Chapter 21

Realizing rather belatedly that it belonged to a man, Nephitia felt a slight touch of embarrassment.

“Can you feel it? That strange sensation.”

His powerful, low voice drifted slowly into her ear. There was no sensation being transmitted through her skin or the air, yet her breath kept catching and her heart hammered fiercely.

“…Mm-no. There’s none.”

For some reason, it felt like she had lost. When Nephitia answered despondently, Arkin’s face immediately pulled back.

“See?”

Unlike Nephitia, who had barely managed to catch her breath, he smiled with the refreshing relief of someone whose every worry had been completely cleared away.

“I’m glad the misunderstanding is cleared up. You should put your mind at ease too.”

…This is absurd. Nephitia glared at Arkin with resentful eyes. Unlike Arkin, she couldn’t just laugh it off comfortably.

There had been an attraction that strong, and it was all because of the island’s divine power?

“To be honest, I thought from the very beginning that something wasn’t quite common sense. I mean, you and I are just… we’re just meeting for the first time, so how could we…”

Arkin kept bringing up various grounds and justifications, but Nephitia could not bring herself to yield. Having held such a strong conviction, it seemed like she would need a lot of time before she could accept that her judgment had been wrong.

“Well, I understand that you must feel upset.”

He spoke as if gently soothing Nephitia.

“You must have thought you beat those slim odds to find your soulmate, so it’s a shame. But it looks like I’m not your match, at least.”

The prince, who had been frowning the entire time, was grinning brightly like a cheerful prankster. The blue eyes seen under the warm sunlight were affectionately deep.

“My, you don’t seem to be in a good mood. As you live life, someone else will eventually show up, won’t they? If it’s your partner, what man would ever turn it down?”

…Though you were the one who loathed it.

Nephitia clamped her lips shut and averted her gaze into the distance.

Above all, what truly discouraged her was Arkin’s attitude of grinning as if he felt refreshed. Not even a prisoner cleared of criminal charges would feel more relieved than him.

Who else in the world would rejoice like that over failing to become the Kepet monarch’s Hetasept? It was fortunate he was a prince from another country; had it been in Kepet, he would have been thoroughly whipped on the spot and then some.

“Anyway, Nephitia, I look forward to working with you for the rest of our time here.”

Arkin extended his hand and offered a handshake. Staring intently at his large, long-fingered hand, Nephitia eventually took it.

There was no mystical sensation. The heat dwelling within Arkin’s firm, large palm made contact warmly and caused her to flinch for a brief moment, but that sensation belonged entirely to a human—it was simply the natural warmth inherent to Nephitia and Arkin themselves.

Clearing his throat, Arkin pulled his hand back.

“I was worried just in case… but I’m glad.”

Arkin turned his head toward the distance. Near the altar, the priests were calling them over to announce a gathering.

“…See you later, then.”

The blonde prince left behind a gentle greeting and turned on his heel. Without even waiting for a reply, he strode away briskly.

Nephitia remained unable to take a step, staring at Arkin’s retreating back. She still could not make sense of this situation. Had she truly acted far too hastily? Was it merely something to be brushed aside as a misunderstanding?

Nephitia’s body began to move. Walking as if heading toward the priest gathering the princesses, she caught up to Arkin and impulsively reached out a hand.

With a light tap, the very instant the tip of her finger managed to brush lightly against the hem of his red cloak, Nephitia’s eyes widened.

…I can still feel it.

It was not a tremendous thrill that made the entire world spin and flipped the heavens and earth upside down, as it had been right there on the spot when they first met. Yet the sensation winding smoothly across her skin was faint, yet unmistakable.

Startled, Nephitia came to an abrupt halt.

“…Arkin?”

However, Arkin had already distanced himself far away. An assistant priest who had come out to guide the princes was calling out to them one by one.

“Now, let us go. Gentlemen, follow me this way.”

The slender man with brownish, curly hair introduced himself as ‘Apprentice Priest Titus.’

“I will introduce you to the place where you shall spend the next six months.”

Titus was polite, but he never elevated them by calling them ‘Your Highness’ or ‘Your Esteemed Eminence.’ Completely ignoring the complaints of the white-haired prince echoing from behind him, he marched straight ahead.

