A Short Day (1)

Early in the morning.

Upon returning to his cabin from training, Vera glanced at his casual clothes hanging on one of the walls.

The all-black suit was obviously a far cry from his usual priest attire.

It was something he had prepared for the date.

He had accepted Renees invitation for a date and had prepared himself accordingly.

Vera thought back to the events of two days ago with a wide smile on his face.

A date. Lets get some air together. We can also eat some tasty food and bask under the sun.

The work.

Are you going to die from not doing it for a day? Its okay. Its okay.

It was such an outrageous statement to say, but Vera didnt care.

After all, there was nothing wrong with Renees words.

Elia wasnt such an unorganized place that it would fall apart just because he was away for a day.

Besides, staying cooped up in one place wouldnt make him find Alaysia, the only problem at the moment.

Just for a day.

As Renee had told him the other day, it wouldnt hurt to take it easy.

Having shaken off his thoughts, Vera reached for the suit.

Then, he began to put it on.

The blackness of the garment against his pale skin could have made him look grim, but Veras physique made up for it.

His robust muscles, packed all over his body, accentuated the lines of the suit.

His height, which far exceeded the average for the continent, made him look more imposing than grim.

Completely dressed, Vera walked over to a mirror on one of the walls to check his appearance.

I guess.

This would do.

While he had that thought

Your hair has grown a lot.

Renees words echoed in his mind.

Hmm

Vera grabbed a few strands of his forelock with his fingers.

As he tugged at it, he realized that it had indeed grown long enough to reach the tip of his nose.

Vera contemplated.

Renee probably wouldnt mind if he went out like this, but there were the others prying eyes.

Vera didnt want to look shabby while walking around with Renee.

He had his own pride, and he wanted to look as good as Renees dazzling beauty.

Rustle

Vera swept all of his forelock back, then gave it a quick whisk to part it naturally.

Then, he smiled with satisfaction.

Thats it.

A thought that Vargo, who usually called him a gloomy punk, wouldnt be able to call him that today suddenly crossed his mind.

***

Who are you?

Rohan asked as he headed to the dining hall.

Veras face slightly crumpled at the question.

Are you farsighted?

Vera?

Do you think Im his twin?

Rohan gasped.

What the?

What kind of situation is this?

Whats with Veras look as he stood in front of him?

The neat and crisp suit, the lines well-tailored to his big figure, the exposed forehead and prominent nose, and his pale skin.

It was very different from the Vera that Rohan knew.

Are you going somewhere, sir?

A respectful question came out.

Vera wondered what was wrong with Rohan as he answered.

I have an outing with the Saint.

Aha

Rohan understood.

However, it didnt alleviate the awkwardness.

Rohan was suddenly confronted with a painful memory that flashed in his mind.

It was a memory from a day not far away.

It was only a few weeks ago when he had visited a tavern in a neighboring city.

Ladies? Do you have any compa

Yes.

Oh, may I join your com

They dont like you.

What? They didnt even see me.

They just dont like you. Thats it.

There was a woman who was putting up walls against him, and a neat man who approached that woman.

Excuse me, do you happen

I have a lot of time.

And then they walked away together.

Ugh!

Rohan grabbed his head.

The way Vera looked now reminded him of that honey-trapping bastard.

A bastard relying solely on his looks

No, thats just how he wanted to remember that handsome man.

The painful memory stabbed Rohan in the gut.

His resurging resentment led him to grind his teeth.

Vera looked at him coldly.

He assumed that the reason why Rohan suddenly touched his head was, as always, a hangover.

Have you been drinking excessively again? Please do it moderately. Dont you remember what kind of time it is?

Vera clicked his tongue, and it would be strange if that didnt piss Rohan off.

What about you?

In such a situation, youre going on a date?

You, whos excitedly going out, dressed up to the nines?

Rohans eyes turned bloodshot.

His hands trembled with resentment.

However, Rohan couldnt pour it out.

Merely facing Vera was enough to remind him of some painful moments.

Hesitantly, Rohan stepped backwards.

Then, he turned on his heel and ran away.

Vera, left alone in the hallway, stared at his back for a while before shaking his head.

When will he grow up?

He felt frustrated inside.

Vera didnt know.

He didnt know that the concern he was facing now was something Vargo had often considered while looking at Rohan.

He didnt realize that he was becoming like Vargo.

Vera wasnt objective enough towards himself to realize that.

***

Renees quarters were in an uproar.

It wasnt for any other reason.

It was because of Vera, who suddenly dressed himself up today.

As it wasnt a small accommodation, there were a lot of attendants.

Moreover, all of them were apprentice priestesses around Renees age.

What could be more interesting to talk about for girls, who were holed up in the temple to pray while they were in their primes?

It would undoubtedly be love and men.

In the midst of all the commotion, Renees expression turned pouty.

Saint! This is awesome! Really awesome! Super duper awesome!!!

Annie made a fuss, slapping Renees shoulder.

Renee swayed with that slap, showing her discomfort, but no one paid Renee enough attention to notice that right away.

Tap.

Tap.

