CHAPTER 75: I’LL DO IT ALONE AND DO IT RIGHT!

The next morning came cloaked in golden mist. The temple bells tolled, echoes stirring the wind across the academy and into the town. People came in waves...nobles in pristine robes, students in academy uniforms, professors murmuring behind heavy books, and townspeople dressed in their finest linens. All gathered for the Blessing Ceremony, the one day when everyone stood equal before the goddess.

And among the sea of bodies, with white hair catching the sunlight like snow under fire, stood Rin.

He looked bored.

Standing beside Lucien and Silas, Rin’s arms were crossed, his foot tapping. His white cloak hung a little crooked, as if he’d pulled it on in a rush. His eyes, lazy and half-lidded, scanned the crowd, and he yawned without bothering to cover his mouth.

DING!

[System Notification:]

[Social Etiquette Debuff - You’ve just yawned in front of a holy congregation.]

He blinked at the system.

"Shut up," he whispered under his breath. "Seems you’re bored since you keep sending unnecessary notifications"

Lucien gave him a sideways glance.

"You should stand straight."

"I am... Can’t you see?" He asked, with his head facing down.

"You’re slouching."

"It’s a stylistic choice... Even the goddess can agree with me,"

Silas tried not to laugh as he turned his head to steal a glance at Rin’s face.

"You’re going to get smacked by divine lightning."

"Good. Maybe I’ll get lucky and die before next week’s temple day," Rin muttered.

Across the sea of worshippers, up near the glowing altar and the towering golden statue of the goddess, Ezra stood draped in white and gold vestments. But his posture wasn’t as serene as it should’ve been. His eyes were fixed, unblinking, on Rin.

Everyone else was praying. He was watching. His eyes refused to leave Rin.

He hadn’t meant to. But the second he spotted that flash of white hair in the crowd, something in his heart dropped like a stone.

’He came... The goddess didn’t seem to answer my prayer since he hasn’t forgiven me. That’s why he’s here... Rin,’

Ezra’s jaw clenched tightly. He raised his hands to begin the prayer, his lips forming holy words while his mind swirled with memory... Rin’s soft moan in his ear, Rin’s body under his touch, Rin’s scent, sweet and wrong, pulling him into sin.

The moment the prayer ended, he staggered slightly.

"Master Ezra?" one of the junior priests whispered. "Are you alright? Would you like to rest?"

Ezra quickly smiled. His hands shook.

"I’m fine," he said with false grin. "Just... taken by the holiness of the moment."

The chief priest at his side chuckled warmly. "You’re a devoted soul, Ezra. Don’t lose it. Now, bless the crowd, then go greet the Vortellion heir."

"What? Vortellion heir? You mean, Young Master Lucien?" He asked and the chief priest nodded his head.

"Of course. It’s an honour for him to grace us with his presence. It’s right for us to pay greetings to him,"

Ezra paused. "Can I... refuse?"

The chief priest’s gentle expression became firm.

"No. And behave yourself."

Ezra took a breath.

"As you command."

.

.

The crowd broke into clusters after the sermon, heading towards tables with blessed bread and drink. Rin furrowed his brows as he watched them walk towards the bread and drink. He had seen something like that before when his mother dragged him to church. It was something they called ’The Body of Christ’.

He gawked hoping it wasn’t the same religion here. Here, they served a goddess.

’Did they mistake him for a woman because he has long hair? No way... Right?"

Rin groaned internally. ’I don’t want to think of anything now.’

"Are you okay?" Silas asked gently, offering him a cup of water.

"Uh... well... yeah, I’m fine," Rin said, flashing a smile. "Just thinking about whether holy bread has calories."

Silas chuckled and stretched his hand to ruffle Rin’s hair.

"What do calories mean?"

Rin gently touched Silas’s hand on his head and faked a smile. He didn’t want to answer that question. Silas flinched as Rin’s hand trailed down his.

DING!

[System Notification: +1 Libido]

’I never thought I would get a notification. I shouldn’t tease Silas too much. Things might get worse if I’m with him,’

Just as he was about to step back from Silas, a soft voice interrupted.

"May the goddess bless your path."

They all turned to see who it was.

Ezra stood there, eyes downcast, hands folded reverently. His voice was gentle. Holy.

Silas responded, bowing politely. "May she bless yours as well."

Rin just... stared, wondering if he had to say the exact words Silas uttered.

’Do I get cursed if I say the goddess’s name? Will I burst into flames?’

He awkwardly lifted a hand. "Hey, priest."

Ezra flinched as his eyes widened in shock. He saw the peaceful look on Rin’s face and he knew something... Rin doesn’t remember anything that happened during his heat. He felt so relieved but at the same time, a bit disappointed.

