Chapter 302: The Hated Medicine (11)
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 302: The Hated Medicine (11)
Narsha had a major grievance as of late.
It was the rainy season, humid and sticky, but that wasn't the trivial cause of her discontent.
Being used as Karami's sex toy had been the greatest humiliation of her life. To think she'd shown such a sordid side of herself to Karami, of all people.
She felt pathetic for succumbing to pleasure. Worse, there had been onlookers.
She'd gone and silenced them afterward, so no rumors had officially spread, but that was only on the surface. The servants were surely whispering about it amongst themselves.
And it hadn't stopped there. She'd even had to walk around the mansion wearing nothing but an apron and a pair of panties, bearing the mark of a woman whose most precious part had been conquered.
If she could, she would have bitten her tongue and died.
But as Karami's slave, she couldn't even end her own life.
The only silver lining in this misfortune was that Karami's interest in her had since cooled. She no longer had to wear the ‘nude apron’—an outfit that signaled her readiness for sex—and had returned to her actual duties.
It was only natural. The merchant group couldn't function without her, and Karami had no intention of ruining his grand cause for a moment's amusement.
She had been dealt an indelible shame, but her life had returned to its normal track. It was still a grievance, but it was no longer an immediate source of irritation.
Then what was her grievance?
“Oh, my. Our Yuri is doing so well.”
“Hehe…”
It was Elize, and the boy she'd brought with her, Yuri.
He was not a slave, nor a servant, but an ordinary boy. What was peculiar was his resemblance to Karami and Elize. That was what she found so vexing.
‘But why?’
She felt a sense of displeasure but couldn't pinpoint the exact source of the emotion.
There was no way Elize, a saint, could have given birth, but even if Yuri were their child, it shouldn't matter to her at all…
“…”
It shouldn't matter…
“…”
It seemed… it did matter.
Another Narsha, one from deep within that she didn't even know existed, was screaming that she hated it. The same her who had moaned and enjoyed it when Karami had taken her.
When she asked herself what she hated, the only answer was a coarse shout: ‘I just fucking hate it!’
The deeper she probed, the more her head throbbed, until she finally gave up on self-reflection.
“Haa… What a fucking life.”
Time to work. There was nothing better than work to clear a complicated mind.
*
God is not fair.
It was a thought Elize had held since childhood, ever since she had joined the Church as a novice.
The God who was meant to maintain balance and establish order was not fair.
To those who did one thing well, He gave two. To those who did two things well, He gave three.
But there were undoubtedly those who couldn't even manage the one thing others did with ease. Elize had seen such people often.
God is not fair.
Elize had lived her life with this thought, born from experience, and today, that assertion solidified into conviction.
Yuri was extraordinary in appearance alone.
Even at his young age, he was so striking that he would have no trouble getting by in life, even with no other talents.
But Yuri, unlike some people, seemed to have no intention of living as a kept man. He was a pioneer, determined to forge his own path.
The incident began while Elize was playing with Yuri.
A pitter-patter of raindrops tapped against the window. Dark clouds cast a gloomy pall over the day.
Elize and Yuri sat facing each other on the bed.
“The Lord is unseen, but He is always by our side. The proof of this is divine power.”
She explained to the boy about God's authority—the divine power that works miracles. It was early education disguised as play.
It was perhaps a bit early, but childhood experiences were said to have a profound impact later in life.
She simply hoped it might be of some help to him later.
“Divine power…?”
“It is a very pure power. So noble that it moves even God Himself. By offering this divine power as a tribute, you can ask for a miracle.”
Elize clasped her hands together. As she closed her eyes and murmured a prayer, a single ray of light pierced the dark clouds, streamed through the window, and poured down upon her.
“The Lord is the father of all mankind. Though His foolish children may doubt, He believes in us. Even if we are covered in blood, He trusts and waits for us to return to the righteous path.”
“Woooow…”
“If you do not deny the existence of God and pray earnestly for salvation, you too will be able to receive a divine oracle, Yuri. …Though I suppose that sounds rather complicated for you right now.”
It was a tall order, asking a child who barely understood himself to perceive the existence of God.
To a child, a snack in hand was far more important than an invisible god.
But Yuri had potential.
Be mature. And wait. For the oracle to descend.
A teaching passed down through the generations in the Church.
Elize herself had grasped it faster than other children her age, so it was possible Yuri would be even quicker.
