Love is Fleeting
Asa responded to the old woman while walking beside her, jar balanced easily in one hand. “Hehe, I see. So your son is a soldier.”
The word soldier brought the priest’s earlier words rushing back. Eighty percent. An eighty-percent chance of infidelity. The figure refused to leave her alone, and a pointless worry began to gnaw at her.
“Are you married, by any chance?”
“Of course! He has a kind face and he’s handsome, too.”
The old woman who had first eyed Asa with suspicion had now opened her heart completely. She chattered away about her family affairs without the slightest reserve.
The answer only deepened Asa’s unease.
“Have you heard any rumors about adultery?”
“Adultery… I can’t say I have. Why don’t we eat first?”
The old woman thought for a moment before answering. Asa nodded.
“Ah, yes. Then I’ll gladly accept your kindness.”
Asa smiled and did not refuse. The invitation was, in truth, the perfect opportunity.
Good. This is where I begin.
At any dinner table, all kinds of stories flow freely. It was the one moment when even a priest’s lips grew loose and unguarded. Asa hoped she might gather useful information here. Village elders usually knew every scrap of local gossip, after all.
The water mill at the edge of the village echoed with more than the grinding of stone. Creak. Creak. The turning millstone masked the other sounds, but inside the dark building they were unmistakable.
Squish. Squish.
The wet, obscene noises of lovemaking.
“Hngh… haah.”
A short-haired woman let out strangely seductive moans as she caressed a long-haired beauty and drove a wooden phallus between her legs. Astonishingly, the mill housed not a man and woman, but two women.
“Does it feel good?” the short-haired one asked, thrusting the carved shaft harder.
“What kind of question is that? More… give me more.”
Watching her beg only spurred the short-haired woman on. She gazed lovingly at those parted lips, then leaned in to claim them. Their breasts pressed together, soft flesh molding and rubbing.
Two naked women entwining their pale bodies in pleasure was hardly the sort of sight the Goddess Yuno would approve. They both knew it. This relationship was unforgivable. This love was one the goddess would never permit.
The short-haired woman knew it perfectly well, yet—
“I love you… Lina.”
She buried her face between those soft breasts and whispered the confession. Even so, she loved her. She adored that gentle face. She wanted to possess those beautiful breasts, to kiss those cherry-red lips until dawn.
“…Me too, Elrey.”
The long-haired woman answered in that moment, and at her words the short-haired woman—Elrey—pulled her even closer.
She truly loved her. Even knowing this was a forbidden love that could never be blessed, she loved her. Perhaps Lina only saw her as a substitute for her absent husband. Perhaps Elrey was the only one who felt real love. She knew all of that.
Still, her heart refused to listen.
“I love you. Truly.”
These overflowing emotions could not be contained.
“I love you, Lina.”
Those were the only words she could manage.
“Hmm. Hmm.”
Jenkinson studied his cards with a grave expression far more serious than any he wore while reviewing legal precedents.
“Heh heh, Father. No amount of staring will change your hand. Hey, barbarian friend! Pick already.”
They say drink turns strangers into friends. The retired soldier who had once regarded them with open suspicion had completely dropped his guard after a few rounds of liquor and cards.
“I fold. Terrible hand.”
Jenkinson discarded his cards. The hand was simply too weak to bet on.
“Keh keh! You could’ve stayed in. What about you, friend?”
The old man grinned excitedly and turned to Alkai.
“…Call.”
Without the slightest change in expression, Alkai dropped a coin onto the table. The old man flipped his cards immediately.
“Straight! Now then… what have you got?”
Alkai revealed his own hand in silence.
“…Two pair.”
The old man cackled with delight.
“Keh keh! I knew it was a bluff. A poker face means nothing if the Goddess of Luck won’t smile on you.”
He raked in the coins, laughing heartily. “Looks like I’m the one basking in Lady Yuno’s favor today.”
His sparse teeth showed when he grinned, but Jenkinson paid it no mind.
“You play well. Next round will be different.”
“Excellent! Shall I shuffle, then? Wouldn’t do for a priest of Lady Yuno to be unlucky. Keh keh!”
