactions had been so natural that she hadn’t bothered to think about or pay attention to that detail.
Now, when Octave brought it up, Agnes felt a bit curious.
“Shaya Adelaide.”
As Octave clutched the unhealed wound on her shoulder caused by the Light Anthem, she answered.
Seeing this, Agnes gently waved her hand, and the lingering light power promptly dissipated.
“How much do you know about his situation in reality?”
She asked indifferently.
“I know most of it.”
Octave responded quietly.
“Most of it……”
Agnes chewed on that term, feeling a bit uncomfortable for some reason.
It was as if she knew nothing about him.
“Tell me about things related to him.”
Agnes glanced at Octave again and waved her hand once more.
Instantly, a glass vessel containing dozens of liters of fresh blood appeared beside Octave, complete with a long straw.
This was something Agnes had found in the kitchen after Shaya left, thinking it was very useful, so she had conjured it.
Octave’s eyes lit up; smelling the fresh blood, she couldn’t help but drool.
She carefully glanced at the other person, like a child asking a parent for permission to have a snack.
But facing such an ancient being, with a lifespan of at least ten thousand years, Octave truly felt like a childish, inexperienced kid.
“Go ahead and drink.”
Agnes seemed to be in a good mood and nodded in agreement.
Octave happily grabbed the straw and started to drink eagerly.
After several mouthfuls of blood, she showed a somewhat content expression.
Sweet, refreshing, and tasty.
Just like Shaya’s blood, of very high quality.
Agnes seemed to perceive her thoughts and spoke, “This is created using his blood as a template.”
Uh.
Octave was slightly surprised and then nodded.
After sorting her thoughts, she revealed a look of recollection and began to recount from her own memory: “The first time I met him was five years ago, on a night when the moon was particularly round.”
“At that time……”
As a firsthand witness, Octave began her narrative.
Her interactions with Shaya had actually been few, so the little bits and pieces of those five years were quickly recounted by Octave in great detail.
From the time Shaya picked her up and saved her to just now when she had been transported here due to her injuries.
Throughout the recounting, Miss Witch quietly listened, occasionally asking about points of interest.
“……That’s about it.”
Finally, after drinking another mouthful of blood, Octave spoke softly.
Miss Witch nodded.
After a moment of silence, she gently asked, “He…… was like this many years ago, too?”
“What?”
Octave was taken aback.
“Never caring about his own feelings, nor seeking rewards.” Miss Witch hesitated, “Simply…… simply being good to others, even at the cost of his life.”
After uttering this, Agnes suddenly became aware of something.
Just a moment ago, she had referred to Caerus as a sycophant; thinking carefully, Shaya, in his interactions with her, also seemed to have a bit of similarity?
Being good to her without seeking anything in return, but she had often treated him with a cold face.
Recalling her previous behavior, Agnes felt a twinge of regret.
Next time she spoke to him, she should be a bit friendlier.
If only she could learn to smile.
“It seems…… that way.”
Octave recalled the first time they met when Shaya had enthusiastically rushed to help her as she was being pursued by a group of powerful heretics.
It was because of that moment that Octave had begun to view this human boy differently.
“Does he…… have anyone he cares about in reality?”
Miss Witch originally wanted to ask if Shaya had any close female relationships, but felt that question was awkward to voice.
Her intention was merely to inquire about this.
Since Shaya’s series of actions after arriving here had given Agnes some guesses.
The books say that when a man is willing to face death for a woman, it indicates he loves her deeply.
Would he harbor certain feelings for me?
Agnes had a clear understanding of her appearance and charm; although she wouldn’t flaunt it like Beatrice, it didn’t mean she didn’t think she was beautiful.
Long ago, during their first meeting, Agnes had asked Shaya if he had lifted her seal because of her beauty.
“Probably not.”
Octave thought for a while but chose not to mention the woman Novella.
After all, from what happened earlier, Shaya’s entrusting of that woman to her seemed to involve some deeper conspiracy rather than mere desire.
……
“Ah-choo!”
Shaya sneezed.
Who is discussing me?
He thought drowsily.
In his daze, he felt as if he was resting on a soft cloud, with gentle little hands softly caressing his cheek.
At the same time, a pair of somewhat heavy soft objects seemed to be resting on his face, faintly carrying a scent.
Suddenly, he opened his eyes, instinctively trying to get up, but bumped into those heavy objects and rebounded back.
“Ah!”
A slightly shy exclamation came from Novella above him.
Only then did Shaya realize that he was currently lying between Novella’s crossed knees, resting his head on her soft, snowy thighs.
While he was unconscious, it was Novella who had been gently caressing his cheek.
Looking up at the suspended melon above, Shaya sighed.
As expected of a woman whose head was so low she couldn’t see her toes, even now, when giving Shaya a thigh pillow, her face was completely obscured when looking from below.
“What is this place?”
Shaya wanted to reach out and push aside the obstructive objects to sit up, but found it difficult to do so.
Noticing his hands had nowhere to go, Novella’s face flushed: “This is Lady Selina’s divine realm. We were just teleported to this place.”
“Also, um, Mr. Shaya, if, if you want…… you can touch……”
Novella shyly said.
Recalling his reckless actions consumed by desire earlier, her heart raced and her face turned red.
“Hmm……”
After Novella’s reminder, Shaya vaguely recalled some things.
Then he fell silent.
It seemed he had, in a moment of urgency, committed some unforgivable acts against this noblewoman in front of him.
This was quite awkward.
Shaya thought with a bit of a headache.
Although a man should take responsibility and, after a bath, return to being a pure boy, it was also the first time in two lifetimes that Shaya experienced something like this.
In fact, he considered himself rather conservative; after getting involved with someone, he couldn’t just cavalierly withdraw like a playboy.
“……I’m sorry.”