After listening in silence, Yuri closed his eyes, folded his hands, and mimicked Elize.
She had said the words, but Elize didn't hold high expectations. It was too soon for him, and the concept would be too difficult to grasp.
She had spoken more in the hopes that the words would simply wash over him.
But then.
Shaaaaa…
A gray light enveloped Yuri's body.
Another beam of light shone down upon the boy.
A response from God.
God had answered Yuri's call.
To a mere five-year-old.
It was an unbelievable sight. Elize's lips parted slightly.
“How did you do that?”
“I thought of someone precious…”
“Someone precious?”
The boy smiled shyly at Elize.
“Mom and Dad…”
“Ah…”
Could it be that his parents' longing had reached the heavens, and they had asked God to send a message to their son, left all alone?
How desperate must he have been for God to answer? Elize's eyes began to well up.
She opened her arms wide.
“Come here.”
After a moment's hesitation, he crawled onto his knees and snuggled into her embrace.
“Yuri, from now on, how about you think of me as your mother?”
What this poor child needed wasn't a saint, but a mother who could hold him whenever he needed.
If that was the case, Elize was willing to make that sacrifice for Yuri. She would care for him not as a saint, but as a mother to a child.
“Mommy…?”
“That's right. Mommy. You don't have to call me Saint so formally.”
They had only just met. It would be perfectly natural for him to feel hesitant. If Yuri didn't want this, if he needed more time, Elize was prepared to wait.
“Mommyyy…”
But Yuri, as if he needed a mother that very instant, called her “Mommy” in a coddling tone and burrowed deeper into her arms.
“Oh…” Elize let out a soft gasp, a wave of dizziness washing over her.
She hugged the back of his head tightly to her chest.
Mommy.
What a beautiful word.
She felt as if she had truly become this child's mother.
She was immeasurably happy.
Smooooch.
Unable to restrain herself, she planted a deep kiss on his cheek, as if she could devour him whole.
Yuri's cheeks flushed pink with embarrassment. In return, he shyly planted a light peck on Elize's cheek.
*
“Hush, hush, little baby. Sleep so well, my little baby.”
A gentle lullaby drifted through the bedroom.
At the mansion, Yuri slept in Elize's bed, waking and sleeping beside her.
Lying on her side, Elize gently patted Yuri's chest, singing him a lullaby.
After a little while, the well-behaved boy would drift off to sleep without a single fuss.
Elize watched him as he slept.
The boy, angelic while awake, looked even more so in his sleep.
Every little movement, every syllable of his voice—how could every single thing about him be so lovable? The feeling wrapped around Elize's heart again and again, warm and comforting.
She wished this moment could last forever, yet she also longed to see the man he would become.
She was greedy for one who served God, but surely He would forgive this much.
What new happiness would tomorrow bring?
Filled with anticipation, Elize closed her eyes.
*
In the bedroom, silent save for the sound of soft breathing, Yuri, who had been asleep, slowly opened his eyes.
His pupils, once a clear gray, now glowed blood-red in the darkness.
He watched the peacefully sleeping Elize for a moment, then carefully rose from the bed and slipped out of the room, taking care not to wake her.
He made his way to Karami's office, where Karami and Mirabelle were waiting.
As if they had been waiting for him all along.
“How was it? Did you enjoy yourself?”
“Yes.”
Though brief, the past few days had been his entire life, and they were incredibly precious to him.
So much so that he wanted to throw a tantrum and beg to stay.
But he could not defy the laws of causality. To do so would trigger something irreversible.
Therefore, he had no complaints about his circumstances.
Still, there was one thing he wanted to ask.
“Can… I see them again?”
“Well now. If nothing special comes up, I don't see why not.”
“If that’s the case…”
Then he was relieved.
This was just a temporary parting; they could meet again.
And then, they could stay together forever, without a separation like this one.
Mirabelle moved her broom. Yuri's body began to shimmer with light.
“Is there anything you want before you leave?”
“Something I want?”
“Something possible right now.”
Yuri thought for a moment. His deliberation was not long.
“Can you… hold me?”
A faint smile touched Karami's lips. He pushed his chair back slightly from the desk.
He opened his arms slightly, and Yuri came pattering over.
And fell into Karami's embrace.
“See you… again later.”
“I, too, will wait for that day to come.”
Yuri glowed, his form becoming difficult to discern.
The light faded, and then he was gone.