Chapter 72
“What…?”
Looking into Felix’s violently trembling blue eyes, Abel stated matter-of-factly,
“A body overflowing with divine power cannot die unless it’s from old age.”
Why else would that priest, who had once been so fanatically devoted to his father, have raised his sword against Abel?
He had done it to see whether the Father’s blessing bestowed upon Abel had truly disappeared.
If the Father’s love had still remained, Abel would never have died from something as trivial as having his head cut off.
Looking at Felix, who was staring at him in stunned silence, Abel revealed the one thing that had never changed since the day he became the Herald of God.
“From the moment I appeared, I have always been Gregory’s strongest and most persistent enemy.”
Then, so Felix would not worry, he smiled faintly.
“So adding one more reason, even if that reason is you, won’t make any difference.”
Abel watched as the stormy blue of Felix’s eyes gradually grew still, anticipation rising within him.
Surely he wasn’t worried anymore. Surely he wasn’t frightened anymore. Or surprised. Whichever it was, surely he felt better now.
As Abel waited for Felix’s expression to soften, the response he received was entirely unexpected.
“Why would you smile while saying something like that?”
Abel tilted his head.
“To reassure you?”
Felix fell silent for several seconds before letting out a quiet sigh.
“…It looks more like you’re mocking me.”
“Really?”
Abel hadn’t known. Then again, it wasn’t as though he had much experience smiling. Perhaps he should practice in front of a mirror.
If possible, he would have liked to smile as naturally as Felix did.
As Abel absentmindedly prodded and adjusted the corners of his own mouth with his fingers, Felix pressed firmly against his temples as though exhausted.
Come to think of it, his face was pale.
Had he looked like this all day? No.
If it had been anyone else, Abel might not have noticed. But he had been paying close attention to Felix.
Even this morning, although Felix had been a little irritated, his complexion had not been this pale, nor had there been such dark shadows beneath his eyes.
Nor had he looked this way before they sat down for tea.
Not when Abel had asked if he could pick one of the flowers Felix had been admiring in the garden and give it to him.
Not when he had asked if Felix wanted one of the sweet desserts served with the finger foods.
Felix might have frowned then, but he had not looked as drained as he did now.
If that was the case, had hearing the Commander’s story left him like this?
‘Felix doesn’t handle stress well.’
Or was that not all?
He had been quicker and more agile than Abel had expected. Even so, Felix was not an exceptionally skilled swordsman. His divine power was lacking, and he had no influential family to support him. In every sense, Felix was fragile.
Which meant there was no one but Abel to protect him.
“Felix.”
At Felix’s silent response to his call, Abel leaned forward.
“Why don’t you just take my hair?”
“How did the conversation end up here again?”
Abel had the sudden urge to press a finger against that deeply furrowed brow.
“I’m safe, but you’re not.”
If it hadn’t been for Gregory, he never would have made such an offer.
But if there was even the slightest chance that the Commander’s conspiracy theory was true…
Then Gregory was exactly the sort of man Abel had suspected before—someone who would think nothing of using and discarding even his own flesh and blood.
That meant he would have no qualms about harming someone like Felix if it meant striking at Abel.
“No.”
Hair wouldn’t be enough to put his mind at ease nor would fingernails. He needed something capable of holding a greater amount of divine power. But Felix would obviously hate the idea of cutting off a hand or a foot.
“Then would you like to move into my bedroom instead?”
This was the only option left.
“It would make it easier for me to protect you.”
“…”
Receiving no answer from Felix, Abel glanced around the room.
Was it because he didn’t like the idea of staying in someone else’s room?
“If you don’t want to come to my bedroom, then I can move into yours—”
“Please.”
Hm?
“Could you please think before you speak?”
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