Chapter 27

Bleria turned around.

“Sorry, but I’ll still walk you to the carriage. Even if it’s a temple, you shouldn’t go alone. At least bring a guard with you or something.”

His grumbling voice made her pause. When their eyes met again, he awkwardly looked away, though his mouth kept running.

“I admit it—I deserved that slap. Even if Gopher is revolting, that’s a separate issue from you. I was rude. But I wasn’t trying to vent my anger on you. I’m just trying to stop you because I feel bad.”

“Quite generous with your sympathy for someone you’ve only met twice.“

“Even if it’s just twice, I’ve known about you for a while.”

Known? Me? Or… Bleria?

“You—”

“Ah, that’s where that annoying barking came from.“

Her body tensed at the familiar voice. Bleria hesitated before looking up at Gopher, who had appeared suddenly.

That look in his eyes…

Gopher’s gaze, directed at Mixel Luke, glinted with an unfamiliar intensity. Though not one to show emotion easily, the hostility was blatant. He gave a cold smile.

“Hello, Mixel. Were you trying to pick a fight with my fiancée?“

“Do you even know what ‘picking a fight‘ means? Exposing your filthy truth isn’t a fight—it’s public service.“

“Making a big deal out of some flirting, huh?“

“You’re so high and mighty, yet you’re the one hitting on someone else’s lover. Why are you even here? Things seemed pretty cozy between you two.“

“Your jokes are still terrible.“

“Jokes?”

Mixel Luke scoffed and suddenly dragged Bleria into the conversation.

“Can you still joke after seeing the look on your fiancée’s face?”

When Gopher’s eyes turned toward her, Bleria’s mouth went dry.

“She was coming from your direction, by the way. The one where you were cozying up with Eos. If you want to break off the engagement, just say the word. I’ll gladly testify about your infidelity.“

“Bleria.”

Gopher called her name in a subdued tone, gesturing for her to approach him. But instead of moving forward, Bleria instinctively stepped back—toward Mixel Luke.

“See? Told you,“ Mixel Luke said smugly.

Bleria bit the inside of her lip, regretting her reaction. Gopher repeated himself.

“Come here, Bleria.”

Her head spun. Gopher, who told her to trust him. Gopher, who chatted with Eos. Gopher, who left her unconscious and alone. Gopher, who handed Eos a handkerchief.

It felt like someone was stirring her mind with a leaky ink pen, leaving her disoriented. Frozen is in place, and she hears him speak again.

“Don’t do something you’ll regret.“

He’s angry.

The chill in his voice sent a shiver down her spine.

Like someone under hypnosis, Bleria took a step forward. As Mixel Luke reached out to stop her, Gopher fiercely knocked his hand away.

“Don’t touch her.”

His voice simmered with dark rage, each word soaked in anger. Mixel Luke, now tense, backed off, and Bleria returned to Gopher’s side.

He placed a hand on her shoulder. The touch was gentle, but Bleria’s face was pale. Gopher sighed softly, reigning in his temper.

“I didn’t mean to be gone so long. You should’ve come to find me if you woke up.”

“…Okay.“

“You don’t look well. We should get inside.”

As if nothing had happened, Gopher led Bleria away from Mixel Luke.

Mixel Luke’s incredulous voice followed them.

“What’s with you, walking off mid-conversation? Ignoring me now?“

“I’ll hang out with you next time. I’m busy.“

“Why do you get to decide that?“

“Wouldn’t it be better for you, too?“ Gopher smirked, gesturing behind Mixel Luke.

“Eos Liche is all alone, you know.”

Mixel Luke glared daggers at him but didn’t block their path any further.

Bleria and Gopher boarded the carriage. She realized how tense her whole body had been only after sitting down. It probably looked strange, but she couldn’t relax.

Gopher sat next to her, not across. He tapped her shoulder lightly.

“Get some sleep. I’ll wake you when we arrive.“

“…I don’t feel like sleeping,“ Bleria replied, avoiding his gaze.

