* * *
“Who said they’d teach you how to make apple pie?”
“My mom did…”
“Even if you buy the best apples, if you follow Cecily’s instructions, it’ll definitely taste bad.”
“Then what should I do? Should I stop running errands for Mom?”
Losing his purpose, Malrang began stomping his feet.
After carefully writing down the list of ingredients, he didn’t want to use them to create a terrible dish.
“Just ask Tartalos to teach you how to cook.”
“But then Mom would be sad!”
“Not knowing how to cook is an objective fact. Cecily has to accept that.”
“I don’t want Mom to feel sad, though!”
“And yet, for someone who cares about his mom so much, you keep running away from home?”
“That’s because you won’t change my name…!”
Malrang’s cheeks trembled as he huffed, and Seo Woohyun gently patted his head to calm him down.
While consoling the whining child, Seo Woohyun whispered softly.
“Both of you, stop arguing on the street. People are staring at us.”
“…Fine.”
“Okay…”
After easily settling the situation, Seo Woohyun suggested they stick to their original plan and continue shopping.
Since the two were utterly devoted to Seo Woohyun, they obediently shook hands and made peace.
They stopped by a bakery to buy freshly baked bread and picked up a bundle of fresh vegetables.
Regardless of Cecily’s cooking skills, they planned to make an apple pie, so the group meticulously selected apples at a fruit shop.
It was Seo Woohyun’s job to pay after carefully picking out the best apples.
He pulled out coins from his new coin pouch, which had replaced the one filled with money Erdian had gifted him.
He paid with practiced ease.
“Wow, will you be able to carry all this? Your hands are already full, Priest.”
The shopkeeper, who had been attending to them with a friendly smile, handed over a paper bag brimming with vibrant red apples.
The bag in Seo Woohyun’s arms looked ready to spill over at any moment.
Since he was holding Malrang’s hand tightly with his other arm, he seemed even more precarious.
Meanwhile, Raullet, who was accompanying them, was already burdened with numerous other groceries.
The shopkeeper, scanning the group, promptly handed the fruit bag to Erdian, who seemed relatively free.
“Here, let this priest carry it! Seeing the two of you picking out fruit together in this heat, you look very close.”
As the shopkeeper laughed heartily, Raullet took a deep breath.
“Blasphemy!”
Even though Erdian was disguised as a common priest, seeing someone casually hand over items to his god was unacceptable.
Just as Raullet’s eyes began to flare with indignation, Erdian cut in.
With an unusually cheerful expression, he asked the shopkeeper with a bright smile.
“Do we really look close?”
“Of course! I’ve been selling fruit near the cathedral for 30 years, and I can tell these things. You two priests seem to get along very well. It’s been ages since I’ve seen priests putting their heads together over an apple. Haha!”
“You’ll surely receive Erdian’s blessings,” Erdian replied, cradling the groceries in his arms.
Looking no different from an ordinary priest out shopping, Erdian’s true identity never crossed the shopkeeper’s mind.
“Oh, thank you so much for saying that. Lately, my body has been aching all over, but your words alone make me feel energized.”
“Good. If you have time, visit the cathedral sometime.”
“I make it to prayer meetings when I can. Take care!”
The shopkeeper waved them off and returned to tidying his stall, pausing as he noticed something strange.
Until just this morning, he’d been groaning from muscle pain, but now his body felt reinvigorated, and the pain had disappeared.
“That’s odd…”
Scratching his head, the shopkeeper spotted another customer and raised his voice.
“Welcome! We’ve got sweet, fresh fruit delivered just yesterday!”
Back at the Silent Palace, Seo Woohyun spent peaceful days making apple pie with Malrang, sharing the treat, and watching the child draw pictures.
He also practiced handling divine power whenever he had time.
Erdian, who observed Seo Woohyun’s serene routine, felt content but increasingly uneasy.
“These days, Woohyun has been avoiding me.”