Renee snappily tapped her cane to the floor.

Her heart was full of frustration towards Vera.

Why did he come dressed up for nothing?

That was the reason.

His face, all dressed up, that she couldnt even see.

A face that attracted other womens attention.

Veras visual advantage meant a Vera I cant enjoy to Renee, and thus it made her frustrated.

Renee thought it would be better if Vera was an ugly man no one would look at.

It occurred to her that it would be good if he could never gain other womens attention forever.

This way, she would be the only one to like Vera.

Hes coming! Hes coming!

Annie made a fuss again.

Renee sat on the chair delinquently and raised her gaze.

Good morning, Saint.

She replied to Veras greetings in the same curt manner.

Do you like it?

Pardon?

Im asking if you like it.

The corners of Renees eyes seemed as though she were pouting.

Vera tilted his head, looking perplexed.

Needless to say, Vera had no idea why Renee was so sulky.

Only then did Annie also notice that something was wrong.

Breaking in a cold sweat, she took a step backward and escaped the room.

Eventually, they were left alone in the room.

Renee reached out her hand.

Your face.

Do you mean my face?

Give it to me.

Vera studied Renees face again.

Narrowed forehead, squinted eyes, and pouty lips.

He didnt know what was wrong, but she didnt seem to be in a good mood. Vera thought it would be best to comply at this moment and leaned his cheek against Renees hand.

Then, Renee pressed his face hard.

Explain.

As she spoke, Renee groped Veras face.

Vera felt the touch and opened his mouth.

I wore a black suit today. As you said, Im going out today not as a priest, but as your lo-lover.

As he paused for a second, feeling shy at the word lover, Renee flinched and blushed.

Even in that moment, her hand moved eagerly.

And?

Like you said, my hair has grown quite long. Since I only realized it this morning, I didnt have time to trim it, so I swept it back.

Renees hand drifted to Veras forehead.

She rubbed his forehead with her palm, then she tapped her thumb from the middle of his forehead down to the tip of his nose.

But seeing other peoples reactions made me feel like something was wrong. I thought I was decent enough, but everyone I met today looked away from me.

Renees hands tensed up.

She already knew the reason for those reactions.

However, Renee would never tell him that the reason was because he was too handsome.

First, she didnt want to see Vera hold his head high, and second, she wanted Vera to never know that he was handsome.

I guess Vera is ugly. Well

Vera felt a stabbing sensation in his heart.

He knew that Renee said it as a way to vent out of her frustration about something, but still, those words hurt.

Renee also noticed Veras reaction and flinched.

She pursed her lips.

She lost her temper for no reason.

Renee didnt want to utter an apology for a moment, so she conveyed her apology in a different way.

Kiss.

Renee held her head up straight.

Now that youre here, give me a kiss.

She said, her cheeks blushing.

Vera blinked at that. Then, he realized that maybe Renee was in a better mood, and he leaned his head with a bright smile.

Smooch

Their lips met briefly before parting again.

Renee ran her tongue across his lips once, then pulled Vera into a hug and rubbed her cheek against Veras.

I dont mind even if Veras ugly.

Veras cheeks were cold, perhaps from the breeze on his way here.

Renee felt compelled to warm those cheeks quickly, and she added.

So dont worry about other peoples reactions.

Said the one who worried about it the most.

Renee was very possessive.

As such, she became very petty when it came to Vera.

Renee reacted that way because she was such a person.

She rubbed her face against Veras cheeks for a while before pulling her head away once she noticed that Veras cheeks had warmed up with her warmth.

And todays our date, so Vera only has to pay attention to me.

Her declaration somehow resembled coercion.

A smirk tugged at Veras lips.

He finally realized the reason why Renee was so upset.

Jealousy.

His mischievousness rose up as he realized it.

Vera reached out his arm and wrapped it around Renees waist, then replied to her in a voice filled with laughter.

Of course I will.

Sure, you should.

But theres one thing youre wrong about, Saint.

Renee tilted her head.

Vera held back his laughter that threatened to burst out, then said to Renee.

I am a handsome man.

Jolt.

Renees body jerked.

Soon after, a fuming expression crossed Renees face.

Vera added once again.

Whether in our previous life or this life, Ive always been a handsome man who made people take a second glance.

He was being overconfident, but he wasnt entirely wrong.

Vera had been courted many times in his life solely through his face.

Moreover, he was a man who made good use of that courtship to make countless profits.

Smack!

Renee grabbed Veras cheeks.

No! Youre super ugly!

Youre mistaken.

Its true! I can tell just by touching you!

Her statement showed that she would never admit it, but it didnt make Vera yield.

Are you sure?

His words sounded like teasing.

It made Renees shoulders shudder faintly.

The sound of squeaky, raspy breaths began to fill the room.

Vera felt delighted.

Suddenly, he remembered what had happened at the end of his previous life.

I was a beauty admired by everyone.

Those were the words that she had told him so confidently.

Recalling that, Vera thought to himself.

Im finally getting my revenge.

He thought that he had finally gotten his revenge for those words that had shaken him to the core after so many years.