Ch.375Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

In this world, there are as many different stories as there are people.

Tens of thousands, thousands, hundreds of different stories, each with their own unique characteristics. When these tiny dot-like stories gather to form rivers and galaxies, people call it the world.

Therefore, each dot that forms these rivers and galaxies with its distinct story can be seen as a small universe, a world of its own. The same applies to people.

Since everyone is born and raised in different environments, no two people are exactly the same.

Thus, we live by understanding others, helping each other, and filling in what the other lacks.

However.

To be honest.

No matter what, this is a bit…

“A blindfold? Veronica, I have no interest in your unusual fetishes.”

“No, that’s not what this is about!”

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

Suddenly asking me to wear a blindfold. What could she possibly be thinking?

A blindfold and a saint. An incomprehensible combination of words, but I had no time to think deeply about it.

“What are you trying to do by covering my eyes? What kind of prank are you—Ouch.”

Veronica thumped my chest in anger.

“Don’t say such strange things. I don’t want to do this either.”

Though I instinctively flinched from the light punch, I didn’t let go of the blindfold in my hand.

Normally, I would have made a fuss, saying something like “My, my, how scandalous!” and thrown it away, using the opportunity to tease the saint. But for some reason, today I found myself clutching the blindfold tightly.

Perhaps noticing something in my demeanor, Veronica quickly extended her index finger and pleaded with a sincere expression.

“Please, just help me this once, Major.”

“……”

“Just this one time, please? Yes?”

I didn’t know what this was about, but it was the first time she had ever begged me like this.

She looked somewhat pitiful, and I was curious about what she was trying to do. I suddenly thought that her request might not be unrelated to Lucia.

“…Fine.”

In the end, I reluctantly decided to wear the blindfold.

A dark world where not even a speck of light entered. As I felt the blindfold to check it, I asked Veronica:

“…Now what am I supposed to do?”

“First, take my hand and stand up.”

*

From the moment I took her outstretched hand, I partially entrusted all control of my movements to Veronica.

From small actions like standing up from my seat and distinguishing surrounding objects, to larger ones like turning my body and taking steps. Unable to gauge even an inch ahead of me, I rose from my seat with her support.

It seemed her title of saint wasn’t just for show. Veronica began handling me, sightless as I was, with remarkable gentleness.

“This feels strange. Why are you so good at this?”

“I’m a saint. Do you think a saint has never encountered blind people before?”

“Ah.”

So she was experienced.

I left the cabin with the saint’s support. Veronica held my arm tightly and matched her pace to mine.

“Hold my hand and follow slowly. And remember, don’t remove the blindfold.”

Though I didn’t know our destination, she kindly guided me on which direction to take.

From the moment I put on the blindfold, I was no different from a blind person. I desperately wanted to rip off the stifling blindfold, but since Veronica had pleaded so earnestly, I had no choice but to keep it on. She insisted I must never take it off until she permitted it.

This wasn’t just being blind; it was like being a terrorist at Guantanamo Naval Base.

As I was thinking this, Veronica, who was holding my arm, began to whisper in a low voice.

“Major. You asked earlier what I discussed with my sister, right?”

“I did.”

“We decided to end our relationship—yours and mine—after today.”

“What?”

I stopped abruptly and turned my head toward where Veronica was.

For a moment, I could smell her soft, milky scent. Then her faint breath tickled my cheek as her voice echoed in my ear.

“You didn’t mishear. I mean exactly what I said—I’m ending our relationship today.”

“You promised Lucia this?”

“Yes.”

Her answer came without a hint of hesitation.

“No matter how innocent and kind my sister is, she’s not so weak-willed that she would turn a blind eye to infidelity. Even if she can’t be harsh to others, she firmly stands by what she believes in.”

“Hmm… that’s true.”

“Though my sister has forgiven us, forgiveness doesn’t mean there’s no wound left. Since my fault is so great in this matter, I promised her that I would explain everything and end things with you.”

It seemed more like an announcement than an explanation, but I had no time to quibble over such details. Veronica’s decision was extremely rational.

