“Wow, it’s much bigger than I thought it would be.”

Lavi’s lips parted in disbelief as she took in the sight of the temple. 

The pure white building gleamed as if it were radiating light, and the statues that could be seen everywhere naturally inspired reverence for the divine.

…Or at least, that’s what other people might think. Not Lavi.

Seriously! If you were going to reincarnate me, you should have sent me into a novel that wasn’t BL!

Why had she been made into such a sunfish-like side character? She couldn’t help but feel resentful. Even if she had been weak in her previous life, couldn’t she at least have been reborn with a sturdy constitution in this one?

Seeing the priests exude divine power—proof that a god might truly exist— only made her angrier.

Lavi glowered ferociously at the statues, mentally reciting all the blasphemous remarks one could never say aloud in front of a goddess’s likeness.

“Lavi, what are you doing?”

“Praying.” Lavi swept her hair back from her face and answered in a low voice as Akkad looked at her curiously. “Do you think someone would get arrested for defacing a statue?”

“…I don’t know. I suppose the paladins would come running.”

It was a throwaway comment, but the response Lavi got wasn’t half bad. She wondered if priests would get involved as well and idly questioned whether or not paladins  had healing powers. If they could heal her and have the power to walk around carrying her with them, that would just be the icing on the cake. All they would need was a nice face to go along with that strength.

Lavi debated asking Akkad about it but decided against it; the last thing she needed was for him to think she didn’t need to hold his hand anymore. That would be a disaster. So, whether it was a priest or a paladin, she’d keep it a secret from Akkad until the moment she successfully seduced one.

Resolutely gripping Akkad’s hand with a determined look on her face, Lavi moved on.

Just when she thought they had ventured deep enough, she looked around and realized that the once-bustling crowd had vanished, leaving only Lavi and Akkad. Somehow, it felt like they had entered a place they shouldn’t be.

In the distance, five men in pure white uniforms were walking toward them.

“Are those paladins?”

“Yes, yes they are.”

Oh my, look at those fine bodies. Lavi admired the paladins for a moment before glancing at Akkad.  How would Akkad look in a pure white uniform?  Would his fair complexion look even brighter? She thought it would suit him well. Alternating her gaze between the knights and Akkad, she was struck by the idea.

Looking at the black shirt Akkad was wearing, she realized that black also suited him wonderfully. But it worried her–it was definitely dangerous.

“Akkad, you really have to be careful from now on. It’s a scary world out there. Stay away from places with lots of men, okay?”

She watched as he nodded, his face saying he didn’t understand a thing she was talking about. How was she supposed to explain? She couldn’t exactly say, ‘This is a BL novel, and you’re too pretty, so I’m worried.’

“I’m serious right now.”

“I think Lavi’s the one who should be careful of that, not me.”

Akkad’s expression seemed to ask if she would avoid places with lots of men as well, and Lavi gave him a look that clearly said, ‘Why would I?’

“Me? No way.” In fact, she welcomed it—as long as it wasn’t a dangerous situation.

Smiling contentedly at the thought of a place filled with priests, Lavi suddenly remembered Akkad hadn’t answered her earlier comment. She tugged at the collar of his shirt and pulled him in closer.

“I’ll take care of myself. You’re the one who needs to be careful. Honestly, being so pretty is a problem.”

“Lavi, you’re the one who should really—”

“Answer me, will you?”

Cutting him off, Lavi tugged his collar even closer.

As the tip of her nose brushed his, Akkad winced slightly and said, “Urgh, okay. I get it…” so could you please let go?

From the moment Lavi’s face had drawn close, Akkad had been holding his breath, so he couldn’t quite manage to get the last part out properly.

Seeing him answer half-heartedly, Lavi huffed and thumped his chest a couple of times in frustration.

As Akkad caught her wrists to stop her, the paladins she’d noticed earlier came closer. With a gasp, Lavi pushed Akkad into a narrow alcove and hid herself as well. The space was barely big enough for one large man, and as Lavi pressed her hand against the wall beside Akkad, she frowned at how cramped it was.

“Lavi, I really don’t think this is—”

“Shh. Be quiet.”

Lavi’s eyes sparkled as she listened to the footsteps draw closer. Could they be the sound of her future groom candidates approaching? Every time Lavi shifted, thinking she wanted to get a closer look, Akkad’s face turned increasingly tearful.

