Chapter 531: The Cardinal's Dilemma
Chapter 531: The Cardinal's Dilemma
“……”
“Wh-What’s with that look?”
Vanessa’s eyes seemed far colder than usual as she stared at me, and the words escaped my lips reflexively the moment I saw her face.
Then again, maybe Vanessa’s expression was exactly the same as always, and I was just projecting my own guilt onto her, making her seem cold.
For the record, Sara, her anger having subsided, was also bright red and frozen stiff, hiding behind me as if ashamed of the kind of play she had engaged in.
“…What do you mean?”
“Ah, nothing.”
Was she genuinely clueless, or just playing dumb?
I just shook my head at Vanessa, whose voice sounded subtly different from usual.
Whether she truly didn't know or was just feigning ignorance, it seemed she had no intention of pressing the matter, so that was fine by me.
I decided to just assume she was unaware and move on.
It was better for my mental health that way.
“You’re here. Sleep well?”
“Good morning, Guwon.”
“G-Good morning!”
In any case, I followed Vanessa to the dining hall, where, as always, every member except us was already… wait. Someone’s missing.
“…Where’s Matilda?”
Don’t tell me she’s sleeping in.
No. Her usual attitude makes it easy to misunderstand, but Matilda is still a Cardinal.
And just like in any religion, the lives of the clergy are quite demanding.
It was no different in this world, and Matilda never missed a meal like this unless something special had come up.
I looked to the super butler who had guided us here and asked, and an answer came back immediately.
“She said she will be skipping breakfast this morning as she is not feeling well.”
It seemed she wasn't just sleeping in.
But to be feeling unwell today of all days… isn’t the timing a little too perfect?
“Matilda, did she seem sick or anything when you were all swimming yesterday?”
Of course, I couldn’t jump to conclusions just because the timing was suspicious.
It was entirely possible she was genuinely unwell, so I asked just to be sure.
“No, she seemed perfectly fine yesterday. …Right?”
Leia answered but seemed to lack conviction, turning to Silvia and Vanessa, who had also been swimming, for confirmation.
Naturally, both Silvia and Vanessa immediately affirmed Leia’s words.
Well, even if Silvia and Vanessa hadn’t answered, the moment Leia said she seemed fine, I was certain Matilda was faking it.
I mean, this was our angel we’re talking about.
Our angel wasn’t so insensitive that she couldn’t even tell if someone with her was feeling unwell.
If anything, she was the type to worry too much about others.
And that very angel said Matilda seemed fine.
That meant that, at least until yesterday, there was nothing wrong with Matilda.
Of course, there was a non-zero chance she’d caught a cold by sleeping with the window open and no blanket, but she wasn’t a child.
Besides, if it was just a cold, she could cure it herself with holy magic.
Therefore, I was almost certain Matilda was playing sick.
“I see. Well, let’s just eat without her for now.”
That said, I had no intention of storming into her room right this second.
The day was long, after all.
I decided to talk with Matilda after the meal and took my seat.
“Oh, right. Leia. Silvia. Why don’t you two take a break from swimming practice today as well?”
As we ate, I decided to start laying the groundwork for my plans for the day.
“Huh? Us too?”
“Y-Yes! I-I understand!”
My words must have been unexpected, as Leia tilted her head slightly. So cute.
And Silvia… maybe you should ask for a reason before agreeing? Not that I’m not grateful for your compliance.
“Yeah. The swimming practice is mainly for you and Matilda. If you get too far ahead on your own, I’m worried Matilda will overexert herself trying to catch up later. And Vanessa has been helping out every day, too. I was thinking she might have work piling up that she needs to attend to.”
“Guwon…”
Hearing my explanation, Leia looked at me with a deeply moved expression.
Being looked at like that pricked my conscience a little. Not that I was lying, of course. I really did think that way and told them to rest for those reasons.
It’s just that those weren’t the only reasons.
“No. I have no backlog of work.”
Hey, super butler. I get that you’re amazing, so don’t ruin the mood.
I’m not asking for a reaction like Leia’s, but could you at least try to read the room?
“Then let’s just say you need a break sometimes, too, Vanessa.”
“That’s not…”
“Just take a rest.”
No, seriously. Do you even have days off?
I don’t think I’ve seen you rest a single time since I came to this mansion.
“……”
Hey, don’t just go silent on me.
Why not just graciously accept a person’s consideration?
“Do so, on occasion.”
“…Thank you.”
It was only after Diana chimed in that Vanessa finally bowed her head and expressed her gratitude.
She really is stubborn.
In any case, having laid all the groundwork for the day, I headed straight for Matilda’s room as soon as the meal was over.
“Coming in.”
As always, I gave a light knock before immediately opening the door and stepping inside.
“Aah! Y-You! I told you, that defeats the purpose of knocking…! Are you really doing this on purpose?!”
Matilda was, yet again, in the middle of changing.
No, let me be clear, this really isn’t intentional. How could it be?
It’s not like I have X-ray vision that lets me see through doors.
“Aren’t you the one who’s deliberately getting undressed right when I’m about to come in?”
“Wh-What…! What are you…!”
My shameless audacity must have left her speechless, because Matilda couldn’t form a reply, her face flushing red.
Hey, now. I get that you’re flabbergasted, but reacting like that makes it seem like you really are doing it on purpose.
