21 Does Life Hates Me?

The morning sunlight filtered through my senses, rousing me from slumber. However, the tranquility of my awakening was swiftly eclipsed by the sight of a figure I knew all too well—Eveline.

Her countenance bore with seriousness, her features a canvas devoid of emotion as our gazes locked, a tableau of silent contemplation.

"Eveline..." I murmured, my voice cautious, a subtle acknowledgment of the situation's gravity.

Her response came in the form of an interrogative statement, her words hanging in the air between us like an unspoken challenge. "Care to give me an explanation?"

With her arms folded across her chest, Eveline's stance was one of unmistakable authority. Her scrutinizing gaze traveled across my whole body, as if she sought answers etched into the very fabric of my WHOLE well being. Then, her focus zeroed in on my eyes, the intensity of her inspection remained.

I cleared my throat, an awkward smile tugging at my lips. "Erm... Hi?"

Her sharp gaze held steady, her eyes seeming to pierce through my exterior. And then she spoke again, her voice crisp with authority. "Is that all you have to say?"

A sudden tension gripped my body, my fingers involuntarily clutching the edge of the blanket that partially concealed my lower half. As I mulled over the predicament, a wave of uncertainty washed over me.

"Ah, well..." I began, my voice betraying a hint of unease. My thoughts raced, each word carefully chosen as I struggled to formulate a plausible explanation for the current situation.

"Ah, erm... About that?"

Eveline's glare remained unrelenting, and I mentally crossed 'jokes' off the list of effective evasive maneuvers. Should I lie to her by saying that I've formed a party with a hero? Nah. Knowing her, she would ask the name of the hero and visit them later.

Shaking my head with a calm expression, I attempted to conjure an explanation that sounded halfway plausible. "Look, didn't I mention I was just a passing hero?"

A skeptical stare and a sarcastic slow clap from Eveline was enough to indicate that my charisma stat needed a major buff.

"So, you really are...."

Eveline pressed her temples together, her frustration palpable.

As she began questioning me about my activities since leaving the Rose Kingdom, I provided answers that conveniently omitted certain details, like how I managed to form my core. That's when I noticed her reaction – a mix of confusion and disappointment.

Frankly, I couldn't quite grasp why she was responding this way. Sure, I'd left her without so much as a personal farewell, merely a note as a joke. But the level of disappointment on her face? That really took me by surprise.

After she'd calmed down a bit, Eveline locked eyes with me and sighed. "At least, I'm relieved you survived without anyone's direct assistance. Without the stroke of luck, I have no doubt you'd have met your demise multiple times already."

"Hahaha... It's not entirely like that," I chuckled, showing her a gentle smile while offering a sheepish scratch to the back of my head.

Oh, Eveline, if only you knew. Do you really think I'm like my junior? Sure, I appreciate the luck that's seen me through some close calls, but it's not all just random happenstance. My brain's gotten me out of quite a few predicaments, thank you very much.

As I found myself on the precipice of digging myself into a deeper hole with my feeble explanation, a voice that both filled me with dread and oddly enough, a sense of familiarity, cut through the tension.

Just when I was about to resign myself to the clutches of one determined girl's questioning, fate had other plans. Opening the door at the corner of the room was none other than Seraphina. An inquisitive arch of her eyebrow was all it took for me to realize that she had spotted me.

"Saber..."

Ahhh... Life is a bitch.

"What's next?" I quipped with a light shake of my head, hoping to sprinkle a touch of humor onto the impending storm of questions.

Eveline, on the other hand, shot me a look that seemed to ask if I had lost my mind. Her baffled expression prompted a weary sigh to escape my lips.

"Never mind," I muttered to myself.

As Seraphina slowly closed the distance between us, a sense of gravity seemed to envelop the scene. My observation skills noted that her other companions, including Hero Julius, trailed behind her.

Eveline's gaze shifted between Seraphina and me, curiosity dancing in her eyes as she absorbed the weight of the encounter. The silence that hung in the air was almost palpable, as if the world itself held its breath, aware of the significance of this unexpected reunion.

"You guys know each other?" Eveline's voice cut through the stillness, her words carrying a tinge of intrigue. Her eyes settled on Seraphina before returning to me, seeking answers that seemed to linger just beyond the surface.

A rueful smile tugged at the corner of my lips as I met Eveline's gaze. "More or less, Seraphina was once a companion of mine," I replied, my tone carrying a hint of false nostalgia. With a subtle shrug, I closed my eyes and took a deep breath.

"How are you feeling?" Seraphina's voice carried a soothing cadence, her eyes reflecting a genuine concern that seemed to radiate from within her.

Returning her smile through the mirroring method, I acknowledged her concern. "I'm fine... Just a few bruises from the encounter with the monster," I explained, my words carrying a mixture of resilience and reassurance.

