Eyes glistening with anticipation stuck greedily to her chest before slowly sliding lower.
They lingered for a long time, tracing the outline visible beneath the thin fabric, before crawling back upward and staring directly into her eyes.
Talia felt every muscle in her body stiffening.
She knew she needed to run immediately, but her legs refused to move.
Moistening his lower lip, the man slowly crept closer.
“If Your Highness would only permit me, then I.......”
A rough hand covered in calluses touched the hair draped over her shoulder.
Talia stared in horror as her golden hair wound around those wooden fingers.
She could barely breathe.
She should have shouted at him for daring to touch her, but not a single sound emerged from her parted lips.
Mistaking her stillness for consent, the man carefully stroked her hair strand by strand before reaching toward her face this time.
His palm, rough as sandpaper, scraped painfully against her delicate skin.
Talia recoiled instinctively, shrinking her neck in terror—
Then suddenly, from the darkness, a large gauntleted hand shot out and seized the man’s wrist.
Talia stumbled backward sharply, as though waking from hypnosis.
When she looked up, she saw luminous silver-blue eyes staring down at her.
Her heart dropped violently.
Instinctively, she pressed herself against the wall.
Varkas gazed down at her expressionlessly before slowly turning his eyes toward the monk.
Whatever the monk saw in those eyes, the man abruptly began trembling all over like someone who had just encountered a ghost.
“I-I was only...... H-Her Highness.......”
“Quiet.”
The heavy low voice instantly cut off the man’s excuses.
The monk’s face turned deathly pale and twisted in agony.
At first glance, Varkas appeared to be holding him only lightly, but in reality he seemed to be crushing the bones in the man’s wrist.
Facing the monk, who was dripping cold sweat, Varkas spoke slowly.
“Neither of us wants to make this into a larger problem. Return quietly to your place.”
Groaning in pain, the monk nodded frantically.
Releasing his arm, Varkas added,
“Until we leave this place, it would be best if you stay out of my sight.”
“I-I understand.”
Clutching his swollen blue wrist, the man answered tearfully.
Varkas jerked his chin as though telling him to disappear.
The monk immediately fled in a panic without daring to hesitate.
After silently watching the pathetic retreating figure for a moment, Varkas turned back toward her.
Talia unconsciously lowered her eyes.
She had done nothing wrong, and yet for some reason her mouth had gone dry and heat crept up the back of her neck.
Restlessly watching his expression, she heard his eerily calm voice.
“Come with me. I will escort you back to your quarters.”
The rigid tension locking Talia’s body suddenly dissolved, leaving behind a strange sense of weakness.
At the same time, an unfamiliar resentment and sorrow surged up inside her.
I almost went through something horrible just now. I was terrified. Terrified enough to die.
So why are you acting so indifferent?
Biting her lip resentfully, Talia abruptly strode past him.
She refused to let him see weakness in her no matter what.
Deliberately lifting her chin proudly, she crossed the garden in long strides.
After some time, the residence for the female worshippers came into view beyond the long colonnade.
Keeping her gaze fixed straight ahead, she snapped coldly,
“We’re here, so stop following me now!”
Knights stood guard around the building.