Laughter erupted from all around at Maxis’s action. Bellota, who had been smiling with a somewhat regretful expression, suddenly locked eyes with Seiden who was staring intently at her.

“…….”

“…….”

Seiden, unlike the knights who were laughing merrily, was looking at Bellota with a face devoid of even the slightest smile. He found it interesting and very much like her to know such trivial things, but to Bellota, unaware of his thoughts, his expression seemed indifferent and cold, wishing for her healing act to end soon.

Misinterpreting Seiden’s intent, Bellota felt awkwardly embarrassed and stopped smiling, looking back at Luke’s wound, which had now seemingly vanished.

“The baldness curse can be cured by drinking dried rosemary within half a year, so please tell Sir Maxis.”

Bellota no longer looked at Seiden and earnestly healed the long line of knights.

“Th-thank you, Saintess…….”

Even as Philip took his turn with a face flushed red with honor, Seiden did not join the line.

* * *

The dawn in the forest was so refreshing that taking a single breath felt like it could purify one’s lungs. Seiden slowly opened his eyes to the cold air that was distinctly different from the daytime. As deep dawn set in, the daytime’s warlike atmosphere seemed like it had never existed, with the whole world in silence.

Seiden had experienced such dawns several times. A tranquility, as if the precarious world had all gone to sleep. Yet there was a cold air filled with a sense of unease, as if something might attack him at any moment. It was a familiar night with nothing particularly new or special, but today, he couldn’t fall asleep carelessly amidst this discomfort.

As if he never intended to sleep from the start, Seiden got up without even bothering to grab his coat and stepped out of the tent. He felt the cool, clear air touch his skin. He tuned his sensitive ears to listen to the quietly flowing sounds.

The sound of insects and owls, and Geril’s snoring coming from his personal tent set up in the safest central spot. Seiden briefly caught the rhythm of those sounds before moving on. His steps led him to a lake gathered behind the towering coniferous trees.

It was fortunate for the expedition that such a large lake was located in the center of Feiren Forest. Generally, divine power is compared to clear and clean water, not just metaphorically, but because places with flowing or stagnant water indeed strengthen a priest’s divine power.

The priests had set up a barrier around this area using the lake’s magic power. So there would be no attacks from monsters until tomorrow morning. Nevertheless, Seiden had placed guards all around the forest and its borders but specifically requested no one to guard near this lake.

Because here must be…….

“…….”

Finally crossing through the trees to reach the wide lakeside, Seiden’s pace slowed down. As he expected, he saw Bellota standing in the lake up to her thighs, devoutly making holy water.

So this is Bellota I know, surely not wasting the dawn when sanctity is at its clearest and strongest, intending to imbue her sanctity into this clear water.

Seiden tilted his head slightly and watched Bellota performing the ritual of making holy water, filling an empty bottle with lake water. It was exactly as he predicted. Despite likely being overwhelmed by fatigue, she risked danger to come here and immerse herself in the water, which was somehow infuriating yet impressive. And on another note…….

“…….”

Seiden quietly swallowed a dry sigh. Bellota, submerged in the water under the white moonlight, looked beautiful. Could she be what the water spirits mentioned in legends look like? No, no spirit could be more beautiful than her.

No one else could…….

“What will you do if you catch a cold doing this?”

Unable to bear seeing her pale skin turn completely white from cold, Seiden spoke up gently, causing Bellota to turn around in surprise.

“…….”

Only then did Bellota realize that Seiden was standing by the lakeside watching her and looked behind him in panic. Fortunately, there was no one else near the lake but him. Bellota sighed in relief yet felt a bit upset inside.

Because of Seiden speaking up, one bottle of holy water became tainted and unusable. She held the ruined bottle tightly and looked at Seiden with an indifferent face.

“We agreed not to speak unless it’s a full moon…….”

“You’ve broken that rule once yourself, so please overlook my violation just this once.”

Seiden cut off Bellota’s words before she could finish and shamelessly responded. It was an annoying answer, but since he wasn’t wrong, Bellota couldn’t find words to retort and closed her mouth.

“That should be enough. Please come out now.”

