Under the Heiress' Facade

Bernard was confused because he didn't think he was close to Gideon. It was Gideon who kept approaching him.

But Hera sounded unhappy, so he asked in confusion, "Why? Are you afraid that I'll bully him?"

"You know the reason well!" she remarked coldly.

Bernard was bewildered. He scowled slightly when he recalled Gideon's efforts in preventing him from approaching Hera. He looked at her, who was on the opposite side of the pool.

The mist lingered around her face. Although he couldn't see her expression clearly, he could tell she was annoyed with him.

She had been treating him like this since the morning. To be more specific, ever since she got the gurdyroot, she had been intentionally avoiding him. Could she have realized that he was Grandmaster of Astral Nova?

Based on his understanding of Hera, that might not be the case. If she had discovered his identity and realized he had been teasing her, she would've thrown a tantrum rather than be angry silently.

Or was it because she had previously stated that they would no longer have anything to do with each other after she cured his disease? But after such a long time, she should understand his affection for her. Bernard's expression darkened slightly as he stood up and approached Hera.

"You've been deliberately staying away from me lately."

She saw him walk over amidst the thick mist in the hot spring pool. His tall and straight figure, with water droplets rolling down his muscles, appeared so enticing that she felt her breath getting swept away. For a moment, Hera seemed to understand the perverted preferences of Grandmaster of Astral Nova. She wanted to have such a charming figure as well.

"Did I do something wrong to make you angry?"

Bernard came to a halt in front of Hera, and he could finally see her cold expression.

She tried to dodge him because he was too close to her, but he wouldn't let her. He leaned forward and placed his arms on the edge of the pool behind her, trapping her. He moved his handsome face closer. Bernard always made ambiguous advances toward her, which caused her to misunderstand. Did he believe he could do whatever he wanted to her just because he was gay? She felt irritated at this thought. "Think about it yourself!" Hera said harshly.

Bernard could see her getting furious. He thought for a moment before asking, "Is it because I deceived you?"

"Oh?" Hera sneered and looked up at him.

"Hmm?" He noticed that her tone was wrong.

"So, it seems you're deceiving me about something." Hera smiled meaningfully.

Bernard was at a loss for words. She didn't usually smile, but when she did, she appeared eerie.

He believed that if she realized he was Grandmaster of Astral Nova, she would be more than just angry. She would probably end all relationship with him. He had to keep the truth from her.

"When you were looking for me, I was making gold needles in the village. But I lied to you and said I was working overtime." Bernard instantly found an excuse. Although it sounded touching, Hera suspected it wasn't the deception he mentioned earlier.

Seeing that she was keeping silent, Bernard asked back, "Speaking of which, didn't you also deceive me? You're a good learner, but you pretend to be an idiot." "I never pretended," Hera defended herself.

She had already proven herself in the entrance exam, but nobody believed she was clever. So, she stopped explaining. She even did a favor for the Luddens at that time. "Shouldn't you explain how you became such a good learner after spending 11 years in the village?" Bernard asked again.

He had long discovered that Hera was merely pretending to be an idiot, but he never exposed it and just waited for her to tell him.