Arkin followed silently behind the apprentice priest. Passing through a side gate, a narrower and cozier path revealed itself. On both sides of the path paved with white pebbles, massive palm trees as well as plants of unknown names grew densely, obstructing the view.

“We have arrived.”

Emerging from the narrow path choked with overgrown grass, their quarters finally revealed themselves. It was a structure of pure white marble resembling a scaled-down version of the sanctuary’s main building, and the sun had already begun to dip slightly, bathing the exterior walls in a wash of golden light.

“The scenery is lovely, is it not?”

Beyond the cliff at the back of the quarters, the blue sea was laid out clearly below. The scent of salt carried on the wind blowing up from the beach down below felt both unfamiliar and fascinating, keeping Arkin’s gaze fixed upon the sparkling sea for a long time.

“Ah, and there is one thing you must be mindful of.”

Titus pointed toward the opposite side of the path they had used to enter. Colorful flowering trees and thick underbrush grew wildly, blocking the way like a wall. He cautioned them that the path on that opposite side led toward the central courtyard and connected to the women’s quarters, so they must exercise care.

“There have been a few oversights thus far. Because the buildings and paths are entirely symmetrical, built just like twins. Please take care not to ‘accidentally’ cross the courtyard and wander into the women’s quarters.”

Who on earth would ever do something like that by accident? Even if such a person existed, it would be an act born of irreverent intentions. Clicking his tongue, Arkin suddenly imagined the Kepet princess storming into this building ‘by accident,’ causing his expression to stiffen.

They were supposed to spend a full six months together on this island, and if it was the Kepet princess, she seemed fully capable of pulling it off. For instance, appearing right in front of the building in the morning and shouting boldly, ‘Arkin, it turns out we really are fated after all!’ or something along those lines…

No, surely not. He had just touched her directly and verified it properly a moment ago, hadn’t he? That it was all a misunderstanding. Such a worrisome event would not occur. Arkin decided to set his mind at ease once more. Even so, he could not stop his gaze from glancing strayingly toward the women’s quarters side once or twice more.

While Arkin struggled to shake off the random thoughts clinging inside his head, Titus added briefly.

“As you are well aware, Credo Island is a sacred island, and you must maintain purity of conduct throughout your training. You must keep firmly in mind that contact between men and women is strictly prohibited under any circumstances.”

Walking with long, confident strides, Titus threw open the door of the entrance paved with red tiles and stepped inside. Centered around an open-air courtyard with an exposed ceiling, corridors of identical length extended straight down both sides. Standing before the courtyard, Titus pointed toward the right-hand corridor.

“To the right, you will find a small parlor and a makeshift bathhouse. Servants will bring hot water after dinner, so you may bathe and retire to your sleeping quarters thereafter.”

Titus extended a hand to point toward the opposite corridor.

“Now, that left-hand corridor over there is where your rooms are located. With the passage running down the middle, there are three bedrooms on each side, making a total of six rooms.”

Leading Arkin and the others, Titus had them check their nameplates. Seeing ‘Arkin Seilir’ and the leaf emblem engraved upon the gleaming silver nameplate, Arkin was swept by a strange surge of elation.

“Within this building, you shall do nothing other than sleep and wash simply. Meals and all other activities take place in the main building. Now, please enter your respective rooms, change your clothes, and gather back at the main building for din— Oh?”

Titus looked around looking troubled.

“Wait a moment, why are there only four people?”

“You idiot. Are you asking us that? Isn’t it because you lot failed to serve us properly?”

The one who scolded the priest as though he had been waiting for the chance was the disgruntled white-haired prince. Unfazed by his reaction, Titus calmly pulled a piece of parchment from within his sleeve and scanned down the roster.

“Let us see… Arkin of Solinar, Draconis of Igninov…”

Briefly lifting his eyes to give the white-haired prince a casual glance, Titus continued in a nonchalant tone.

“That side is Karchen of the Lightning Kingdom of Voltrion.”

“What? That side?”

“And the other gentleman is…”

Ignoring whether Karchen turned red in the face or not, Titus narrowed his eyes. He tilted his head slightly and scanned the surroundings with caution.

“Prince Elio of Veilon, are you present?”