I will not die a Villainess's death

"Elysia, let's do our best today. I will respect your wishes of giving you time to think but I don't want this to affect us in the future."

Elysia looked at Eve's serious face with a sigh. She suddenly felt all her tiredness come running back to her. Just looking at Eve was a hard task right now.

And then there was Adam who was glaring daggers into the pair's back. Every time Elysia looked over in his direction, she was reminded of the dream she had before.

The madness in his eyes was not there currently but the possibility of it returning terrified Elysia a lot.

"Now then, if we have all agreed we should return to our preparations. The ceremony will start shortly so you all should take your place now."

Elysia followed with a numb feeling in her chest. Her hand had also started to throb as well. Elysia had been asked specifically to not let it get wet but she had.

Eve still had that sweet and innocent smile on her face that Elysia liked and that was the only thing that was getting Elysia liked about this situation.

"I didn't want to say this back there in case they took you out of the ceremony but you don't look well right now. Is everything alright with you?"

Eve stopped right in front of Elysia and that started Elysia enough to make her crash into Eve's back.

'Ouch! It hurts. Why does Eve have such a firm back? Isn't she supposed to be all soft and harmless?'

Not only did it hurt Elysia's nose to bump into Eve but also her hand was jolted around by her sudden stopping. Her flinch did not go unnoticed by Eve, nor did Elysia's brief action of steading her hand.

"Does it hurt? I know you injured your hand but I did not realize it was severe enough to cause you pain. Did you get it looked at properly?"

Elysia sighed as her plan to hide her injury was foiled. It was too much to ask people to not butt into her business.

And now Eve was getting all worried over something that she should not. This was not good in the grand scheme of things for Elysia.

"This small injury is nothing. It just hurts a little because I accidentally got it wet when I was not supposed to. It's no big deal and it will heal soon enough."

Eve looked anxious as soon as she heard that. When her hand came down to hold Elysia's injured hand, she did not protest against it.

Even if it hurt to touch, Eve was being careful and delicate with Elysia right now. That action was enough to make Elysia grit her teeth and accept the pain she was feeling.

"You should tell me when you are injured. What use are my healing powers if they don't even help those I want to? Now let me see how I can heal you."

Warmth flowed inside Elysia's body as the magic tried to repair her broken hand. The soft golden glow of Eve's magic attracted a lot of eyes.

Head Priest Yohan's disapproving eyes were a part of that party, and Elysia got his message loud and clear.

She needed to stop Eve from using any more of her powers.

"Eve, it's alright now. I did get treatment and the healer said that I will be alright in a day or two. Your magic aided my recovery as well so my hand is alright now."

Elysia did not pull her hand back but rather, she closed her fist around Eve's hand. It was her way of assuring Eve that she was alright now.

Eve still had a look of suspicion in her eyes but Elysia's display seemed to have convinced her otherwise.

Elysia also breathed a sigh of relief as her hand was let go. She had started to feel nervous while holding onto Eve's hand for so long. Everyone had been looking at her and Eve with weird looks in their eyes.

"It is nice to see that you are feeling well now. I feared you would be too injured to continue  the ceremony. I am also happy that I was of help to you."

Eve's happy face made it impossible for Elysia to tell her the truth.

Eve's magic had made no change in Elysia's injured hand. It was still throbbing and painting her like before.

Just as any other time before, Eve's magic had failed to heal Elysia. But Elysia would take that secret to the grave than see Eve feel disappointed in her.

"You know, after last time I was really afraid that my magic would not be able to heal you. It gave me thoughts of what would happen if you were injured someday and in need of healing."

"If I'm unable to help at that time then I would feel too pathetic and worthless of you. But thank god it is not like that. My powers would not have any meaning if I could not help you and-"

Elysia stopped Eve before she could make an irreversible mistake and ruin her reputation any more than she had already.

She quickly eyes head Priest Yohan, only to see his relieved face at Elysia's quick actions. Eve's thoughtless actions had been about to ruin everything that Elysia had tried to build for her.

One word of carelessness was easy to clarify, but if it kept happening too many times,  no one would be able to clean up this mess.

"Eve, I am flattered that you think of me this way but please keep quiet right now. Think of where you are right now and what you are saying."

Elysia's words were a whisper before she spoke out aloud.

"I am so flattered that my lady thinks of me as such a precious friend. I am sure this empire is flattered to have such a caring Saintess who would use her powers for people's benefit."

"That-amdmfmfmfmff"

Whatever Eve wanted to say, Elysia did not allow her to. She took her hand and dragged her out of the hall before anything else can happen.

Although there was no danger in the hall, one could not be sure who was listening in on this conversation.

As the saying went, even the walls had ears. One needed to be careful about what they were saying if they did not want to suffer heavy consequences.

"Elysia! I would like you to know that I was quite serious back there. I do want to use my powers for your benefit."

"But that is not something you can decide on your Eve. Eve, listen to me. You are the face of the temple, the one they all depend on, and also the next saintess. You, out of everyone, cannot say that you will be selfish. Even if that is something you are going to do, you cannot say your feelings out aloud."

Elysia knew she was demanding a lot out of Eve.

After all, Eve was a human as well and even she had desired and greed she wanted to chase after.

But still, Elysia had worked so hard to secure Eve's future and for her acceptance. She did not want to see her handwork go down the drain.

"Is me being a saintess such a big deal for you, Elysia? Am I worthless to you if I am not the saintess-"

"It's not like that. I will like Eve no matter how she is. But this empire needs a saintess and it's something only you can do. I want you to reach your full potential and-"

"Alright, I understand and I will do as you say if you do one thing for me."

Elysia felt relief fill her heart as soon as she heard Eve's words. If Eve was making a promise like that then she would keep it.

"Fine. What do you want me to do?"

No matter what it was, Elysia was sure she would be able to do it. She did not fear much and she was also determined to carry out her orders.

"Then kiss me. A proper one like Adam kissed you yesterday. If you do that for me then I will do my best to fulfill your request."

'Nevermind. Can I take my words back? Eve can do what she wants to.'

Elysia felt disappointment and excitement hit her at the same time. She was not even sure that it was possible to feel those two emotions at the same time but here she was.

Eve was still looking back at her with an expecting face that Elysia could not ignore.

'Fine. I might as well humor her just this once.'

"Eve, I will kiss you but it will be a small peck. I don't feel comfortable-"

"Alright. I will take what I can get."

Eve seemed to not be worried about not getting what she asked for but Elysia felt relieved. She had not sorted out her feelings yet but she still knew she would follow through on the request Eve made.

That brush of lips was soft and hesitant. Elysia was not sure how much she could press in before it got too much for Eve.

She wanted to open her eyes and have a look at what face Eve was making when she felt Eve's hand on her head and she was pushed into the kiss even more.

Eve's tongue came out to poke around and Elysia hesitantly opened her mouth to let her in.

If being kissed by Adam felt like she was being consumed then Eve's kiss felt like she was being sucked out.

Fireworks were going off inside Elysia's stomach and her head spun by the force of that kiss.

And just as easily as it had started, it ended as well. Elysia almost leaned in to continue that kiss before realizing just where she was and what she was doing.

"Man, that felt really good. Elysia, I am ready to face the challenge head so let's hurry. People are waiting for us to start the ceremony after all."

Elysia had some words to say regarding what just happened but her brain went empty as soon as she thought of something.

She no longer knew what to say or make of anything.

'What just happened? How did I allow myself to be in this position?'