The old man began mixing the cards with obvious glee. Jenkinson smiled faintly.
He’s really enjoying himself.
That was good, at least. Jenkinson deliberately lost a suitable amount of small change. Winning pennies in a game like this would only breed resentment; losing gracefully was the smarter way to win favor. The tactic appeared to be working.
“Father, you lost that round. At least have a drink.”
The shopkeeper, who had been watching quietly, brought over a cup of liquor. The same people who had eyed them with suspicion earlier now offered genuine hospitality.
“You too, barbarian. The priest is converting you, right?”
The shopkeeper handed Alkai a mug of beer. Alkai accepted it with a respectful bow.
“…That is correct.”
He had flinched for a split second at the word barbarian, but quickly regained his composure. The shopkeeper nodded approvingly.
“The conversion seems successful. Surprisingly well-mannered for a barbarian, isn’t he?”
“Indeed. I’ve had him reading the scriptures quite diligently.”
Jenkinson’s smooth reply softened the shopkeeper’s face further.
“The scriptures, you say. Lady Yuno’s teachings truly can civilize even barbarians.”
Marveling at the goddess’s power, the man spoke to Alkai with growing friendliness.
“It couldn’t have been an easy decision to convert… The border’s been restless lately. Lots of armed clashes.”
“…Is that so?”
Alkai’s eyes widened. Were they already making their move? To the shopkeeper it was merely worrying news, but Alkai—who understood the larger picture—felt a chill. This could be the opening phase of the very operation he feared.
“You hadn’t heard? Sorry about that. This area sees a lot of conscription, so people are wary of barbarians.”
Misreading Alkai’s reaction, the shopkeeper apologized. He seemed convinced the giant was a sincere convert.
“Khuk! A clumsy fool like that would’ve died on the battlefield anyway. Good thing he converted.”
“Haha…”
Alkai gave an awkward smile at the old man’s gruff but well-meaning words. The veteran had no idea that Alkai was a battle-hardened warrior once slated to become the next great chieftain.
“Right, shall we continue? Care to join us, shopkeeper?”
“…Why not?”
The shopkeeper, intrigued, pulled up a stool.
I wonder how Asa is doing…
While listening to their chatter, Jenkinson found himself worrying about his subordinate. He had already gathered plenty of information, but what he truly wanted was for Asa to bring it back herself.
“I see. So your son is still stationed at the border?”
Asa asked with open curiosity while eating the porridge the old woman had served. The old woman’s name was Dite. She lived with her daughter-in-law after sending her soldier son off to the frontier.
“That’s right. Oh, I haven’t introduced my daughter-in-law yet.”
Dite called toward the kitchen. Soon a woman emerged, wiping her hands on her apron before untying it.
“My name is Lina. Mother-in-law told me you’ve been helping her.”
She smiled gently. Asa could only stare in admiration.
Wow…
In a backwater village like this, such a beauty was rare. Slender frame, full breasts that would draw admiration from anyone, and clear green eyes like those of an innocent deer. She radiated purity itself.
Asa glanced down at herself. Purity… right. The word felt impossibly distant. She scratched her head awkwardly.
“You’re incredibly beautiful.”
At Asa’s bashful compliment, Lina’s cheeks flushed with delight.
“Oh my, you flatter me. I was the one who was startled—Holy Knight, you’re the truly beautiful one.”
Lina had honestly wondered if the holy knight her mother-in-law brought home was an angel. That soft light-green bob, those emerald-like eyes. The modest uniform of her order hid her figure, but it was surely stunning. Lina found herself envying that body far more than her own skinny frame. With a body like that, Elrey would surely…
I mustn’t think that way!
Lina shook her head fiercely, crushing the ugly sprout of jealousy. She had no right to be envious. This woman lived in an entirely different world.
“Is the food to your taste?”
When Lina asked with a warm smile, Asa nodded. The porridge was genuinely good.
“Yes, very much.”
Watching her eat with a smile, Lina found herself smiling too. After all, it wasn’t every day that a holy knight of the Church praised her cooking.