Chapter 207: Dammit...(2)
Chapter 207: Dammit...(2)
As those who know me can attest, I rarely ever swear. At most, I might let out a "bullshit" or a "crazy," sticking to relatively mild language. I’m not the type to use foul words.
However, the situation was so absurd, so preposterous, and so utterly stifling that a "fuck" slipped out of my mouth instinctively. And this was our first time meeting, no less.
That should give you a rough idea of just how flustered and angry I was.
"You have quite the foul mouth, surprisingly."
When I swore out loud, Kate’s green eyes widened in surprise. From her perspective, it was only natural to be shocked after being cursed at out of the blue.
I wanted to kick her out right this instant. Talking to her didn't feel like preaching to the choir; it felt like talking to a brick wall.
Overwhelmed by frustration, I pressed a hand to my forehead and let out a long sigh.
"Whew... Cardinal, no, Ms. Kate."
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
"Does the Church of Luminous... encourage adultery or something?"
I really wanted to refrain from asking such a question, but after hearing Kate’s bizarre answers, I had no choice.
I needed to find out if this was a doctrine taught by the Church of Luminous or just Kate’s personal philosophy.
Of course, no sane religion would encourage adultery, but since I didn't know much about the Order, I had to ask.
Kate seemed to ponder my question for a moment before opening her mouth, her voice as clear as a songbird's.
"It’s a bit ambiguous. If it’s a mere fling, it warrants divine punishment. But if it is true love, Lord Luminous permits it."
"...Excuse me?"
What kind of nonsense was this? Wasn't Luminous the God of Light and Hope?
Even as I stared at her with an incredulous expression, Kate continued with her signature benevolent smile.
"Do you know why adultery is so common among the nobility? It’s simple. It’s because they don't love each other. It’s common for people who love each other to be torn apart by their families' conflicting interests, and quite often, they can't be together due to differences in status."
"... ..."
"For these reasons, even if one commits adultery, Lord Luminous will support them as long as it is true love. Lord Luminous is the God of Light and Hope. And nothing is more hopeful than the truth."
As I listened, I found myself strangely starting to be persuaded. As she said, the reason adultery was so frequent in noble society was due to the nature of arranged marriages.
Because people married out of a sense of duty, many kept separate lovers despite being in a marital relationship. Naturally, it was over if they were caught, but many continued these affairs indefinitely.
Furthermore—and this was a classic case of 'rules for thee but not for me'—the "true love" Kate mentioned rarely existed in adulterous relationships. Most were just playing with fire, and the endings were rarely happy.
‘Still, it’s not always like that...’
An arranged marriage didn't automatically mean someone would commit adultery. It just seemed that way because the scandals were so prominent; in terms of actual percentages, it was surprisingly low.
An arranged marriage was a type of contract. If one side breached the contract, they would suffer immense losses. Because of this, many couples treated each other well, and it wasn't uncommon for them to actually fall in love.
Marrying a stranger was certainly awkward, but there was nothing quite as enjoyable as getting to know someone piece by piece.
Adultery usually happened when a high-ranking noble was paired with a lower-ranking one. As power increases, morality tends to thin out, so it could be seen as a natural phenomenon.
"...Does Lord Luminous actually judge that?"
"It doesn't happen often. They themselves know it's a shameful thing. And even if they are recognized, they have still committed a wrong, so they do receive some form of punishment."
"I see."
Thanks to her, I had gained a new piece of useless knowledge.
"Regardless, the answer is no. Don't try to seduce me or whatever; just give up cleanly."
But no meant no. My first impression of her was already in tatters, and I already had plenty of beautiful women around me who were just as stunning as she was.
Even if Kate tried to seduce me, I had no reason to fall for her, nor any need to. The fact that she was trying to use me for her own goals only made me feel unpleasant.
"If you truly care for Lord Luminous, you wouldn't try to force me, would you? Isn't that right?"
"That is correct. If I were to ravish you, Lord Luminous would be furious."
...It felt strange hearing a woman talk about ravishing a man. Then again, in this world, thanks to the existence of mana, women overpowering men wasn't exactly unheard of, so it wasn't that big of a deal.
Kate could probably try to forcibly take my seed(?) right now, but she was a devout follower of the Church of Luminous. Even if her logic was a bit skewed, her faith was deep.
‘Right. I should just keep bringing up Luminous.’
To talk to someone obsessed with religion, you have to use that religion. Since I was also somewhat favored by Luminous, wouldn't it work if I tried to persuade her using his name?
Just as I was feeling relieved at finally finding a breakthrough, Kate’s next words left me speechless again.
"However, it wouldn't be a problem if it were the other way around."
"...?"
"I am always prepared, so it doesn't matter if you ravish me. That wouldn't be ravishment, but a consensual union, so Lord Luminous would surely forgive you."
"Ha... haha."
A hollow laugh escaped me at her jaw-dropping shift in logic. I could feel her sheer determination to get my seed by any means necessary.
If Luminous saw this, wouldn't he be facepalming in exasperation? I felt like I should go to a temple later and ask him to do something about this woman.
