Chapter 11 Part 1
“…Hyle, you’ve changed.”
Suddenly stopping my laughter, I spoke to Hyle with a rather serious gaze.
This wasn’t just idle talk—this was truly… perhaps a serious issue.
The Hyle Feros I knew was leagues away from the kind of person who would publicly humiliate others!
Strictly speaking, that was more my specialty.
More precisely, openly disgracing others and causing them embarrassment.
And it was the accumulation of such evil deeds that earned me the title of villainess and the Black Rose of high society.
That’s why I was suspicious enough to wonder if someone might be wearing Hyle’s skin and standing before me.
Especially since he did it purely for my sake—this made even less sense…!
Hyle only had an obligation to save me, not to worry about people badmouthing me, right?
What on earth could have changed him like that? Whatever the cause, it needs some serious reflection.
Ah, of course I knew that people can change in an instant when they hold someone in their hearts.
In fact, in the original story, the male lead Abel, as well as the secondary male leads Hyle and Fergio, all had their personalities soften when they fell in love with Hertiana.
But Hyle wasn’t even pining for Hertiana yet, so how could he change this much…
If he’d been like this in the original story, readers would have lambasted him for being out of character!
“Rosiel, you made me this way.”
Yet hearing my words, he answered lightly as if it were nothing.
…What, so I was the cause? Then I should meekly reflect… No, wait!
“You… have been blaming me for everything lately?”
“Is that a problem?”
“Yes, it is. You need to fix that. Don’t attribute all your actions to me.”
At my firm answer, Hyle’s head tilted slightly to the side. He didn’t seem to understand.
“Hmm. If we’re talking about changes, Rosiel, you’ve changed too.”
“Me? What? I’ve always been the same.”
But Hyle narrowed his brows slightly, disagreeing.
He looked at me as if asking if I was serious.
“Well, your former self wouldn’t have let that ‘adulteress’ comment slide so easily.”
“Well, that may be true… but I don’t have a hobby of tormenting frogs.”
Unfortunately, thanks to Hyle already handling their behavior, I had no room to intervene at all.
Besides, I was led outside by Hyle’s hand before I could properly assess the situation…
But it was clear that my pre-regression self would have ensured such comments never emerged in the first place.
After all, if such words had reached my ears during what could be considered the peak of my villainess career, who knows what might have happened to them.
Speaking of adulteress, who are they calling an adulteress? I’m not even married yet!
“I suppose… it’s because I’ve become nicer lately? How dare they say such things to me.”
At my half-joking words, Hyle nodded seriously.
Does he also think I’ve become nicer? That’s weird…
“I never thought I’d say this to you, but you’ve definitely become kinder. You don’t get unnecessarily angry or throw tantrums anymore.”
“…Tan-what?”
So in Hyle’s eyes, I used to throw tantrums… Well, I suppose that’s true, but hearing it directly is quite shocking…
“Do you need more spiritual power?”
I answered his question with a simple blink of my eyes.
Originally, spiritual power needed to be steadily and continuously absorbed by the heart in regular amounts.
Of course, it would be nice if spiritual power could be poured in all at once and purify everything instantly, but sadly, the heart wasn’t such an accommodating organ.
One had to carefully ensure that spiritual power was absorbed periodically over a long time so that the heart wouldn’t reject sudden influxes.
Today, I had already absorbed sufficient spiritual power from my earlier kiss with Hyle.
In this state, I probably couldn’t absorb any more spiritual power even with additional contact.
This confirmed what I had only theorized until now.
The more intense the contact, the easier and faster spiritual power could be absorbed.
Hmm… come to think of it, I find it suspicious how such an intentionally suggestive setting could derive from an all-ages original work… The author must have been a pervert.
That’s probably why they surrounded Hertiana, the Holy Maiden, with three distinguished men.
This reverse harem is excessive, really!
“Hyle, I have a question.”
This seemed like a good opportunity to casually ask something I’d been wondering about. I called to Hyle in an offhand manner.
He met my eyes silently, as if telling me to speak.
“Where can I get a bird suitable for carrying messages?”
Typically, nobles with a certain amount of prestige kept a courier bird or two.
Naturally, nobles sensitive to communication and rumors needed to maintain their networks.
Usually, they either trained birds themselves or purchased well-trained ones, each preparing courier birds in their own way.
This was considered one of the basics among nobles.
In contrast, House Laté had no need for courier birds.
This was because they dealt with demon beasts of much higher intelligence than ordinary birds, so there was no reason to waste time acquiring and training real birds.
“A courier bird? You have Raphla… Oh, can you no longer handle demon beasts?”
Hyle seemed to remember my Raphla, tilting his head before looking at my heart area with a serious expression.
“It’s not that bad yet, but it has become a bit difficult.”
“Difficult? Are you in pain?”
In response to his urgent concern, I lightly shook my head, then tapped my lips twice with my finger.
“Thanks to someone’s eagerness, the purification is speeding up.”
Seeing Hyle’s eyes fill with confusion, I continued with a faint smile.
“…Please stop saying things like that.”
As expected, Hyle covered his forehead with his large hand, looking troubled.
The eyebrows visible between his fingers were subtly twisted.
He looked perplexed.
Seeing that, my already twitching lips curved upward uncontrollably.
By now, he should be used to my teasing, but this foolish man got embarrassed every time.
Well, that’s why it’s fun to tease him.
“How did you manage to pull off that frog stunt when you get this embarrassed?”
As soon as I finished speaking, Hyle let out a long sigh. He seemed well aware that he had overplayed his hand.
Honestly, how many people at such a private party would know that kind of magic?
If anyone investigated even a little, the culprit’s identity would be quickly exposed.
He’s so bold… turning people into ridiculous-looking frogs with such an expressionless face.
Even I’ve never turned people into frogs… it’s absurd and hilarious…
“The spell wears off after ten minutes anyway. It should be time by now. Anyway, you need a courier bird?”
“That’s right. I would normally inquire under my family name, but… House Laté has absolutely no connection with courier birds.”
It was difficult to look into it personally as well.
Only those who have purchased courier birds would know about them. The people of House Laté unanimously used personal demon beasts for communication, making them completely ignorant about actual living birds.
Since it would be risky for me, who knows nothing, to simply buy any bird, I thought Hyle, who handles courier birds well, might know something.
After thinking for a moment, Hyle suddenly whistled softly.
The pleasant melody scattered into the dawn air.
Soon, a white object began flying toward us from a distance.
Hyle naturally raised his arm, and the white thing skillfully landed on his wrist.
Looking carefully, it was his courier bird, the one that had reliably delivered his letters before.
The very bird with snow-white feathers and emerald-green eyes.
I remember. I had thought of Hyle when I saw those green eyes.
“Rosiel, extend your arm. Slowly.”
Hyle, who was gently stroking the bird’s small head, asked me to extend my arm.
Not understanding his intention, I simply complied.
Then Hyle took my hand in his. After hesitating, the bird stared at our connected arms before slowly beginning to move onto mine.
It was as if I could hear a cute pitter-patter sound.
“…Wow, amazing.”
“Is it?”
Hyle responded warmly to my exclamation.
An unfamiliar sensation spread across my arm.
Even as I watched, it was surprising that such a small creature was now perched on my arm.
I could feel the faint heartbeat from the bird’s tiny body through my skin.