“Lavi,” Unable to take it anymore, Akkad whispered into her ear, remembering to be quiet.

The whisper tickled, making Lavi squirm, and as she did, she accidentally cut her finger on something.

“Ouch!”

“Are you okay?”

“Hmph. That hurt.”

Lavi pulled out her handkerchief and dabbed at the blood on her finger, then glanced around. What had cut her? There didn’t seem to be anything nearby, but the wall’s surface was rough and uneven, so that must have been the source. 

If something like this drew blood, how would she ever walk around safely in crowded places? She clicked her tongue in annoyance, thinking about how this had prevented her from getting a good look at the paladins’ faces.

“Akkad. Now, I—hm?”

While she was busy fuming to herself, Akkad took her injured finger and brought it to his mouth.

As Lavi tilted her head with a puzzled expression, Akkad’s red lips pressed firmly against her finger.

There he goes again again.

With his eyes closed and his lips on her skin, he looked almost as if he were in prayer. She hadn’t seen their faces, but at that moment, she thought Akkad’s appearance must be akin to a paladin’s. Was it because they were in a temple?

She felt troubled, but then the sensation of Akkad’s energy flowed into her through her fingertip.

Now fully in control of his energy, Akkad always adjusted the flow depending on her condition.

Feeling a shiver of goosebumps rising, Lavi shook her head and pulled her finger back.

“It’s too ticklish this way.”

“The bigger the wound, the more careful you have to be.”

Yet, when she had pricked her fingers with a needle, he had just dumped energy into her haphazardly. She couldn’t understand what the standard was for a “big wound” in his eyes.

“It’s just a little cut on my finger.” 

Even as she said it, Lavi flinched. Right. Her body didn’t exactly have a standard for ‘average’.

As Akkad glanced at her injured finger, Lavi followed his gaze to it as well. She’d only wiped the blood off with her handkerchief, and hadn’t properly inspected the cut, but as she looked now, expecting it to be rather bad, only a faint mark remained.

“What? It’s already healed.”

Why was Akkad making an expression like he was in pain, even when she had been cleanly healed? There were people in the world who seemed to feel others’ pain as if it were their own injury. Come to think of it, Akkad had always been like that.

Lavi nodded, having convinced herself, and sighed as she watched  Akkad hold her finger and continued sending energy into it until the mark completely vanished.

“What am I going to do with you?”

She hoped the kind-hearted Akkad would give up on Werner, meet a good man, and find happiness. Would that day ever come? Her friend was suffering with such a heartbreaking unrequited crush, yet here she was, out here looking for a potential groom for herself.

Lavi made a decision and spoke to Akkad with determination, “Let’s have fun today.”

With a smile that lifted the corner of her lips as if to say ‘Trust me’,, she reached up to pat his head.

The catch, of course, was that Akkad was so tall she had to stand on her tiptoes to do so.

“What do you eat to grow so tall?”

“Huh?”

“You’re too tall.”

“Sorry.”

As Akkad lowered his head obediently to let her reach, Lavi stroked his hair in satisfaction. 

And why was his hair so silky?

There was no end to the things she envied about him. Then, realizing they were still lingering in a tight space, she stepped forward.

“You’re just like a dog.”

“Huh?”

“Nothing.”

Akkad’s expression grew strange at her odd comment.

“I don’t think there’s anything else to look at around here. Is there anything you want to do?”

“I’m fine with anything.”

Contemplating their next destination, Lavi grabbed Akkad’s hand and headed toward the temple garden.

The closer they got, the more people there were around. Occasionally, a few nobles would glance their way.

Though Lavi had worn a robe, her face wasn’t covered. But rather, it wasn’t her face they were looking at—it was Akkad’s. Since she herself had rarely appeared in public, few people would recognize her.

‘Hmm?’

A well-dressed young man was approaching them. He had rare, golden eyes and neatly combed silver hair. He had a broad smile on his face and a friendly demeanor, but there was a subtle sharpness to his features. He appeared to be a couple of years younger than Werner, and was so incredibly handsome that he immediately drew attention. Though his frame had a slight slenderness to it, his physique was by no means small.

At first, Lavi assumed he was just another passerby, but as he walked directly toward them, she tilted her head in curiosity.

She felt a light squeeze on her hand as Akkad’s grip tightened before she was abruptly pulled behind him, her view blocked by his back.

