Ch.377Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Saints

Several hours ago, two holy maidens gathered in one place.

One was a mature pillar who had firmly maintained her position as a religious leader for over a decade, while the other was a fresh sprout who had just begun to be revered as a saint.

The clerics of the cathedral nervously swallowed at the meeting of these two renowned holy maidens. They were wary of what turmoil might arise from a conversation between the two most prominent figures in a religious order entangled with complex interests.

In this context, the scene of one holy maiden asking forgiveness from another would undoubtedly shock not only all the clergy of the order but religious people worldwide.

“Um… my sister?”

Veronica sat demurely, glancing sideways while gauging her sister’s reaction.

Though she hadn’t knelt, her posture was humble enough that those familiar with the holy maiden’s usual conduct would consider it sufficiently submissive.

Looking at Veronica with an expressionless gaze was Lucia, the 59th saint of the order, newly canonized following her predecessor Veronica.

“Yes, sister. What is it?”

“I came to apologize. You’re not angry, are you…?”

“Of course not.”

Lucia denied the assumption with a gentle smile.

“How could I possibly be angry with you?”

Her benevolent smile had been her trademark, known to the public since her days as a healing priest in the military.

Moreover, it was a smile she had always maintained while visiting the slums of the Empire and the Magic Tower, to the point where people worldwide now associated Lucia’s name first and foremost with her kind and loving smile.

But Veronica found that smile somehow unsettling.

It wasn’t because they were politically opposed, as many politicians and clergy speculated.

Though people didn’t know, Veronica had known Lucia long before she took her priestly vows. The bond between them was stronger than ordinary siblings, sharing tastes, hobbies, and small habits. Veronica especially loved Lucia’s unaffected smile.

However, now she had stolen her beloved sister’s man and, worse still, been caught in the act of adultery.

She could only bow her head like a sinner before her sister’s transparent smile.

“Although I was shocked and surprised by yesterday’s events… I’m not saying you did nothing wrong. But everyone makes mistakes. If you’re truly asking for forgiveness, then yes, I forgive you.”

“R-really?”

Veronica wasn’t sure whether to thank her for such quick forgiveness or scold her for forgiving too easily. She knew better than anyone that her sister couldn’t be harsh, but even she hadn’t expected this level of leniency.

Just then, a deep sigh escaped through Lucia’s rose-pink lips.

“Actually, I am a bit angry. I’m only human, after all. But…”

“…But?”

After sighing, Lucia continued haltingly.

“More than anger, I’m worried about something else. Since we haven’t met often lately, I wonder if we’ve grown distant… if that’s why Frederick met with you instead of me… thoughts like that.”

“……”

Though she wanted to offer words of comfort, Veronica couldn’t say anything.

It wasn’t just because she was the one who had committed adultery. She had never been in a relationship before. How could she possibly know what thoughts typically cross a man’s mind when communication becomes sparse?

She tried to comfort her sister, but just as she was drawing a blank, unable to think of what to say…

Like a light bulb turning on in a dark room, a thought suddenly crossed her mind. It was something she would never normally consider saying in her right mind, but now she had no other option.

Veronica swallowed hard and slowly began to speak to her dejected sister.

“Um, Lucia…?”

And in a very small voice, she whispered in her ear.

“…I have a good idea. Would you like to hear it?”

Episode 14 – One Religion, One Faith, Two Holy Maidens

Faced with the shocking scene before me, I was at a loss for words.

While my heart pounded like chemicals triggering a chain reaction, my thoughts failed to flow smoothly.

With Lucia on her knees, occasionally twitching her legs in the afterglow of climax, Veronica continued her explanation.

“…My sister agreed to it. Since the person involved consented, there was nothing to stop us. We blindfolded you, Major, and brought you straight here.”

My thoughts, which had been fractal-like and interconnected, were now shattered like broken glass. I had to make a considerable effort to understand the situation unfolding before me.

After squeezing out what concentration I could muster, I finally managed to speak.

“…Wait, what? Are you saying you suggested all this?”

“Yes.”

Veronica nodded vigorously.

“Lucia told me she was worried that because she couldn’t meet with you often, your hearts had grown distant. She thought that without regular contact, your affection had cooled, and that’s why you slept with another woman.”

“……”

“She was suffering all night, so I suggested creating an unforgettable memory for you, Major. An event that no other woman could even imagine.”

Yes, Veronica was right. This was something no one could have imagined.

Pretending to be another woman, blindfolding a man, and sleeping with him? Disguising herself as her adulterous sister, and even getting help from the sister herself?

