"The god of time said that, huh..."


    Myst visit for today takes me to a ce that has be all too familiar.


    An old, dpidated yet somehowfortable temple, almost like ruins.


    "Yes, it may be hard to believe, but it''s the truth."


    I assert the truthfulness of my words, my gaze firm, voice steady.


    "Your words, how could I doubt them? Not believing the words of my one and only ''man'' would not be the attitude of a lover."


    Returning here... the way she addresses me seems to have changed.


    Originally, she would have called me her only knight, my knight.


    Now... "My man, then it seems best to be well-prepared."


    Now, she substitutes ''man'' for ''knight''...


    A somewhat dubious title, but considering her feelings towards me, it''s more certainty than suspicion.


    "Lady Goddess, if I may ask... The way you address me has changed. Didn''t you use to call me a knight, not ''man''?"


    She tilts her head, genuinely puzzled by my question.


    "Honestly, isn''t it about time I called you that? Our way of speaking to each other may be a bit formal, but our rtionship has gone beyond mere lovers, hasn''t it?"


    I find myself speechless at Eleonora''s words... because, in truth, there was no denying the clear reality.


    I, too, had been swept up in the emotions of the moment and had desired it...


    Recalling the subject makes my face burn with embarrassment.


    "I hesitated to change the way I address you, seeing your difort... But with recent events, I felt a need to subtly assert my im on you."


    Perhaps she''s referring to Yura...


    "The sensory ability inscribed in our oath... I can tell when other gods or simr beings covet you."


    Does that mean it doesn''t apply to humans...? "Even with humans, the inability to sense such things is a w, but... well...pared to other beings, humans are weaker, so unless you decide to leave me for another woman, the likelihood of forced connections is low, isn''t it?"


    "Except for that red-haired girl..."


    Eleonora''s tone, biting down her teeth, conveys her stark attitude towards me.


    "Still, calling me ''your man'' feels a bit cheesy... I''d appreciate some restraint in that regard..."


    To my request, she reacts with an almost exaggerated shock.


    "What...? Do you dislike my love?"


    Why did she interpret it that way?


    I could assert that I didn''t dislike Eleonora''s feelings for me. If I had genuinely disliked them, we would never havee together in any case.


    But saying I entirely like it would require further thought.


    If I were to define my feelings for her, it wouldn''t be dislike, but the intensity of her affection had been overwhelming since the beginning.


    Yet, it was her excessive love and kindness that had helped mee this far, so I couldn''tin much.


    Though her overwhelming emotions asionally entangled me in problems, the benefits often outweighed the drawbacks.


    It wasn''t dislike but more an aversion due to the excessiveness.


    If I had to choose a single response, it would be more of an eptance... My perception of Eleonora had indeed changed.


    "It''s not that, but..."


    So, I hastily organize my thoughts to convey my true intention, but...


    "It''s not that, but what then?"


    She keeps pushing with more questions, making the situation increasingly difficult.


    "Or perhaps... you prefer another woman over me...?"


    Then Eleonora suddenly drops a bombshell, turning the situation in an awkward direction.


    "...?!"


    The atmosphere rapidly cools down, as if a cold wave has swept through the room.


    "Just a moment... Lady Goddess?"


    I call out to Eleonora in haste, trying to grasp the copsing rationality, but it seems like a dyed reaction. "So, my feelings are displeasing to you, and that''s why you give such evasive answers? Why... what about me displeases you?"


    Her sudden line of reasoning baffles me, and I instinctively step back, feeling overwhelmed by her aggressive approach.


    "Running away because something struck a nerve? Try making an excuse then."


    My retreat seems to be interpreted negatively by Eleonora, who quickly turns suspicion into conviction andshes out at thin air.


    nk!


    Suddenly, I''m bound by golden chains, a predicament I haven''t faced in a while. Helplessly dragged by the chains, I''m presented before her.


    Despite my efforts to resist, dragging my feet, it was futile.


    "Ssshh..."


    Eleonora pulls me in so close that we''re almostpletely fused together, then she inhales deeply...


    "Now that I think of it, since earlier, I''ve been sensing the scent of a woman in heat... This is... more than just physical contact, isn''t it?"


    With the sharp reasoning of a detective, she narrows her eyes and scrutinizes mine closely.


    "Now it''s almost night... Beforeing to see me, you must have been with another woman, right?"


    Suddenly, a flurry of memories floods my mind – a brief moment that reveals everything.


    Until now, I had visited the other girls to spread the news, choosing them in an order that made them easy to meet.


    Most of them lived in the capital, so I went wherever it seemed logical, which led Eleonora to be thest one I visited, living secluded in the forest.


    But during these visits, while I was informing them about Tempest, certain significant incidents urred...


    Their expressions of affection.


    Whether I wanted it or not, I had endured various humiliations during these times, which seemed to be what Eleonora was referring to.


    "It''s not just one or two."


    But that thought vanishes with her next words...


    "And this is...?!"


    Eleonora, who had only taken a light sniff at first, suddenly gasps and forcefully pulls my neck closer to her nose. "Is it because my feelings are unwee that you give such evasive answers? Why... what about me displeases you so?"


    Her line of reasoning perplexes me. As she aggressively approaches me, almost like a hunting dog sniffing every inch of me, I involuntarily step back.


    "Does something make you guilty, hence you try to escape? Try to exin yourself."


    My retreat seems to confirm her suspicions, and sheshes out, her aggression intensifying.


    "Ugh... Is silence tantamount to affirmation in your eyes?"


    Unable to answer, not because I don’t want to but because she doesn’t provide context for her questions, I find myself at a loss. Why is she reacting this way?


    "Ugh... I really don’t understand why you are showing such behavior ―"


    Driven by curiosity and feeling that silence isn''t the best option, I''m about to ask for the reason behind her actions when...


    "Ugh?!"


    The pressure intensifies, pinning me down to the marble floor.


    "Don’t feign ignorance! Which woman... which other female... have you been with?"


    Eleonora suddenly bares her skin, pressing down on me.


    "Confess... whom have you mixed with this time?!"


    Her enraged voice echoes throughout the temple.


    "What?! I... I don''t understand why you''re asking this."


    Bewildered by her unexpected and unimaginable question, I''m momentarily lost for words.


    Why would she think that? There''s no scent on me that could have possibly led her to this conclusion.


    I swear, I haven''t been involved with any other women.


    While the expressions of affection from the others have been excessive, I''ve never engaged in any secret rtions behind Eleonora''s back.


    But why... such disappointment, anger, and overwhelming love in her response?


    "What woman has seduced you again? Which one''s charm did you fall for?!!"


    Her tears stop, reced only by hatred and cold eyes that pierce through me, causing sweat to trickle down my forehead. "Speak up, now..!!"


    "I really don''t know! I swear, I haven''t done anything inappropriate with any woman!!"


    Knowing all too well what she might do in her current state of lost rationality, I desperately try to defend myself...


    "Lies!! Then what are these traces supposed to mean?!"


    "I can''t forgive this! Being alone without any interlopers, it''s time to leave asting mark!"


    I was incredibly frustrated, almost to the point of despair... Why is she using me of something I haven''t done?!


    "The price of your lies will be heavy...!"


    "Brace yourself, for I intend to extract a harsh punishment."