Though it wasn’t my place to say as the wrongdoer, Lucia’s judgment was incredibly generous. For a man who received a love confession only to become involved with her sister, being let off with just ending the relationship was lenient. She even went so far as to forgive both Veronica and me.

Even in sexually liberal Western and Northern Europe, non-consensual infidelity is condemned, regardless of gender. There are cases where spouses acknowledge relationships with lovers, but often those who permit infidelity also begin seeking new relationships outside the marriage.

Of course, no matter how open-minded the church might be, it couldn’t compare to Western or Northern Europe. If Lucia had slapped me and stormed out of the cathedral upon witnessing the infidelity, she wouldn’t have faced public criticism. Instead, people would have wanted to tear apart the man who cheated on one saint with another.

But Lucia forgave us.

Though blame could be assigned, she forgave us because she wasn’t hard-hearted.

In the end, her sister sighed deeply at the sight of such a sister.

“Sigh… I wonder who she takes after to be so innocent.”

“At least she doesn’t take after you, Veronica, which is fortunate.”

“Be quiet.”

I flinched as I felt a pinch at my side. Veronica grabbed my arm and began turning sharply to the right. Her grip was remarkably firm.

The sharp pain almost made me cry out, but before my vocal cords could engage, she preempted me. The saint began her explanation before the pain in my side had subsided.

“Anyway, we need to end our relationship after today. That was the promise we made.”

Though we were ending our relationship, there wasn’t anything special we needed to do.

We would simply return to being colleagues of the saint and Camilla, a relationship between an intelligence officer and an informant. What Lucia had agreed to was that we would maintain appropriate boundaries, not completely sever our relationship. That wouldn’t have been what Lucia wanted either.

“That doesn’t sound difficult.”

“No, it’s not difficult. So what should we do now?”

Veronica asked with a hint of laughter in her voice.

Then, bringing her lips so close that I could feel her breath on my eardrum, she whispered softly.

“The answer is…”

At that moment, Veronica pulled me sharply into a room. I could tell by the sound of a door opening on my right.

Pulled unexpectedly, I stumbled. However, what I felt against my back was not hard pain but the comfort of a soft surface.

As I steadied myself on the plush bed, someone—presumably Veronica—pushed me to lie down. A finger, likely hers, poked my chest and slowly pressed down.

Sure enough, as excited breathing tickled the tip of my nose, the saint’s whisper began to reach my ears.

“To create a memory we’ll never forget.”

*

The place I arrived at with my eyes covered was some unknown bedroom.

Because of the blindfold, I couldn’t determine the exact location. However, judging by the time it took to walk here, the number of corners, and my more cautious than usual stride, I guessed that the bedroom wasn’t far from my guest room.

Probably one of the many unused rooms in the Altiora Cathedral.

Her sweet whisper continued.

“Your task today is to create memories. Unforgettable memories that will last forever. It’s not that difficult, is it?”

It wasn’t difficult. But it wasn’t easy either.

I stood up from the bed and confronted Veronica.

“What kind of strange talk is this? You clearly said we’re ending our relationship…”

“I said we’d end our relationship after today, not that we’d end it right now.”

It was sophistry.

Since we’re ending our relationship after today, we’ll continue our affair until midnight? What is this, some kind of going-out-of-business sale? Does that make any sense?

I wanted to argue, but I was too late. The saint, who had already climbed on top of me, began unbuttoning my shirt one by one.

My attempt to remove the blindfold was immediately stopped by Veronica. Firmly gripping my wrist, the saint admonished me in a stern voice not to take it off yet.

“…Is this really okay?”

“Have I ever lied about my sister? Lucia already knows about this.”

In other words, Lucia had permitted what Veronica was doing now.

I was dumbfounded.

What on earth was happening?

“So, don’t worry.”

Her soft voice came through clearly. It was the kind, compassionate tone that suited her usual demeanor.

The saint placed her finger on my lips and left a meaningful remark.

“You’ll naturally understand when morning comes.”