“I didn’t expect to see you here, Sir Akkad.”

“Greetings to his Imperial Highness, Prince Felix. May divine blessings be with you.”

The mention of ‘prince’ left Lavi momentarily stunned. This must be Prince Felix, one of the main protagonists of this world and Akkad’s love rival—the man destined to be with her brother, Werner.

“You’re still as formal as ever, even though I’ve asked you not to be. By the way, I’m curious—who is the young lady behind you?”

“I’m not sure what Your Highness is referring to.”

Lavi had never seen him before, but it was no wonder he looked familiar. However, shouldn’t she also greet the prince? But seeing Akkad’s firm refusal to introduce her, Lavi hesitated. Felix seemed equally perplexed.

Frowning slightly, Lavi glanced at Akkad, who was standing rigidly and gripping her hand tightly.

Could it be that her brother Werner and Felix had already met? It wasn’t supposed to happen yet, though it would soon. But even if they had met, their first encounter was destined to be a fateful one-night stand, so there was no way Akkad would have known about it. Was this some sort of supernatural intuition where he could sense his rival?

“I didn’t know Sir Akkad was capable of such jokes.”

Before Akkad could say anything else, Felix moved, stepping forward so that Lavi was in his line of sight.

Lavi raised an eyebrow at him as he gazed down at her from the side.

“Greetings to his Imperial Highness, Prince Felix. May divine blessings be upon you. I am Laviette of the Marquisate of Diaz.”

“Ah, so must be the infamousLady Laviette. A pleasure to meet you.”

After completing her greeting, Lavi met Felix’s gaze directly. This was the guy who would leave her sister-in-law, Rose, waiting in lonely frustration. Knowing that he was the person her older brother Werner was destined to cheat with, there was no way Lavi could feel positively about him.

Akkad didn’t seem particularly comfortable around him, either.

But what did he mean by ‘infamous’ Laviette?

Lavi gave Felix a look that clearly conveyed, I’ve never met you before, so why are you acting like you know me?

Though her gaze might have come off as slightly insolent, there was nothing overtly rude in her behavior that could be criticized.

“I’ve heard many tales of Dame Rose’s affection for you, Lady Laviette.”

“…Yes, that’s right…Wait, what?”

“Even more than I’ve heard, you…” 

Felix trailed off, glancing to Lavi and Akkad’s clasped hands.

Lavi’s expression immediately cooled. Felix was acquainted with her future sister-in-law Rose, and yet would still get involved with her older brother? This new information came as a shock. For Felix to have known Rose well enough for her to have shared stories about Lavi suggested they knew each other rather well, in fact. 

“Excuse me?”

“Oh, it’s nothing. It seems you’re here to enjoy the festival, so I hope you have a wonderful time.”

To receive a kiss on the back of her hand, it would be proper etiquette to release Akkad’s hand and exchange the formal parting gesture, so Lavi tried to let go. However, Akkad’s grip tightened instead. There was no way she could tell him outright to let go of her, so Lavi awkwardly extended her other hand to meet Felix’s outstretched one. 

Lightly, Felix’s lips brushed against the back of her hand and lifted away, and the gesture was over.

Felix smiled as he straightened, not seeming too concerned about her hand still being held by Akkad.  He bid her farewell, saying he hoped to meet again if the opportunity arose, and left with his attendants.

The departure was as abrupt as the sudden encounter itself. 

Turning sharply, Lavi looked at Akkad and asked, “Are you two well-acquainted?”

“We’ve met because I often visit the royal palace with my father. I wouldn’t say it’s a close acquaintanceship.”

“I see. Ah!”

Perhaps because they were now near the wishing fountain, the area around them was becoming increasingly crowded, making it difficult to even take a step. Akkad pulled the wobbly Lavi closer, wrapping an arm around her shoulders to steady her as she stumbled. 

Realizing this was likely the reason Felix had made such a hasty exit, Lavi pouted her lips. How unfair of him to escape on his own.

“Let’s just go back, Lavi.”

“Wait a minute, I want to make a wish too.”

“Here?”

Lavi, despite thinking the entire concept was just a sales gimmick, had a good feeling, and figured it couldn’t hurt to give it a try. She rummaged in her pockets, pulled out two coins, handed one to Akkad, and kept the other for herself, turning back to the fountain.

