By Zephyria 
Since the High Priest would be the one most influenced by the Ancient God’s power in this world, he would definitely be a hindrance to me in this situation, but I unconsciously turned my eyes to the High Priest sitting across from me as if seeking help. It was almost an instinctive movement, like a drowning person flailing their arms and legs.
But somehow, the High Priest had already made a move, and he was frozen like a statue in the same position as when he was organizing the box containing the bracelet, with a pleased smile on his face. As soon as that figure reached my sight, my body moved before my head could turn.
“Where do you think you’re going, daring to.”
I was definitely going to jump up and run straight out the door. But I only took three steps. My limbs became stiff as if weights were attached. No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t lift them.
“A Divine object made by humans… I wondered if it would be of any use, but indeed, it’s subtly useful.”
A languid voice echoed from behind me. It wasn’t the Crown Prince’s voice, but what should I say? It felt like another person’s voice was thinly layered over it. The voice with a strange resonance was full of vitality in this place where the divine energy was thickly gathered, like a fish in water.
“Hmm…”
The Crown Prince, no, Allen, who had come up to me gently, stroked my collarbone with just the tips of his fingers, with a displeased expression. Under the thin silk fabric, there was a round bead clinging tightly to my soft skin instead of soft skin. The fingers that had been gently stroking the fabric like seaweed soon put some strength into it.
“……!”
The bead… slipped slightly along the skin that was covered in cold sweat. My heart was pounding like crazy. If I wasn’t in a position where I couldn’t even move my tongue without Allen’s permission, I would have screamed. Until now, no matter how much Allen tried to remove it with his own hands, the bead, which had been firmly resisting without budging even a little if my will was not involved, was moving. Then in this situation… If I wear that bracelet… What will happen? A desperate prediction swept over my whole body like a huge wave.
“Don’t worry, the game won’t end right away. Wasn’t our rule to safely reach the predetermined ending scene and compete?”
Allen, who had taken over the Crown Prince’s shell, spoke in a kind tone and voice as if he were comforting a crying child. It was an attitude and expression that the Crown Prince would never have imagined. I felt even more creeped out by the gap.
No, that can’t happen. Again… I couldn’t go back to being a marionette with strings, unaware that I had lost control of my ego again. I absolutely hated that.
While I was gritting my teeth inwardly, Allen put strength into his fingertips and scratched the bead a few more times, then cleanly removed his hand from the bead that seemed to fall but didn’t fall in the end, and turned his attention to my still stiff hand.
“It seems like this is not enough… Well, that’s fine. It won’t matter anyway if I use this as well.”
The platinum bracelet, which was gorgeously designed with elegant curves, was beautiful enough on its own, but to my eyes, it just looked like a ruthless chain that bound my soul.
No, no, no…! I screamed madly inside. My eyes, which couldn’t even blink, were all burning.
The large hand that was bringing the bracelet with the eerily shining green Divine Stone to my wrist was approaching slowly as if to mock me, then suddenly changed direction.
“Wait, wait. I have to solve this first. I’ve been annoyed by it for a while now.”
Allen’s fingers were still soft, although they had grown noticeably taller in a short period of time. He had been exposed to harsh and unpleasant work outside, so it was natural to have calluses from labor, but he seemed determined not to leave even a single trace of such unaesthetic marks, and they were as soft and smooth as if they would melt. I knew that fact better than anyone else because the sensation had been engraved on my skin like an imprinting while my bare skin had been touched by his white and delicate fingers several times.
But now, the sensation of the fingers that were grabbing my chin with a not-so-gentle attitude while trying to put on the bracelet was… very unfamiliar to Allen. The rough calluses were definitely the hands of a man who had been holding a sword for a long time. It was Adrian’s hand.
Why was he able to dominate Adrian’s body so easily? Was it because this was the Great Temple, or was it because of that bracelet? Or both? I had to accurately grasp the conditions to avoid this situation in the future. Even in the midst of despair, I desperately racked my brain.
“Tsk, anyway, those lowly things who don’t know their place are just full of vain dreams…”
Allen clicked his tongue in displeasure and rubbed my lips roughly with his thumb. The lipstick on my lips must have been smeared haphazardly now. That wasn’t important in this situation, though.
“How is it, Noah.”
“……”
“Was the breath of the brother who devoured despair sweet?”