Her eyes held a flicker of empathy as she absorbed my words, her understanding transcending the surface level of conversation.

"I understand," Seraphina responded, her nod a subtle affirmation that spoke volumes.

After a few minutes of exchanged conversation, during which a sense of ease had settled between us, Seraphina's demeanor shifted slightly. With a sigh, she turned her gaze away, her voice carrying a hint of reluctance as she spoke, "I better go. I'm still planning to visit Sylvia, Aria, and the others."

As she prepared to depart, her attention briefly turned towards Hero Julius, who displayed a weakened hand gesture before finding his voice. "May I borrow Saber for a couple of minutes?" he inquired, raising a gentle smile.

He shifted his gaze towards Eveline, a silent exchange passing between them. A brief, subtle movement of her shoulders was her response, a gesture that seemed to convey a mix of resignation and understanding.

"Alright." With a decisive movement, she rose from her seat, leaving behind the space that had temporarily housed our gathering.

As Eveline followed Seraphina's departing figure, the gravity of their departure was palpable. The scene that had held a serious air only remained.

"So... What is it that you're after?" I inquired, allowing my back to rest against the wall with a sense of casual ease.

"Saber... Was it you who hurled the explosive bottle at the Boss Monster?"

Direct and no-nonsense, I see.

"Hmm... Yeah, I won't deny it. I was the one behind that move... Are you planning to share this information?"

"...Should I?"

Given his personality, it might be best not to pressure him into keeping it a secret.

"...Nope. It's entirely up to you. Whether you choose to share it or not, I won't take any action based on that."

With a sigh, Julius absently scratched his nape. "I understand... It's not like anyone has to find out your secret."

Bingo!

"That's all I wanted to ask. Thank you for your candid responses," he replied, his tone carrying a sense of finality as he turned to depart.

Ah... It seems I might be able to use him with this situation.

"Julius!"

He stopped his track upon hearing me call out his name.

With a hint of appreciation in my expression, I offered a soft smile. "Prince Julius, or should I say Hero Julius, could you do me a favor? Could you consider taking credit for defeating the monster?"

His brow furrowed in confusion. "Why would I do that?"

"Well, let's be realistic. It's unlikely anyone would readily believe that I was behind it. Moreover, I've been hearing about Maximus's recent efforts to expand his influence. Rumor has it he's even plotting a coup. If he succeeds, the alliance between your kingdom and his might be compromised. By claiming the victory over the Boss Monster, your influence across kingdoms would undoubtedly rise. Even if he manages to succeed in the coup, the nobles might hesitate to sever the alliance if they see you as a pivotal figure."

He paused for a moment, mulling over my proposal before offering a nod. "I understand your point... I'm willing to give it serious thought. But I have to ask, why would you be willing to let me take all the credit?"

I took a moment, closing my eyes as I gathered my thoughts. "To be honest, I'm not one to seek the spotlight. I don't mind occasional public appearances, but excessive attention isn't my preference. Given my background as a commoner adopted into a noble family, I believe too much attention could raise complications."

Julius let out a weighty sigh, his smile carrying a hint of understanding. "Is there anything else you'd like to discuss?"

As I was about to conclude our conversation, an unexpected impulse to tease him arose within me. "Julius... Do you happen to have a crush for the Saintess?"

"....Huh?"

His composed demeanor wavered, his face taking on a noticeable shade of red.

"No, I don't... Was it that apparent?" He turned his head back to face me, his expression a mixture of surprise and mild chagrin.

"Well, to be fair, it was quite evident, at least to me. Besides your sister, I did happen to notice your rather consistent focus on her during the battle. Your fellow companions even had to raise their voices to pull your attention away from her."

His hands instinctively covered his face, a visible flush of embarrassment painting his features as my observation hit home.

"Anyway, let's clear things up—I have no objections to your relationship. In fact, you already have my blessing. However, I do think it's wise for you to remain vigilant when it comes to other heroes. The future is uncertain, and unexpected events could unfold."

The reason behind my advice was a bit unusual, as it stemmed from information in the novel. According to the story, Julius nearly faced a troubling situation after marrying Seraphina — NTR. However, this attempt was unsuccessful thanks to one of their companions who noticed that Seraphina acting oddly and alerted Julius. After uncovering the fact that the second hero bastard, Raul, was constantly threatening her, Julius took decisive action that left Raul traumatized to the point the guy had to hire few people to watch whenever he sleeps.

Julius met my gaze through the gap between his fingers before slowly lowering his hands, his demeanor visibly calming as he processed the exchange.

"Alright. Is there anything else...?" His tired expression seemed to convey a desire to conclude the conversation swiftly.

I offered a dismissive gesture and replied, "That covers it... For the time being."