It was an idea that an ordinary person could hardly conceive. And it should have remained a fantasy, never realized.

“Are you in your right mind? Even so, this is…”

“For someone making proper objections, you seemed to enjoy it quite a bit.”

Veronica’s lips curved into an arc.

“Thrusting so forcefully, even pulling her waist close… how cruelly you tormented her. Look at the state my sister is in now.”

True to her words, Lucia’s appearance was wretched.

The sheets, crumpled from being clutched, were soaked with bodily fluids. Traces of saliva marked the corners of her mouth, and dewdrop-like tears glistened in her eyes.

Her breasts, which had been firmly grasped, were mottled red. The swollen pink tips glistened with transparent fluid, surrounded by small bubbles and clear teeth marks.

Lucia was in an unladylike position with her thighs spread wide. Though limp from the afterglow of climax, she occasionally arched her back and shuddered.

Despite the shameful display, her plump lips curved gently, and the corners of her eyes formed a bewitching smile.

“W-wow… D-did I look like this too? This is rather surprising.”

“……”

It was an oddly exuberant reaction. A sister covering her mouth with both hands, making a fuss while watching her sister in the throes of climax. It was a scene impossible for a normal person to comprehend.

I sighed and grabbed Lucia’s thighs.

Though the damage was done, it wasn’t right to leave things as they were. Even if the two had agreed, shouldn’t there be some decorum to maintain?

No matter how close they were as family, displaying such intimate parts so openly wasn’t appropriate. I hurried to tidy up to preserve what remained of Lucia’s dignity.

That’s when it happened.

“…Ugh!”

Something that felt like a calf began to wrap around my lower body. Thinking Veronica was playing another trick, I looked up, but she was merely staring with wide eyes.

If so, among the three people in the room, there was only one person who could be the owner of those legs.

“Hng, w-wait…”

Her chest, slick with sweat, rose and fell. Lucia took a deep breath.

Even so, her legs, tensed with strength, showed no signs of loosening. As if refusing to let go, she began to speak with difficulty.

“J-just a moment…”

“Lucia.”

“Just a moment… come closer…”

She beckoned to me. Staggering and seemingly struggling, she weakly moved her hand.

Her lips quivered. She was saying something, but I couldn’t hear her voice. As I leaned back, I reluctantly lowered my head and approached Lucia.

“…Hmm.”

With an intake of breath, soft lips overlapped with mine.

A gentle tongue tapped against my lips, as if asking for entry. When I slightly parted my lips to give space, the tongue immediately slipped in.

As our breaths mingled and explicit sounds echoed, Lucia released her held breath, grabbed my face, and spoke.

“I love you.”

“……”

“I’m sorry I haven’t said it often enough…”

Lucia looked up at me with a dreamy expression. She extended her arms, placed both hands on my cheeks, and smiled faintly.

Her hands began to slip from my cheeks. When I caught them, Lucia gently opened her palms, and we naturally interlaced our fingers without either of us needing to speak first. My hands, which had been pushing away her thighs, now held her waist.

And after that, well.

There was nothing more to see.

*

When I finally came to my senses, the situation had become even more serious.

Lucia, who had clearly been facing me, was now lying face down on the bed with her head buried in the sheets. The fluffy pillow stuffed with fur was soaked with her saliva.

Her flawless skin was covered with reddish marks, and her snow-white nape was full of crimson traces. It was fortunate that Lucia was lying face down; had she been on her back, the sight would have been unbearable.

I carefully brought a blanket to cover Lucia’s body. I wasn’t sure when she would wake up, but leaving her like this seemed likely to result in a cold.

After covering her with a clean blanket and looking around at the chaotic surroundings, I noticed something.

“……”

Veronica, who had been supporting Lucia’s head on her knees, was sitting at the edge of the bed.

I clearly remembered Lucia embracing her waist, but when had she moved over there? As I pondered this question…

“…Ahem, ahem.”

Veronica cleared her throat.

After exaggeratedly clearing her throat a couple of times, she averted her gaze and spoke.

“A-are you finished now?”

Her tone suggested embarrassment.

“If you’re done, I should probably go to sleep. Hmm. Tomorrow is the Pope’s coronation ceremony. All of us—me, Lucia, and you, Major—have our duties, right? So to handle tomorrow’s schedule, we should get to bed early… Kyaaaah!”

“Where do you think you’re going?”

I caught the fleeing holy maiden and pulled her back.