“……”
“Was the Crown Prince’s affection, who struggled not to love you first in the repeated life, sweet?”
What was that… Allen, who had blocked my mouth so that I couldn’t utter a single word, was asking me such questions.
“It’s natural that those foolish people willingly worship you and want to covet you.”
“……”
“But you shouldn’t enjoy it.”
“……”
“Keep that in mind.”
The only one you should truly love with all your heart is me. The strange voice, which contained exactly half of Adrian’s and Allen’s voices, was still kind, but at the same time, it asserted with surprising coldness. The purple eyes, which had a noticeably different color than usual, came right up to my unmoving face.
“……”
“……”
Ah. I see now that I’m close. The identity of the emotion that was quietly burning in his eyes was none other than jealousy. The sight of a Ancient God who had chosen to degrade himself by loving a mere human made me shudder all over for a moment. The sense of crisis and fear receded a step. A sense of elation washed over me.
To guess at the will of God, who seemed to be playing some silly prank with my fate, would be a daunting and difficult task. Especially if what God desired was my despair itself.
But from some point on, the means and the end were clearly reversed. This greedy and foolish God had already tasted the sweetness of my flesh enough, and He became so desperate that He came running with His tail on fire, jealous of something as simple as a kiss with another.
Then, does Allen love me? Is the beginning of all this suffocating tragedy because he loved me?
It was a question I couldn’t easily answer right now. But it didn’t matter. What was important wasn’t whether God truly loved me or not. It was the fact that God craved my love.
The agitation in my heart calmed down surprisingly. The hideous God, wearing Adrian’s skin, bit my lower lip painfully with eyes distorted by jealousy. Was He trying to punish me? It was a touch that felt stinging pain. He didn’t blink once while kissing me, still meeting my gaze. How long had I been receiving this punishment? The sticky lips cleanly detached.
“This is…”
“……”
“This isn’t pleasant at all… To touch you while wearing the skin of another being… Yes, I admit it. It’s awful.”
God was foolish and immature.
I knew well that He was a being who had lived for an immeasurable amount of time, but at least His emotional behavior in front of me was certainly like that.
“How about you?”
He looked straight at me and asked. The moment He blinked, a gasp escaped me. It was still hard to move my body, but at least above my neck was free. Now I could blink my dry eyes as I pleased, and freely wag my tongue lewdly.
“What do you mean, ‘How about me?’ If you’re going to ask a question, ask it so I can understand.”
“I’m asking which is better, kissing me or this body. No, not just this guy. I’m including all the touches from the other guys you’ve tasted with that body.”
“Well… does that question even have any meaning…”
“Answer.”
“Aren’t you going to manipulate me as you please anyway? If there’s an answer you want to hear, don’t act so annoying and ask a fool who will move according to your taste. Because whatever answer I give of my own will, it won’t satisfy you.”
I glanced at the bracelet He was holding and sarcastically mocked Him. Allen quietly raged. The hand holding the bracelet clenched tightly. It even trembled. The more emotionally shaken He became, the more subtly the restraints on my body irregularly lightened and then became heavier. The control was faltering. Even if the oppression was released, it was still inside the temple, so it would be hard to run far…
He wasn’t holding the bracelet, but wearing it and checking Adrian’s wrist again. Just in time. The bracelet was caught on the side of the hand that was gently cupping my cheek. The string of the elaborately crafted bracelet was very thin. I timed it and put a little strength into my neck. …Success. The strength worked well. It was enough to move my head even now.
“If you want me to act like a cute teddy bear that says ‘I love you’ when you press its belly, go ahead. You’re a god, after all. To you, a mere human would only look like a doll anyway.”
“You don’t even know how specially I’m treating you, and you dare…!”
His energy fluctuated ominously. Instinctively, I had a feeling. It was right now.
“I love you, Allen. You’re the only one for me.”
“……!”
While ridiculing the God who was shaken mercilessly by a love confession full of mockery, I quickly lowered my head and set my teeth on the inside of His wrist. A thin metal string caught between my canines. And I bit down with all my might.
“Ah, no…!”
What a joke. Where in this world is there something that can’t be done?
The string of the bracelet, which was merely aesthetically beautiful and had no other function, snapped helplessly. Clang! Rattle, rattle… The luridly sparkling green gem pathetically rolled and fell onto the marble floor.
“Ugh… what?”
“Your Highness, Adrian!”
It was my perfect victory.