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“Priest Yuder! Good mor…ning...”
Lusan approached him with a bright face and holding a copy of a scripture in his arms. The Priest, who seemed like he had something to say, quickly fell silent as he caught sight of the person beside Yuder.
“Priest Lusan, Good morning.”
It wasn’t Yuder who replied to Lusan. It was the man beside him. Yuder was a fall man, however the one smiling like the sun on a blissful winter morning was even taller, to the point Lusan had to crane his neck to properly look at him. Eyes like rubies squinted as blonde hair sparked like gold under the sunlight. Donned in a white uniform decorated with gold thread, Kishiar la orr smiled at Lusan.
“I hope you are having a good day, priest.”
Kishiar spoke as he flashed a blinding smile towards Lusan. The green haired priest found himself unable to say anything. How could he? When the descendant of the sun god and the younger brother of the emperor, Duke of Peletta was standing in front of him?
“Your…your highness..”
“Oh no, I’m not here as a Duke right now. Just call me commander will you?”
Feeling flustered, Lusan glanced at his fellow priest. Yuder, the young man wearing the same clothes as Lusan, felt like his only saving grace. The dark haird priest sighed before speaking.
“Stop bothering the priests of the sun god, your highness. If there is nothing more, please return to your residence.”
Lusan, who looked at Yuder hoping he would save him, felt like his legs would give up right then and there. The way Yuder talked, no, commanded Kishiar felt nearly like a blasphemy.With colour drained from his face and mouth wide open, Lusan stared at his fellow priest.
‘Priest Yuder…I haven’t known you for long but I will be sure to light incense and pray for you everyday. You were a good person, maybe a little– no. alot blunt, still a good person.’
Unaware of how Lusan was already imagining what kind of flowers Yuder would like to receive on his funeral, Yuder simply continued to glare at Kishiar with gloomy eyes. Despite being spoken to disrespectfully, Kishiar’s smile just got wider, as if it was a joyous occasion.
“Oh my, I’m wounded that Priest Yuder thinks I'm here to bother the priests. I’m simply here to offer prayers to the sun god.”
“Is that so? Then you should get going, I don’t think you of all people would need guidance.”
Although Kishiar seemed completely unfazed by Yuder’s rudeness, Lusan felt his blood run cold. Yuder seemed to be really pushing his luck. No matter how kind and forgiving Kishiar la orr seemed, he was, after all, a duke and a former royal prince.
“Y-yuder.”
“You wound me priest. Why rush to send me away? We have the entire day at our hand.”
“It’s your highness who has the entire day to loiter. I, on the other hand, am a rather busy person.”
Although Lusan tried to hint at Yuder to stop, neither Duke of Peletta or Yuder seemed to have any intention of stopping. The green-haired priest looked around nervously. Their interaction was starting to gain the attention of other priests, some even stopping to look. If this continued, a bishop might appear.
Thinking about the bishop, who were all nobles, Lusan felt even more panicked. If they found out about this, Yuder would likely be kicked out of the temple.
“I simply wanted to talk to you. Yet you are treating me like a scoundrel who is harassing an innocent maiden in broad daylight with no shame.”
“Is that how I come off? My deepest apologies, I simply wish to dedicate my life to the sun god.”
Duke of Peletta, known for indulging in debauchery, was now bothering a priest in the temple of the sun god? Lusan felt like throwing up at the image he created in his mind. Nonetheless, it was more important to get them to stop arguing so openly.
Just as he was thinking about what to do, Lusan, from the corner of his eye, saw one of the bishops, who was rather prideful over his noble lineage, approaching them at a rapid speed.
“Y-yuder, why don’t you guide his highness to the second prayer room? It doesn't have any reservations until twelve o’clock!”
In a desperate attempt, Lusan practically clung onto Yuder’s long sleeve. While the bishop didn’t usually pay any mind to ordinary priests, he would undoubtedly cause a big deal if he knew how Yuder acted with Duke Peletta.
“What are you..”
Yuder’s confused voice faded out as he followed Lusan’s eyes. His dark eyes narrowed as he likely realised the reason behind Lusan’s change of demeanor. The young priest looked at Kishiar, the happy man who was grinning innocently as if he hadn’t just caused much trouble for both yuder and his fellow priest.
Kishiar’s eyes glimmered in curiosity. As if asking what Yuder was going to do now. In the end, Yuder could only dig his nails into the flesh of his palm. He gently shook off Lusan before roughly grabbing Kishiar’s arm.
“Please tell Priest Julia I won’t be able to attend the morning prayer.”
Yuder said to Lusan without looking at the priest. His caliginous eyes glaring at Kishiar. The blonde haired man on the other hand was grinning as he winked at Yuder. Clearly not giving a damn that the priest was very unhappy with him.
Lusan watched as Yuder dragged Kishiar towards the prayer room. A relief spread through Lusan as his feets almost gave out. Thankfully, no bishop would find out about this.
The green-haired man sighed as he looked around. The other priests who stopped to watch slowly started scattering away as the interesting ‘show’ came to an end.
‘Hahh.’
Rumours that Duke of Peletta had set his sight on a talented novice priest would undoubtedly float around tomorrow. But it shouldn't affect Yuder.
'Right?’
Lusan could only sigh and hope for the best.
