Holy Kingdom – Temptation (2)

“D-do you mean I like Jade-nim?”

“Yes.”

“…Why would you think that?”

‘As expected, she has no intention of admitting it right away.’

Faced with the anticipated reaction, Jade slowly began sharing his observations with Veronica.

“Hmm. First of all, who would follow someone around like a lost puppy if they didn’t like them?”

“That was just because I was worried about Jade-nim…”

“And you’ve occasionally misspoken in front of me.”

“M-misspeaking? Couldn’t you have just misheard?”

Veronica’s voice trembled slightly as she gave her flimsy excuse.

“Men tend to imagine all sorts of things when a woman even picks up something they dropped. Of course, they usually realize it’s just a ridiculous delusion. So at first, I didn’t think much of it either.”

But Veronica spent half her day glued to his side and even tried to initiate subtle skinship when using divine power.

In this situation, Jade became certain.

That Veronica had developed feelings for him.

“If this was an attempt at the push-and-pull technique from books… I’m sorry to say it failed. All I felt was you pulling me in. You never directly said you liked me, but how could I not notice when you kept acting to gain my favor?”

“…Hng.”

Finally, Veronica hung her head low with a cute sound. It was as good as admitting Jade was right.

‘Even though I suspected… I still can’t believe it.’

Jade and Veronica had known each other for less than a few days.

While attraction between men and women can spark quickly, there hadn’t even been enough time for that.

There was no fateful moment like Jade saving Veronica’s life either.

It wasn’t Jade who liked Veronica – quite the opposite. That Veronica liked Jade.

As a man, he should welcome this with open arms but…

Not knowing the reason for her affection left him feeling uneasy and frustrated.

Jade tried coaxing the dejected Veronica to draw out her answer.

“Veronica. I’m not trying to criticize you. Who could dislike or feel uncomfortable being liked by someone as beautiful as you?”

“…Really?”

“Yes. I’m purely curious. I can’t grasp any reason why you’d like someone like me.”

Perhaps his efforts paid off, as Veronica began explaining with a resigned expression.

“I don’t know the exact reason why I came to like Jade-nim either.”

“You… don’t know?”

“I just liked you from the moment I saw you. Books call this love at first sight.”

“Y-you liked me… at first sight?”

Someone falling for him at first sight? This was Jade’s first experience with such a thing.

And of all people, it had to be the Saint.

Was this even statistically possible?

“Maybe it’s the destined attraction between the Hero and Saint? That’s what the books said.”

“Did you… only read the parts you liked from those books?”

Jade genuinely wondered about the titles of Veronica’s reading material.

“Of course, that wasn’t the only reason. The more time I spent with Jade-nim, the more I grew to like you. Seeing you train your hardest, or keep moving forward without breaking despite hardships – you were truly admirable.”

“That’s all thanks to your help. I’m not as great as you think. Just a fool with the Hero’s power who hasn’t accomplished anything.”

“No. To me, Jade-nim is amazing enough to make me fall for you.”

Veronica slowly began moving closer to Jade.

“But there was a problem. Jade-nim already had someone you loved. So I was giving up… until that incident happened. It might be rude to say this, but that became my opportunity.”

She was right. That incident had driven Jade and Rena apart, effectively destroying their relationship.

‘This coincidence feels almost scripted.’

Regardless, it had given Veronica a golden opportunity.

“So that’s when you started approaching me?”

“Half of it was my feelings for you, half was wanting to comfort the Hero as a comrade. Though I tried hard not to show it…”

Veronica wiped her face and let out a deep sigh.

“Haa… Seems books aren’t always right. I definitely followed what the romance novels said.”

“Theory and practice are different. That’s one lesson I keep learning too.”

“Ugh… I can’t believe I got caught being this foolish.”

-Thump.

Before he knew it, Veronica was pressed right against Jade.

“Jade-nim.”

“…Yes.”

Their eyes met.

-Gulp.

Jade unconsciously swallowed.

“Do you… dislike me?”

“…”

Instead of answering immediately, Jade closed his eyes.

He still held onto hope.

The hope that he and Rena could return to how they were before.

‘Rena said that even if everything else was a lie… her love was real.’

That’s why he planned to visit Rena again the day after the appointment ceremony.

He judged that his reborn appearance as a true Hero might help win back her heart.

But now, unexpectedly, another person had appeared who liked Jade.

And of all people, Veronica – his future comrade and the Saint.

“Veronica. Are you serious?”

“Yes.”

If Jade said he felt nothing for Veronica, that would obviously be a lie.

Beyond her appearance, people naturally feel greater gratitude and affection toward those who reach out during their worst moments.

‘If I choose Veronica here…’

Would that be betraying Rena?

But Jade was actually the victim here.

Rena had deceived him about everything and even stabbed him with a sword.

No one could blame the betrayed Jade for giving up on Rena.

After a long deliberation, Jade finally spoke.

“I’m sorry.”

“Th-then…”

“I still can’t completely give up on Rena. I believe there’s still room for her to change. My feelings and memories of Rena aren’t something I can forget overnight.”

“…I understand. You and Rena-nim truly loved each other.”

“So I can’t accept your feelings.”

Jade had rejected Veronica’s confession.

The shock seemed great, as Veronica began sniffling.

“Hng…”

“But.”

Jade cautiously reached out and placed his right hand over Veronica’s.

“I’d like you to keep staying by my side.”

