Chapter 129: Inhuman Bloodline (25 Seeking First Subscription)

In everyone's eyes, Herbert and Felia were pressed extremely close together; this pair of childhood sweethearts who hadn't seen each other for many days seemed to find that brief parting made their reunion all the sweeter, their relationship having taken a new step forward.

They were actually ignoring the gazes of others, flirting openly in public, spinning round and round without coming down, almost gnawing on each other.

Still dancing, still dancing!

This really is… goddamn enviable!

Bah!

No, I mean — shameless!

This is truly too uncomfortable to watch!

Even Valentina, who had been gnawing away nonstop, sensed something was off and glanced over curiously.

"What's going on here?"

She looked at the two of them in their intimate embrace and felt something was a bit strange, but before she could get upset, her attention was drawn away again by a new dish brought up by a restless servant.

Considerately, she took the enormous platter from the servant's hands, thoughtfully helping her lighten the burden.

She flipped open the lid and stuffed the whole thing into her mouth in one go.

(munch munch munch munch munch munch)

Then, Valentina placed the now completely empty platter back into the servant's hands, pointed at the path behind her that she had come from…

You, go, get me a new platter.

"…Ah, yes!"

The servant's body trembled; she nodded frantically, then hugged the platter to her chest and hurried off.

Valentina turned her head, continuing to multitask — keeping one eye on Herbert while moving toward another long table.

(munch munch munch munch munch munch)

To outsiders, Herbert and Felia looked wonderful at this moment, but only the true parties involved understood just how… uncomfortable their intimate embrace truly was.

The instant after Herbert said those words, he clearly felt a momentary chill that pierced to the bone — not a spiritual sensation, but a physical cold.

For one instant, he felt as if he were embracing an exquisitely carved ice sculpture.

Although that chill faded in an instant, Herbert would not doubt his own senses.

He looked at those icy beautiful eyes that were no longer being concealed, smiled, and reminded her: "Heh heh, Princess, smile a little! Don't look so stiff, and don't stop moving — other people will notice."

"You don't want others to find out about this either, do you?"

Felia squinted at him, then suddenly broke into the most brilliant smile, embraced him tightly, and said in a sweet, syrupy voice: "Whatever do you mean? How could I possibly be of another race?"

Herbert enjoyed her embrace, gently hugged her back, patted her waist lightly with his palm, and laughed:

"Felia, you don't need to keep pretending; I'm not trying to trick you."

"You know, I'm someone who never lies."

"After knowing each other for so many years, have I ever deceived you? So just stop acting, will you?"

He gazed at Felia, whose expression shifted slightly, gently held her soft hand, and whispered in the gentlest tone:

"You know? Every single moment our palms are touching, I feel as though my hand is being… burned."

Of course, that was a lie.

Setting aside the fact that there was already a layer of silk glove between their palms, the Oath of Purity itself wasn't meant for that, and certainly wouldn't make him feel any burning.

If it really did that… how would he ever snuggle up with other monster girls in the future!!?

But Felia didn't know that.

She wasn't clear on the Oath of Purity's specific abilities, didn't doubt Herbert's honesty, and had never imagined that a holy knight would spout nonsense on a matter like this.

She instinctively tried to pull her hand away, but Herbert held it tightly and wouldn't let her escape.

"You!!?"

Herbert shook his head, gently squeezed Felia's hand, and whispered: "Don't be nervous, relax. I don't intend to use this as a reason to attack you."

"The Northern Witches' Association is that kind of organization to begin with; it's perfectly normal that you'd inherit the bloodline from your mother's side."

The Northern Witches were originally a mixed-blood group with the blood of other races; it was perfectly normal for their descendants to have non-human components.

However, inside Felia at this moment… that non-human component was a little on the heavy side.

Mm, a tiny bit heavier. Like, by a smidge.

At the moment of their reunion, the Miss Harmony in his head had perked up, repeatedly emphasizing to Herbert how pure Felia's bloodline was.

【"Wow, it's Atavistic Blood!"】

【"Such a dense Snow Witch bloodline!"】

【"You, go collect her materials!"】

【"Get moving!"】

【"Use your evil methods to get her into your hands!"】

The clamor in his head never stopped, but it didn't disrupt Herbert's original train of thought.

He could indeed pretend nothing had happened, play along and spar with Felia for a while, even use some tricks to conquer her…

But he didn't want to bother.

There was no need.

And he wanted to do it even less.

"Relax, I don't think you're a heretic who must be purged, and I don't plan to use this as an excuse to threaten you either."

"I just want to tell you that, in front of me, you no longer have any need to keep up the pretense."

Cut the act, my friend.

Lay your cards on the table.

After Herbert tore off the last layer of pretense, the two continued to move with the music, their bodies pressed close together, their movements full of feeling.

"……"

Feliya was silent for a long while, then finally said softly, "... You really have become a completely different person."

Her smile didn't change, and even the tone of her voice didn't shift, yet somehow it conveyed a coldness that simply could not be ignored.

"Same to you — aren't you the same?"

Herbert was quite moved by this. Shaking his head, he said, "The Princess Feliya in my memory was a very gentle and lovely girl, nothing like the cold, heartless person she is now."

Feliya said indifferently, "What you remember was nothing but an act, and those memories are just something you've projected onto me."

"All of it was an act?"

Herbert raised a brow with a smile, shook his head, and said nothing more.

If you say so, then let's leave it at that.

"You don't believe it?"

Seeing him like this, Feliya frowned: "Do you really think we can still be like we were before? You're the naive one here."

You're not joking, are you?

"Of course not."

Herbert denied it without the slightest hesitation, saying calmly, "Feliya, in this world, there has never been a betrayal that can be tolerated."

"As far as I'm concerned, you have already betrayed me."

"Knowing and staying silent is one kind of betrayal; watching someone die without lifting a hand is even more so."

A broken mirror can never be made whole again.

The moment Feliya turned a blind eye to his peril, the intimate relationship they once shared had already shattered beyond repair.

There was no longer any possibility of mending it.

"Then did you come here today to declare war on me? To take your revenge?"

Feliya's brow furrowed tighter and tighter, growing even more unable to fathom what Herbert actually wanted.

You won't do this, you won't do that — what on earth do you want to do?

Just here to provoke me?

"What are you talking about?"

Herbert laughed, blinked, and countered, "Didn't I come today as your close friend, keeping our appointment?"

"You invited me, so I came. That's all there is to it."

As he spoke, Herbert's peripheral gaze swept the surroundings, passing over a few unfamiliar faces, and he said in a low, drawn-out voice, "And, while I'm at it, to announce to those fellows hiding in the shadows—"

"I'm back!"

Right now the first subscriptions are at 2288, which I'm actually already very grateful for, but it's still a bit short of the 3000 I set as my flag for crossdressing.

There are still four hours until the first subscription period ends, so I'll update two chapters first and try to coax a few more first subscriptions out of you all.

Still doing my ten-thousand-word daily update today; the remaining three updates will go up at six, they still need a bit more polishing.

Begging for first subscriptions ahhhh—

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(End of chapter)