That’s the kind of attitude that invites misunderstanding.
Your usual demeanor already causes people to misunderstand you in all sorts of ways, so you should be more careful.
“Anyway, I hear you’re not feeling well.”
“What?! Y-Yes! Th-That’s… right?!”
You’re a terrible liar.
Did you talk to Vanessa in that same tone when you were faking it?
That Vanessa. She should have given me a heads-up.
Then again, I have the ability to turn even situations like this to my advantage, so it doesn’t really matter.
“Alright. Then I’ll treat you.”
With that, I strode toward the half-naked Matilda.
“Wh-What?! W-Wait a minute! T-Treat me?!”
“Yeah. With Healing Sex. It improves your natural healing ability, you know. Don’t worry. No matter why you’re feeling unwell, you’ll be better in no time.”
“Th-That’s a lie!”
As I continued to advance without stopping, Matilda, who had pulled the clothes she was holding up to her chest to cover herself, shouted.
“A lie? No. It’s really…”
“I-I mean! The part about me being unwell is a lie!”
“……”
Hey, Your Eminence. Don’t you think you confessed a little too quickly?
Then again, as a Cardinal, she probably couldn’t bear the guilt of lying. Yes, let’s go with that.
“Well, fine. Seeing how you’re acting, it seems you’re incredibly reluctant to have the curse removed.”
“Wh-What…! Th-That’s not…! Of course that’s not true!”
Startled by my direct question, Matilda stammered, shouting desperately.
Well, of course she would.
To deliberately not remove the curse would be the same as deliberately refusing to save the men who have been rendered impotent by its influence.
For a cleric who serves a goddess that encourages relationships between men and women—especially the creation of new life through childbirth—it was an act bordering on taboo.
Even more so if the reason for doing so was her own selfishness.
That must be why Matilda wore such a guilt-ridden expression.
However, I didn’t think it was a bad thing.
No, if her reason for acting this way was what I thought it was, I even felt a sense of joy.
“So, can I interpret this as you not wanting to be separated from me?”
I ignored Matilda’s frantic denials and cut straight to the chase.
“Hh…!”
As if I’d hit the nail on the head, Matilda stopped breathing and stared at me.
“Th-That’s… You! I-I’m…!”
She’s completely flustered. And even though her attitude is prickly, she can’t deny it.
Well, she did confess to me once before.
It would be difficult to deny it now.
“I heard from the Pope. Once the curse is healed, you have to return to the Holy See. That’s what you’re worried about, isn’t it? If not, tell me straight. What is it you’re worried about? I’ve had a vague sense for a while that you were avoiding a relationship with me because something was troubling you. I didn’t interfere because I thought it might be a church matter, but if it involves me, that’s a different story. So, which is it?”
“Th-That’s…”
Perhaps due to the guilt of having avoided the curse’s removal, Matilda couldn’t answer easily, even after I’d said all that.
Sigh. I guess I have no choice. I try to avoid doing this during serious conversations.
But at this rate, we’ll never get anywhere, so I decided to use my last resort.
“Matilda.”
“Ah…”
I swiftly pulled Matilda’s waist, pressing her body against mine.
A dazed sound escaped her lips, and the strength drained from the hands she was using to cover her chest.
Thanks to that, the clothes she was holding slipped down, revealing her beautiful upper body.
Her lower half remained tantalizingly hidden, as the garment was caught against my body where her waist was pressed against me.
A man’s instinct threatened to draw my eyes to her beautiful breasts, but I desperately suppressed that urge and kept my gaze fixed on Matilda’s eyes.
Then, in the most serious voice I could manage, I whispered.
“I love you.”
“Ah, ahh… Guwon…”
With that one phrase, Matilda completely entered her pink mode.
Her behavior gets a little strange in this state, but at least she doesn’t lie.
I should be able to hear her honest feelings.
“Matilda. Won’t you tell me? What is it that’s troubling you?”
“Hh…! Th-That…!”
As I murmured in the same gentle voice, Matilda instantly snapped back to her senses and hesitated again.
Huh? Wait a minute! Did she just break out of pink mode?! That’s impossible!
The black marks of the curse were still visible on the left side of Matilda’s nude torso.
That meant the curse hadn’t been lifted.
So how could she break out of pink mode so easily? Was that even possible?
While I was reeling from this unexpected turn of events, Matilda was still agonizing, her face a mask of indecision.
But finally, as if she’d made up her mind, she bit her attractive lower lip hard enough to draw blood and slowly began to speak.
“…You’re right. I didn’t want to be separated from you… Because of my selfishness… I… I…”
Matilda answered as if she were in a confessional, repenting for her sins.
Putting aside how she managed to break out of pink mode so easily, I decided my first priority was to comfort her.
“Matilda. If that’s what it is, you have nothing to worry about.”
I hugged her waist tightly and spoke in the most dependable voice I could muster.
“If you wish it, you don’t have to go anywhere. The curse doesn’t matter. What’s important is your true feelings. If that’s what you want, you can stay by my side forever.”
“But that’s… it’s not that easy… It’s not as simple as you make it sound…!”
“No, it is simple. I’m the Saint, right? The Goddess’s messenger wishes for this. Do you really think the people who serve the Goddess would refuse?”