Don't Be Holy! - Chapter 10
When Eir asked what that made her, the grandmother replied, ‘You’re like a sapling growing beside that massive tree. People wouldn’t think twice about it.’ She made it clear she didn’t want to explain further, brushing the topic aside with an air of annoyance.
Eir felt a twinge of disappointment at the dismissive response, but ultimately, it was true. To the villagers, Eir was like a small sapling awkwardly sprouting next to a large tree.
When they saw her, they would greet her, ask if she’d eaten, ask about her well-being, whether she was lacking anything, or if she would attend an upcoming festival. But unless something unusual happened, they rarely sought her out or thought of her otherwise.
Eir spent her days in that peaceful and kind indifference.
The old woman, mindful of Eir’s position as a priestess, never explained anything about her spells, and Eir never asked. Both were hiding parts of themselves—Eir as a former priestess, and the old woman as a witch.
Instead, they talked about herbs, about who in the village had been born, who had died, or who was getting married. Like fortunate collaborators—or perhaps like family—they shared a simple existence.
A little over two years passed in that peace. Even after the old woman passed away, the enchantments she had placed on the village remained unbroken. Though she lived each day in peace, Eir felt lonely at times.
Until just yesterday…… everything had been so quiet…….
But, however…….
“Ah!”
Eir’s eyes snapped open.
The moment she lifted her head, a sharp pain tugged at the back of her neck. At the same time, her field of vision was filled with the broad, muscular chest of a man—a sight that had no place in her once-peaceful life. A firm, towering chest, something she’d never expected to see.
“Ah.”
The man leaning over her let out a low sigh, seemingly realizing she had woken up. Straightening his body, he reached out and placed a hand on her forehead.
“Thank goodness. Your fever’s gone down. Are you usually this frail?”
The man’s concerned tone made Eir fully realize that she had indeed fainted.
And that shameless voice nearly made her faint again, this time out of sheer anger. Whose fault did he think this was? It was all because of him!
She wanted to shout those words at him, but the firm touch of his hand pressing against her forehead stopped her.
Touching her forehead with his hand—how dare he.
Eir clasped her hands over her chest, staring at the man in astonishment. Perhaps it was because it had been so long since she’d felt another person’s touch, but the sensation left her feeling incredibly strange.
She had always been careful to avoid contact with others. When her bare skin touched those without divine energy, the lingering energy felt like static electricity. To prevent such encounters, she maintained an almost excessive distance from the villagers.
Even when exchanging items, she would only grasp the very edges.
Because of this, strange rumors had spread among the villagers—that touching Eir would make one ill.
In a way, she found it convenient. But at the same time, perhaps it had been a little lonely. Otherwise, why would her heart be pounding so wildly just from this man’s hand resting against her forehead?
“Ahem.”
Eir’s face flushed a deep red, and she cleared her throat unnecessarily. The man furrowed his brows, studying her as if trying to confirm whether she had truly regained her senses.
Meeting those piercing blue eyes made her breath catch. In a fluster, she grabbed the damp towel from his hand.
“If you soak a towel in water like this, it’ll start to smell later.”
“If you’re able to say something like that, I suppose you’ve come to your senses. I was worried when you suddenly collapsed.”
His tone was dry, as if reciting lines from a book. Eir snorted at his words.
‘You’re lying.’
The Rubel Shinote she knew would never worry about someone else. Even when faced with someone suffering misfortune or tragedy, his response would be something like, ‘It’s punishment from the gods. They must have done something wrong’, or ‘It’s divine providence. They must endure and prove themselves’.
Yes, that was the kind of man he was.
Recalling his past words made her chest feel tight, a faint ache spreading within her.