Determined not to let himself go, like a peacock showing off its feathers, Erdian had been taking extra care of his appearance.
But instead of drawing Seo Woohyun closer, the distance between them only seemed to grow.
Although Seo Woohyun still glanced his way occasionally, he moved farther whenever they walked together or sat on the same couch.
Even now, while Malrang sprawled between them on the plush couch, there was enough space to spare.
“I’m glad Malrang has made some friends. It must’ve been boring for him to play with just me.”
Seo Woohyun glanced at the door Malrang had rushed out of earlier.
The child, now living at the cathedral with his parents, had started interacting regularly with other squires of the same age.
Masquerading as an adopted child brought by Giselle, Malrang was spending more time with peers and less at home.
Today, he’d given Seo Woohyun a folded piece of paper he called a gift before dashing off to share snacks with his new friends.
“You look disappointed.”
“Not disappointed, just… wondering if he found playing with me boring all this time.”
“You feel guilty over the strangest things. It’s nice to have a kind heart, but don’t dwell on the past. Besides, Malrang loves being with you. He even prays every night that you won’t kick him out.”
“Should you really be revealing Malrang’s prayers like that?”
“It’s nothing serious, so it’s fine.”
“Well… if you say so.”
Seo Woohyun nodded, accepting Erdian’s confident answer.
If Erdian had done anything wrong, he figured the divine sparks he’d witnessed before would’ve appeared by now.
“By the way, Woohyun.”
Erdian’s gaze locked onto Seo Woohyun, sitting far away.
If he didn’t ask directly, he knew he’d never get an answer.
“Why have you been avoiding me lately? You’re making it very obvious.”
“Avoiding you? Me? I’m not!”
Seo Woohyun’s eyes widened as he feigned innocence.
He hadn’t expected Erdian to address it so bluntly—much less to admit feeling “obviously” hurt.
“Really? Then why are you sitting so far away? We used to sit much closer. Do you think I didn’t notice you inching away?”
Erdian gestured dramatically, his elegant fingers pointing out the space between them.
Seo Woohyun realized that lying wouldn’t work and mumbled an explanation.
“Well, it’s because you’re the one who… makes me keep my distance.”
“And what exactly have I done?”
Erdian shrugged as if he couldn’t understand what the fuss was about.
Was he being shameless or just oblivious?
Seo Woohyun was dumbfounded by Erdian’s unbothered demeanor.
“Did you think I wouldn’t notice? You’re not wearing clothes—you’re practically half-naked!”
At Seo Woohyun’s pointed remark, Erdian glanced down at his exposed chest.
He had chosen just enough accessories to not appear overdone, intending to highlight his chest—something Seo Woohyun often stole glances at.
But somehow, this choice had left his chest almost entirely exposed.
‘I thought I covered what needed covering… Still, the more I try, the more distant he seems. Did I overdo it?’
Accepting his mistake, Erdian couldn’t hide the slight bitterness in his expression.
It had been far too long since he last courted anyone, and he was at a loss for how to properly woo someone.
“I tried dressing up to look good for you, but it seems I only made things worse…” he muttered dejectedly.
His naturally downturned eyes, paired with his long lashes and crestfallen expression, evoked an odd pang of guilt in Seo Woohyun.
“It’s not that it didn’t look good… I mean, it did. But your outfits kept getting more… revealing, and it caught me off guard. I didn’t even realize I was keeping my distance. We’re not even dating yet, and here you are, already half-dressed. It’s just… too soon. It’s not that I dislike you, Erdian.”
“How adorable. I’ll make sure to dress more modestly from now on,” Erdian replied, adjusting the loose fabric draped over him.
Only then did Seo Woohyun visibly relax, which reignited Erdian’s determination.
‘Maybe it’s time to wear something completely different next time.’
Erdian’s eyes gleamed as he imagined an outfit that might appeal to Seo Woohyun.
* * *
Seduction part nine begins. ☺️🫠🫢