Chapter 74

“Haa… Mmph!”

The kiss wasn’t over yet.

His lips pressed against hers as if he intended to devour her completely. Every time their lips parted, they would meet again, and just when she thought it was over, the kiss resumed.

“This won’t do.”

Costance spoke with a firm tone.

“Kissing feels too good. This isn’t a punishment; it’s unfair.”

What? 

She hadn’t even said anything, yet somehow she was the one being scolded.

“Kissing won’t work. Let’s try something else.”

“Something else?”

“Something that doesn’t feel good. Do you have any suggestions, Madame?”

“…If you insist, you can spank me or something.”

“What?”

Costance repeated her words.

‘Ah.’

She realized her mistake too late.

What she meant was the kind of punishment parents give children when they misbehave… In her haste to escape the situation, she had only made things more awkward.

“What if that ends up feeling good too?”

Costance said with a serious expression. There wasn’t a hint of playfulness on his face.

“Feeling good… Is that your preference?”

“No, it wouldn’t please me, but if you have a reaction…”

“I don’t!”

“I’ll think of something else, then.”

Even her suggestion was dismissed.

Costance glanced at her, unsure of what to do, and swallowed hard. After a moment, he rubbed his face with his hands and quickly averted his gaze.

“We’ll be leaving this village soon. Then we’ll head to a resort in the south and enjoy some delicious food, Madame.”

His words hinted at their plan to travel south and observe the Conclave.

“You must always stay alert, so don’t provoke me.”

“You’re the one who needs to be careful.”

Costance didn’t argue, as if he agreed.

That night, Costance and she bathed together and lay down on the bed. Before they fell asleep, Costance massaged her body, including her waist, with such care that she drifted off easily.

[The day has finally arrived for the Conclave to prepare for the new Pope.]

The news, which had been playing all night, announced the long-awaited start of the Conclave.

It was the beginning of her destiny.

***

Morning dawned in the Papal States.

Rahie had finished preparing to head to Behar Cathedral, where mass would be held. A car was waiting outside to take him to the cathedral, and on the road ahead, other cars carrying cardinals were passing by.

“They say reporters and people have been gathering in front of Sassion Cathedral since dawn.”

Brother Nathan, who had been keeping up with the news about Sassion Cathedral, where the Conclave would take place, informed Rahie.

“They must be working hard.”

“Is there anything you’d like me to take care of?”

Nathan handed Rahie a red zucchetto and necklace as he asked.

“Keep an eye on Eugene.”

“Eugene… You mean the boy you brought last time, Your Eminence?”

“Yes, he may not look it, but he’s a child with great power.”

Rahie put on the zucchetto for the final touch and stepped into the hallway. As soon as he appeared, the knights waiting outside opened the car door for him.

The car quickly arrived at the cathedral where the pre-Conclave mass would be held.

Rahie listened to the cheers of the crowd and the sound of camera shutters from afar.

“Rahie.”

Before long, Rahie spotted Emban, who had just stepped out of his car.

“How have you been, Emban?”

“Shall we go in together?”

Emban held onto Rahie’s arm, requesting to accompany him. The sight of the two cardinals together drew everyone’s attention.

“I heard you brought children from an orphanage.”

Emban broke the silence.

“Yes, they called me ‘Uncle’ as soon as they saw me. Aren’t they adorable?”

“I thought you didn’t like children.”

“That’s a false rumor. I like children. Don’t you, Emban?”

“At my age, even when children misbehave, I can’t help but laugh.”

“Is that so?”

The two entered the cathedral, chatting and laughing. To the onlookers, they seemed like old friends who had transcended age, but in reality, they were fierce competitors for the day.

An unspoken tension lingered between them. As they continued their conversation, other cardinals began entering the cathedral. Spotting them, Rahie used his friendly demeanor to initiate handshakes.

Creak. Once all the cardinals had entered, the cathedral doors closed.

***

The cathedral hosting the Conclave wasn’t the only busy place. Children at an orphanage in the Papal States were making commemorative stamps to celebrate the event.

