2-90 - How Could the Villainous Young Master Be a Saintess?

Volume II, Chapter 90~ How Much Magic Was Used? How Could the Villainous Young Master Be the Saintess? "Alright, you must be hungry, right? It's been days since you've had anything to eat. If you don't eat soon, you'll probably shrink from hunger," Wenny remarked with a sly glance at Aesphyra's chest, implying more than just food. 'Virtue +10.' 'Current Virtue: 1864.' "But I can't move." "Then what can we do? If Miss Aesphyra doesn't mind, I could feed you myself," Wenny quipped, pouting. "If you do mind, though, I'm out of ideas." "How could I refuse a classmate like Wenny serving me food?" Aesphyra said with a bright smile. "So, you see me as a servant, huh?" Wenny raised an eyebrow at the snow-haired troublemaker who never missed a chance to put him to work—whether as a servant or calling him mommy. Wenny started a fire inside the cabin and set a large pot of water to boil. Luckily, he had found this small cabin, stocked with essentials like a large pot, which could be used after a bit of cleaning. Otherwise, during their retreat without tents, both he and Aesphyra would have been stuck in the rain. Aesphyra's condition had been precarious at the time, and it could have worsened without shelter. For that alone, he ought to offer a heartfelt thanks to the cabin's previous owner. While Wenny was busy gutting the rabbits and draining their blood, Aesphyra lay motionless with nothing else to do, watching idly as Wenny handled the wild rabbits. "Wenny, your skinning technique is quite rough, you know. It looks like it's been done by a first-timer," Aesphyra said, her gaze critical. "Tsk, why are you complaining about my technique again? Do you even know the skills required for this? Stop your yapping; this skinning skill of mine has been passed down through generations." "Generations? But it seems so unrefined. There's still a lot of skin left uncleaned, and you even hacked off bits of meat along with it. You haven't spent much time surviving out in the wilderness alone, have you?" Aesphyra commented with a slight arch of her brow. "Well, excuse me, Miss Aesphyra? Out here in the middle of nowhere, you should be grateful for what you can get to eat," Wenny shot her a glance before continuing with the rabbit. He shouldn't have bothered with the rabbit in front of this snow-haired nut. Unable to move, with nothing to do, she dedicated all her energy to criticizing his every move. "I bet you're not hungry at all, seeing how much energy you have to criticize me," Wenny said as he placed the rabbit meat into the pot, letting out a sigh. "Wenny, is there any seasoning here?" Aesphyra suddenly inquired. "There isn't." "Going outdoors without any seasoning?" "I could ask the same: did you bring any?" "I did, but it’s in our luggage," Aesphyra replied. "So there you have it. Just be grateful we have anything to eat at all. Complaining about flavor now, are we?" Wenny gave Aesphyra another side-eye. "Even when camping, Wenny, your life seems so lacking in refinement." "Yes, yes, my life is indeed rugged, crude, monotonous, and dull, nothing compared to the glamour Miss Aesphyra is used to," Wenny snorted with exasperation. "Alright, enough words. I'm tired and don't want to deal with you anymore." With that, Wenny focused on the boiling pot, ignoring Aesphyra. For a moment, the cabin was quiet, save for their breathing and the bubbling sound of meat being cooked over the fire. Lying on the wooden bed, Aesphyra gazed at Wenny as he sat tending to the cooking pot, his eyes closed in contemplation. For some reason, she found this scene strangely heartwarming. Before, whenever she ventured out, she was always alone. She never felt she needed anyone's care or company; having someone with her only seemed like a burden. 'Virtue +50.' 'Current Virtue: 1914.' Huh? Why did my Virtue rise again?? Wenny wore a baffled expression as he thought of it; the only one who could accrue Virtue for him at this moment was Aesphyra. What's going on? Has Aesphyra somehow picked up Mirexia's trick of gaining Virtue by doing nothing? Just as Wenny pondered the matter of Virtue, Aesphyra's voice brought him back. "Wenny, the meat is done. It'll overcook if you leave it longer." "I know, I know. As if I don't know when meat's done," Wenny replied, extinguishing the fire, fishing out the meat with a spoon, and grabbing a plate to hold it. He used the dinnerware left in the small cabin. "Shall I feed you now?" Wenny skewered a piece of rabbit meat, bringing it close to Aesphyra's mouth. "Wenny, if I'm not mistaken, didn't the meat just come out of the pot? Steam's still rising," Aesphyra remarked with amusement. "How about tasting it first?" "Alright then, shall I blow on it?" Wenny