Chapter 3.2

〈Dani, you’re so sweet.〉  

〈Still don’t like it? You’ll admit it soon enough.〉  

〈Here, it’s so soft and tender.〉  

Whenever Dania recalled the words he had murmured that night, her chest and the space below her navel trembled deeply—a reaction she hated. Unlike her, who was left shaken, Luel had likely forgotten the entire thing.

And his voice, when had it become so captivating?

But that wasn’t all. The soft, teasing tip of his tongue against her gums, the firm yet gentle pressure of his lips on hers, his large hands—calloused and rough—easily encompassing her chest, and the broad shoulders that filled her view…

Throughout the night, Luel had maintained his neat attire, barely disheveled, which only made Dania’s hazy, intoxicated memories of him seem even more striking.

No. The devoted, handsome man who had introduced her to a new world that night must have been someone else.

Sure, Luel was often considered one of the most handsome men at the academy, but who would ever admit their childhood friend was attractive? Especially after being reduced to a sobbing mess because of him—it was a matter of pride.

So, the tall, well-built man she had fallen for couldn’t possibly be her childhood friend, Luel Marchento. No, it had to be the man who had kissed her that night, the one who had made her gasp and tremble with his hands and lips…

‘Who else could it be but Luel, you idiot?’

Damn it.

Dania had no choice but to admit it.

He was good. Really good.

〈You’re good? Is that why all those girls chase after you?〉

Yes, Dania from a few days ago, that must be why. According to Lui, s*x that involved full intimacy was supposed to feel even better. No wonder they all chased after him.

〈Are you so good at it that everyone chases after you because of it?〉

No, Dania from a few days ago, could you just shut up already? You didn’t know anything. Even now…

〈How would you know if I’m good or not?〉  

〈Anyone could tell just by looking. Why wouldn’t I know?〉  

How could she not know? Because she truly didn’t know anything… Lui must have been utterly baffled.

〈At the very least, I know you’re not good at it.〉

Shut up. Shut up. Really…!

“Hah.”

Feeling utterly defeated, Dania sluggishly got up and pulled her underwear down her legs. The sticky liquid that had seeped through clung to the fabric, leaving an uncomfortable sensation on her skin as it fell away.

Who would have thought? That a Theology student, after experiencing something close to intimacy just once, would end up day and night consumed by such thoughts.

Yes. Maybe this was for the best.

She wasn’t meant to pass her graduation exams.

Someone like her was never destined to pass the priesthood qualification exam in the first place.

Even if she had remained pure and untouched by lust, the Holy Spirit would have seen through her potential for such thoughts and denied her anyway during the High Priest’s blessing ceremony.

So, once this semester ended, she would return to her hometown, face her parents’ scolding, and marry some suitable man arranged by her father or the Earl of Marchento. Then, she would build a devout, harmonious family… Wait, would that unknown man be as good as Lui?

‘Damn it, why are you thinking about Luel Marchento again?’

Stop it. Please.

Shaking her head furiously as if to physically dispel his image from her mind, Dania threw her soiled underwear into the laundry basket. Just as she was about to turn away…

Bang, bang, bang!

A sudden knock at the door startled her.

Who could it be?

Glancing reflexively at the clock, she realized it was nearly curfew.

No one should be visiting at this hour.

She had neither close friends nor quarrels with anyone in the dormitory over the past five years. She hadn’t caused any noise disturbances either—just indulged in some private, risqué thoughts. The knocks from her hallway neighbors, like Phoebe, Ena, or Michella, were always much quieter than this.

As Dania hesitated, trying to guess the identity of the intruder, she failed to respond immediately.

Bang, bang, bang!

The impatient visitor knocked again, this time louder and rougher, causing her to flinch.

Who could be so angry…?

Should I open the door? Pretend no one was home? The lights were still on, so that wouldn’t work. Should I fake being asleep?

Caught in a dilemma, Dania neither approached the door nor fully hid. She simply fidgeted nervously in her room.

