“Can you see well?”

The Pope asked, peering closely at Egru’s face.

“Actually, you’ve been looking uncomfortable for a while. Is there a particular reason you grow your bangs so long?”

“……”

“With half your face covered, it can’t be good for your eyesight. You might trip and fall.”

Egru just nodded off repeatedly like a calf in broad daylight. The Pope, seemingly unconcerned, blew gently on Egru’s forehead.

The dark brown bangs parted softly, revealing glimpses of thin eyelashes twitching. They were the same chestnut color as his hair. After observing Egru intently for a while, the Pope slowly reached out his hand.

“Ah!”

Egru, half-asleep, quickly protected his ticklish forehead with both hands. His hazy focus returned in an instant. He had come to his senses at the touch trying to lift his bangs.

“How disappointing.”

The Pope smiled innocently.

“You guard it so tightly. The more you hide it like this, the more curious I become.”

“Ah…”

Egru barely lifted his heavy eyelids and assessed the situation. His bewildered gaze was clearly visible through his messy hair. The Pope chuckled, covering his mouth with the back of his hand.

“You’re just like me. I tend not to hear what’s around me when I concentrate. Sometimes the cardinals scold me. Like this, they give me a signal with a cough.”

The Pope playfully imitated a stern cardinal.

“So what were you thinking about so deeply?”

“Ah, well, that…”

The Pope skillfully saved face for Egru, who had just dozed off. Egru didn’t know what to do with his embarrassment. He was once again surprised by the Pope’s exceptional generosity and, as always, disappointed in his own inept behavior. It must not be easy to appear this incompetent.

“The, the room looks really nice.”

Egru answered in a small voice.

“I’m glad you like it. It was a good decision to move to the office.”

The Pope responded with a smile. Unlike his ascetic appearance, his languidly folding eyes created a seductive atmosphere.

“Actually, I was worried you might collapse in the blood collection room earlier. You looked so tense it made me uneasy just watching.”

“I’m, I’m sorry for causing you trouble.”

“Not at all. Moving a few instruments for you, little believer, is an easy task.”

Even at this formal courtesy, Egru’s nose bridge quickly stung. A life where no one had ever cared for him made him gasp even at such simple kindness.

“?”

It was then that Egru’s head drooped once.

‘Why, why do I keep doing this.’

Despite the Pope’s rare show of goodwill, he had nearly dozed off again. Egru looked down at his arm, just in case.

“On the contrary, I should be thankful. Your cooperation made everything so much easier. The test results came out very cleanly.”

“Your, Your Holiness…”

“Yes, ask me anything.”

“Can, can I remove the needle now?”

“……”

The Pope suddenly looked down at Egru’s face. His complexion was pale from having so much blood drawn. His once plump cheeks had sunken, and his dry lips had lost their vitality.

The Pope impassively looked around once. Checking if there was any object reflective enough to show a face like a mirror. Then, his long thumb gently wiped under Egru’s nose. The blood-stained hand was seamlessly hidden behind the Pope’s back.

“Are you feeling dizzy?”

“Well, a little…”

At the unrestrained touch, Egru hurriedly lowered his head. With his hands behind his back, the Pope tilted his waist sideways. His purple eyes peered into the large glass bottle on the side table. It was filling up with steadily dripping blood.

“Please bear with it a little longer.”

The Pope shook his head as if regretful.

“I want to maintain the correct reagent volume for your safety, little believer. May I ask for your patience?”

“Of, of course!”

Egru answered eagerly. There was no reason to refuse efforts made for his safety.

‘But, but what exactly is safe…’

He hadn’t received a separate explanation. Still, it must surely be fine. Hadn’t he said it was a necessary preliminary test to meet the Holy Knight Commander?

Moreover, the Pope is the most trusted figure across the Eastern Continent. A symbol of peace leading the way in ending meaningless conflicts. He had heard that emperors and ambassadors from various countries frequently request visits to seek his advice.

“It’s a pity. If only we had met a little earlier.”

“Pardon?”

“It’s nothing.”

The Pope, after dropping these puzzling words, changed the subject with a smile.

“By the way, it’s past dinnertime now, aren’t you hungry? What kind of food do you prefer most, little believer?”

“Uh, food?”

“Let me start by saying that I’ve been enjoying buffalo spleen recently. I’ve taken a liking to raw food with minimal preparation.”

The Pope looked down at Egru as if expecting his answer. Under this subtle pressure, Egru swallowed hard.

“Well, I…”

The number of foods that crossed Egru’s mind was not many. This was because he had little experience with proper food so far.

But despite this, there was no need to hesitate. He had experienced a heavenly taste that made his mouth water just imagining it.

“I like cheese the best.”

Egru said, tightening his lower abdomen just in case. There would be no greater embarrassment than if his stomach, empty for two days, made a sound.

Cheese.

In Egru’s heart, it was the most perfect food. Salty, flavorful, and nutty. He also liked how it melted away in his mouth when rolled around. Even stale bread became a paradise with a thin slice of cheese on top.

‘Someday…’

He wanted to try eating a mouthful of cheese. How happy would he be if he could fill his cheeks until they puffed out with that bright yellow delicacy? Although he had only eaten it a handful of times so far, even then he had been busy putting it in his brother’s mouth. Since incurring debt to the guild, he hadn’t even been able to see it.

Egru indulged in a modest flight of fancy. A feast of various cheeses flickered before his eyes. Although Egru only knew a few types of cheese, he had heard that there were actually many different kinds.

“Cheese? Ah, our Commander really enjoys it too. Even though he prefers dishes with strong spices, he always pairs them with cheese.”

“Is that so?”

Egru smiled faintly at the sense of kinship with his precious brother.

“Indeed. In fact, I don’t think anyone lives with peperoncino powder like our Commander does. There’s even a rumor that the chef cooks with tears at every meal. He can’t even rub his eyes because he handles such spicy ingredients.”

The Pope said, tapping the bottle that was now almost brimming with Egru’s blood.

“But he uniquely loves cheese. He complains that most dishes are unpalatable or whatnot, you know. Isn’t he an interesting person?”

“I, I see.”

‘So D’Élysée likes spicy food…’

Egru felt ashamed of himself for only imagining cheese. When living with his brother, their staple food was cheap wheat bread. Occasionally they ate stew with animal offal, but even that must have been far from enough for a growing child.

‘Yet D’Élysée never complained once.’

He recalled his brother’s face, smiling brightly in front of an empty plate. Egru’s lime-green pointed ears drooped lifelessly. I don’t even deserve to be called a brother.

“What about you, little believer?”

“I, I can’t handle spicy food at all…”

“I see.”

It was as if he had expected this response. The Pope neatly arranged the hem of his garment and sat down next to Egru. As the velvet seat of the sofa gently sank, Egru’s axis tilted slightly.

At this casual approach, Egru instinctively shrank back. As their arms brushed, the scent of expensive perfume wafted strongly. While feeling awkward in various ways, a small sense of emotion arose. Despite washing himself squeaky clean every dawn, no one had ever approached him, saying he smelled like a mixed breed.

“Pardon me, but may I ask again why you grow your bangs?”

“Pardon?”

“Have I been asking too many questions?”

At the Pope’s fresh smile, Egru shook his head as if entranced. Then, slender white fingers touched his ear. The unruly dark brown hair was smoothly tucked behind his ear. The reddish cartilage of his ear was fully exposed.

“To be honest, this is my first experience too, so I can’t hide my bewilderment.”

The Pope’s lips slowly approached the pointed ear.

“I find myself wanting to know you more deeply, little believer. Would that be alright?”