responded. "Wenny, can’t we just wait for it to cool on its own?" "There you go, refusing my help. Are you worried I'd accidentally get saliva on it?" Wenny murmured. "Even though you didn’t mind when I was feeding you medicine." Despite his words, Wenny followed Aesphyra's suggestion, setting the rabbit meat aside to cool. Once the meat had cooled sufficiently, Wenny retrieved the dinnerware, skewered a piece of meat again, and held it to Aesphyra’s lips. "Is this okay now? Conditions aren't great; eat up, Miss." "I can't chew." "You're deliberately making things difficult, aren't you?" Wenny said, twitching his lips. "I really have no energy to speak of right now," Aesphyra said softly. "You’re impossible," Wenny said as he used the utensils to shred the rabbit meat into bite-sized pieces and ground them into mince. After all that work, Wenny wiped the sweat from his forehead. "Now can you eat?" Wenny scooped a spoonful of minced meat, offering it to Aesphyra. "I haven't even started my meal, Miss," he added. Aesphyra didn’t make further fuss, quietly opening her mouth to accept Wenny’s offering. Strangely, Wenny felt like he was feeding a pampered white cat from a wealthy household, with him, the servant, laboring tirelessly just to find something the high-bred princess cat would condescend to eat. Yet, there was a curious sense of accomplishment in feeding someone, especially with food he hunted and prepared himself. Although "prepared" was too sophisticated a word for simply cooking it thoroughly. "If it's too hot, let me know, and I'll cool it more," Wenny cautioned. Aesphyra didn’t reply; she was eating, adhering to the saying that one shouldn't speak while eating or sleeping, indicating the food's temperature was perfect. 'Virtue +50.' 'Current Virtue: 1964.' Huh? Does feeding increase Virtue too? "So, how is it?" After a few spoonfuls, Wenny asked. "It's terrible," Aesphyra gave her honest opinion. "Terrible means it's just right. If it tasted good, that’d be bizarre," Wenny shrugged, having subsisted on rabbit and wild vegetables for days. "I wasn't asking about flavor, but about how you're feeling. Any signs of regained strength?" "I’m okay," Aesphyra provided a vague response. Wenny continued feeding her. "I'm full." "Really? You’ve eaten enough?" Wenny asked for confirmation. "Mhm." "Alright then." Satisfied that Aesphyra had eaten her fill, Wenny could finally tend to his own hunger. Up until now, he hadn't eaten a single morsel. But since there’s only one set of utensils, Wenny proceeded to eat with his hands. Formal dining etiquette seemed pointless given their circumstances. "Don't worry; I've only eaten with my hands these past days and never used that set of utensils," Wenny remarked when he noticed Aesphyra's eyes on him as he began to eat. Having spent ample time with Aesphyra, he had come to anticipate some of her thoughts and reassured her accordingly. 'Virtue +80.' 'Current Virtue: 2044.' As he suspected, he was right. Though there was no outward sign on Aesphyra's face, the change in Virtue readings told Wenny everything he needed to know. After their meal, Wenny tidied up the dishes and lay down on the wooden floor, deciding it was time for sleep. As long as he wasn't rained on or sleeping on wet grass, he could sleep on a hard floor just fine; he was used to it by now. Aesphyra, on the other hand, being the refined lady she was, surely found it unbearable not to bathe for several days. Even under harsh conditions, it had never been as bad as this. But times were different now, and she understood she couldn't ask for much. "Aesphyra, would you like me to help take off your shoes?" Wenny suddenly asked from his position on the floor. "Why would you do that?" "Well, neither of us has bathed in days. You've been wearing the same clothes, with your feet trapped in stockings and loafers, for some time now. They might have started to smell," Wenny explained earnestly. "Hasn't anyone told you how improper it is to say such things to a lady?" Aesphyra replied with a smile devoid of warmth. 'Virtue +80.' 'Current Virtue: 2124.' "Oh, sorry. But why are you so quick to deny it? Are you saying they really do smell?" Wenny speculated. "Could they be a bit sour?" "Wenny, you really don't understand a girl's heart, do you?" Aesphyra's voice carried a hint of playful irritation. 'Virtue +80.' 'Current Virtue: 2204.' Merely listening to her tone, Wenny could imagine Aesphyra's mischievous smirk. Typically, when Aesphyra was provoked, she'd show such expressions. Well, what can I say. If it were any other girl, Wenny would certainly not make such comments, but if it were Aesphyra... Just like how Aesphyra enjoyed seeing him flustered, Wenny found that teasing Aesphyra had become a bit of a habit. "Alright, alright. I won't bother you anymore. See, I was just concerned. Why such a big reaction? If you like having it on, then leave it on," Wenny said with a pout. "But be careful about getting sweaty feet." 