2-46 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

**Volume 2, Chapter 46: "Who Else But You?"** During a conversation with Aesphyra, Vannesa realized she had inadvertently fallen into Aesphyra’s verbal trap. Aesphyra had cleverly phrased her question in such a way that both options essentially led to the same conclusion, and Vannesa, caught in the moment, responded without fully thinking it through. Aesphyra, wearing a satisfied grin reminiscent of a fox that had just outwitted her prey, teased, "Oh~ so you just can’t bear to leave me, is that it?" "Miss Aesphyra!" Vannesa cried out, both embarrassed and frustrated, realizing she had been skillfully led into a trap by Aesphyra's crafty words. Aesphyra leaned in slightly, her voice teasing, "Oh, Vannesa, that adorable expression of yours is almost too tempting. I might not be able to resist 'devouring' you~" ‘Virtue +100.’ ‘Current Virtue: 4524.’ Vannesa was tongue-tied as she felt the warmth of Aesphyra's breath so close to her face, her heart racing as those enchanting violet eyes gazed at her with a mischievous affection. Her cheeks burned, and she swallowed nervously. What is she planning to do?? Could it be that she intends to...?? If she really wants to do it, what should I do? I can't even move right now. To just give in like this? How could that be allowed? It would be her first kiss, and this scenario was completely different from what she had pictured. The thought of giving her first kiss to this notorious flirt was something she simply couldn't afford to entertain! But, but, what if she insists...? Besides, Aesphyra has saved her life more than once. Had it not been for Aesphyra’s timely intervention and use of [Holy Blessing] to extricate her from that dire situation, things could have turned dire. No, saving someone’s life is one thing, feelings are another. They should be kept separate! Resolute, Vannesa shut her eyes, slightly biting her lip, her delicate lashes trembling, betraying her tension and hesitation. She was already contemplating how she might resist if Aesphyra indeed acted. Yet moments passed without the expected advance. Hesitant, Vannesa slowly opened her eyes, much like a careful ostrich emerging from its hiding place. To her surprise, Aesphyra had already pulled back, seemingly without any real intention of carrying out what Vannesa had feared. What...was it all just in her head? A wave of embarrassment threatened to overwhelm Vannesa as she considered how her imagination might have gotten the better of her. "Pfft, Vannesa, you're truly such an innocent darling~" "Hardly comparable to Aesphyra, the seasoned expert at romance," Vannesa retorted, turning her gaze aside. Perhaps there was something about Aesphyra that naturally subdued her; Vannesa couldn’t fathom why she was always at the mercy of Aesphyra’s whims, regardless of being male or female. "Oh, has Vannesa always seen me in such a light? Even when I’ve made my feelings clear to you, and I’ve never held another girl like this," Aesphyra pressed on, maintaining her charming demeanor. "Of course, if Vannesa feels uncomfortable, I respect that. However, one day, Vannesa, you will willingly give your consent~" The elegant white-haired Aesphyra concluded with a self-assured smile. Her stature may be small, but... "Aesphyra, you are as forward and improprious as ever. There will never come a day, forgive me for being blunt, but I am not interested in women, especially not you," Vannesa insisted, clinging to her stance as a means to fend off Aesphyra. "But, still, thank you for rescuing me from that predicament. If there's ever anything I can do for you within reason, just let me know," Vannesa added in a softer tone. "Oh~? I look forward to it." "But, speaking of which, Vannesa, aren't you curious~?" Aesphyra inquired with a significant tone. "Aesphyra, aren’t you curious about how I ended up here, manifesting six wings and battling the Demon Pillar?" Vannesa countered, knowing exactly what Aesphyra was hinting at—how she had managed to whisk Vannesa away to a secluded lawn in the blink of an eye. "Of course I'm curious, but are you willing to divulge that to me?" "And would you, Aesphyra, share your secrets with me?" Vannesa parried, evading a direct answer. "If Vannesa is willing to share her secrets with me, I would be delighted to share mine." "How coincidental, Aesphyra, for I feel the same way," Vannesa replied with a knowingly cryptic smile. "If Aesphyra is prepared to open her heart, I suppose it's not entirely out of the question for me either?" Vannesa conveyed clearly that she realized Aesphyra wouldn't share her secrets, so she wasn't inclined to inquire. As she had told Aesphyra back in the ruins, she wasn't interested in Aesphyra's secrets or prying into them. Aesphyra’s stance echoed Vannesa’s sentiment; this was Vannesa's secret, and if she had intended to tell, she would have already. Unless Vannesa chose to confide in her personally, Aesphyra wouldn’t press her. Moreover, Vannesa figured that Aesphyra, likely, wouldn’t confide in her, so she felt safe making that proposition. "Ah, so Vannesa is considering sharing her secrets with me? Great, then I'll tell you all my secrets~" Vannesa was taken aback, not expecting the dialogue to go beyond this mutual understanding of secrecy, yet Aesphyra took her by surprise. "I'll disclose everything to you. As for your secrets, Vannesa, you can reveal them to me whenever you feel ready, or not at all." "Actually, I am..." "Wait, stop!" Vannesa interrupted hastily, her composure slipping as Aesphyra seemed genuinely about to reveal her secrets. She hadn't anticipated that Aesphyra would trust her enough to genuinely open up. In truth, Vannesa already knew most of Aesphyra's secrets—there was no need to hear them all over again. Besides, once Aesphyra shared everything, there would be no turning back. Vannesa sensed that such an exchange could significantly alter their relationship. If Aesphyra did bare her soul to her, how could she remain indifferent? This was barely a subtle demonstration of Aesphyra's trust in her, showing her that she deemed Vannesa someone entirely trustworthy who wouldn’t betray or deceive her. But what if Aesphyra didn’t mix any falsehoods into her claims? And if Vannesa knew the truth of Aesphyra’s secrets, presenting them stark and unembellished, should she reveal