PS: (Dear, it is recommended to pair this with BGM: "Por Una Cabeza" while reading!)
In the center of the dance floor, former childhood friends leaned on each other, dancing as the music changed.
They gazed into each other's eyes, their faces bearing identical perfect smiles.
And... deep in their eyes, a similar coldness.
"It's meaningless now..."
Philia remained silent for the entire duration of the dance, not saying a word.
As the new song started, she gently shook her head, and as she turned her head, she softly said, "Herbert, what do you mean by that?"
"Do you really not know what I mean?"
Herbert humorously asked, "Won't you at this point still insist that you knew nothing about those things?"
"Even now, will you continue to pretend? Do you really want me to spell everything out?"
Herbert looked at Philia and stated confidently, "Perhaps as you explained in your letter, you weren't in the Royal City that day, but you kept a lot to yourself."
"You weren't completely unaware of the incident's details after that day."
"And besides, for some reason, you didn't come forward and left me in there to fend for myself."
Seeing that Philia seemed about to explain, he just shook his head, a hint of amusement in his gray eyes, and said lightly:
"Oh, you don't have to explain, nor do you have to deny it, because I'm not questioning you, nor am I trying to trap you."
"That's just how it is, isn't it?"
"..."
The Princess looked at him silently, nodded after a long pause, and said softly, "Although things are not exactly as you think, after that day, I did indeed know what you went through."
"And... as you said, I remained silent."
Herbert laughed.
"Heh."
He laughed joyfully, relaxed, even slightly relieved.
Philia watched his expression quietly, somewhat puzzled, and asked:
"Herbert, I understand the root of your anger, but what I don't understand is, even after so long, why are you still so angry?"
Philia found it difficult to comprehend. It seemed to her that Herbert had no reason to be angry anymore.
After that ordeal, he transformed completely, becoming a wholly different person.
The softness in him disappeared, turning into a completely new sharp-edged form.
"The way you are now... it looks like you weren't affected by those things; you've even become better than before."
No matter how she looked at it, it seemed like a blessing in disguise after overcoming that challenge... why is he still so angry?
"Why?"
"You ask me why? Well..." Thɪs chapter is updated by NoveI-Fire.ɴet
Herbert was momentarily taken aback by the question, then laughed helplessly, shaking his head with some amusement, and said, "Philia, after knowing you for so many years, it's the first time I realized that you're such a person."
"Me?"
"You really, don't understand anything... haha!"
Herbert blinked, playfully lamenting, "Your heart is so cold."
Reacting slightly to the word "cold," Philia frowned gently, staring coldly into Herbert's eyes.
Herbert maintained his smile, chuckling, "Didn't I hit the nail on the head?"
"In hindsight, I indeed benefited from that event. I left the Royal City, went to the Monastery, and became who I am today."
"I became strong, mature, resilient, completely different from before."
"But, have you never thought... everything I gained, did it really come without any cost?"
The Church of the Goddess of Fortune has a famous saying — whatever you gain, you must lose something; whatever you lose, you must gain something.
"But compared to what you lost, wasn't what you gained enough?"
Philia knew this, but to her, no matter what Herbert lost, compared to what he gained, it seemed sufficient.
"Do you think it was worth it? Perhaps in your eyes, it was."
Herbert sighed lightly, somewhat sentimental.
Truly heartless!
No, perhaps not entirely heartless.
But innocent.
Oh Princess, that thought is just too naïve...
He gazed at the princess who seemed simultaneously so near yet so distant, speaking softly:
"What's more, by now, do you really think that everything can be treated as if nothing happened?"
"Does my heart not matter?"
"The humiliation I suffered back then, the pain and criticism I endured, those torturous shames, do you really believe they can be so easily forgotten?"
As the dance brought the two closer, Herbert spoke in a voice lovers use when intimate, whispering in Philia's ear:
"My dear princess... it can't be forgotten."
"Even if the wound has healed, the pain will forever be engraved in my soul, unable to heal, and it need not heal."
"I will always remember that pain, that anger, that intent to kill."
"I vow, I will make them pay."
Listening to Herbert's words, drenched in malice, Philia frowned slightly, observing his smiling face for a long time before shaking her head and saying, "Sorry, I still can't understand."
Strangely, Philia wasn't being sarcastic at this moment, but genuinely found herself unable to comprehend.
Noticing her confusion wasn't feigned, Herbert did not dwell any further, not bothering to explain, and said blandly:
"Yes, you truly can't understand, because you haven't experienced all this, and it's not your body enduring the lashings, of course, you don't feel the pain."
"All you need to know is that my return this time is to seek revenge on those people from back then, and that's enough."
Yes, that's enough.
Philia watched him for a long while, finally whispering as they came close again, "The past you..."
"People change, Philia."
Herbert interrupted her words indifferently, his expression calm, speaking softly, "You have changed, and so have I."
"My gentleness died, in that cold dungeon."
"And you... are no longer the innocent, naïve princess of before."
"By the way, you know that I took an oath at the Monastery to become a Paladin, right?"
Philia squinted and nodded silently, she was well aware of this.
"Are you aware of what oath I took?"
"...Purity Oath."
"Yes, the Purity Oath, this vow grants me the ability to detect the impure."
He laughed, whispering as they leaned close:
"It continually reminds me of a fact, that you..."
"Need purification..."
"A non-human entity."