Chapter 31: Invisible Changes

Selis’s House.

Only a single warm yellow wall lamp lit the living room, its soft glow casting a subtly tense atmosphere.

Eitin sat somewhat stiffly on the plush sofa, his back perfectly straight, hands resting awkwardly on his knees.

From the bathroom came the faint sound of water dripping, unusually clear in the quiet night.

At this moment, he felt like he was sitting on pins and needles, unsure where to focus his gaze, so he fixed it on the steaming teacup before him.

His heartbeat was faster than usual.

What was going on?

Eitin’s mind was a mess.

Why did Selis take the initiative to ask him to stay the night?

That was completely unlike her usual cold and distant demeanor.

Moreover, Selis’s underlying character was one of extreme dislike for men, and the system still showed her favorability toward him as negative.

Logically, inviting a male guest to spend the night meant their relationship was beyond ordinary.

Was this plot development really plausible?

Was it simply because too many things had happened recently, making her feel insecure and in need of company?

Or… was there some other reason?

Eitin couldn’t figure it out.

[Master! Master! Selis actually took the initiative to have a male stay overnight! This is a major breakthrough!]

In stark contrast to the anxious Eitin, Ruby buzzed around him, excited.

[This means she already regards Master as someone she deeply trusts and feels close to! At this rate, conquering her is just around the corner! Keep it up, Master!]

Could it really be like that?

Eitin frowned slightly at Ruby’s words, sensing something was off.

Everything seemed to be progressing too quickly, too smoothly, inconsistent with the Selis’s personality he’d observed in the Hall of the Gods.

But when he carefully recalled Selis’s fragile, unsettled, and pleading look just now, it didn’t seem like an act.

Unable to pinpoint exactly what was wrong, he could only bury his doubts deep inside for the time being.

Meanwhile, inside the bathroom.

Warm water streamed continuously from the showerhead, steam filling the space and blurring the mirror.

Selis stood beneath the flow, a look of shock on her face as if awakened from a bold dream.

Her cheeks flushed red—not just from the water temperature, but from her mood—as the heat spread from her cheeks to her earlobes.

She instinctively covered her burning cheeks with both hands, her beautiful eyes wide with disbelief.

Was that really her just now?

What had she done?

She had actually taken the initiative to speak up and ask a boy to stay overnight at her house.

Such a daring thing was unthinkable for her in the past.

Selis couldn’t help but question herself—is this still the old her?

Where had the girl who always kept her distance from the opposite sex, even feeling repelled by them, gone?

She raised her head to look at the blurred figure in the mirror—this rosy-cheeked girl whose eyes were full of confusion.

Even as the warm water kept pouring over her, it couldn’t soothe the inexplicable heat stirring inside her.

Her heart pounded wildly in her chest, faster than she thought possible.

She subconsciously placed her wet hand on her left chest, pressing against the rapid beating, trying to calm it.

Looking back, ever since meeting Eitin, her personality had truly undergone a profound change.

If not for Eitin appearing repeatedly during her most dangerous, helpless moments to rescue her from peril, she dared not imagine what state she would be in now.

At first, she only felt gratitude toward Eitin, but after these days of interaction, the unique personality and behavior of this black-haired boy had deeply imprinted on her mind.

His seemingly casual actions always managed to soothe her inner anxiety; his reliable smile brought peace of mind.

Whenever she closed her eyes, Eitin’s figure was always clearly present in her thoughts.

She couldn’t determine what kind of feelings she held for him.

This fluttering in her heart—where did it come from?

All Selis knew was that Eitin always appeared at her most vulnerable moments like a beam of light in the dark.

So now, whenever she faced difficulties, the first image to surface in her mind was him—the first person she thought to seek help from.

Especially today, after seeing that despair-inducing video Quentina had shown her, she had deeply questioned her own existence and worth.

It was Eitin’s unwavering faith in her and steadfast presence that allowed her to grasp a shred of hope and courage again.

If Eitin wasn’t by her side… what would she become?

That thought flashed through her mind, bringing an inexplicable sense of panic.

So when she saw Eitin turn to leave, her body reacted before her mind did—almost instinctively reaching out to grab his wrist.

At that moment, only one clear and powerful thought filled her heart: she didn’t want him to leave.

Even she was surprised by this sudden impulse.

It seemed… she was becoming more and more dependent on Eitin.

Having grown up in a single-parent household and burdened by the shadow of her father’s early departure, Selis had always found it hard to trust anyone except her mother.

Therefore, even when misunderstood or condemned by many, she never sought help from anyone, enduring alone and relying on herself to overcome hardships.

She had never truly experienced what it was like to depend on someone.

Now, after meeting Eitin, Selis finally felt what it meant to rely on another person.

This feeling brought an indescribable sense of security.

As long as she stayed by his side, it seemed all difficulties and fears could be kept at bay—there was no need to worry excessively, only to follow his lead.

Selis found this sensation incredibly strange—the feeling of entrusting a part of herself to someone else.

Though tinged with some unease, it was also irresistibly attractive.

Most importantly, Eitin had never let her down.

“Ah…”

Selis lifted her chin slightly, closed her eyes, letting the warm water cascade freely over her heated cheeks.

One hand rested involuntarily on her chest, fingers gently stroking the soft flesh there as if trying to steady the heart beating wildly for someone.

Eitin was unlike any other boy she had met.

Those looks—whether flattering or intrusive and judgmental—that made her uncomfortable had never appeared in his eyes.

His gaze was always clear and straightforward, sometimes tinged with a carefree, cynical playfulness.

Yet when she needed him, he became incredibly focused and dependable.

In short, Eitin did not give off any instinctive urge for her to avoid him.

On the contrary, he seemed to carry a gentle yet firm strength that quietly drew her in.

It made her want to get closer, to explore, to stay by his side and bask in that rare sense of peace.

This attraction was not like a violent storm, but like a gentle stream, nourishing everything silently.

Unconsciously, Selis was already immersed in it.

As her thoughts drifted, the movement of her hand unintentionally intensified.

Her slender, pale fingers pressed a little harder, the fingertips sinking deeply into that soft skin.

“Mm~”

The slight pain caused her to emit a soft, tender moan.

At that moment, her eyes seemed to blur with a gentle haze, losing their usual coldness and gaining a few hints of captivating daze.

Selis stared blankly at the mirror—the girl with rosy cheeks like evening glow and slightly parted lips.

As if guided by some invisible emotion, she slowly lifted her trembling hand, fingertips touching the cool glass, seeming to want to caress the familiar yet strange reflection of herself.