Chapter 146 Bronya: Caelus, I'm sorry
Bronya opened her eyes in astonishment.
The first thing she saw was an elegant, silver-haired beauty.
Under the bright moonlight, the beauty's silver hair, coiled at the back of her head, seemed dyed by starlight, reflecting fragmented rays of light. Her face shimmered like dawn light on water, her eyelashes almost transparent beneath the moonbeams.
When her silver eyes with pink irises, filled with amusement, looked over, the shimmering light within them brought to mind an angel's smile.
The instantaneous, breathtaking beauty even left Bronya momentarily stunned.
Perhaps it sounded narcissistic, but at this moment, even Bronya found it hard to believe that 'she herself' possessed such charm.
"What does taking a hot spring bath have to do with repaying Caelus?"
Bronya lifted her head from the warm jade pillow, asking the question on her mind, then suddenly realized something, and continued:
"And… where are we? Are there hot springs in the Upper City?"
A hint of bewilderment appeared on Bronya's pretty face.
Honestly, hot springs were something she had only ever read about in books.
It wasn't until she visited the Lower City that she saw a real natural hot spring, formed by geothermal marrow releasing heat when sealed underground, warming the groundwater.
The Upper City did not have sufficient heat sources or suitable enclosed environments. As far as Bronya knew, only certain wealthy noble families would install artificial hot springs, but the Rand family did not have such luxurious habits.
Silver Wing pressed a finger to her chin, pondering for a few seconds before shaking her head with a smile:
"The previous owner of this villa estate… I've forgotten her name, but I remember she was a sensible noblewoman."
Between life, money, and power, she chose life. Although she lost her noble status, the money she currently has left is more than enough for her to live comfortably for the rest of her life.
"Its current owners are Caelus, Star, and their friends."
"Huh?"
Bronya gasped in surprise.
She knew Silver Wing had gifted the Express crew a villa estate. Bronya had no objections to this; compared to the immense help the Express had provided to Belobog, a mere material reward was negligible.
However, because she had been preoccupied with urgent government affairs, she hadn't had the chance to come and see the situation.
What surprised Bronya was that Silver Wing hadn't even informed her beforehand, but had simply brought her straight here.
"Did you contact Caelus by phone beforehand?"
As she asked, Bronya's gaze was involuntarily drawn to the proudly standing, snow-white curves before her.
Generally speaking, one would wear a towel in a public hot spring; however, a private artificial hot spring differs little from a bathtub, so naturally, both of them were completely nude.
Perhaps for some, even being naked with someone of the same sex would cause shyness and discomfort.
However, if the person sharing the bath was another 'self,' it was likely that almost no one would mind, as their appearances were almost identical.
Yet, at this moment, Bronya sensed a difference with Silver Wing. Although she could vaguely detect and compare it even when dressed, the disparity became much more direct and obvious when they were truly naked and face-to-face.
Why, despite being the same person, was Silver Wing so much larger than she was?
"Stop staring," Silver Wing said, supporting her lower chest with a fair, tender arm, a playful smile on her face: "I'm a few years older than you. You'll grow to this size too, eventually."
"I wasn't…"
Bronya quickly shook her head, blushing, trying to deny it. But noticing Silver Wing's knowing half-smile, she quickly lowered her head, not bothering to argue further.
Silver Wing was a few years older than her?
No wonder she seemed more mature.
Her face showed no signs of age; 'she' truly was naturally beautiful!
Wait, what am I even thinking about?
Bronya shook her head, trying to clear away the jumbled thoughts.
But she hadn't rested in a very long time, like a long-distance runner suddenly stopping. Her mind couldn't focus.
"To answer your previous question, no, I didn't contact Caelus beforehand. I'm planning a surprise for him."
"A surprise?"
"Do you remember what we discussed earlier?"
Silver Wing rested her cheek on the back of her hand, smiling as she looked directly at Bronya.
"Mhm…"
Bronya nodded, a slight troubled expression on her face.
The engagement between the Grand Guardian and Hero Caelus was practically common knowledge among Belobog's administrative ranks. Compared to a Hero providing help without any reason—precious data and magical crops capable of advancing civilization's technological level—
the Grand Guardian receiving support from the Hero through marriage was undoubtedly more reassuring.
After all, among political elites, who didn't know that what was free was often the most expensive?
If someone claimed to be a good person, helped 'cure your illness,' and even gave you tens of millions, no matter how grateful you were, you'd still be wary.
What if they gave it to you today, only to demand money tomorrow?
While this possibility was small, it wasn't zero. A small number of people worried about unforeseen circumstances in the future that might plunge Belobog, having just entered a new era, back into the abyss.
This engagement allowed countless uneasy hearts to finally settle.
Some also worried that the Hero, who was to marry the Grand Guardian, would interfere in state affairs. But when Silver Wing explained that Caelus would not stay and would leave the planet with the Express in the future,
all voices of fear and doubt vanished. Every minister unanimously supported it!
All sorts of flattering words like 'perfect match' and 'match made in heaven' were heaped upon Bronya, and they even planned to heavily publicize it during the Guardian's inauguration ceremony.
Once the ministers confirmed that Caelus was not interested in Belobog's power, they then worried that Bronya's appeal wasn't strong enough, and wanted to use the well-known title of the Grand Guardian's husband to draw him closer.