“I had plenty of rest at the temple.“

“I’m unsure if passing out counts as rest, but fine. We’ll reach the estate soon. Try to relax once we get there.”

Even after saying that, he didn’t move to the opposite seat.

Because of that, she couldn’t relax at all. Gopher’s broad, solid shoulder felt like a stone wall. No matter how much she tried to shrink away, his presence was impossible to ignore.

What is he thinking?

If he had chosen Eos Liche, there would be no reason to act like this. Was he watching her to keep her from running away?

“Bleria.”

“…”

“Bleria?”

“…Oh, yes.”

“You were listening earlier, weren’t you?”

She hadn’t expected such a direct question, and her unease was apparent. He asked again.

“Are you angry at me?“

“No.”

“Then why won’t you look at me?”

Gopher gently cupped her face, preventing her from avoiding his gaze. Caught off guard, Bleria reluctantly met his eyes. His expression held a faint hint of amusement.

“I said I’d tell you after hearing the prophecy. I didn’t handle things cleanly, but it can’t be helped now.“

“You don’t have to.”

A cold sensation ran down her spine. Bleria forced herself to speak calmly.

“You didn’t want to say it, and that’s enough.“

“Does pretending I didn’t say anything make it all disappear?”

“…”

“If anything, it’ll only make you more anxious. You’ve got quite the imagination.”

Bleria opened her mouth but couldn’t find the words. When Gopher released her face, her head naturally lowered.

It felt like a verdict had been passed.

“That woman… she really seems to want to take the place of Bleria Heaven.”

Take it?

What?

Startled, Bleria opened her eyes to see him laughing. For once, his usual relaxed smile seemed genuinely carefree, almost boyish.

She tried to process his words despite being distracted by this rare sight. So, Eos was…

“A fraud.”

Not the honest Bleria Heaven?

Still smiling, Gopher took Bleria’s hand without warning. When she tried to pull away, their fingers were already tightly interlocked. Leaning back against the seat didn’t help; their distance didn’t change.

“You remember when people doubted you right after you became Heaven? It seems she’s trying to exploit that now. After all, you weren’t verified with the sacred relic that confirms bloodlines.“

His words reminded Bleria of something she had forgotten.

The relic was a temple treasure created to find lost children during wartime. But nobles began using it to verify illegitimate heirs, turning it into a political tool. Eventually, the temple hid it, making it nearly impossible for anyone, even royalty, to access it.

She had once worried about it briefly but had since let it slip from her mind.

Even the Heaven family wouldn’t get permission to use it. The prophecy might be overlooked as a meaningless tradition, but the royal family wouldn’t allow Heaven to gain more privileges. The temple wouldn’t want to get involved in scandal, either.

“Since they can’t verify anything, they’re trying to sow doubt to take your place, whether you’re real or fake.“

Gopher’s logic was abrupt but made sense. If not for her pendant, she might have felt reassured. Bleria swallowed hard and asked cautiously.

“How are you so sure she’s a fake?”

Does Gopher have some other proof?

“Because Mixel brought her.”

Oh.

“Don’t look so deflated. It’s an objective judgment.”

“…”

“Think about it: on my wedding day, a silver-haired woman with no childhood memories suddenly shows up with Mixel, claiming to be a long-lost family member. A coincidence? Or a sinister plot?“

Gopher’s confident, unshakable demeanor amazed her. Whether he was right or wrong, his self-assurance felt almost surreal.

That confidence made Bleria doubt herself. Am I wrong? The certainty she had clung to since the masquerade now felt fragile.

Should I show him the pendant?

The thought flashed through her mind in a moment of desperation.

“I went outside to assess the situation when I heard her talking to the temple’s priests. I wasn’t having an affair.”

Gopher played with her hand, running his thumb along her wrist.

“I didn’t think you’d be this stressed about it. Have I ever given you a reason to worry about other women?”

What cornered Bleria wasn’t the idea of Gopher having a mistress—it was the pendant. The truth loomed larger than any suspicion.