I Can Hear the Saint’s Inner Thoughts

41 – Ready, Cue, Action! (4)

* * *

At first, she wanted to believe it was a dream.

It might seem strange for Bellamora Liktis, the Queen of Succubi, to think that, but it was because she didn’t want to believe reality right now.

‘Lord Astal…? With that vulgar milk-boy…?’

Bellamora bit her lower lip as she stared at Victoria, who was embracing Astal’s arm tightly to her chest.

How on earth could he be dating a saintess who curses every day and makes it so obvious that she hates him?

It was a situation that her mind simply couldn’t comprehend. When she read the memories of the hero party before, the relationship between Victoria and Astal was bad enough to be described as the worst.

“Haha, you’re quite the joker. If you were trying to surprise me, I must say you succeeded.”

Bellamora, putting on a mask for now, forced the corners of her lips up as if she wasn’t fazed, and decided to observe the situation.

What if they were lying to tease her or try to make her create an opening?

“So, why don’t you stop this prank now? Even if you were lying to avoid my offer, I think this is a bit much.”

Frankly speaking, she felt awful.

Who in the world wouldn’t feel uncomfortable seeing the person they like embracing another woman?

“Do you really think this is a prank? Bellamora?”

Then, a voice that felt like it was stabbing Bellamora’s chest with needles could be heard. The owner was Victoria, who wore a satisfied smile, as if she was mocking her.

“Then, if it’s not a prank, what is it? I thought Lord Astal really hated you.”

“…Oh, maybe he was just acting because he didn’t want to show his true feelings to someone like a harlot?”

Victoria sneered as she looked at Bellamora with cold eyes. She could see the other woman clench her fists, bite her lip, and barely hold back her anger.

After all, the succubus queen in front of her was the main contributor to making it possible for her and Astal to date, even if it was just as a contract.

She almost wanted to thank Bellamora.

“That can’t be. What a succubus sees is clearly the memory itself, with no exaggeration or lies.”

“Then…. Perhaps your lover’s heart changed while you were being hesitant.”

*Squish*

Victoria hugging Astal’s arm to her chest was like watching a seasoned snake.

Her eyes, glaring as if to say, ‘Don’t even think about touching what’s mine,’ were sharp as a dagger.

“He’s my lover now, no matter what anyone says. Right, darling?”

“Yeah.”

“……”

Hearing the terms Victoria and Astal used to address each other, Bellamora’s lips naturally parted. A pinkish aura, something she’d never witnessed before, flowed between them.

This was undeniably the emotion of a fresh, first love.

Even if she tried to read their emotions again, she couldn’t detect any of the previous disgust or disdain.

“That lewd, pure whore… is that all she knows, those cheap gestures? If she seduced Lord Astal like that, she’s truly pathetic.”

Bellamora, envious of Victoria, lashed out with cutting words, trying to attack her.

I should’ve been in her place.

Even if I hadn’t liked him first, my feelings are more sincere than that filthy harlot’s.

‘I loved you too…’

It hurt like a cold blade piercing her heart. If her feelings were going to be rejected so miserably, she thought it would be better to die.

How did things end up like this? Could he have, like most men, succumbed to his desires and made an irreversible choice?

In Bellamora’s mind, dozens of doubts and assumptions began to bloom.

It was the first time she, a succubus queen specializing in captivating and seducing men, was having such worries.

“Pathetic, Bellamora. Are you so blinded by reality because you spend your days sucking the life out of men who fawn over you?”

As if she sensed Bellamora’s agitation, Victoria’s words grew increasingly harsh.

Unlike ordinary succubi, the high-ranking Bellamora had never directly tasted a man’s essence.

“I’m a virgin, top and bottom?”

Bellamora puffed out her chest, trying to appeal to her image. She hated the thought that most succubi were just creatures who sold their bodies.

“Do you think the queen of succubi would shamelessly shake her hips on top of men like some low-class commoner? You really are just low-class.”

The reason she wore such concealing clothes and created her domain in such a manner was precisely because of this.

“Ah, so that’s why your breath smelled like a rotten rag? My apologies for not recognizing your true nature, Bellamora.”

“Ha, then aren’t you just a slut who can’t wait to show off her body? What kind of holy maiden in the world wears such scraps of cloth as clothes like you?”

The daughter of a celestial being, the saint of flowers.

The queen of succubi, the succubus queen.

As their words revealed, Victoria and Bellamora were women on opposite ends of the spectrum.

One wore clothes that barely covered her skin, while the other was wrapped in thick layers of outerwear.

They had nothing in common: personality, values, even their approach to love and relationships were completely different. Only one thing united them….

‘I liked him too….’

‘Sorry, but I liked him first.’

The fact that they’d both had a crush on the same man, a guy named Astal.

“My lover doesn’t really respond unless I’m dressed like this. Last night he punished me with a very large and impressive man-thing…”

Victoria, her fingers lightly tracing the inside of Astal’s side, breathed hot air into his ear.

The thought of a thing, so big, strong, and firm, powerful enough to lift her slightly, the pulsating veins that throbbed like a beating heart.