He stepped forward to greet Rin but...

Lucien noticed immediately. His expression darkened like a brewing storm. Without a word, he stepped between Rin and Ezra, completely blocking Ezra’s view.

Rin blinked, confused. "...What’s going on? What are you doing?"

Ezra’s eyes met Lucien’s briefly. The fury in Lucien’s face was unreadable—but Ezra knew. He knew that Lucien knew what happened that day. Lucien knew what Ezra did to Rin.

Ezra felt his spine straighten defensively, but he stepped back, unwilling to push. With a smile on his face, he bowed quietly.

"Blessed week to you all," he said in a soft voice again.

He turned to leave. But not before glancing at Rin one more time.

Rin’s eyes met his, head tilted slightly in confusion.

’Is he going to pretend I’m not a demon? That’s good,’

Ezra wanted to reach out. He wanted to speak, explain, and beg for forgiveness... maybe even ask to touch him again. But Lucien’s glare burned through him.

He left.

.

.

Outside the temple, the wind picked up.

Lucien marched down the marble steps with Rin’s hand in his grip.

"Ow... Hey! What’s wrong with you?! Let me go!"

"You shouldn’t let people like him look at you like that," Lucien growled, still dragging him along.

"Are you insane?! What are you even talking about?"

Silas jogged behind them but stopped when he realised Lucien was too far gone to hear anyone else.

Rin shoved Lucien’s hand away hard when they reached the temple gardens.

"Stop dragging me around like I’m your property!" Rin snapped.

They finally stopped. Lucien clenched his fist, annoyed. He had seen the way Silas touched Rin’s head like a puppy. Ezra would have done the same thing if he hadn’t come between them.

He hated it. He hated it so much that he wished he could burn them to ashes.

He also remembered hearing the staff talking about Rin and Theron.

Lucien turned, eyes cold.

"Why did you let him touch you?"

"Who are you talking about?!"

"Theron, that bloody Head Doctor,"

Rin blinked, remembering the kiss... or whatever it was. "Oh, that? That wasn’t even a kiss." He answered, scratching his head.

’My system didn’t give me five points for it, so technically... It’s more like a peck’

Lucien’s expression twisted.

"Not even a kiss?! Rumours are spreading about you two,"

"Wha...? Look, that’s not the point! Why are you acting like a jealous maniac?! You don’t own me! You’re no one to me!"

The words were a slap.

Lucien’s voice dropped, was tight and dangerous.

"You mean... I’m nothing to you?"

"I mean you have no right to treat me like this," Rin repeated his words.

Lucien grabbed his wrist again, this time gently but firmly.

"If I hadn’t shown up a few times to save your tiny ass... you’d be dead."

Rin’s voice hardened.

"I know that and I’m su~per grateful. Still... that doesn’t give you the right to control who I talk to."

Lucien’s control cracked as he squeezed Rin’s wrist harder.

"I’m going to make sure you leave this academy, Rin. You don’t belong here."

Rin’s eyes went wide. His voice trembled as he lowered his head.

"That’s exactly what your father said."

Lucien froze when he heard that. He couldn’t say anything as Rin’s voice came again.

"You’re no different from him," Rin whispered, stepping back. "You’re just another monster like him. After all, you’re both father and son,"

The silence between them was brutal. Lucien stood still, a storm frozen in human form. He didn’t know when he released his grip around Rin’s wrist.

Then Rin turned and walked away without looking back.

Lucien didn’t follow. He stood there, for more than five minutes.

.

.

Meanwhile...

At the Vortellion estate, the servant halls were buzzing with chatter, unaware of the storm gathering quietly.

Dorian had just finished breakfast and was headed to the storerooms when the butler rushed towards him.

"Dorian! Have you seen Young Master Julian?" Lioran yelled.

Dorian blinked.

"He’s not in his room?"

The butler shook his head frantically.

"He’s not anywhere on the property. We think he’s left."

"What? There’s no way he would do that?"

"But he’s not..."

Before he could complete his words, Dorian ran.

He burst into Julian’s chambers, heart pounding. The bed was made. The windows shut but it was empty. There was no sign of Julian.

Only a letter rested on the desk. Dorian’s hand trembled as he tried to reach it. He unfolded it.

"I’m going to do this myself, Dorian. Don’t look for me. That’s an order. I just found out that if I want something to go right, I have to do it myself. I’ll put everything in place. Goodbye."

~ J.V

Dorian’s fingers curled around the parchment, crushing it.

Lioran stood at the door.

"Where... Where did he go?"

Dorian looked at him slowly, his eyes sharp as steel.

"I’m afraid... he’s heading to the academy."

The butler paled.

"No way! He’s gone there alone?"