“Th-then…?”

“As ‘comrades’ for now.”

“Ah…”

Jade’s heart bore deep wounds.

Thus, immediately whispering love and developing a romantic relationship with someone else was difficult.

But taking things slow, moving forward step by step while getting to know each other better was acceptable.

Only after fully understanding each other should they truly consider “love.”

‘By then, my wounds will have healed somewhat.’

Jade wanted to leave Veronica a glimmer of hope.

“Veronica, let’s take it slow.”

Jade knew how contradictory his words sounded.

Rejecting her confession but asking her to stay – it was practically using Veronica as a replacement for Rena.

“But I promise you this. If Rena doesn’t change her mind… then we’ll reconsider our relationship.”

“Does that mean Jade-nim has even a little bit of feelings for me?”

“It would be a lie to say none. But that’s-“

“That’s enough for me.”

“Are you… really okay with this?”

Jade expected things might be awkward between them for the next few days.

But Veronica’s attitude defied expectations.

“I won’t give up here. I’ll definitely win Jade-nim’s heart.”

Veronica’s eyes burned with determination.

‘Did she really understand what I said…?’

Jade suddenly began worrying about the future.

Jade lightly knocked twice on the door before him.

-Knock. Knock.

“Annie, are you there?”

Silence lingered for a moment.

There was no reaction, as if nobody was inside.

But Jade didn’t give up and knocked again.

-Knock. Knock. Knock.

“I know you’re in there. I can sense your mana.”

While sounds or presence could be hidden, mana couldn’t be concealed from Jade, who possessed the Hero’s abilities.

“Can we talk for a moment? There’s something important I need to say.”

Only then did rustling sounds come from inside, followed by

-Creak.

The door opening.

“J-Jade. Long time no see. What brings you here?”

Annie greeted him with a subtle smile.

“Just checking if you’re doing okay. Feels like I haven’t seen you in days.”

Lately, Annie seemed to be avoiding him.

She didn’t come to see him, and it had been difficult to even catch a glimpse of her.

“I wasn’t trying to avoid you. Just needed some alone time, so I stayed in my room.”

“Then nothing’s wrong? I was worried for no reason.”

“Just eating, sleeping, studying magic. On endless repeat. Don’t worry.”

‘Thank goodness. She looks more put together than I thought.’

Jade felt relieved seeing Annie’s lively appearance.

He’d worried she might be living like a recluse due to stress and depression.

While he had Veronica by his side, Annie was completely alone.

“Is that all you needed?”

“Hmm…”

Jade studied Annie carefully.

Eyes darting nervously. Gaze fixed on the floor. Fidgeting hands.

Annie was clearly hiding something.

Probably the reason she’d been avoiding him too.

But Jade didn’t press further.

‘If it’s important, she’ll tell me eventually.’

Forcing a friend to reveal secrets they didn’t want to share would do no good.

“Wh-what are you staring at?”

“Just happy to see you.”

“Anyone would think we hadn’t seen each other for months. You said you had something important to say earlier. What is it?”

“Veronica confessed to me.”

“Wh-what?!”

Jade had debated whether to tell Annie this.

‘Annie saw me wavering.’

He worried she might react poorly.

But he came anyway, judging it best she knew in advance.

“So what happened? Did you reject her?”

“For now. But we agreed to take time to get to know each other better.”

“…So not a complete rejection?”

Annie began tugging at her hair.

She seemed quite shocked by the news about Jade and Veronica.

“Don’t tell me your feelings for Rena have cooled?”

“That’s not it. It’s just… I’m not certain these feelings will last forever. I know I might look foolish, but please understand. Didn’t you somewhat expect this too?”

“Th-that’s true but… it feels rather sudden.”

‘Could she really not have known?’

Jade thought perceptive Annie must have already known about Veronica’s feelings.

But her current reaction suggested otherwise.

“Don’t misunderstand. We’re absolutely not in that kind of relationship yet.”

“Forgetting… of all times… this is bad…”

Annie started muttering to herself.

‘Was the shock that big?’

Jade grew concerned about her.

“Are you okay?”

“Jade, make sure you choose carefully so you won’t regret it later.”

“What?”

-Thud.

“Uh…”

Jade stared blankly at the closed door for a moment before having no choice but to return to his room.

**

-Sluurp… Gulp…

“Ugh…”

‘It’s warm.’

Feeling warmth rising from below, Jade slowly opened his eyes.

“Morning already.”

Jade remembered collapsing into bed and falling asleep instantly yesterday.

He must have been exhausted from everything.

Then, the first sound reaching Jade’s awakened ears was:

-Schlurp! Suuuck…

The obscene sound of something being sucked.

‘What in the…?’

Simultaneously, something gently caressed his precious parts.

This wasn’t Jade’s first experience with such a thing.

‘This is… fellatio.’

He was receiving oral sex first thing in the morning.

“R-Rena? What are you doing first thing in the…”

Jade reached toward the blanket in bewilderment, then

‘…Wait.’

He froze.

‘There’s no way Rena could be here…?’

Rena was imprisoned.

Meaning it was impossible for her to be in Jade’s room now.

Jade broke out in goosebumps.

Then who on earth was under this bulging blanket…

With trembling hands, Jade slowly pulled back the blanket.

-Rustle.

“Ugh…”

There lay black hair and dark eyes looking up at him.

“V-Veronica?!”

Veronica had Jade’s member in her mouth.