bookpower *Vol.4 Ch.234 The Fated Meeting.
*Vol.4 Ch.234 The Fated Meeting.
*Vol.4 Ch.234 The Fated Meeting.
Rya couldn't help but be entertained by Hilda's flustered expressions. When their eyes finally met, she flashed a charming smile that lit up her face, drawing Hilda's attention like a moth to a flame.
"You must have been deep in thought for me to catch you off guard like that," Rya teased, a playful gleam dancing in her eyes.
Hilda felt her cheeks flush, a warmth spreading through her. Nobody had ever approached her quite like this before, and it made her feel as if she were a child again, innocent and wide-eyed.
"I-I might have been, but you didn’t have to sneak up on me like that," Hilda stammered, her heart racing.
Rya's eyes sparkled with mischief, clearly enjoying the moment.
"Well, I guess it's just one of my little habits... Sorry about that," Rya replied, flashing a warm, disarming smile.
Hilda’s mind raced. Was that sincerity she detected? She couldn’t help but wonder, ‘Why would someone from the Royal family apologize to someone like me, a mere nobody?’
In a world where she was accustomed to orders and commands, where respect felt nonexistent except from her maid, Hilda found herself taken aback by this unexpected kindness. The contrast was almost surreal—how could someone so noble be so approachable and friendly?
"I-It's okay," Hilda replied with a shy smile.
Rya smiled warmly, her posture straightening as she caught sight of the vacant seat beside Hilda. "Is it okay if I join you?" she asked, her tone inviting.
Hilda's cheeks flushed as she blinked in surprise. She turned her gaze to the empty spot, feeling a flutter of nervous excitement. "O-Oh! N-No, I don’t mind at all! P-Please, take a seat," she stammered, her heart racing.
As Rya settled down, a gentle breeze rustled through the trees, and she let out a contented sigh. "Isn’t it a beautiful day?" she remarked, her eyes sparkling with the sunlight.
Hilda tilted her head back, drinking in the vast expanse of the clear blue sky before turning her focus back to Rya. "Yes... Yes, it truly is," she replied, her voice barely above a whisper.
As Hilda cast a furtive glance at Rya, a whirlwind of emotions twisted within her. The woman exuded an air of confidence and undeniable beauty, making Hilda's heart race with a mix of admiration and self-doubt. She longed to approach Rya, to engage her in conversation, but the words felt trapped in her throat. Rya was not just any woman; she had ties to the Queen, which only amplified Hilda's nervousness. Her eyes caught sight of Rya's dress—an elegant creation that boldly showcased her cleavage. A pang of confusion struck Hilda. She had always been taught to cover herself, to suppress any hint of allure, and yet here was Rya, radiant and unashamed.
Hilda's thoughts spiraled. 'S-She's showing off so much skin... But why is she dressed like that? I thought it was bad to do so. But maybe it's different for nobles in this kingdom. Wait... I-It's a sin, Hilda. I shouldn't be ogling her like a piece of meat, and I should be ashamed of myself.'
Yet, despite her internal conflict, Hilda found her gaze lingering on Rya. The way her curvaceous figure effortlessly captured the attention of those around her—Hilda couldn’t help but be entranced. It was as if the world around them faded, leaving only the magnetic allure of Rya’s presence. How could someone possess such charm and fearlessness? Hilda’s heart raced, caught between admiration and the conventions she felt bound to uphold.
"Enjoying the view?" Rya asked playfully, a teasing smile dancing across her lips.
Hilda's eyes shot away as she blushed a deep crimson, flustered by the unexpected comment. "I-It’s not what you think!" she stammered in a desperate attempt to reclaim her composure.
Rya couldn't help but grin wider. "Oh really? Then what’s with the lingering gaze? You seem to be built similarly, so why not admire your own?"
Hilda gasped, indignation flashing in her eyes. "How dare you speak to me like that!" she snapped, the embarrassment quickly turning into irritation.
Rya burst into laughter, unable to contain herself. "C'mon, how would you react if you caught someone staring at you? You probably ask a similar question, no?" she replied, enjoying the playful banter.
“Fine! I admit it—I was staring at you,” she blurted out, her voice sharper than she intended. “I just don’t get why someone would choose to wear such a low-cut dress. It’s not something I understand.”
Rya cast a slow, scrutinizing glance in Hilda's direction, her brow arching in mild curiosity. She couldn't help but take in the sight of the striking redhead, whose white dress hugged the contours of her figure modestly. The high neckline framed Hilda’s delicate collarbone, while the skirt cascaded down to her ankles, lending an air of elegance and restraint. Although the attire suited her well, Rya sensed an underlying impression that Hilda possessed a certain prudishness, seemingly contrasting with Rya’s own more daring sense of style.
‘Wow, she might be a little prudish, huh? I'm getting the religious vibes from this chick... This could be fun,’ Rya mused, a playful smile gracing her lips.
“I have to ask, does it bother you?” Rya inquired, her tone light yet curious.
Hilda fell silent, her focus locked ahead as if the world around her had suddenly faded away. The tension between them hung in the air, thick and palpable.
"Well?" Rya pressed, an eager smile tugging at her lips.
Hilda turned toward her, a quizzical look on her face. “What? Why are you asking me?”
Rya let out a soft laugh, her eyes shining with amusement. “Because it’s obvious you’re bothered by it,” she teased.
