“Alright, Daiyi.”
Felyn still had no idea that he had become the subject of an ongoing experiment.
He followed her instructions and came to her side.
A client makes a request—I fulfill it.
“Lie down,” Daiyi said softly, patting her lap as a signal.
A lap pillow.
This classic romantic gesture that filled countless novels with sweet tension—in biological terms, it was merely a simple point of contact between two human bodies.
The posture naturally relaxed the neck muscles, reduced spinal stress, and the close contact with the opposite sex stimulated brain activity, making people feel happier. These were just normal physiological reactions.
If Felyn lay on her lap, Daiyi could observe her own emotional fluctuations in real time—scientifically.
Before becoming the Divine Child, Daiyi had wanted to study emotions.
She wanted to understand those deeply human feelings that would no longer exist once she took on that divine role.
Felyn didn’t resist. He simply lay back on the couch, resting his head gently on her lap.
She smells nice. A girl's scent...
From this angle, he had a completely unobstructed view of Daiyi’s divine-looking face.
Daiyi reached out and began gently stroking his hair.
What… is this feeling?
It was the first time she had been this physically close to another person—especially a man.
Her fingertips landed softly on Felyn’s forehead and began to trace tiny circles along his temple.
Strands of his hair occasionally slipped between her fingers, creating a strange and pleasant sensation.
She noticed her breathing had grown slower and deeper. Her gaze, which had initially been fixed on him out of scientific interest, had softened—now it resembled something closer to admiration.
This was the first time Daiyi truly felt that physical contact between people was something beyond quantifiable data and terminology.
Such a strange feeling… she thought.
But… I don’t dislike it?
A few minutes earlier.
Just as Felyn and Daiyi disappeared from in front of the royal box, another figure appeared in the hallway—one with long, rose-tea-colored hair.
Adelina.
Tonight, she wore a champagne gold satin gown. Her hair had been carefully styled into an elegant side braid, with a few soft strands framing her face. Around her neck hung a necklace adorned with silver and blue gemstones, and a thin magic crystal bracelet was wrapped around her wrist.
She knocked gently on the door.
After hearing a voice from inside, she opened it and entered.
Seated inside was none other than the highest-ranking figure in the capital tonight—Her Highness, Princess Dorothy.
She wore a fluffy, layered lavender dress adorned with intricate lace along the hem. She looked just like a violet in full bloom.
Adelina gave a formal curtsy, then let her gaze settle gracefully on the Princess.
This was their first meeting.
Her Highness rarely made public appearances, so it was rare to see her at social events.
Adelina, like everyone else, had heard the rumors.
Kind, sweet, innocent, beautiful.
All the most wonderful adjectives one could use to describe a girl seemed to apply to Princess Dorothy.
But the moment Adelina laid eyes on her, she felt… something was off.
She couldn’t quite put her finger on it.
Yes, the princess was indeed adorable—exactly as described. But for some reason, Adelina felt the same subtle tension she did when facing Viloti or Zervanie.
A faint sense of rivalry.
Why do I feel this way?
A small, helpless smile crept across Adelina’s lips.
She realized the reason.
Ever since she fell for Felyn, she’d subconsciously begun comparing herself to any beautiful girl she met—afraid Felyn might like them more.
Am I really this… jealous?
She couldn't believe it herself.
“Your Highness, thank you for inviting us to attend tonight’s concert,” Adelina said politely, pushing her thoughts aside and taking a seat opposite the princess.
She really is cute…
The soft lighting inside the private box pushed away the evening’s shadows. Adelina couldn't help but admire Dorothy’s flawless skin and delicate legs.
How does she maintain herself so well?
“No need to be so formal, Miss Adelina. Tonight, just call me Dorothy,” the princess said, resting both hands on her seat as her legs swung back and forth lightly.
As for the real reason Dorothy had invited Adelina and the other noble students into the VIP box, Adelina had her guesses.
She was, after all, the eldest daughter of the Claude family—and likely its future matriarch.
After the recent disturbance in the capital, it was only natural for the royal family to show goodwill. Sending the princess to offer comfort was standard practice.
Or maybe, Dorothy simply wanted to draw her in—to build her own personal faction.
Whatever the motive, Adelina believed it was all political.
That was why she had come prepared: polite, but not too friendly. Respectful, but not overly familiar.
“The incident in the capital… that must’ve been terrifying,” Dorothy said, her expression tinged with concern. “When I heard the news, I was really worried about you, dear Adelina.”
As expected, she brought it up.
Next, the princess would likely ask if she was hurt, how her father reacted, or whether the Claude family had made any decisions. If she were a bit more daring, she might even probe whether Adelina was dissatisfied with the royal family—or hint at defecting.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Highness. I wasn’t injured.”
Adelina replied with a light smile.
“That’s a relief. I heard…”
Dorothy picked up a glass of juice and took a delicate sip, her pinky finger raised in a graceful arc.
“…that you weren’t alone at the time?”
“Hm? Ah, yes. Someone else was with me.”
Adelina hadn’t expected this line of questioning. It was a little outside her script.
“Adelina, would you mind telling me what happened that day? I find the story of you two repelling the enemy absolutely thrilling!”
“If you wish, Your Highness.”
Adelina began recounting the events of that day. Of course, she omitted Bernice’s arrival—and the part where Felyn had embraced her.
To help Felyn regain noble status, she used all her rhetorical skills to paint him in the best possible light.
In her version of the story, he was a hero—noble, brave, and selfless.
“He… he repelled all those attackers on his own?”
“Yes! Even I was surprised by how strong he was.”
“D-Did he get hurt?!”
“Uh…”
Adelina almost said, “Not at all,” but quickly realized it didn’t match her earlier portrayal of a fierce battle.
“He did… get hurt. Pretty badly, actually.”
She turned her head slightly, avoiding eye contact—completely unaware of the flicker in Dorothy’s eyes or the way her fingers clenched the hem of her skirt.
“But he still kept fighting. He protected me… even when facing a high-ranking church executor.”
As Adelina finished, the maids nearby looked stunned. The battle must’ve been terrifying—and the young man, so incredibly brave.
“… Brother Felyn is so cool…”
“Hm? What was that, Your Highness?” Adelina blinked. She had barely caught the princess's whisper.
“N-Nothing!” Dorothy replied quickly, her face slightly red. “Just… he sounds like the hero from an old legend!”
Adelina blinked again. Was it her imagination, or had the princess’s purple eyes grown noticeably darker?
What she didn’t know was that Princess Dorothy hadn’t invited her for politics at all.
She just… wanted to hear stories about Felyn.
That’s all.
(End of Chapter)