IOTB Chapter 53

Licht, who should be as pure as white snow, was the one officiating the Mass. Yet, here he was, stained by the lewd waters she had spilled.

 

It felt as if her very existence had broken Licht’s vow of chastity and defiled his holiness.

 

Licht smiled lightly as he wiped the cloth with his hand, quickly erasing the stain, Louise’s heart remained burdened.

 

“Well then, I’ll be off.”

 

Despite the tight schedule, Licht popped a piece of chocolate into Louise’s mouth before pulling aside the thick curtain and disappearing into the chapel.

 

“…”

 

She sat still, unable to even chew, as the bittersweet taste of the chocolate melted on her tongue, spreading through her mouth with the warmth of her body.

 

It was a luxurious flavor that jolted her awake.

 

The cakes and chocolates from the dessert shop she frequented at Aiden’s estate were delicious, but this was made with far more refined ingredients.

 

It was obvious this had been prepared for one person, and one person alone—the Pope of the Holy Nation.

 

Is it alright for me to be eating this?

 

Even as feelings of guilt crept up, Louise took a large bite of a scone about the size of a child’s fist. After all, she needed to fill her stomach just enough so she wouldn’t embarrass Licht with the sound of her hunger.

 

That was the reasoning, but…

 

She couldn’t help but let out a soft moan at the fragrant fig and buttery flavor.

 

This is so delicious.

 

Overwhelmed by a strange sense of guilt, she quickly finished the rest in a few bites and rinsed her mouth with the now lukewarm tea. She abruptly stood up.

 

Let’s at least make sure the area is secure.

 

The conditions for attending a Mass officiated by the Pope were strict. People with unclear identities were not allowed inside the chapel.

 

Still, where there is law, there are always those who break it. A villain with malicious intent could have bribed a corrupt priest to sneak in.

 

Especially since Licht had recently received death threats.

 

Louise grabbed the door handle, intending to check the surroundings of the chapel.

 

But to her surprise…

 

The door is locked.

 

She blinked at the unyielding door.

 

Do they lock the door during Mass…?

 

It made sense, she thought. If people were coming and going from the preparation room connected to the chapel, it could cause problems.

 

If she really wanted to, she could easily tear off the door handle and walk out, but the noise and property damage would trouble Licht.

 

What about the window… There isn’t one.

 

The only way out without causing damage was through the curtain Licht had gone through.

 

That’s a ridiculous idea.

 

Louise quickly gave up on that thought.

 

Instead, she crouched down near the curtain.

 

I’ll protect Licht the surest way I can.

 

Thankfully, the entrance to the preparation room was in the innermost corner of the chapel, making it hard to notice.

 

Once she was sure she wouldn’t be seen, Louise relaxed and peeked through the gap in the curtain to observe the inside of the chapel.

 

Her conscience nagged at her, asking if she was using protecting Licht as an excuse to satisfy her own desires, but she ignored it. His safety was on the line. No matter what criticism came her way, she wouldn’t back down.

 

Louise discreetly gauged the amount of mana from each person she recognized, ensuring no one posed a threat.

 

Relieved that there were no suspicious figures, she breathed easier.

 

I’ll have to ask the captain to assign guards to Licht’s route for the time being.

 

If Aiden hadn’t returned yet, she planned to ask Karon instead.

 

Speaking of which, where did the captain go?

 

Suddenly curious, Louise tried to calculate how long it had been. Considering when he had left for Akrilon to fetch her, he had been away from the Holy Nation for over a month.

 

Since Louise joined the Holy Knights, Aiden had never taken a vacation longer than a week. This was certainly unusual.

 

Maybe the person he wanted to introduce to me lives far from the Holy Nation.

 

She didn’t think there was anyone capable of threatening Aiden’s safety. Neither the Melbeth Clan nor the Rugaru Clan would dare touch someone within the sacred grounds.

 

It was probably just that the journey was taking longer than expected.

 

Still, I should ask Sir Karon if he’s received any news.

 

After finishing her scan of the chapel, Louise prepared to move away but couldn’t resist taking one last look at Licht.

 

Even though she could only see his back, her heart began to race. She knew all too well how broad and strong his shoulders were and how much comfort they brought. The muscles hidden beneath his robe were nothing short of impressive.

 

But at this moment, as Licht officiated the Mass, he looked so devout that imagining any indecent acts was impossible. Had she not been involved with him, he might have lived his entire life in this way, suppressing human desires with chastity and restraint, dedicating himself solely to God.

 

‘…I’d better stop looking.’

 

Louise tore her eyes away from him and took a few steps back.

 

Despite harboring feelings for Licht for a long time, Louise had never allowed herself to indulge in selfish desires. She had always done her best as a Holy Knight, independent of her feelings for Licht, and loved her life.

 

But recently, things had been falling apart. She had broken her own rules countless times and lost her sense of honor.

 

Standing beside Licht at her best wasn’t enough—she was a mess now.

 

Her heart weighed so heavily it ached in her chest.

 

‘I can’t keep being like this…’

 

The Louise who once raised the name of the Holy Knights and the Holy Nation with her exceptional skills was gone.

 

Sooner or later, others would appear to take her place. If she fell behind in competition with them, no matter how much Licht wanted to take responsibility for her, he might no longer be able to keep her by his side.

 

‘I need to show improvement, somehow.’

 

But in this enclosed space, the only thing she could do was basic physical training. The area wasn’t that large, but she had trained in even smaller quarters during missions, so it wasn’t a problem.

 

Louise busied herself with exercises, pushing her muscles to the limit. Soon, her body was drenched in sweat, but her mind gradually cleared.

 

‘Running through the forest with Licht was so nice.’

 

At first, they had been fleeing from a member of the Melbeth Clan, presumed to be royalty, but at some point, they had forgotten their purpose and simply enjoyed running together.

 

The scent of the vast forest and the thrill of racing alongside Licht was exhilarating. If she could spend every day like that, she would have no other wish.

 

“Louise, what are you doing?”

 

Louise, lost in the memory of that sensation, suddenly snapped her eyes open at the sound of Licht’s voice.

 

The Mass had apparently ended, but she hadn’t even sensed him approaching her.

 

Straightening from her handstand, she met Licht’s gaze as he watched her quietly.

 

“Were you feeling claustrophobic in here by yourself?”

 

His eyes seemed conflicted as they focused on her.

 

“No… it’s not that, Licht. I just wanted to stretch a bit.”

 

“To the point of drenching your clothes?”

 

At his words, Louise glanced down and was startled by what she saw.

 

The training uniforms provided by the Holy Knights never clung or became see-through no matter how much sweat was absorbed, so she hadn’t been paying attention. But now, in her light everyday clothes, her appearance was a mess. The shirt and pants clung to her body, revealing her curves in full detail.

 

Even her lower half, without undergarments, showed not only the shape of her hips but also the faint color of her skin.

 

As she awkwardly clasped her hands in front of her, Licht chuckled.

 

“What if someone else had walked in?”

 

“Huh?”

 

Louise blinked, glancing toward the door before responding.

 

“I thought it was fine since the door is locked.”

 

“Someone could have come in through the chapel, like I did.”

 

Licht, now standing so close their bodies almost touched, gently pulled a strand of hair from her cheek and tucked it behind her ear.

 

“If anyone else saw you like this, they’d forget who they were and pounce on you. Would you be okay with that?”

 

“…No.”

 

Louise found it difficult to agree with his words. Could any man truly lust after a sweaty woman like her?

 

Yet, she couldn’t bring herself to make any excuses, because of the firm sensation she felt against her lower abdomen.

 

“I was wrong…”