The Tale of the Redeeming Villain

"Here, choose whatever you want." After eating and cleaning the kitchen, Catherine wished to take a bath since remembering yesterday....well, she didn't want to think about it.

Last night, she sweated a lot that's why she wanted to get washed up.

This time, Blake brought her to his room and opened his cupboard to let her decide what she wanted to wear.

"...did you live with a girl before?" Seeing the wide options to pick from, Catherine couldn't help asking as she took hold of a summer floral-patterned dress.

Blake smiled awkwardly, as he responded honestly, "I bought them after I fell for you since I thought I would be able to pursue you and we might end up living together."

Catherine's back straightened as with wide eyes she turned to look at the guy who was rubbing his head in embarrassment.

"...exactly how far did you plan?"

"Aha...let's not talk about that." Blake couldn't tell her that the previous owner of this body had also brought child care products which were stored in the cabinet just below the cupboard.

Catherine was rather baffled. If Blake really liked her, then why did he never even try to talk to her? Wasn't that the first step of courting someone? Forget about talking, Catherine could count on her fingers how many times they came face to face in the past.

Naturally, she wasn't a shameless woman to ask that aloud, nor she was actually much invested in the topic of romance, while she was serving as the Holy Maiden.

She picked one of the one-piece frock dresses which was yellow in shade and had black tape around the waist. It looked pretty and refreshing.

"It would look good on you..." Blake's voice trailed near the end since he realized that she might grow wary upon hearing his praises just after Blake confirmed that he held feelings for her.

However, he never expected that Catherine would offer a gentle smile which allowed her pearly teeth to peek out, as she said, "Thank you...then, I will wear this today."

Asking for bath towels and taking a pair of new underwear from the wardrobe (something that made both of them quite awkward and uncomfortable) Catherine made her way toward the bathroom.

'...damn. Buying clothes is one thing, but Blake also knew her 'sizes'...' Blake couldn't help but sigh and salute his previous self.

******

Catherine rested inside the spacious bathtub and allowed her body and mind to calm down.

After she woke up she was restless and quite fidgety. Not knowing how to act around Blake or how to thank him. In the end, she decided to make him good food as a token of gratitude.

'...but was that enough?' Although she knew, it was Blake because of whom she was pushed into that position last night, she couldn't help but feel that she needed to thank him somehow for comforting her and preventing Catherine from harming herself.

'It's a bit strange though...' Catherine rested her head on the bathtub edge and thought back on how things have changed in these two days.

Two days ago, she was praying to the heavens to gain freedom. And now, she was feeling like she was spending vacations with Blake here.

"Huh...what am I..." Catherine's face felt hot upon thinking about their situation in such a way. If she continued this line of thinking then it wouldn't be too far to consider Catherine and Blake living together as a couple.

'Not good...I need to purify my mind...' Submerging herself under the water, the nun decided to have only pure thoughts and bring her feet back on the right track.

*******

After Catherine and Blake were done bathing, they decided to do some cleaning of the house.

Blake was cleaning his room while Catherine took the role of dusting the windows and furniture in the living area.

'Hmm...' It was then, that Blake suddenly came across a wooden box that he had hidden beneath his clothes.

"Ah!" Although Blake's memories have assimilated with him, he still couldn't remember the minute details until he didn't come across them. Just like, how he only realized the presence of this secret potion storage only after he found it.

'Damn...these would cost a fortune to buy again...'

Potions were distributed in three categories and the prices of them vary according to their rarity.

The common potions that can be brewed with herbs, common creature blood, and other commonly found products, can easily be bought at one gold coin to a hundred.

Then comes the rare ones that can be only made with a specific kind of animal or plant, and those that aren't commonly found or cannot be easily used. Those potions can sum up to a thousand gold coins.

And then there are these mythical potions that can only be prepared from the essence of some very rare and nearly extinct creatures. Like Griffin and Eldgar Tree. The potion box in which thirty vials are stored is of a mythical category.

'I need to be cautious.' Blake couldn't use it all to strengthen himself since he needed to think of the future.

With his business and reach in the market already in ruins, he cannot spend these potions on himself. He needs to be very careful about his choices since these potions can become a very important factor that would determine his future.

However, regardless of his cautions, Blake pulled out a vial which had a red potion stored inside and after closing the box, he put it back in the cupboard.

Walking out of the room, he found Catherine cleaning the whole place with her telekinesis and using her physical hands to fix the chair which was broken while Blake and Catherine had a confrontation on the first day.

"It won't be fixed....and I am sorry for pushing you that harshly."

Catherine jerked in surprise hearing his voice and the broken piece of chair leg fell from her hand.

Hearing his apology, Catherine shook her head, "Let's not talk about that night." Catherine, by all means, wanted to forget what happened two nights ago. Although she was curious about one thing, she decided to keep her curiosity to herself.

Blake was slightly guilty remembering how he treated her that night but as she requested he didn't bring up about it anymore.

He took the still-intact chair and gestured for Catherine to sit down across from him.

Catherine did as he said, and sat down with a confused frown on her face.

Blake took out the vial and placed it in front of her.

"Here...the venom of Everlife Turtle. This would help Carl build resistance against the overheating and even neutralize his body temperature once it reaches above a certain degree."

Catherine's lips parted and eyes widened but no words came out of her mouth. She glanced at the vial and back at Blake quite many times.

She was completely speechless.

"Y-You...had this?"

"Yeah...and I am sorry again for deceiving you. Now, take the potion and keep it safe until we don't fulfill this contract."

Blake was about to get up and finish cleaning up his room when suddenly Catherine's voice and the system's alert rang in his ear at the same time.

[Ding!]

[New skill unlocked!]

"...I think I misunderstood you Blake...anyway, thanks for this potion. You might have saved Carlson's life with this."

Blake looked past the system panel and offered a gentle smile before he turned away and left.

Catherine remained seated on the dining table, staring at the small container and about Blake.

'Blake...why didn't we come in contact before...' Catherine herself didn't realize how her feelings had begun to shift.

She was not only thankful to Blake but wanted to know more about him.

She was curious about him.

********

A/N:- You might as well have saved Blake's life as well.