Feeling like I was losing my mind, I hung my head. After letting out a sigh that felt like it could collapse the floor, I spoke quietly.
"...Ms. Kate."
"Yes, Saint."
"No. That title... no. Never mind."
I should just give up. On the title of Saint, that is—not the seed.
I agonized over what to say before slowly lifting my head to face Kate.
On the outside, she was a beautiful lady with a desirable figure—a truly refined young woman. How did she end up like this?
She had received Luminous’s blessing, and Kate herself had said she was once just an ordinary country girl with no connections. Perhaps that was why she followed Luminous so fanatically.
And her way of repaying him was to bear a child with me. The gods, including Luminous, could see the future; I wondered if they had predicted this too.
Anyway, circling back to the point, I expressed my refusal firmly once more.
"Regardless! I have absolutely zero intention of sleeping with you. Whether you try to seduce me or not, it will be meaningless, so keep that in mind."
"Then..."
"You can go ahead and ask Lord Luminous. I’ll be asking him as well."
"... ..."
When I refused her so sternly, Kate’s expression became peculiar. She puffed out her lips in a pout, looking quite dissatisfied.
"I don't understand."
"What don't you understand?"
"It’s embarrassing to say this myself, but I believe I am quite charming as a woman. Even within the Order, I was praised as a flower cultivated by God himself."
As she said, Kate was beautiful. From her face to her figure, there wasn't a single flaw.
She possessed the purity of a country girl, the holiness of a priest, and finally, the sexiness that radiated from her body. These three elements combined to create a unique charm.
If it weren't for Luminous’s protection, filthy hands would have surely reached for her. Now that she held the position of Grand Inquisitor and possessed formidable power, no one would dare touch her.
"Yes. You’re right. You are beautiful, Ms. Kate. That is an undeniable fact."
"Then why do you reject me? Do you perhaps have a problem with your sexual function?"
"For God's..."
She probably asked without any ill intent. However, to me, it was a question that didn't just bruise my pride—it shredded it.
I barely managed to suppress the curse that almost exploded again before answering with great effort.
"Absolutely not. I’d love to prove it to you, but I simply can't."
"I don't mind."
"I mind! Just so you know, if you try to take off your clothes to 'check,' I’ll kick you out immediately."
"... ..."
Kate pouted again, as if she really had been planning to do just that. It seemed to be her habit when expressing dissatisfaction.
I let out a long breath through my nose at the conversation that felt like it was going in circles, then leaned back in my chair. I was starting to get exhausted.
"...Ms. Kate."
"Yes. Please, go ahead."
"Please just give up for today and go back. I have no intention of giving you my seed or anything else."
When I made the request with a weary face, Kate seemed to have a conscience, as she hesitated for a moment. After all, since a Saint was pressuring her like this, she must have realized she was doing something wrong.
She glanced at me tentatively before nodding her head.
"...Understood. I will give up for today."
"That’s a good idea. And I’d appreciate it if you gave up for good."
"I will take that into consideration."
Consideration, my foot. I just wanted her to give up cleanly. I barely held onto my fading sanity.
Even Cecile hadn't been this intense about sharing a bed with me, but Kate was on another level.
I was worried that she might end up fighting with my other lovers soon.
"...Then, do you plan on staying in the Minerva Empire for the time being?"
"Yes. Now that I’ve found the Saint, I plan to engage in relief efforts and other activities."
"When do you plan to leave the Minerva Empire?"
"I have no intention of returning until I receive the Saint’s seed. That is the ultimate goal of this pilgrimage."
"... ..."
If anyone else heard this, they would be baffled as to why someone would go on a pilgrimage for such a reason. But from a religious perspective, the story might be slightly different.
There were similar stories in mythology—stories of a man and a woman chosen by God coming together to give birth to a hero.
Since she was acting not out of personal greed but for the sake of true faith, there was a high possibility the Church would condone it.
‘This is driving me crazy.’
From my perspective, it just meant I had one more stalker constantly eyeing me.
As if Cherry’s behavior wasn't suspicious enough, having one more person jump into the fray made my head throb.
"...I’ve said this multiple times, but I have not the slightest intention of being with you."
"No one knows what the future holds."
"Yes, yes. I’m sure. If you have nothing else to say, I’d like you to leave now."
"Ah. There is one more thing I wanted to say."
"If it’s about the seed again, I’m going to petition Lord Luminous for a restraining order."
"It’s not that."
Was a different topic finally coming up? I listened, feeling relieved.
Kate looked me straight in the eye with her sparkling emerald gaze. For some reason, her pale cheeks were slightly flushed, which made me feel very uneasy.
She then placed a hand on her lower abdomen and spoke quietly, as if filled with anticipation.
"If a child is born, I was thinking of naming a boy Xenon and a girl Lily. What do you think?"
"Get out."
There was just no hope for her.
*
The storm passed, and the next day arrived.
"Hello, Saint. May I receive your seed today?"
"Stop talking about that damn seed!"
Kate had not given up.
‘I need to visit the temple soon.’
I really needed that restraining order.