Anna, who was also making stamps, flinched when an unexpected hand appeared. A boy silently took the colored paper in front of her.

“T-that’s Anna’s…”

“Hm?”

“The colored paper… It’s mine. I was going to use it.”

“So?”

The boy spoke with a defiant tone. He was already displeased with the sudden arrival of the children from Canary Orphanage.

“Are you asking for it back?”

“N-no.”

Intimidated, Anna opened her mouth but quickly shut it again.

“That’s Anna’s. Give it back.”

Eugene appeared in front of Anna.

“What?”

“I said give it back. Now.”

Eugene stood his ground and boldly demanded the paper from the boy. Taken aback, the boy’s expression soured as he felt humiliated by a smaller child.

“No way. If you kids hadn’t come here, this paper would’ve been mine anyway.”

“Don’t you study?”

“What?”

“Don’t you know that bad people never repay their debts, and good people are generous? (Psalm 37:12). Were you asleep during that lesson?”

Eugene’s taunt made the boy glance around. Fortunately, the nuns and priests were out of the orphanage on errands.

“Fine, I’ll give you the paper.”

“You should’ve…”

“But you have to leave.”

“What?”

The boy shoved Eugene’s chest.

“Ugh!”

The boy was the strongest child in the orphanage. None of the other children dared to intervene and instead nervously watched the situation unfold.

“Get out. Now.”

“W-what are you doing? Let go!”

The boy dragged Eugene out like a rag.

“If you want to come back, kneel and apologize. Until then, you’re not allowed in here.”

Bang.

The door slammed shut.

“…”

Eugene shrank in the sudden silence.

‘What’s wrong with him!’

Even so, his pride wouldn’t let him go back inside, so Eugene turned away.

‘Damn it!’

Where should I go?

Unfamiliar with the geography of the Papal States, Eugene looked at the large building ahead. Like all the buildings in the Papal States, it was magnificent.

Beyond it, Eugene noticed a figure. Due to the Conclave, civilians weren’t supposed to be allowed in this area today.

‘Who is that?’

Eugene focused on the approaching figure. It wasn’t a priest. They didn’t seem to be workers in the Papal States either.

“Could it be…”

Eugene recalled the men he had seen before—the ones who had suddenly appeared and taken Costance away. The three men approaching now were tall and broad, just like those men.

‘This is dangerous…!’

Eugene instinctively sensed danger.

He hurriedly pulled at the doorknob, but the boy had locked the orphanage door tightly.

“Let me in! Open the door!”

No sound came from the other side.

Ahead of him was a single building and a wide square. From the opposite direction, a man and a woman who also seemed suspicious were approaching.

‘W-what do I do?’

Should I hide among the wine barrels? Or crawl into a wooden box?

“Shh.”

“W-who…”

A man suddenly appeared in front of Eugene. Dressed in a black priest’s robe, the man’s face was shadowed by the sunlight.

“Why are you out here?”

“…Are you Cardinal Rahie?”

“I serve His Eminence.”

As the shadowed face became visible, Eugene realized it was the stern priest who had been with Rahie.

“Hide among the wine barrels, Eugene.”

At Nathan’s words, Eugene quickly slipped between the barrels.

“…”

Peeking out, Eugene watched as Nathan approached the suspicious individuals.

His heart pounded with anxiety. Unlike him, Nathan calmly blocked the men’s path.

The suspicious men seemed to show Nathan some form of identification.

But Nathan remained unfazed. Even as their voices grew louder, his expression didn’t change.

“Leave.”

Nathan frowned slightly during the prolonged confrontation. Though subtle, it was enough to deter the suspicious men. Watching from afar, Eugene also felt intimidated by Nathan’s presence.

Eventually, the men retreated. Once they disappeared completely, Nathan turned to Eugene.

“Eek!”

Startled, Eugene quickly ducked out of sight.

“They’re gone.”

“…”

“Are you hurt?”

Nathan approached Eugene and asked. The terrifying expression he had worn earlier was gone, replaced by his usual blank face.