Not a Confession, but a Declaration - Chapter 32

Abel had no idea why he was looking at him like that. He had not lied. Had he?

“I’ll correct myself. It was a peck.”

A peck was more accurate than a kiss. From what Abel had overheard outside, a real kiss involved a great deal of tongue.

The image of that peculiar man enthusiastically describing a kiss with his entire body while rubbing his hands together came back to him, along with Felix, who had been so horrified by the display that he had hurriedly gotten to his feet and nearly fallen over.

Another memory surfaced.

Felix had been adorable then, too. Abel did not know whether it had been because Felix was embarrassed about nearly stumbling or because he had been angry at the man for discussing such indecent things in broad daylight, but the skin beneath his eyes had been flushed red.

Recalling that memory, the corners of Abel’s lips naturally curled upward.

And the moment Felix saw that smile, a sharp remark flew from his mouth.

“Lord Abel committing s-xual harassment. Truly, what a shocking development.”

Seeing Felix discard his mask, Abel nodded.

“Right. That’s why I’ll ask for permission next time.”

“I doubt you’ll be getting permission in the future either.”

Felix’s eyes blazed with fury even as he curled his lips into a sardonic smile.

“I see.”

That was disappointing. Abel wanted to try it again. Preferably not just a peck this time, but a real kiss.

‘That means we still haven’t had our first kiss yet, does it?’

However, Felix looked utterly resolute.

“No. You won’t.”

At least for the time being, it seemed unlikely that he would get to kiss Felix again. Still, there was something else he could ask for.

“But you’ll still heal me, right? It hurts.”

Felix was kind. Even if he would not permit another peck, he would still treat his injuries. Abel stretched out his injured cheek toward him.

If it had been up to him, he would have preferred to leave the wound alone and let it heal naturally. Unfortunately, he would need to use his divine power during today’s prayer.

So if the injury was going to be healed anyway, Abel would rather Felix heal it first.

“……”

At the prolonged silence, Abel turned his head to face Felix directly and found him looking down at him with an unreadable expression.

“Why?”

“…I told you to heal the rest yourself.”

It did not seem like that was what Felix had originally intended to say.

But Abel did not have time to press him for the truth.

Lord Abel, it’s time to depart—

At the voice that came through the door along with a knock, Abel had no choice but to swallow his curiosity.

Pleasant moments were always too short.

Still, thanks to having Felix by his side, he felt he would be able to offer today’s prayers with a lighter heart than usual.

* * *

The reason Abel’s Invocations to God formed the centerpiece of the prayer assembly was not simply because the event’s original purpose was to offer prayers to his Father.

Some gained faith in the Father through those prayers. Some came to desire submission to the Temple. Others realized that, so long as the Herald of God existed, the Temple could never truly be overcome.

Thus, after the very first prayer assembly, countless people from across the continent began flocking to the Grand Temple in order to attend the event in person.

Even among the Empire’s royal family and nobility, many stood in opposition to the Temple, yet they continued to attend the gathering year after year.

That was the power of the prayer.

The prayers were conducted in an open-air sanctuary located at the very heart of the Temple complex.

Known as the Holy Sanctuary, it was the most meticulously maintained and lavishly funded place within the Grand Temple. It was used solely for the Invocations, and perhaps because of that, it felt all the more sacred and extraordinary.

Not even a single blade of grass growing within the Holy Sanctuary had escaped the touch of the clergy, and the pristine white marble floor was maintained in flawless condition, without so much as a scratch.

Of all its features, however, the one that drew the most attention was the elevated platform at its center.

The lofty dais, which could only be reached by ascending steps engraved one by one with passages from the sacred scriptures, looked like a holy work of art merely by existing.

The Grand Temple itself had originally been built at the highest geographical point in the Holy Land, and the Sanctuary where the prayers were held occupied the highest ground within it.

As a result, during the prayer gathering, throngs of believers would flock to the Holy Land, hoping to catch even a distant glimpse of the platform where the prayers took place.

“This way.”

When the appointed time arrived, those formally invited to attend the prayer entered the Sanctuary and made their way to their assigned places.