—---
Two pairs of footsteps echoed throughout the hallway as Yuder and Kishiar walked beside each other. The younger man had already let go of the blonde’s arm, much to the latter’s dismay. Yuder, despite feeling Kishiar’s piercing gaze on the side of his face, did not spare even a slight glance at him.
In the end, as if he couldn’t take it anymore, Kishiar felt out a hefty sigh.
“Will you not even look at me now? I already apologised.”
“...”
Yuder didn’t answer Kishiar. Instead, he only fastened his pace. He only stopped in front of a closed door. The young man took out a bundle of keys from his pocket to open the door.
As he was putting the key through the keyhole, He could feel Kishiar’s presence stop behind him. For a moment, there was no activity, to the point Yuder thought Kishiar wasn’t actually behind him. Just as he was about to open the door, a sudden presence surrounded him.
“!”
He tightened his grip on the door knob. A presence, similar to a scent, suddenly busted out and began exerting pressure on Yuder’s body. It wasn’t a feeling that Yuder despised. Instead of feeling suffocated, the priest simply felt like something warm and soft, almost like a quilt, had wrapped itself around him. This presence that suddenly appeared out of nowhere, was the ‘scent’ of an alpha awakener. And what Yuder was feeling was an omega’s reaction to the scent of an alpha they trusted.
All of a sudden, the pressure was withdrawn. As if it never existed.
“Priest?”
The voice, laden with tease, called out. Yuder dug his teeth into his lips before twisting the door open.
“..We are here.”
The dark haired priest said as he stepped inside the room, followed by Kishiar. The prayer room, made for nobles to worship in private, was extremely spacious. Still, Yuder would rather be in a cramped box instead of with Kishiar in this spacious room.
Yuder took a deep breath. He acted too agitatedly just now. He had to calm down.
“I apologise for my previous behaviour. As Priest Lusan said, this room will be empty until twelve, I will come to fetch you when it’s time.”
Yuder bowed towards Kishiar and before hearing the Duke’s reply, He quickly turned his heel and began walking towards the door.
“Priest Yuder.”
“...”
Pretending not to hear, Yuder simply made his way towards the door.
But it seemed that Kishiar wasn’t ready to let him go so soon.
“Are you not going to consider my offer?”
“...As I have said before, I’m a humble priest of the sun god. I dare not overestimate myself, your highness”
“A humble priest who reconstructed the geography of the Great Sarain forest, defeated an unknown beast and even healed the life long vessel problem of the royal family, I think you are underestimating yourself.”
Kishiar, who had listed off the things Yuder had done, slowly approached him from behind.
“Not to mention your abilities which surpass any other awakener. So why do you insist on staying here as a priest instead of coming with me?”
Whether Kishiar was truly curious or simply wanted to stall time, Yude didn’t know. Even the way he worded his sentences seemed like a trap. The man, like a sly beast, secretly creeped up behind Yuder.
“What your highness just said, people might misunderstand.”
“MIsunderstand? As the cavalry commander, isn’t it natural for me to want a talented individual like you to be mine?”
Yuder internally sighed and turned towards the latter man. Kishiar's offer for him to join the cavalry was not without any basis. Given his abilities, it was natural for Kishiar to want to recruit Yuder. However, the problem was not the offer, but the way Kishiar worded it.
“Besides, I really think the cavalry uniform would suit you better than these white robes, or, if you prefer white. You know you are always free to try on my-”
“Please stop, and maintain appropriate distance.”
Kishiar had gotten close enough for Yuder to sense his body heat. They weren’t making contact, however Yuder still felt like his skin was about to burn up. As if a fire as red as Kishiar’s eyes were about to swallow him alive.
“Does this closeness bother you?”
Kishiar smiled mischievously, brushing his knuckle past Yuder’s cheek and caressing his ear.
“Even though we had already crossed every other boundary?”
Perhaps this was the limit for Yuder, because the next thing Kishiar knew was something pulling him by his collar and Yuder’s finger holding his chin, pulling him down.
“And if it does, what are you going to do?”
Even closer than before, Kishiar could feel Yuder’s hot breath on his skin. Eyes like obsidian looked into Kishiar's ruby ones fearlessly. Black hair like the night sky swayed slightly. The priest had grabbed him by the collar and pulled Kishiar towards him.
The young man who was using a polite tone just seconds ago was gone. Yuder had dropped all formalities, though Kishiar didn't mind one bit.
Lips hovered just above each other, one wrong step and a mishap would occur undoubtedly. But did this kind of mishap even matter when even bigger ones had already transpired?
“Well…”
Kishiar began, almost looking forward to Yuder’s next move.
“I will simply continue to tear down the walls.”
“It's all for naught.”
“I beg to differ.”
Kishiar curled his lips as he attempted to wrap his arm around Yuder’s waist. However, Yuder didn't give him a chance as he quickly untangled himself from the duke.
“Well, I will no longer waste the Duke’s time.”
And with that, the priest was already five steps away from Kishiar, as if the past few seconds were just a mirage. Kishiar watched dumbfoundedly as Yuder gave a slight bow.
“May the Sun god accept your prayers.”
Repeating the words taught to every novice priest on the first day of their training, Yuder did not bother to stay and heard out anything else Kishiar had to say.
And as the blonde man stared blankly at the door that was slammed shut on his face, he couldn't help but sigh in disappointment, a defeated laugh escaped his lips.
“How can I pray to any god when all I wish is to worship you?”