Innocence, Corruption - CHAPTER 2 - Drenched in Lust Every Night - (Part 3)
CHAPTER 2 – Drenched in Lust Every Night – (Part 3)
“Sir Edelgard!”
Lillian spun around at the speed of light, even though the voice wasn’t calling her.
“High Priest!”
It was the financial administrator of the cathedral. This seemingly eccentric high priest was not someone Lillian felt particularly pleased to see.
“Oh-ho, who do we have here? Priestess Lillian has come! I’ve been so disappointed not to see you for about two weeks.”
He ran up to Lillian, his long silver hair whipping around.
“I was actually looking for Sir Edelgard, and how fortunate I am to find you both here.”
Mikael greeted Cedric, drawing the holy symbol.
“First things first, the scrolls…”
The scrolls, also known as the sacred scrolls, were inscribed with divine magic and were highly valuable. Mikael briskly accepted the bag Cedric handed over, counting the number of scrolls.
The priests produce a certain amount of scrolls for distribution to the Cathedral. This was one of the tasks that Lillian had taken on since coming to the capital.
“Oh, how I’ve been burning with impatience due to your delayed arrival, Priest Lillian.”
“I was told by my predecessor that the supplies were delivered every month.”
“But, Priestess Lillian, you graced us with your presence every week. I’ve already gotten used to it being a weekly thing.”
In fact, Mikael was used to Lillian bringing him a few more scrolls every time she came.
Lilian wanted to give more, whether it was good or bad, just because Cedric was here.
“I’ve been waiting for you, why are you so late?”
A coquettish nasal tone involuntarily came out of the high priest’s mouth. Looking at him, Lillian burst into a laugh without realizing it.
This man… He used to scold her for using too much soap when washing clothes.
After becoming a priest, everyone’s attitude towards her had changed drastically. Lillian responded modestly.
“Then, please send a letter.”
“Of course, I sent one, but it was completely ignored. As always, it’s always the troublemaking crows that come to the priest’s association. But…
Mikael, who had been diligently counting, looked up.
“There are only thirty-six of them today, aren’t there?”
“Yes, the usual amount.”
“No… I mean, you know it’s not that, but you always insist on saying that.”
Mikael pursed his lips and tried to act cute.
In truth, the sight of the young man being playful was a bit adorable, but Lillian didn’t easily fall for it. She knew that if kindness continued, it would be seen as a right, and Mikael was precisely that kind of person.`
Because of Cedric, who was standing out, Lillian just wanted to leave the place quickly.
“Anyway, now that I’ve met the High Priest, I’ll be on my way…”
“Do you know about the victory celebration ball at the Countess Huntington’s estate in four days?”
Countess Huntington was not only the Empress of the Empire but also the queen of the capital’s social scene.
The Countess’ soirees were essentially the emperor’s commands, and in honor of the victorious Imperial expeditionary force returning, the emperor permitted a decadent masquerade ball.
“Have you prepared your mask?”
“No, I won’t be attending.”
“I knew it! That’s why I brought it up first.”
Mikael was helping the Countess of Huntington organize the ball. Naturally, he sent Lillian an invitation as well.
Though she had never met the Countess, the banquet was to honor all the priests and knights who had participated in the expedition.
“Priestess Lilian, you have contributed greatly to the expedition, you must naturally grace the occasion!”
“But I won’t be going.”
As most priests were commoners, noble culture was unfamiliar to them. No one had mentioned the Countess of Huntington’s banquet in the council. Even if it was the Emperor’s wish, they were not compelled to attend.
Furthermore, there was another reason why the priests were avoiding the ball.
“If it’s a nightly banquet, won’t everyone come expecting fireworks?”
“I don’t know. I’ve never been to a noble’s ball.”
“Ai, don’t be like that, come. If you, Priestess Lillian, don’t come, who will do the fireworks?”
That’s it!
‘Fireworks.’
The reason why the nobles invited the common-born priests to the banquet was because of the fireworks.
Using the blessing-type divine magic, the dark night sky would appear to be filled with beautiful fireworks. It served as a pretext to ask for blessings from all the attending guests, adding an air of sophistication to the event.
However, once the priests dazzled everyone with their fireworks, it was a world of their own. Being completely out of place, they often left the party early, whether by choice or compulsion.
In the end, attending the reception was just a matter of saving face, and the priests who attended received a huge bribe. Or they were of noble descent.
‘Who can you fool into being your pawn?’
In the end, the soirée invitation was an excuse to get free labor from the priests working under the Imperial Palace, as officially inviting them would be expensive.
Lilian wanted to smack Mikael, who, like a fox, was using the old-fashioned way of asking for a favor. Just when she was about to politely decline.
“Formally request it from the Priest’s Assembly.”
Cedric, who had been observing the situation with a cold gaze, intervened.
“Making such a request privately is not appropriate.”
“Of course… That would be the right thing to do, right?”
As the conversation was abruptly cut off in the middle, the High Priest, looking embarrassed, said, “May the blessings of the Divine be with you, Priestess Lillian,” and quickly disappeared.
Cedric, who was staring at his back with an unsatisfied expression, suddenly spoke.
“Lillian, it seems like you have many close male friends.”
“Well, I… yes.”
“…Many?”
“Yeah.”
Wasn’t it obvious?
Lilian, because of Cedric, had gone out of her way to appear favorable to all the knights. Thanks to that, everyone thought of her as an easygoing and nice person.
Unsurprisingly, most of them were men.
Why bother confirming such an obvious fact? She found it slightly puzzling. Glancing at him, Lillian discovered Cedric’s cold gaze fixed on Mikael, and she flinched.
“Um, then, I’ll take my leave…”
“Stop.”