Maha-prajna-paramita…1“Mahā Prajñāpāramitā”, which translates to “The Perfection of Great Wisdom” or “The Perfection of Transcendent Wisdom”, a key concept in Mahayana Buddhism, often associated with deep wisdom and the attainment of enlightenment.
Kaisis’s lips curled up as he watched Charlie quietly.
“Saintess.”
“Yes.”
Charlie quickly answered and then tried to think of something else.
Namu Amitabul Gwan-se-eum Bosal2a Buddhist chant that overall means “I take refuge in Amitabha Buddha and Avalokiteshvara Bodhisattva”. Sala sala. Yalli yalla. Sal-eori salda. I’ll live in the blue mountains3comes from a well-known Korean folk song called “청산별곡”…
“You don’t have to try so hard to think of other things.”
“……!”
At that moment, a startled Charlie froze in place.
Michael was equally surprised.
“Your eyes get even bigger when you’re surprised.”
“……”
What kind of crazy talk is this?
A chill ran down Charlie’s spine.
“Don’t be scared. I didn’t put any poison in it.”
As if reading Charlie’s thoughts, Kaisis reached out and picked up a macaron.
Then he took a bite in one go. Crumbs from the macaron fell onto Kaisis’s pristine white uniform.
“So eat.”
Once again, Kaisis’s gaze pointed to the macaron.
“It’s your favorite, isn’t it?”
Kaisis’s relaxed lips formed a beautiful smile. But his blue eyes staring at Charlie didn’t move an inch.
“It’s made by a talented young patissier.”
Kaisis brushed off the pink sugar powder that scattered in the air.
“Wouldn’t it be sad if this was his last work?”
“Your Majesty!”
Michael intervened, blocking Kaisis.
“What is the meaning of this behavior?”
“Is there a problem?”
Kaisis spoke with a calm expression, without the slightest hint of agitation.
“I merely offered the Saintess her favorite dessert.”
Kaisis turned to look at Charlie.
“Isn’t that right, Saintess?”
Charlie silently glared at Kaisis.
What exactly was he up to? Though not as much as Hector, Kaisis also despised women.
While pheromones played a role, it would be more accurate to say he loathed humans in general.
As someone who’s able to read all of someone’s dark thoughts, how could he not?
Even hearing someone talk behind your back makes your hands tremble, that’s human nature.
How much worse would it be to witness it in real-time, right before your eyes?
Especially if it’s someone you trusted.
Kaisis was surrounded by such people.
Outwardly pledging loyalty and smiling, but inwardly sharpening their knives.
Power, profit, and greed. Kaisis had seen the depths of human nature since birth.
Of course, this doesn’t justify his past actions.
It’s just that… being a transmigrator and knowing the contents of the book, she can understand to some extent the root of Kaisis’s misanthropy.
“It hasn’t been long since I ate.”
Charlie answered, avoiding Kaisis’s gaze.
Hector and Kaisis were opposite characters.
If Hector overwhelms people, Kaisis plays with them, you could say?
Yes, ‘playing with them’ would be the right expression.
Kaisis knew what others wanted and their weaknesses, and he used them.
And then he discarded them miserably.
“Ah yes, you’re staying at the Espenon Temple, aren’t you?”
Kaisis tilted his head slightly.
“You brought the Saintess to the temple, and of all places, she’s staying in the bedroom designated for the Pope’s wife’s…”
Kaisis turned his gaze to Michael.
“And this too is God’s revelation.”
Michael had Charlie stay in the Pope’s wife’s bedroom solely to protect her, which is clearly separate from God’s will.
“How do you think the people will view this?”
“……!”
Michael’s eyes tensed.
The temple’s reputation was already at rock bottom due to long-standing corruption.
If this became an issue, the already precarious position of the temple would be further shaken.
And what if dirty rumors were added on top of that?
Originally, people don’t care about the truth.
How stimulating and interesting it is, that’s all that matters.
Kaisis is the type of person who would blaspheme against God and more.
No, he might even overthrow the temple by force.
When Michael couldn’t give any answer, Kaisis sneered.
“So eat.”
Kaisis’s face, now devoid of any smile, turned back to Charlie.
“Don’t lie.”
It makes me want to kill you.
* * *
“How is it?”
Kaisis asked, watching Charlie take a bite of the macaron.
By now, Michael had become invisible to Kaisis.
“It’s delicious.”
Charlie answered indifferently.
Although Michael had urged her to leave, Charlie ultimately stayed put.
The more she tried to avoid him, the more Kaisis would cling to her.
In the novel, Kaisis greatly enjoyed watching Liliana trying to escape from his grasp.
And what’s the big deal about eating one macaron anyway?
If it makes her sick, she can just throw up.
“Your expression doesn’t match your words.”
Kaisis, with his legs crossed, rested his hand on the tea table and even propped his chin up, observing Charlie intently.
