The Return of the Cannon Fodder Trillion Heiress - Chapter 330

Chapter 330: Chapter 330 Time to Talk
She could feel the heat rising in her back, acutely aware of the stares and disapproval from those around her as if daggers were being thrown her way for making Rafael cry. Even though she hadn’t done anything to intentionally hurt him, the guilt weighed heavily on her. Rafael’s vulnerable state triggered Hera’s protective instincts, and she reached out to him, despite her struggle to bridge the gap. His tall frame and broad shoulders made it challenging to reach his height, but her concern for his distress drove her to try and comfort him.

Fortunately, Rafael was leaning slightly towards her, which made it easier for Hera to reach out and gently wrap her arms around his neck. She drew him closer and softly caressed his head, guiding him to rest his forehead on her shoulder. At first, Rafael tensed slightly at her touch, but that hesitation quickly faded. He eagerly buried his face in the crook of her neck, breathing in her comforting scent as he tried to calm himself.

Rafael’s feelings quickly subsided as he inhaled Hera’s soothing scent, his turbulent emotions gradually calming. For Hera, however, the situation was more complex. Rafael’s warm breath against her skin was both ticklish and oddly stimulating, causing her stomach to churn with an uncomfortable yet intense reaction. She was acutely aware that this wasn’t the appropriate moment for such feelings, she couldn’t help but feel embarrassed by the indecent thoughts that were creeping into her mind.

Hera pushed her distracting thoughts aside and focused on soothing Rafael’s distress. “Shh, I don’t hate you or feel angry,” she said gently. “You’ve done more than just kiss me before, but did I push you away then?” She wanted Rafael to understand that even in more intimate moments, she hadn’t reacted with anger or rejection, so he shouldn’t worry about this situation causing a rift between them.

However, Hera’s soothing words seemed to heighten Rafael’s anxiety. As he recognized the absurdity of his actions, his fear intensified, causing him to stiffen further. Hera was bewildered as her attempts to comfort him appeared to backfire. She could feel his tears dampening the crook of her neck, realizing that her words might have only increased his distress. ‘Did I end up frightening him even more?’ she wondered, feeling a pang of guilt.

“Shh, it’s alright,” Hera said softly, continuing to stroke the back of Rafael’s head. “I’m not angry, and I won’t reject you, okay?” She could feel him sniffling and trembling slightly in her embrace before he settled more comfortably against her neck, his arms tightening around her waist. Hera couldn’t help but think that Rafael might have missed out on a proper childhood or lacked opportunities to express his emotions openly. It seemed that when he reached his emotional limits, it overwhelmed him, leading to this unexpected breakdown.

“Um. Promise?” He asked a little hesitantly.

“Yes, I promise,” Hera said, her voice soothing. “I was just caught off guard by everything, and that’s why I didn’t respond right away. I didn’t mean to cause any more distress.” She wanted to make sure Rafael understood, fearing that without a clear explanation, he might misinterpret her words and start crying again. Hera could feel the weight of the stares on her back, the intensity of the glares from those around her. It seemed that everyone, including herself, believed that a man’s tears were a true indication of his emotions.

It was almost unbelievable to see such a tough man crying—something she’d never imagined. Yet here was Rafael, breaking down his tough exterior and exposing his vulnerable heart to Hera, seemingly indifferent to the watching crowd. He seemed to cast aside his pride and ego, traits he had once held so dear as if they no longer mattered in this moment of raw emotion.

It took Rafael a little while to calm down, and despite the awkwardness of their position due to the height difference, he found comfort in being in Hera’s arms and being gently pampered. Hera continued to stroke his head soothingly, and the onlookers remained tacitly silent, absorbed in the scene. Even the live-stream audience watched in hushed fascination, savoring the quiet, intimate moment between the two. Only a few comments trickled in, as the majority seemed to share in the quiet, heartfelt connection unfolding before them.

[Dave_Carson: I told you he would cry… (ꐦ °᷄д°᷅)]

[NorthernDuke: …]

[SilverEmperor: …]

[FatherOfCaduceus: …]

[GoldenLight: …]

[GoldenLight: Maybe I should enroll in a class on how to cry convincingly? @SilverEmperor, want to join me for some training?]

[SilverEmperor: I’m not even sure I can pull off a tearful performance like that. Maybe we should both sign up for the class.]

[Dave_Carson: Count me in too! I need to learn the art of crying if I want to be taken seriously by my sweetheart.]

[Dave_Carson: Why not ask @NorthernDuke for lessons on how to cry? Isn’t it his specialty? @SilverEmperor and @GoldenLight]

[NorthernDuke: Are you trying to flatter me or just get on my nerves?!]

[Dave_Carson: Maybe a bit of both? (｡+･`ω･´ ) teehee!]

Now that Rafael was calming down and Hera’s mind was starting to clear, she recalled that there was something important she needed to discuss with him. He hadn’t yet responded to her text message, and she needed to address it.

“Are you feeling better?” Hera asked, attempting to gently free herself from Rafael’s embrace so she could get a better look at him. However, Rafael tightened his hold even more, unwilling to let go.

“Can we stay like this for a little while longer?” Rafael requested, his voice hoarse and dry from earlier sobbing. Even without looking, Hera could tell his eyes were likely still red and puffy. So, she continued to stroke his hair, offering comfort and reassurance.

“Hmm, how about we have lunch together? I need to discuss something important with you,” Hera suggested, her tone taking on a serious note. Before Rafael could respond, she continued, “It’s about Minerva, and I believe you need to hear this.” Hera knew that to earn the male leads’ trust, she had to be transparent about what she could share, though she still hesitated to reveal details connected to the storyline and her true intentions. She hoped that in time, if she earned their trust and protection, she might be able to open up more, or if necessary, reveal the full truth under pressing circumstances.

But those were options only if she found herself with no other choice or if it became absolutely necessary. For now, the most she could offer was this level of transparency. She could see that Rafael was genuinely trying to change and help his sister as well, but his efforts might not be enough if they were only scratching the surface of a deeper problem. To avoid wasting his efforts, he needed to understand what she and Gerald had uncovered about Minerva and see how he would respond to it.

This would be a moment of truth with Rafael, to see where his heart and affiliation lie and see if she was really starting to get the fate of the female lead. After hearing the seriousness in her voice, Rafael could tell that Hera meant business, so he took a long dragging sniff of her scent before he slowly let go of her and stared straight at her face. He noticed a mixture of worry, resolve, and determination in her expression, but beneath it all, he could sense an underlying fear.

He couldn’t fully grasp what was going on in Hera’s mind, but he knew that Minerva must have done something truly outrageous to provoke such a reaction from someone as smart and resolute as Hera. He had always seen her as a cunning and strong-willed individual, so this level of concern was telling.