Chapter 46
In the quiet temple, an atmosphere of stillness prevailed; a silent space where, even if there were any signs of life, there was no sound.
Certainly, a pair of man and woman were present, but there wasn’t a single word exchanged between them. The silence persisted, making it familiar until neither of them opened their mouths for a long time. Although the sunset wasn't near, as the afternoon progressed, the chirping of birds had vanished beneath the waning sun. As a result, the place had become utterly silent.
The incident that just occurred was a major debacle, so both Eleona and I had been silent, just looking in opposite directions since then. It felt like a vacuum, with no sound at all; only her warm presence was felt as our backs faced each other.
Suddenly, I felt heat rising to my face even though I wasn’t looking directly at Eleona. Cautiously peeking over my shoulder, although I couldn’t see her expression, her cheeks seemed unusually flushed. Probably, I looked the same as Eleona right now...
The reason for the current awkwardness wasn’t complex. It was due to what happened just a moment ago, when Eleona asked me to hold her...
"Please hold me, pay for the wickedness that made the gods weep, and grant rest to my anxiety-filled heart..."
At that time, Eleona, who knew I had almost died, pleaded with tears in her eyes. Her moist eyes and the face that showed genuine concern and longing made me feel unfamiliar and strange emotions. The sensation was irresistible, and seeing her call my name with a soft voice made me feel love.
Without a second thought, I gently stroked her cheek and kissed her.
"What...?"