Hilda scoffed, dismissing the notion with a shake of her head. “I am not bothered! It’s just... improper,” she declared with a note of defiance.
Rya raised her hands in playful surrender. “Alright, if you want to know why, I'll tell you... I love the feel of the open air brushing against my skin. And if you think this is too much, just be thankful you weren’t with me two weeks ago—this dress is practically a fortress compared to what I wore then!” she added with a cheeky wink.
Hilda's high and mighty attitude vanished and was replaced by confusion.
"Pati... what?" she asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Patriarchy," Rya reiterated, her tone a mix of exasperation and amusement.
Hilda turned her gaze away, letting out a heavy sigh that seemed to echo her mounting frustration. A dull throb began to pulse at her temples, warning her of an impending headache.
'Is it true? Is the church hiding things from us?... And the Gods... Why have they not spoken to me?... They only ever spoke to the prophet or my father...'
Rya noticed that Hilda was deep in thought.
"Are you okay?"
"I'm fine," Hilda snapped back, the cold tone failing to hide her inner turmoil.
Rya's eyes saw some red, particularly floating around in her head.
'Shit... I gave her a headache... I'll fix it.'
With a gentle focus, Rya channeled her mana, releasing a soft stream of healing magic toward Hilda. The soothing warmth washed over her as she was still deep in thought and within seconds, Hilda's headache vanished.
'It frustrates me! Why would the church do such a thing? What does the prophet gain from lying to the people? A-And... Agh... M-My head feels better... That's strange... What is this feeling in my stomach? I've never felt like this before...'
"Y-Yes, actually. Thank you," Hilda said, sounding embarrassed.
"That's quite a weighty subject, but if you ask me... it seems like the Gods are more like cosmic spectators, playing games with our lives for their own amusement rather than genuinely caring about our welfare."
Hilda's eyes widened, and her jaw dropped.
Hilda’s eyes widened, disbelief painting her face. 'Is this woman out of her mind?'
"W-What makes you think that?" Hilda stammered, her disbelief palpable.
Rya's thoughts raced back to the moments when Nils had deceived her, the painful memories threatening to surface. She hesitated, not wanting to reveal her dark elven race in front of this curious girl.
“Let’s just say I’ve had my own... encounters with a couple of goddesses who thought it would be entertaining to break me mentally,” Rya replied, an icy edge lacing her words. “They failed, of course. But trust me, their games were no joke. I came out stronger, but it wasn’t easy.”
'This can't be true! How can she say something like this and not be struck down by the divine beings themselves,' Hilda thought at first but she felt like Rya was speaking the truth as she was still breathing. 'And yet, she sits here unharmed... What does this mean?'
Hilda had never considered the idea that the gods were playing games with humanity, and it made her sick.
'What if she is telling the truth? Is that why they never speak to us? Because we're just pawns in their game? How can they be so cruel?'
Rya could see Hilda's thoughts and could see the gears turning.
"Hey... Don't think too hard about it... It's just going to send you into a rabbit hole that will drive you crazy," Rya warned.
Hilda sighed and nodded.
'It's a lot to process, but maybe she's right. I shouldn't dwell on it too much,' Hilda thought, calming down.
"How do you not think about it?" Hilda asked.
Rya grinned.
"Well... Having trusted friends helps a lot," Rya said.
Hilda smiled sadly, and her expression fell.
"Friends?"
"Yep... It makes going through life a lot easier. Especially if they are the kind of friend who won't stab you in the back," Rya said, trying to cheer her up.
"I-I don't think I have any friends like that," Hilda muttered, her voice cracking.
"Really? You are easy to talk to... And it's obvious you are a nice person. You have a lot of qualities that would make someone want to be friends with you," Rya said.
Hilda's mood brightened slightly.
"I-I never thought of myself that way... Thank you," Hilda replied with a smile.
"You are welcome... But honestly, I find you very pretty, smart, and interesting... And if you are going to be around here for any amount of time, I wouldn't be opposed to being a friend... That's if you want me," Rya said, her tone gentle.
Hilda blushed, but her eyes shined brightly.
"R-Really? Y-You want to be my f-friend?"
"Yeah, I don't see an issue with it," Rya said with a smile.
Hilda was pleasantly surprised. She wasn't used to people treating her like an equal.
"I-I would love that."
Hilda reached out to her right hand, which had the beaded necklace with the Divine Three symbols on it, which seemed to be glowing all of a sudden.
"It's a promise," Rya said and shook her hand.
"A promise," Hilda replied with a bright smile, "My name is—"
"PRINCESS HILDA!" Roared the voice of a furious man.
Hilda's eyes widened, and her body stiffened as the familiar voice rang through the air. Rya's smile twitched as she heard the name of the princess who had been arranged to marry her fiance.
'I... I fucking made friends with my competition?... Good one, Rya... Real good,' Rya thought as she let go of Hilda's hand and slowly turned to see who was screaming.
Rya's thoughts changed when she saw who it was, as three men dressed in white armor came into her view. It brought her back to the early days when she was first teleported to Tertius. When the Dark Elves citadel was attacked by men that wore similar armor. And the tall man with the most holy-looking armor of the three reminded her of that piece of shit, who tried to kill her, Sir Claudius. He had that same arrogant aura but a different face.
'The fucking Paladin and his white knights... I've been waiting a long time for this day,' Rya thought darkly.