After holding back for a long time, Shaya finally managed to utter these words.
Seemingly reading his thoughts, Novella shook her head: “No, that’s not it. It was I who seduced Mr. Shaya.”
“It should be your first time, right?”
“Mm.”
Shaya admitted candidly.
“Then it’s I, this woman in my thirties, who has taken advantage of you. You don’t mind, right?”
Novella smiled gently.
She then reached out, placing both hands gently on the sides of Shaya’s temples, massaging him.
“I’m sorry…… in the end, I still made you do something you didn’t want to do.”
Feeling the comforting pressure from her warm little hands, Shaya spoke softly.
He gradually recalled everything that had happened moments ago.
Although he had boldly declared he wouldn’t let Novella do anything she didn’t want, in the end, he had succumbed to the taint of the Evil God, as well as the succumbing to temptation.
Damn.
Is human willpower really this weak?
Shaya shamefully thought.
“It’s not like that, Mr. Shaya.” Novella shook her head and lightly touched his cheek with her fingertips, “I did it out of my own will.”
“Although…… even though I have a husband, when I felt your urgent need for me, I felt…… quite satisfied.”
“And to have you as my first, truly is wonderful.”
Novella said softly.
“First time?”
Shaya was taken aback, unsure of how to respond.
But on further thought, he suddenly understood.
After all, she was a vessel for the descent of the Goddess; the purity of the vessel needed to be preserved.
And Count Violet, a minor noble of a human kingdom, what right did he have to touch Novella?
He probably hadn’t even had the chance for physical contact.
No wonder, the first time Shaya met Novella, she was staying in a separate bedroom.
With this in mind, Shaya’s feelings became even more complicated.
He didn’t know how to handle this relationship.
“By the way, this…… is for you.”
In a place where Shaya couldn’t see, Novella suddenly spoke softly.
Then she took out a piece of white fabric.
The fabric was adorned with beautiful patterns, carrying a faint elegance reminiscent of Novella’s own scent.
But no matter how one looked at it, it was triangular in shape.
An inner garment?
Shaya hesitated for a moment, reached out to take it, and then gently unfolded it.
A shocking crimson stain appeared in the center of the fabric, seeming to signify Novella’s purity.
She said bashfully, “Though I am married, I haven’t done that before…… I read in a book that many men consider this to be a cherished thing and keep it as a souvenir……”
“If you don’t mind, please take it……”
Shaya sighed.
Then he put the piece of fabric back into his ring.
After doing all this, he carefully climbed off Novella’s lap, sitting on the floor, facing her.
Her face was flushed with red.
He took a moment to gather his thoughts, then looked at her calmly and said, “I carry a deep grudge against my parents’ blood feud, and a powerful force is lurking in the Royal Capital, waiting for me to uproot them.”
Novella’s gaze trembled lightly, as if she understood what he was about to say.
She forced a smile: “I know, Mr. Shaya. You don’t need to…”
“Let me speak first.” Shaya’s calm gaze met hers, “So, until I have my revenge, I have no mind for other matters.”
“Being around me will be very dangerous, and in reality, I have already dragged the family and loved ones around me into peril more than once, so I don’t want to involve you.”
“If, I mean, if.”
“If you are willing to wait for me, wait until I have taken my revenge and dealt with everything, then, if you still have feelings for me like now…”
“I will marry you.”
Shaya smiled and said.
But before that, she pressed her index finger gently against his lips.
“Will you marry me?” Novella’s eyes glimmered with tears as she shook her head with a smile, “Disgusting, you’ve made me cry again, but don’t say things like that.”
“If you’re choosing to do this out of a sense of responsibility, then as a woman, I am a failure.”
“I would prefer that you most sincerely propose to me, only after you truly like me. Until then, it’s my job to make you like me.”
Shaya’s gaze quivered.
He had to admit that, both in appearance and personality, Novella was the most suitable person to be a wife.
“Moreover, there should be other women in your heart that you admire, right?”
After a brief pause, Novella dried her tears, glanced at Shaya, and spoke softly.
“No, you are overthinking it.”
Shaya was taken aback and asserted firmly.
Upon hearing this, a hint of mischief flickered in Novella’s eyes: “Let me think… when you were on top of me earlier, you seemed to lose your rationality, continuously calling out certain names.”
“For instance, Deyora, Octave, Xivista, and oh, there was also Selly.”
After mentioning the name of his stepdaughter, a clear hint of resentment flashed in Novella’s eyes.
Then, under Shaya’s incredulous gaze, she continued adding, “Of course, the frequency of these names wasn’t as high as that of a Miss called ‘Agnes.’”
“How is that possible?!”
Shaya jumped up from the ground as if electrocuted, loudly declaring in a tone of disbelief.
“You kept on calling her name without stopping.”
Novella’s gaze fell on him calmly.
Surely not.
Am I this kind of person?
Shaya questioned his life choices while gazing at the sky, only to realize that the concept of the sky didn’t exist in the realm of the Goddess of Abundance.
But once he got out, he really should pay a visit to Miss Witch.
Regardless of the impending confrontation with the “sun” or other factors.
Since Octave had prepared that teleportation wand, it indicated that Shaya could often visit Miss Witch in the future without being limited by money and materials.
With this in mind, Shaya glanced around and then asked, “What about Lady Selina?”
“She said she went to stabilize her divine authority, so she needs to disappear for a while,” Novella replied slowly.
“That works out well; there should be no disturbances here now.” Shaya said, “Can I ask you for a favor?”
“Please, go ahead!”
“In a little while, I may fall into a deep sleep. No matter what happens during that time, don’t let anything disturb me.”
Shaya said.
Before he next met with Miss Witch, he needed to prepare the miracle he had mentioned when they last parted.
That miracle from a parallel world.