“Just thinking about it makes my lower belly feel hot again.”

Victoria felt a burning, tingling sensation spreading from her lower abdomen, heating her entire body.

Her eyes and breath were filled with a sticky lust and desire, a sweet, viscous feeling oozing from her.

“…Are you out of your mind? Astal, say it’s not true! That perverted milkmaid can’t be telling the truth!!”

Bellamora shrieked, demanding an explanation from Astal. To her eyes, he didn’t seem like he had been drained of his masculine essence.

However,

“It’s kind of embarrassing to admit, but it’s not a lie, Bellamora…”

Astal covered his face with his hand, head bowed low, not stopping Victoria’s hand as she caressed his thigh. It was obvious something was up.

Astal was even crossing his legs in an awkward way, as if trying to stem the blood flow rushing downwards.

“You two are still virgins and un-touched…!!”

Bellamora shouted, unable to believe what she was seeing and hearing. If they had truly crossed a line, their affections wouldn’t be so naive.

Bellamora had always idolized the ideal love stories she’d seen in countless romantic movies, yearning to experience something like it herself.

These two, right now, looked like they were trying their best to hide their feelings for each other, pretending to just be friends.

The kind of couple that vehemently deny being together when asked, but behind closed doors, are all over each other, practically swallowing each other whole.

“What kind of lie is that? You haven’t even slept together, or gotten married…!!”

Bellamora felt her head steaming with anger. She was supposed to maintain her composure, be a role model as a lord.

The fact that everyone around was watching her display of emotion was definitely not ideal.

“Are you jealous? Bellamora, even if you throw a tantrum, I’ll be the only woman in this world who has ever felt Astal’s ‘thing’ wouldn’t I?”

Victoria chuckled, a smug smile gracing her lips, the expression of a clear victor.

“…You’re right. Even if we’re not married, or haven’t shared that kind of intimacy, isn’t that reason enough to reject your offer?”

Astal gazed at Victoria with soft eyes, as if telling Bellamora to stay out of their romance.

“No. I’m not giving up. Using this movie as leverage, I’ll make you like me in a week.”

Bellamora, however, was fueled by an unexpected surge of stubbornness. She had seen many stories like this in other movies, already.

In a rom-com, only one heroine gets chosen in the end.

“…This is a chance to see your parents again, I don’t think you’d refuse that.”

If I can’t steal it now, I can slowly coax him.

*Thwack*— With a snap of Bellamora’s fingers, the sky and the earth flipped, and the surrounding scenery began to change.

“The life of Astar Kaisaros, now playing to rave reviews at the theater…! I think that’s explanation enough, wouldn’t you say?”

A brightly lit movie theater appeared before him, with trailers for the upcoming film displayed.

“You, no way…”

“Yes, that’s right. I extracted your childhood memories and turned them into a movie. I wanted to know everything about the man I love.”

Bellamora, with a twisted grin, watched as a boy and a girl who looked like Astar appeared on the screen, depicting him crying as a child.

“This is my way of loving you.”

“……”

“What are you doing? Come on in. Even you, Holy Virgin, weren’t you curious about Astar’s childhood?”

Bellamora, quicker than anyone to the theater, opened the door with a beckoning gesture as if urging them to hurry.

* * *

‘What should I do…?’

Looking at the sign, I felt as if my heart had dropped to the floor. There was no denying it; those were my parents.

Killed by the Four Heavenly Kings of the Demon Lord’s army, the Dullahan and his soldiers, leaving not even corpses behind.

Any items or drawings that allowed me to remember them were all burned, I thought I would never see them again.

I never dreamed that such an opportunity would arise, especially in the demon realm, teeming with demons and monsters.

“How about we go see it, Astar.”

“…Kael.”

“You’ll be alright with Victoria. You showed such overwhelming strength earlier during that argument that no one dared to interfere.”

The one persuading me was the red-haired hero, Kael. He’d remained silent, just listening earlier when Victoria and Bellamora were arguing.

“Bellamora! We agreed to fight you in a place with no civilians in a week, right…!”

“Yes, of course. I always keep my promises.”

“…We’ll figure out how to kill her while you’re watching the movie, or perhaps we’ll uncover the secrets of this territory.”

Bellamora answered Kael’s question with a bright smile, and he seemed to suspect that she was hiding something.

“But, fighting right now is also…”

“Let’s go watch it together, Astar. Haven’t you been suffering your whole life? This is a chance to not have any regrets.”

Victoria said, pulling my arm forcefully. Her reason was that if we missed this chance, I’d be consumed by regret for the rest of my life.

“…Besides, as a couple engaged to be married, we can’t just skip the formal meeting with our families, can we?”

– I’ve always wanted to meet your parents as your partner. Plus, I need to figure out what the hell that succubus is plotting!

Victoria’s inner thoughts didn’t seem to give her a chance to lose to Bellamora.

“No matter what anyone says, I’m your partner now.”

-And my chest is way bigger too…!

With a victor’s smile, Victoria pressed her chest against my arm, brimming with confidence.