Too close wasn't good, too distant wasn't good—such was politics!
Many, like Pela, deeply admired the Grand Guardian for dedicating everything to Belobog.
She herself had benefited immensely, and the people lived in peace and prosperity. In Bronya's view, the only victim in this engagement was Caelus!
Since a somewhat underhanded method had been used, there was no turning back. Bronya decided to follow Silver Wing's advice and compensate Caelus with all she had.
However, because she had too many government affairs to handle recently, she hadn't even started on it yet.
"So, let's start by giving him a surprise."
"What should I do?"
Bronya earnestly sought advice from her 'self' who possessed the combined wisdom of an entire advisory team.
"Hmm, well then~"
A slender, elegant finger tapped her vermilion lips. Silver Wing smiled sweetly, a mischievous glint in her silver eyes with pink irises, as she leaned close to Bronya's ear, whispering softly:
"When Caelus returns, you just… like this…"
"!!!"
The warm breath against her ear was nothing, but the words Silver Wing uttered instantly turned Bronya's face—already lightly flushed from the steam—a deep crimson. Even her delicate earlobes began to flush crimson.
Her snow-white skin, submerged in the water, slowly took on a pink hue, making her look utterly enchanting and delicate.
"Something like that is far too…"
With a flustered expression, Bronya's thin lips opened and closed several times before she stammered out a few words.
What Silver Wing suggested was simply too shocking for Bronya, who held pure and unadulterated moral values.
Wouldn't that make her…
Bronya panted quickly, her face a fiery red.
"I…"
Seeing Bronya's extremely shy and conflicted expression, Silver Wing didn't press her at all. She merely sighed slightly:
"Ah, it really is too much to ask you to do this. So, perhaps I should do it for you instead."
Silver Wing rose from the hot spring, the water rippling outwards with her movement.
"No! Absolutely not!"
Her flustered, shy voice turned firm. Bronya urgently reached out and grabbed Silver Wing's hand.
She already felt so sorry towards Caelus, and Silver Wing had helped her immensely. How could she possibly let Silver Wing take on the responsibility of that guilt in her place?
Bronya took a deep breath, trying to slow her pounding heart.
The warm, moist steam, combined with her deep breaths, had the opposite effect, making Bronya's mind grow even hazier. Her body relaxed, and her mind simplified to a single thought.
Forget it!
"I'll do it! I will!"
Every word was imbued with resolve. Bronya immediately tried to stand up.
But whether from days of accumulated exhaustion, prolonged time in the hot spring, the shyness of preparing the 'surprise,' or a combination of all three factors,
Bronya's legs felt like jelly, wobbling, unable to support her.
"Are you really sure you're okay?"
Silver Wing quickly embraced Bronya. At such close proximity, their snow-white peaks pressed together, making the two of them look like a pair of exquisitely beautiful twin lotuses.
"I'm fine."
Bronya abandoned all extraneous thoughts, concentrating only on two ideas: she couldn't let Silver Wing take this burden for her, and she had to compensate Caelus.
"Then I'll help you get ready."
Bronya's hand rested on her 'other self's' neck. Silver Wing supported Bronya, her legs, which now shimmered with an alluring glow after their soak, stepping out of the hot spring.
Upon reaching the changing room, Bronya recovered from her dizzy state. She pursed her lips and asked with a determined tone: "What do I need to prepare?"
Soon, Silver Wing answered her with action.
"Why are you tearing the stockings?"
Silver Wing was using various methods to tear and burn Bronya's black, one-piece stockings, which were patterned with intricate flowers and leaves, making them look like they had suffered 'heavy damage' from a battle.
"This will help you go through with it better."
"Is that so?"
Bronya didn't understand such things, but since Silver Wing said so, it must be helpful.
"I understand!"
Donning the 'heavily damaged' patterned one-piece stockings prepared by Silver Wing, and with only a silver robe draped over them that could be easily slipped off, Bronya and Silver Wing arrived at Caelus's room.
Caelus seemed to be showering as well.
Staring at the bathroom door, Bronya's mind was in a semi-dazed state, feeling as though steam was swirling in her brain, generating an overwhelming heat.
Instinctively, she committed to memory the words Silver Wing had taught her.
When Caelus emerged from the bathroom…
The silver robe fell to the floor with a soft rustle, making Caelus turn to look.
Just then, striding forward on legs whose curves were made even more alluring by the stockings, Bronya suddenly rushed out from the doorway, pressing her chest tightly against Caelus's and forcing him onto the bed with her body.
"Bronya, what are you…!"
Gazing at his handsome face, filled with disbelief and astonishment, Bronya's delicate skin, revealed through the 'heavily damaged' stockings, was already flushed with a rosy hue. Despite her extreme shyness, she forced herself to continue.
"Caelus…"
Her 'replica' Bronya began to perform what Silver Wing had called "face wash," to prevent Caelus's gaze from increasing her shyness. She whispered softly into Caelus's ear:
"I'm sorry."
With that, she concluded the "face wash" and, amidst Caelus's bewildered expression, fiercely kissed him.
Outside the window, Silver Wing swung her beautiful legs, savoring the feeling of being the one 'pushed into it' yet diligently served, a joyful arc curving her lips.
Ready to join the battlefield~!
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