Ch.369Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

The room I followed Veronica into was truly mysterious.

A slightly dim interior with a subtle glow of reflected light. A massive bed adding weight to the space and a rug that transformed the entire atmosphere.

The bedroom was no less impressive than the hotel I was staying in. Yet throughout my survey of the room, I felt a strange discomfort somewhere.

The crucifix hanging on the wall, the pastel-colored sacred figures displayed on the drawer near the bed’s headboard.

This place, permeated with religious elements, was a bedroom in the Altiora Cathedral.

Veronica introduced the bedroom like this:

“This is the bedroom you’ll be using from now on, Major.”

“……”

To be honest, I was dumbfounded.

I had been waiting for Veronica, who had locked herself in the bathroom for a while, when suddenly the door flung open and she grabbed my hand. Before I could ask what was happening, Veronica raised her voice, insisting I follow her.

After being led along in confusion, I arrived to find that this would be my bedroom from now on.

“…Was that not a joke earlier?”

“I was serious. Did you think I was lying, Major?”

“……”

“You don’t have any schedule tomorrow morning, right?”

“No, that’s true, but…”

“Then you must be tired, so go to sleep quickly. I’ll turn off the lights and leave.”

I had no idea how to respond.

Should I thank her for providing a place to sleep instead of sending away a drunk person in the cold dawn? Should I protest that arbitrarily changing a diplomat’s accommodation makes no sense?

Or should I ask if she was also serious about telling me to part ways with her siblings?

I wasn’t sure, but one thing was certain.

The fact that Veronica had prepared something for me.

I found that incredibly thoughtful.

And simultaneously vexing.

After much deliberation, wondering what I could say to get under Veronica’s skin, I approached her casually and delivered a line perfectly suited for earning a slap.

“…Want to sleep together?”

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

The night had deepened.

Laterano, now free from the commotion of drunkards, the prayers of pilgrims, and the calls of merchants, was remarkably quiet, as if it had forgotten yesterday’s fervent heat.

Where the excitement celebrating the birth of a new saint had subsided, only silence lingered. But knowing that the festivities would resume when tomorrow’s sun rose, there was no loneliness in the quiet atmosphere.

The holy site was astonishingly peaceful in the darkness.

Except for one place.

In the sanctuary where the saint resided, a shrill scream echoed through the corridors of Altiora Cathedral, traveling through the slight opening between the doors.

“Wh-what outrageous words…!”

It was a sudden commotion.

But no one came running in alarm. I shrugged with my palms open as if to say “what do you want me to do,” while Veronica raised her sharp voice.

“S-sleep together? An unmarried man and woman sharing a bed…! How can you even say such a thing?! Even as a joke, you shouldn’t…”

According to a report produced by a now-retired domestic intelligence officer of the Imperial Guard just under 20 years ago, Veronica had exceptionally strong self-awareness and assertiveness.

She had been temperamental since childhood and hated losing to anyone. It was so bad that a puppy playing with her in the yard once collapsed from exhaustion.

Perhaps that’s why Veronica was relentlessly sharp-tongued. She didn’t even give me a chance to say “it was actually a joke.”

“How promiscuous must you be for such words to come so easily? Don’t tell me you’ve been talking like this to my siblings too!?”

“I don’t quite remember…”

I trailed off reflexively, my memories hazy.

Perhaps from drinking too much, my memories weren’t coming back clearly. I had shared a bed with Lucia and Francesca, but none of us had ever proposed using the same bed to the other.

If anything, it was closer to Lucia and Francesca insisting on it. Though if pressed, I bear some responsibility too.

However, Veronica seemed to misinterpret my words.

“You don’t remember? Just how many times have you…”

“No, what nonsense is that…”

I looked at her with disbelief, but it was of no use.

The intoxicated saint was already consumed by her own words, spreading the wings of her delusions.

“You might have been with Lucia for over a month in the north, but weren’t you with Francesca for just under two weeks?”

