I Just Wanted to Avoid Death - Chapter 22
“…..”
“Don’t you prefer men?”
Yeshion cursed inwardly. How could he know the s*xual preferences of a side character?
Suppressing his frustration, Yeshion forced a smile.
“S-So… Hah…”
As he searched for another excuse, he glanced at Eldis. His unrelenting gaze was dissecting every move Yeshion made.
How many times did he blink?
How erratic was his breathing?
How often was he licking his dry lips?
It felt like a venomous snake was sizing him up, ready to strike its prey. If Eldis were truly a snake, he’d have wrapped his body around Yeshion by now. That thought crossed his mind.
‘…I don’t know.’
Yeshion finally let out the breath he had been holding.
No matter what excuse he came up with, it was clear that Eldis wouldn’t buy it.
The pouch in his hand was the one Yeshion had personally given to the coachman. So, the coachman must have spilled everything Yeshion had said.
“I’m going really, really, really far away. To a place where you can’t see the temple or the palace. I’ll pay you generously. Just take me to a place where not even a speck of this priest robe’s white cloth can be seen.”
“Haha, it seems the priest really dislikes the temple.”
“Yes. I just hate this capital. Actually, while we’re discussing the subject, can you take me to the neighboring country instead?”
In the end, Yeshion gave up trying to make excuses. The coachman had likely told Eldis everything, so any excuses now would just be mockery.
With a long sigh, Yeshion lifted his eyes to meet Eldis’s gaze.
“Why should it matter to you where I go, Archpriest?”
“…..”
“You hate me. You want to kill me.”
He had, after all, been killed by those hands several times before.
The contemptuous gaze, the look as if he were seeing filth—all of it was still vividly etched in his memory.
“Yes, I still do.”
Eldis didn’t deny it. Instead, he pushed Yeshion’s shoulder, forcing him back onto the bed.
Just as Yeshion tried to rise again, Eldis moved closer, trapping him between his arms.
“I want to kill you. That’s how much I despise you.”
But for such words, there was no hatred in Eldis’s eyes.
Curiosity. Doubt.
And… fascination.
A myriad of emotions filled Eldis’s gaze.
“I should still feel that way, but it’s strange.”
“…..”
“Why is it that when I look at you, I no longer want to kill you as much as I used to?”
Yeshion’s eyes wavered. Why was Eldis asking him this?
“So, when will you answer my question?”
“…Question?”
“I’m certain I asked you right before you fainted.”
Eldis smiled.
“Who are you?”
Yeshion felt his heart drop with a thud.
The curve of Eldis’s soft smile was terrifying. Yeshion had no idea how much Eldis had figured out.
As Yeshion’s gaze wavered, Eldis chuckled.
“Yeshion, you didn’t use honorifics with me previously, did you?”
“…..”
“You told me not to act all virtuous and didn’t even call me ‘Archpriest.’”
Yeshion’s mouth fell open in shock. Could it be that Eldis was referring to Yeshion’s blackmailing as “murder”?
While Yeshion was stunned, Eldis patiently waited for him to speak, like a predator watching its prey.
“I-It’s because I’m sick!”
“…Sick?”
“Yes, I’m sick! I… actually have a disease.”
That was the only excuse that came to mind. It was all because of the bizarre rumor circulating in the temple that Yeshion was terminally ill.
“I’ve heard the rumors going around the temple. So?”
Yeshion pushed against Eldis’s shoulders and stood up from the bed. Thankfully, Eldis wasn’t as forceful as Adelio and backed off quietly.
However, thinking it was dangerous to stay too close to the bed, Yeshion moved toward the window.
“I mean… because I’m sick…”
Yeshion’s lips twitched. He had no idea what kind of excuse might work.
At that moment, Eldis gave him an opening.
“What are the symptoms of this illness?”
“I-I get a bit nauseous… and dizzy…”
Eldis nodded, as if he found the explanation plausible, given Yeshion’s recent behavior.
Maybe this excuse would work after all.
“I don’t remember much of what happened before.”
“What?”
“I don’t remember what kind of relationship we had, or what kind of connection I had with the Crown Prince.”
Eldis’s expression slowly hardened.
He muttered under his breath, “Could it be that’s why back then…?” He seemed to be piecing together Yeshion’s recent behavior and the illness.
“Is that… really true?”
Eldis covered his mouth in shock.
Because of that, Yeshion didn’t see it.
The tremble of joy in Eldis’s hidden smile.