“What are you thinking?”
Kaisis asked again.
“I’m not thinking anything.”
Charlie answered, pulling her neck back as far as possible.
Their faces were close. So close that she could see the fine details of Kaisis’s pale eyelashes.
“Do you want to get up soon?”
Charlie was at a loss for words at this out-of-context question.
Michael was equally bewildered.
But since Kaisis hadn’t caused any harm or made any threats, there was no grounds to drive him away.
“No, I don’t.”
“Then do you want to keep staying with me?”
“……”
I knew there were many crazy bastards in this novel, but this is truly the final boss.
Charlie let out a soft sigh.
“What are you thinking now?”
Stop asking already, you bastard.
“I wasn’t thinking anything.”
“Were you cursing at me?”
“What?!”
Seeing Charlie’s surprised reaction, Kaisis let out a small laugh.
Unlike before, his eyes curved slightly, indicating a genuine smile.
“You were doing it well earlier.”
“……”
“I didn’t know the Saintess could curse so well.”
If there was a mouse hole, she would hide in it without hesitation.
No, she’d rather just become a mouse at this point.
On the other hand, Kaisis’s toes were wiggling with joy.
“What was it you said?”
Kaisis was enjoying himself.
Being with Charlie, the throbbing pain in his head had disappeared without a trace.
The air he breathed in was refreshing, and his exhales were smooth.
Moreover, the more flustered Charlie became, the more her pheromones dispersed, emitting an even stronger fragrance.
Although the scent of Hector mixed in made him want to tear something apart.
“F… what was it again?”
“……”
“Ah! I think you said it was ‘f*cking’.”
Oh no.
Charlie squeezed her eyes shut.
The more she did so, the deeper Kaisis’s smile became.
“Do you like that?”
“What?!”
Kaisis leaned forward, coming a span closer to Charlie.
Kaisis’s deep inhale brushed against Charlie’s arm.
“If you need anything while staying at the temple, just say so. I’ll grant you anything.”
“I appreciate your words, but I already have everything I need.”
“Do you prefer red? Or black?”
“……”
“Or perhaps you prefer a more restrictive style?”
If you’re just going to say what you want, why bother asking?
Charlie desperately hoped her inner thoughts would reach him.
However, Kaisis’s blue eyes never once flashed with insight.
“There’s nothing more foolish than judging and concluding everything based on a single experience.”
Charlie looked at Kaisis, puzzled by his cryptic statement that wasn’t a question.
“Aren’t you curious?”
“A-about what?”
Kaisis surveyed Charlie with a languid yet intensely seductive gaze.
His eyes moved from her eyes to her nose, from her nose to her lips, and then back to capture her gaze.
Eventually, a cool yet alluring scent tickled Charlie’s nose.
While the use of abilities was prohibited, pheromones weren’t.
“Ah…”
Charlie involuntarily let out a soft gasp.
If Hector’s scent was that of a strong male, Kaisis’s was softer and more seductive.
It was like a mix of women’s and men’s perfumes.
It wasn’t exactly arousing, but it made her feel dizzy.
Especially when looking at Kaisis, who seemed like an angel turned human.
“I could…”
Kaisis’s low whisper tickled Charlie’s ear.
“Satisfy you even more.”
“……”
* * *
The next day.
Before her puffy eyes had even fully subsided, Charlie had to face breakfast.
“Eat.”
It was because of Kaisis, who had arrived as soon as the sun rose.
“Sigh–”
Charlie let out a deep sigh as she looked at the food spread out across the dining table.
If it was forbidden to approach the germaphobic Hector, with Kaisis, it was forbidden to say things like ‘I don’t want to,’ ‘Stop it,’ ‘You’re really the worst,’ and so on.
The more you resist, the more pleasure he’d feel and the more obsessed he’d become.
No wonder Liliana tried to run away in the original story, only for him to wait and capture her again.
‘He’s not in his right mind.’
So it was best not to show much reaction from the start.
Yes, go ahead~
Oh my, go ahead~ and so on.
‘Is it already too late?’
It seems I’ve already provoked Kaisis by rejecting him and going to the Grand Temple.
Still, it was best to try not to draw any more attention if possible.
“Okay.”
Charlie picked up her fork obediently, her eyes half-closed.
Michael wasn’t present. Charlie had sent him away, saying she’d be fine.
[Didn’t you say all choices were the Saintess’s?]
Michael wasn’t capable of dealing with Kaisis.
She wasn’t in a much better position herself, but she thought she’d at least be better than Michael.
And she didn’t want Michael to suffer any more harm because of her.
“Does it not taste good?”
Kaisis asked, watching Charlie merely push the food around rather than eating it.
“It’s delicious.”
“Who made this?”
Kaisis said, putting down the knife he had been holding.
At this menacing question, one of the chefs standing in the dining room turned pale and fell to his knees.
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