Secret Love Affair between a Former Saint and a Dark Hero - Chapter 1
It was the day I got a part-time job at a doll shop. They called it a scorching heatwave of the kind not seen in 30 years, with the temperature soaring close to 37 degrees Celsius.
It was unbearably hot, and I felt like cursing. My skin was all chafed from sweat, and it felt like I couldn’t breathe. The kids were especially rowdy!
Particularly, that little brat who kicked my butt and laughed so wickedly. I won’t forget that. I’ll get my revenge if I ever meet him! I lay sprawled on the floor, gritting my teeth and swallowing curses.
“Ah, I’m dying. I’m really dying. Nowhere to escape this heat.”
The reality was that a lot of things sucked. The work sucked and the boss sucked, coming up with all sorts of nonsense excuses, and he didn’t even pay us properly. But I couldn’t argue with him. It’s a small town, and if you get a bad reputation, you won’t get any work.
“Oh, no.”
The scent of the adhesive patch stuck to my arms and legs was pungent. A life without a family to ask if I was okay. Life was lonely and hard, even for me. The windowless, air conditioner-less studio apartment was like hell. I wrinkled my nose and almost sobbed.
My bedside phone vibrated.
– Jiyeon, come out! My treat today. Is there anything you want to eat?”
The moment I heard that bright, bubbly voice on the phone, I smiled. If there’s such a thing as a happiness virus, my friend Sol was a bundle of it. A lovely girl who seemed to have everything, like a heroine in a novel.
“Oh, Sol! Meat? Hehe, this is unexpected. I love ribs. Buy me meat, meat. I love meat.”
– Today must be your lucky day. Your big sister is treating… How about flower sirloin?
“Wow, that’s crazy. That’s awesome. Yay, I love you! When should we go? Should we go now? I’m ready whenever?”
– What are you waiting for? Come out right now!
Just thinking about the savory grilled meat made my mouth water. I quickly showered, changed into clean clothes, and ran out the door, waving to Sol, who was sitting at the café waiting for me.
The refreshing chime of the bell was delightful. As soon as I opened the door, I shivered as the air conditioner’s cool breeze hit my shoulders.
“But what’s the occasion today? Hehe, you know I can handle three portions of meat, right?”
I asked, gulping down lemonade like a storm, and Sol chuckled. Then, she made a random comment with a teasing smile on her face, waving something in her hand. It turned out to be a book.
“Jiyeon, if you could have one wish, like the characters in these novels, what would it be?”
“Huh? What are you talking about?”
I blinked. Had she been drinking during the day? What was she on about with these novels?
My friend could be a bit like a child in a dreamland at times.
“What are you talking about? Are you daydreaming? What’s gotten into you, Park Sol?”
“It’s literally a miracle that can’t happen in real life, but you can use your imagination, right?”
I opened my eyes in surprise and pointed to the dazzling novel that Sol was holding.
“What, like in those romance novels?”
“Yeah! Just like the protagonists in these kinds of novels.”
“Hmm, it would be nice.”
“Of course! Come on, listen.” Sol’s eyes sparkled like jewels. I looked at my nearly finished lemonade with a hint of regret in my eyes. It was so damned expensive, so damned tasty, and so damned good that it brought tears to my eyes.
“In the novel, the heroine is a noblewoman, and she’s beautiful.”
“Yeah.”
“The setting is also fantasy, with magic and divine power that can heal wounds quickly. There’s a fiancé, as well as other fantastic supporting male characters, and everyone around adores the protagonist. It’s all the privileges given to the female lead.”
“Meanwhile, she passionately falls in love with the male lead? Passionately?”
“Of course! So, a fiery love affair, people who love only you, mystical abilities, dazzling looks, and being born into an affluent noble family that never runs out of wealth! If you could choose one of those miracles, what would you pick?”
Really? It sounded fantastic.
“There are so many things to consider, right? Oh, not something like winning the first prize lottery, which is hard to come by.”
“Well, I’m quite fond of money, though.”
“Come on, come on. Tell me.”
I chuckled, amused by the way Sol spoke as if she could grant my wishes.
“You’re not going to grant them, so why the rush? Still, the all-you-can-eat fortune is pretty tempting. Hmm… what would you want?”
Sol pounded the table with excitement, and then shouted enthusiastically.
“Obviously, the male lead!”
“What? What about him?”
“I want to see the male lead’s face in person at least once. It would be like ‘poof,’ and he would appear in reality. He would be a world-class model. Oh, maybe it’ll be love at first sight? That’s how the romance begins. Kyaa!”
“Oh my. Dream big, why don’t you.”
Sol was a big fan of romance novels. I had borrowed them from her a few times. The novels she devoured were usually set in the West, with nobles coming out and flirting with the female protagonist. Happy, cotton-candy sweet, lighthearted stories that weren’t heavy.
Huh? I blinked for a moment. Most of the books Sol carried were well-known ones.
“But what’s that, I’ve never seen that cover before. Is it a new book?”
“Uh-huh.”
I raised an eyebrow at her offhanded demeanor.
You keep hoarding books. I went into nagging mode, taking on the role of Sol’s mom.
This wasn’t just meddling; if you went into her room, there was nowhere left to put them, so she had to store her books in boxes!
“Have you even read everything you’ve bought so far? It must be over a hundred books if you add them all up!”
“Hmph! What are you talking about? I buy them as they release. You wouldn’t understand.”
“You keep buying them to the point your house might collapse.”
“No, not at all!”
I smirked, not knowing how to stop her. It was obvious that she loved the novel so much that she couldn’t wait to tell everyone about it. I was almost certain that today, while chewing on meat, I’d hear the entire plot of that novel.
“So, what’s the story this time? If there’s an obsessed man or a regretful man, count me in.”
“An obsessed man, what’s that? A devoted and sincere man is the best. I don’t like bad boys.”
“Tsk, you don’t know what you’re talking about. So, what’s the male lead like this time?”
“It’s the story of the saintly female protagonist chosen by the gods and the sincere prince who protects her! A love destined by fate. And the villain who interferes with them! Incidents! How cool is that?”
She was so excited.
“The story isn’t that special.”
“No, the author really poured her emotions into it. They say your heart aches as you read it. The female protagonist is so brave and cheerful, so lovely. You should read it!”
The book was a single volume but quite thick. The title was: <The Saint’s Flower>.