And then, once more—Bang, bang, bang!

What should I do…?

“Dani, I know you’re in there.”

The growling voice from outside made her jump for an entirely different reason.

That voice—it was Lui?

Startled, Dania pressed herself against the door. Rising on her tiptoes, she peered through the peephole, and sure enough, there he was—a tall man with pink hair standing right outside.

What was he doing here at this hour?

Too shocked by his unexpected visit, Dania completely forgot the inappropriate thoughts she had been entertaining about him just moments ago. Without a second thought, she unlocked the door. She undid the double lock and the final latch, then slowly opened the door to peek out at him…

But before she could fully process what was happening, Luel yanked the door open, nearly causing her to lose her balance.

“What… what are you doing?!”

“Were you alone?”

“What?”

Wide-eyed, Dania looked up at Luel in confusion. He closed the door behind him, his expression dark and unreadable. It was a look she had never seen from him in the nearly twenty years they had known each other.

Come to think of it, the way he had knocked on the door earlier did seem like he was angry…

“I asked if you were alone.”

“Y-Yes, of course.”

Who would come to visit me? 

She was a socially awkward fool who had spent the past five years buried in her studies, neglecting relationships. Friendship was a luxury for someone like her.

Of course, now she was not only socially inept but also on the verge of failing her graduation exams—a miserable failure in every sense…

As she wallowed in self-pity, Luel stepped into her room without waiting for permission. He began inspecting every corner—the small kitchen visible from the entrance, the cramped living room beyond it, the open-plan bedroom, and even the bathroom.

Behind the door, under the table covered with a checkered tablecloth, beyond the curtains on the small balcony, under the bed, inside the bathroom, and even in the shower booth—Luel thoroughly searched Dania’s room as if he were an investigator from the security force.

“What… what are you doing?!”

“I asked if you were alone.”

“Of course I’m alone. Who else would I be with?”

Dania felt nothing but frustration at his question, knowing full well she had no friends close enough to invite over. She glared at Luel, unaware that her own voice had risen in irritation.

Perhaps her defiant attitude annoyed him. Luel finally stopped in his tracks and looked down at her. Their gazes locked tightly, and a tense silence filled the room.

“Earlier, you and… that…”

“Hmm?”

“That assistant instructor. You went toward the dormitory together.”

Assistant instructor? Dormitory?

Dania rummaged through her memories, trying to make sense of Luel’s words, and then her face lit up in realization.

“Oh, you mean Senior Mikhail?”

Luel’s thick eyebrows twitched. In fact, his furrowed brow had been locked in place ever since he entered the room, showing no sign of relaxing.

“Well, that’s because…”

Faced with his expectant expression, Dania’s cheeks flushed. She felt embarrassed for ignoring him and running away earlier, for needing Mikhail’s help with her retake studies, and even for wasting that precious time indulging in inappropriate fantasies.

But Luel, oblivious to the thoughts running through her mind, only grew more intimidating with each passing second.

“Where is that bastard, Mikhail?”

“Huh?”

“Did you bring him to your room?”

“B-Bastard? What are you talking about?”

“Oh, did you already finish? Did you bring him here, have your fun, and send him off?”

“What?!”

Dania’s mouth fell open in shock.

It was clear that wild, baseless assumptions were running rampant in Luel’s mind. Fun? With that devout trainee? What kind of absurd imagination was this? And even if that were the case, why would he say something so outrageous?

As Dania stood frozen, unable to form words, Luel’s frown deepened, his expression growing even darker.

“Where did you hide him?”

Luel took a step closer to Dania. Being a head taller than her, his sudden proximity cast a shadow over her as his blue eyes gleamed coldly in the dim light.

Though the situation was overwhelming, Dania studied his face carefully and came to a realization.

Oh, he’s sulking.

Despite the anger radiating from the much larger man, Dania didn’t feel particularly threatened. After all, this was Luel Marchento, her childhood friend of nearly twenty years. She didn’t know why he was upset, but she saw no reason to get worked up herself.