As Seiden quietly urged her, Bellota hesitated, as though she was reluctant to leave. Her legs, submerged in the cold water, were gradually losing sensation. However, for Bellota, it was difficult to pass up such an opportunity when this lake’s water held such rare and clean magic power. Especially in these times when she was heading towards a place filled with empire citizens desperately needing purification power.

“The Duke of Lylester has sent potions; they should suffice.”

Understanding Bellota’s dilemma, Seiden quietly added as she looked at him and replied,

“I’ll be out soon; please go ahead.”

But Seiden stood firmly in place with no intention of leaving, just watching Bellota. At his steadfast attitude, Bellota’s cheeks faintly reddened. She frowned and opened her mouth again.

“You remember that it’s not just the people of the cathedral here, right?”

Bellota indirectly asked about Geril’s presence, but there was no change in Seiden’s expression.

“They’ve all fallen asleep, so don’t worry.”

He just looked at Bellota and answered leisurely.

“I had no choice but to come out on guard, worried that the monsters might be attracted by his snoring.”

With Seiden’s indifferent voice, a quiet silence flowed over the tranquil lakeside. Bellota, at a loss for words, soon looked at him and bowed her head with a laugh. Such a joke with such an expressionless face. It wasn’t as funny as the jokes Kabillon always threw around, but Bellota found herself laughing unwittingly, unaware that Seiden’s heart was painfully tightening at her fleeting laughter.

“…….”

Bellota soon realized that Seiden was looking at her with eyes different from a moment ago, with the same intensity as when they had crossed paths inside the tent.

Embarrassed by his gaze, Bellota quickly stopped laughing and awkwardly shifted her gaze. A strange silence flowed around the chilly lakeside. Unable to bear that awkward silence, Bellota was the first to wave the white flag.

“I was just about to leave with this.”

Eventually, Bellota picked up the bottles she had placed on a nearby rock, cradled them in her arms, and slowly walked towards where Seiden was standing. Seiden silently watched as Bellota’s skirt, heavy with water, pulled at her and yet she diligently made her way towards him.

That’s when it happened. As Bellota carefully stepped out of the water, she slipped on a slick rock and momentarily staggered. Seiden, who had been watching her with an uneasy look, immediately jumped into the water and wrapped his arms around Bellota’s hand and waist to prevent her from falling. Startled arms wrapped around Seiden’s neck as her pale body precariously nestled in his embrace.

Huh. Thanks to him, Bellota avoided falling into the cold lake and stiffly looked up at Seiden. The wet hand firmly gripping her slender waist felt starkly vivid.

“Are you okay?”

Seiden asked seriously, and Bellota barely nodded.

“Th…thank you.”

Held by Seiden, Bellota fumbled her feet to find flat ground to stabilize herself. She quickly let go of his neck, but Seiden’s large hand did not easily let go of her body.

Being so close to Seiden made Bellota involuntarily hold her breath. The large hand holding her cold body felt burning hot. To be standing this close. She then remembered that this wasn’t the first time they had been so close together.

“…….”

Seiden, looking intently at Bellota, whose face turned red with tension, leisurely said,

“It’s an honor to receive thanks from the saintess.”

Bellota’s heart, which had been tight in an odd atmosphere, relaxed at his words. She looked up at him with tears welling up, understanding well what he meant. Yet, Bellota pretended not to understand the true intent of his words and held her head high.

“It’s the first time I’ve received kindness from you.”

A soft laugh, like a breeze, came from Seiden’s mouth at Bellota’s stubborn words.

“Why are you laughing?”

When Bellota asked coldly, Seiden looked at her with eyes much softer than when he had been staring intently before.

He knew why Bellota was saying this. She meant that apart from catching her in the water, she would not consider anything else as his kindness. Things like being together on a full moon night or something like that. Of course, what had happened so far was not out of kindness. What he felt for her was not merely kindness.

“Are you aware that you are particularly cold only towards me?”

Bellota’s pupils momentarily flickered at those words. It was an indifferent voice without a hint of being upset or angry. It seemed like he was just stating a fact. However, Bellota found herself speechless at those words. She also knew that she became particularly sensitive when dealing with Seiden. Even though she tried not to, she kept acting that way to an unusual extent.