“Do I just throw it in there?”

“Yep. You go first.”

Without even lifting his arm, Akkad flicked his fingers. Lavi’s lips parted in disbelief as the coin flew straight into the fountain with a crisp ‘ping’.

Was there anything Akkad couldn’t do?

“Did you make your wish?”

“…Yeah. Do you want help throwing yours?”

“No, it’s fine. If it doesn’t go in, then so be it.”

Rising slightly on her tiptoes, Lavi hurled her coin with all her might.

The coin flew weakly, but unexpectedly, it reached the fountain and landed precariously on the edge. It spun, teetering, as if deciding whether to fall in or out.

She had thrown it with the wish for a good and true husband.

What a wretched god! Was her coin spinning there on purpose because the divine didn’t want to grant her wish?

Not wanting to witness it falling away from the fountain, Lavi frowned and looked away.

“Lavi, it’s going to go—”

“Let’s just go.”

The surrounding noise drowned out Akkad’s words, and Lavi tugged at his arm, eager to leave.

“Lavi, be careful.”

Akkad glanced at the fountain before wrapping his arm protectively around her shoulders again. Then, he began running his fingers over the back of her hand, the one Felix had kissed it earlier.

“What are you doing?”

“It just bothers me.”

“What does?”

Confused, Lavi looked at Akkad, who was earnestly rubbing the back of her hand. He pressed harder, and soon the skin turned red, but just as quickly, his energy began flowing into her hand. Was this healing or punishment? Both at the same time? It didn’t hurt, but she couldn’t fathom why he was doing it all of a sudden.

With all the commotion around them, it was too noisy to ask again, and as they hurriedly left the temple grounds, she forgot about it.

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Translator comments: Fun(?) reminder that the temple’s wishing fountain first made an appearance waaaay back in the early chapters, when Lavi tried to get Akkad to stay over and make a wish in the well in her backyard and he was skeptical because his wish in the temple’s fountain didn’t come true.

Translator notes:

• I don’t know if this world has a monotheistic or polytheistic religion, because in Korean, “신” can refer to both “god” and “gods” depending on context, and I’ll admit I haven’t been paying close enough attention to know for sure which it should be. I’ve skirted it by saying ‘the divine’ in a couple of places.
• 성기사들 could be ‘holy knights’ but I like ‘paladin’. Also, (hilariously IMO because have a middle schooler’s sense of humor, a few of the engines I use to double check my translations MTL this as ‘sex knights’.)
• 건물 틈새 – literally translates to a ‘gap in the building’. I am assuming this is an architectural feature not like, a hole in the wall, so I translated it as ‘alcove’, but it could be a decorative recess in the architecture, like for a statue or a space between columns, statues, or behind ornamental features.
• 눈을 감고 제 손가락에 입을 맞추는 모습이 경건해 보일 지경이었다. Literally this is something like Akkad appearing reverent as he kisses Lavi’s finger. I translated this as Akkad looking as though he were in prayer, but not sure the nuance comes across. Especially with the comparison to paladins that follows, it’s basically drawing a parallel to as paladins offer themselves in reverence to their goddess, so too does Akkad to Lavi. DENSE. FEMALE. LEAD.
• 황자 전하를 뵙습니다” (Hwangja Jeonha-reul Boimnida) is a formal way to address a prince in a Korean royal or imperial context. 황자 (Hwangja) Directly translates to “imperial prince” or “prince of the empire. 전하 (Jeonha) A high honorific used to address royalty, often translated as “Your Highness.”
• 독수공방 (doksu-gongbang) is the phrase translated as “leave her waiting in lonely frustration.” It is a historical or literary term referring to a married woman being abandoned by her husband, often due to infidelity or neglect. Interestingly, this sometimes gets translated as ‘poisoned’.
• Felix doesn’t actually call Lavi ‘infamous’. Literally, it’s more like ‘you’re that Laviette’ but that sounded a bit rude in English?
• Likewise, he uses 경 (Kyung) for Rose. This honorific does not strictly translate to “knight” in every context, but often implies a title equivalent to “Sir” or “Dame” when used for someone recognized with a noble or chivalric rank.
• I am assuming Lavi extends her other hand, but the idea of Felix kissing Lavi’s hand while Akkad is still holding it is honestly pretty funny to me.

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