“We were together at the villa for about a week…”

“A week? Good heavens…!”

In her mind, I seemed to be regarded as some kind of philanderer. It was true that I spent a week with Francesca, but except for the first day, nothing special happened between us.

That was because Francesca had caught a terrible cold.

So, I tried to clear up the misunderstanding, but…

“What? Francesca couldn’t get out of bed for two days?”

“……”

At this point, I began to wonder if she was deliberately trying to provoke me despite knowing better. I seriously wanted to give her a flick on the forehead, but I restrained my rising anger and kept my gaze fixed on Veronica, who was ranting with a flushed face.

With her face bright red, Veronica hardly looked like a saint. Add to that her distinctive body scent and the strong smell of alcohol.

I asked her:

“So, do you dislike it?”

“Ugh…”

Veronica was struck speechless by my forthright attitude. To be honest, even I thought it was an absurdly outrageous proposal.

Sharing a bed, really.

Regardless of status, people who could say such things to clergy were certainly not common. Especially if the other party was the world’s only saint.

Well, to be precise, there were now two saints.

Anyway, Veronica seemed quite angry. Whether she was or not, I found everything too bothersome.

“What’s the problem anyway? Yes, Lucia and Francesca are both grown adults.”

“N-no matter what, there are boundaries to maintain! When you’re not even in a relationship with a promised future, how can a man and woman…”

“Veronica. Those words shouldn’t come from someone who did such things with a stranger, and in a cathedral no less…”

“Ah, stop! Aack! Stop! Ack! Aack!”

Finally, Veronica couldn’t take it anymore and covered my mouth with a shriek. She succeeded, but it was truly an unseemly sight.

Such an undignified display. She must have realized it too, as Veronica’s face turned red with shame.

With her face flushed and gripping her skirt tightly, she trembled as if suppressing anger. Unable to overcome her shame and anger, she eventually directed her arrows at me.

“Y-you, Major, wh-wh-what makes you so confident…?”

“I wonder.”

What am I relying on to be so bold? Well.

In the past, this would have been an unbearable situation, but even with a trembling Veronica before me, I remained confident. Thinking about it carefully, there was only one plausible reason.

“…Because Lucia has finally been canonized?”

“What…”

Because I had Lucia.

If Veronica tried to beat me up or kill me, I could run to Lucia. Now that Lucia was a proper saint, she could surely hide me from an angry drunk.

If the two saints started fighting over one man, people would surely point fingers, and the bishops and cardinals of the church would be devastated, but that wasn’t my concern right now.

I sniffled unnecessarily and looked back at Veronica.

“You told me to stay at the cathedral for a few days, but you can’t stand it and want to cling to Lucia…?”

Her hands turned pale white, contrary to her flushed face.

Veronica, who had been bringing her trembling hands to her mouth, clenched her fist.

“…Major.”

“Yes?”

“Go inside…”

“What…?”

Just as I was about to question her.

The warmth of soft skin covered my lips.

Arms wrapping around my neck and the sensation of a soft pink flesh tracing the back of my teeth. The soft skin and heavy weight that I couldn’t forget despite our single encounter. The plump lips, unlike Lucia’s or Francesca’s, seemed to have sensitive nerves, trembling slightly whenever our skin touched.

The movements were clumsy, but it felt good. Perhaps it felt good because of the clumsiness.

I stopped staggering and embraced her with both arms, and Veronica clung to me, taking a breath.

As our skin overlapped and clothes became disheveled, with warm, sensitive skin and a tickling deep in my heart.

The saint, trailing long silver threads, spoke with a seductive smile.

“Shut up and go inside.”

Someone once said:

If you’re fooled once, the deceiver is at fault; if you’re fooled twice, you’re a fool; if you’re fooled three times, you’re an accomplice.

Surely, this was only the second time.

Yet somehow, Veronica had already become an accomplice.

“…Quickly. Before someone sees.”

That was the end of it.

I hastily closed the door with my foot, lest anyone see.