her own secrets in return? Vannesa felt she ought to say something, otherwise she might regret it. Though Aesphyra claimed that sharing her secret was without obligation and Vannesa could choose to remain silent, Vannesa knew better. In this world, there is no such thing as a free lunch; often, the so-called free things end up costing the most. Watching Vannesa's hurried attempt to stop the conversation, a subtle smile graced Aesphyra's lips, everything unfolding just as she had foreseen. Under certain conditions, sincerity can be a lethal technique, especially when the person in question is kind-hearted and holds high moral standards. Those who adhere to righteousness at the highest level, willing to sacrifice themselves for strangers, are at the pinnacle of morality. Such individuals are the least likely to divulge someone's secrets, even more so if they are offered such trust, and willingly hear out a secret. Thus, bound by the chains of morality, Vannesa was even less likely to reveal her own secret. Most importantly, this approach demonstrated Aesphyra’s trust in Vannesa, greatly strengthening their bond. As for whether the truth was being spoken, Aesphyra had no intention of deceiving Vannesa. She was prepared to speak everything truthfully as long as Vannesa wished to listen. Yet, before Aesphyra could reveal anything, Vannesa backed out, deciding she didn’t want to hear it, not allowing Aesphyra to continue. Had Vannesa been able to move or still had enough magic, she might have covered her ears in an attempt to block out Aesphyra's words. Engaging with such fateful matters, especially those involving a protagonist, was unthinkable; if involved, there would be no escape. Knowing Aesphyra’s secrets offered no advantage; in fact, their revelation would only burden her with moral obligations. Why carry the weight of responsibility for something already known? Vannesa never expected that a tactic she once used on Mirexia would be turned back on her by someone else. This might just be karma in action. "After this event, Vannesa, your situation might become quite complicated, wouldn’t you say?" Aesphyra noted languidly. Vannesa understood precisely what Aesphyra meant. On the surface, it would appear that the Fasyris lineage had ended. Her emergence with perfect traits of the Saintess family in front of everyone would undoubtedly attract the attention of the Eucharist Church. Ordinary folk might view it as a divine miracle, but at the upper echelons of the church, inquiries would persist inexorably unless someone high up within the church deliberately covered it up, portraying it as divine intervention. But such action seemed utterly implausible. It seemed Aesphyra understood the inner workings of the current church situation, hinting at knowledge of its internal affairs. Being the protagonist, it wasn’t surprising that Aesphyra had access to this information—ahead of enrolling, she already possessed the personnel list of the Camora Cathedral. "This is likely to cause quite the headache for you while hiding within Carriman Academy, wouldn’t it?" "Trouble or not, I have no intent on associating with them and harbor no interest," Vannesa responded calmly after a moment. "Everything I did was personal and not aimed at grabbing attention or challenging their power." "Even so, Vannesa, you should know that not everyone sees it that way. Those in high positions are sensitive by nature, and they won’t dismiss even the slightest possibility," Aesphyra cautioned. "Thank you for the reminder, Aesphyra. I’ll remember it." "If there’s ever anything you need help with, feel free to ask~?" Aesphyra offered with a cheerful smile. "That won’t be necessary; I wouldn’t want to trouble you." Vannesa disliked owing favors unless it involved close friends like Mirexia. Slight acquaintances or people she barely knew—Vannesa preferred not to owe them anything. She had repaid the favor from Aesphyra before, but these recent incidents left her running a balance that remained unsettled. Vannesa feared that if she indebted herself too much to Aesphyra, she wouldn’t have any means left to repay. "Moreover, this isn’t something Aesphyra can handle alone," Vannesa pointed out. To an individual, the Eucharist Church is an immense entity, unimaginable to confront alone. Not even a nation could contend with it, let alone one person such as Aesphyra, especially before she had grown to her full strength. "Is this a test from you, Vannesa?" “Please refrain from taking my problems upon yourself; I wouldn’t be grateful for that, Aesphyra,” Vannesa said, turning her gaze aside. "Truthfully, if Vannesa aspired to greater ambitions, held interest in the position of the Saintess, I could entirely..." "Please, enough of that talk. I have zero interest in the Church or the position of Eucharist Saintess and never will. If possible, I’d like to avoid crossing paths with them for the rest of my life," Vannesa interrupted, refusing to let Aesphyra finish. "Very well," Aesphyra replied, observing Vannesa with a silent, knowing smile before speaking again. "People never truly know what their future holds; thoughts and desires evolve at each stage of life." "If a day comes when Vannesa changes her mind and needs support, you’re welcome to seek my aid~?” "Are you suggesting helping me usurp the position of Saintess, Aesphyra?" Vannesa's voice held a teasing sarcasm. "It wouldn’t be an usurpation, really. You’re the last awakened bloodline of the Fasyris, a rightful, pure heir acknowledged by the goddess, saving humanity from peril." "For the position of Saintess, who else but you?" **2025/05/25/21/56** Share this book: Share on Weibo, QQ Space, QQ Friends, Baidu Tieba, Tencent Weibo, Baidu Favorites, Baidu New Homepage, Copy URL Vote for recommendation ← Previous Chapter | Chapter Directory | Next Chapter → Bookmark **New Book Recommendations:** "Is It Strange to Volunteer as a Boy for a Witch Academy?" "How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?" "System! I'm Not Doing the Saintess Thing Anymore!" "Girls Can't Find Evil Gods in Textbooks" "Battleship Eastern Nation — National Transmigration" "The Blood Enchantress and the Knight" "They Recognized Their Feelings, and the Knight Was Reborn as a Young Fox" "Became Her Sister Thanks to the Overbearing Elf Queen" "Turned Into a Dragon Princess by the Silver Dragon Princess"