'Virtue +50.' 'Current Virtue: 2254.' "I'm not like you, Wenny, with a tendency to sweat," Aesphyra said, taking a deep breath as if struggling to maintain her composure. "I'm not, either, you know?" Perhaps due to his high affinity for the ice element, Wenny wasn't prone to sweating and usually maintained a body temperature on the lower end of normal. The two of them fell into silence once more. Wenny figured that even if Aesphyra felt uncomfortable, she wouldn't let him help with her shoes since that would mean inevitable contact. "Well then, Wenny, I'll leave it to you, alright?~" "Huh? What do you mean?" A drowsy Wenny, on the verge of sleep, was taken aback by her words. "Since you offered your kind assistance, I shall accept it," Aesphyra's voice came from the darkness. Uh?? Is this girl serious? Could she be setting me up to ruin my Virtue?? "What's this, Wenny? You said you wanted to help?" Aesphyra teased with a pleased grin. "But I thought you didn’t want me to," Wenny replied, baffled. "Not at all. Since you offered, how could I refuse?" "What? You’re afraid of taking off a shoe?" Aesphyra challenged with an amused tone. "Tsk, who's afraid? I’m only worried about the smell!" Wenny retorted defensively. He got up, feigning nonchalance under the moonlight as he carefully slipped off Aesphyra’s loafers, making sure his hands only touched the shoes and nothing else. Hmm, no odor whatsoever. Instead, the air was filled with a familiar rose-like cold fragrance, stirring something deep within. "Well, any odor from me?" "Plenty! Do you think otherwise? You haven’t bathed in days; it’s almost lethal!" Wenny defiantly looked away, resisting the allure of her elegantly shaped feet under the sheer black hosiery which hinted at the tender skin beneath, though his voice was far from convincing. Aesphyra didn’t miss the falseness in Wenny’s words, finding his reaction quite amusing. "Oh~ is that so?" she drawled playfully. "Thank you, Wenny." 'Virtue +50.' 'Current Virtue: 2304.' This snow-haired troublemaker couldn’t stand even the slightest taunt! As soon as he poked a bit of fun at her, she would instantly strike back. As for Aesphyra, she had let Wenny help with her shoes because she understood his character, guessing that this guy with more bravery than sense would never actually attempt anything improper. So she decided to tease him a bit. "Alright, comfy now? Time for sleep," Wenny said, avoiding Aesphyra’s breathtakingly beautiful face illuminated by the moonlight as he swallowed hard and returned to his spot on the floor. "Wenny, are you asleep?" "Yeah, I am! If there's something, leave a message," Wenny replied, annoyed as Aesphyra's voice pierced his not-so-long-ago attempt at sleeping. "Wenny, when you healed me, did you use the remaining half-bottle of elixir?" "Sure did, why?" Wenny, half-asleep, murmured in a daze. "Oh, apart from that, how much magic did you use?" In the moonlight, Aesphyra’s eyes were wide awake. "Wha... what are you talking about?? Magic??" Wenny, half-responding in his sleepy haze, suddenly snapped awake, his surprise covering for him quite convincingly. "Magic? Why would I use magic? What on earth are you talking about??" In a critical moment, Wenny’s acting hit its stride, his face filled with genuine confusion. "Have you lost your mind?" On the surface, his demeanor was indifferent, but inside, Wenny felt a great commotion. Whoa! This little snowball was trying to catch him off guard just as he was about to fall asleep? Almost had him, if he hadn’t reacted quickly! This was intense! Even in this situation without life-threatening danger, he had to stay on high alert while dealing with Aesphyra, every moment! Wenny broke out in a secret sweat. "When you saved me, did you rely on anyone else's help or power?" Aesphyra continued. "No, I didn’t? Where would I find someone to help in the middle of the wilderness? Who could possibly lend us aid?" Wenny sighed in relief. So Aesphyra suspected he had sought outside assistance or used someone else's power. "Are you certain?" "Yes, already said so! There’s no one around here; it’s impossible to find reinforcements. I don’t even know where we are!" "Lastly, did Wenny use any healing scrolls or alchemical potions?" "What are you talking about? Are you messing with me? You know how poor I am—where would I get money for those? You’re the rich one; why don’t you give me some, Miss?" "Perhaps, someone you supposedly don’t acknowledge could have provided them?" Aesphyra insinuated lightly, teasing him further.