How to Tame That Gentle Hero - Chapter 9.3

Although Alken had directly spoken to Eldis to allow Resena to go as part of the delegation, it was true that she still hesitated to make him believe that she had received the deity’s choice.

Therefore, Resena nodded at Vernas’s words.

“Now, take another sip. Resena. You must be thirsty after talking so much. Besides, with tears endlessly falling from your lovely eyes, you’ll need adequate hydration.”

At those words, Resena chuckled softly before sucking up her drink through the straw to moisten her throat. Her smiling face, even while crying, was so beautiful that Vernas’s gaze was completely drawn to her, but at the same time, feeling pity for her, he slowly stroked her hair.

“But….. will you tell this story to Eldis?”

“Shouldn’t Eldis know too? Saint Lorona and the young duke of Arnasus already know this fact. Hiding it from Eldis will only cause me to misunderstand.”

“Misunderstand? What kind of misunderstanding?”

Vernas spoke calmly.

“Like a fool, the misunderstanding that I have a passionate interest in him personally.”

“…..”

“Resena. Are you attracted to Eldis? Is there a much greater emotion than the sense of responsibility to take care of him? You accepted him to prevent the world’s destruction, but are you developing feelings for him?”

If Vernas had asked pressingly, she would have been afraid to answer.

But the words that came to Resena were as friendly and gentle as a spring breeze. Because of this, as her tears subsided, she could feel something soft wrapping around the inside of her heart.

“….I’m sorry, Vernas.”

“….So you do have feelings for him. Resena.”

Resena closed her eyes. Though he was kind, she didn’t want to see Vernas’s disappointed face.

“I suppose Eldis does appear flawless. People praise him as perfect, after all.”

“…..”

“But that’s why he has quite a significant weakness. He doesn’t understand what it means to be imperfect, and he doesn’t really know when people approach him with malicious intent.”

“……”

Even while saying this, Vernas felt both gratitude and apology toward Resena. Originally, Eldis himself hadn’t even realized he had such a weakness until Resena advised him that he shouldn’t behave that way.

But from the moment he began to feel that he wanted to protect someone like Resena, he became able to doubt people’s intentions. Of course, this wasn’t immediately apparent. However, because of it, Eldis was able to identify and eliminate countless black mages.

‘And thanks to that….. the influence of black mages in the empire has decreased, and they can no longer act freely.’

Because the number of gates opened by black mages had immediately decreased, the empire entered a period of stability and flourished more than ever before. Of course, part of it was because Resena discovered that the background of the black mages was apostate priests, but fundamentally, it was thanks to Eldis himself changing due to her advice.

“…But Eldis is changing.”

“Resena…..”

“He accepted my advice and became able to doubt people….. And he also accepted my suspicions and rooted out more black mages. And now…..”

Vernas gazed quietly at Resena and slowly caressed the back of her hand.

“And now?”

“……”

“…Resena.”

“Yes, Vernas.”

He spoke affectionately.

“Eldis is in love with you, Resena.”

“……”

“I, too, am drawn to you, Resena.”

“Vernas…..”

“Therefore, I cannot tell you to choose one side completely. But please remember. Eldis is honest to the point of foolishness. Unless it’s a special case, he can’t properly lie. But that’s why people trust and follow him. However, if through your advice Eldis becomes able to lie normally, those who praise him as perfect will fall away.”

“……”

“…Still, do you like Eldis?”

Resena looked straight at Vernas and answered.

“But isn’t that what a normal ‘human’ is?”

“……”

“I think it’s one of humanity’s strengths to hide imperfections and show a perfect appearance on the outside. I don’t think people will fall away simply because Eldis has become able to deceive people with lies. Rather, I think people will praise him even more.”

“…Why is that?”

“Because Eldis won’t lie to those he trusts. Since he’s realized that he’s not perfect, he’ll be even more honest with people, and when necessary, he’ll be able to lie as part of political maneuvering. That’s somewhat necessary even for a sovereign.”

“……”

“That’s why people will appreciate Eldis, who protects them, even more. They’ll know that his deception will be a sword pointing outward, not toward him and his followers….. Vernas, people aren’t fools. Nobles even less so. So…..”

Vernas’s lips closed.

He was quietly lost in thought.

But soon he caressed Resena’s reddened eyes with an affectionate smile. As she closed her eyes at his touch that seemed full of affection, another hand approached and gently stroked her hair.

“You’re beautiful, Resena.”

“…Vernas.”

“You are wise. You are so clever and lovely that someone like me cannot keep up with you. And you are dazzlingly beautiful. How could I not love someone like you? My heart keeps racing, and I don’t know what to do.”

“Vernas…..”

“So, tell me, Resena….. how should I treat you? I’ve never seen someone as wise as you, and this heart that keeps wanting to lean toward you….. how should I approach you?”

“Vernas.”

He smiled tenderly and let his hand trail from Resena’s hair down along her cheek. With each tickle of his soft touch against her skin, Resena gazed at him with dreamy eyes.

Vernas leaned forward, pulled Resena’s hand toward him, and pressed his lips to her fingertips. Resena felt dizzy at the breath that delicately traced her fingers. But Vernas didn’t stop and placed his moist lips on her palm and wrist as well.

‘My heart feels like it’s going to burst…..’

His appearance, smiling with seductively curved eyes, was truly splendid. His smile, with his fine features close to a handsome man’s, reminded one of hydrangeas in full bloom on a summer day. Resena felt her heart pounding as she felt his lips touch her fifth finger.

“Resena.”

“Yes, Vernas.”

“When you look at me with those eyes, I can hardly bear it. I…..”

Resena unconsciously blushed and wiggled her fingers. Finding her so cute, Vernas smiled and released her hand. So Resena wrapped that hand with her other hand, unconsciously recalling the sensation of Vernas’s lips.

‘It’s becoming clearer and clearer…..’

The breath that had just passed by.

The words he had spoken to her with his lips.

Feeling her heart flutter more intensely, Resena closed her eyes slightly and opened them again. Looking at his smiling face before her, Resena lowered her head. Then Vernas also leaned toward her, and their lips touched slightly.

An electric current seemed to brush past them. With just a slight stimulation, Resena gazed at him with moist violet eyes, her body yearning for a deeper connection with his.

“Shall we move elsewhere now?”