IV. Perfect Awakening

It was her first carriage ride. Florencia, dressed in a white and clean poplin dress since early morning, had neatly combed her silver hair and braided it to one side.

She worried her eldest brother might object, but Joseph unexpectedly gave his permission readily. He only looked at her with a subtle expression when told that he would follow in the same carriage due to the priest’s business.

“Good morning, Laura.”

Ludwig, who was already in the carriage, got out and escorted her to help her board easily.

The spacious interior was better than any carriage Florencia had ever ridden in. While the exterior was an ordinary four-wheeled carriage without any patterns, the inside had comfortable long seats with several plush cushions, and the walls and windows were decorated with gold leaf.

‘The priest always looks handsome, but today he’s really…… shining!’

Ludwig in his casual everyday clothes was truly splendid. He wore a light white linen shirt and pale beige cotton pants—if a stranger saw him, they might believe he was a top model appearing in the capital’s magazines rather than a priest. Florencia felt her heart flutter without realizing it.

“Father, what kind of place is Stefain?”

“It’s a smaller city than the capital, but it has a port and convenient transportation. Many important events and meetings are held there.”

“If there’s a port, can we see the ocean?”

“If you go to the outskirts, it’s possible…… But it’s far from a resort, so the color isn’t particularly beautiful. It’s not worth making a special trip to see.”

“I see……”

“Laura, do you want to see the ocean?”

“I’m just…… curious because I’ve only seen it in picture books. They say a truly beautiful ocean has a completely blue emerald color……”

Could it be the same mysterious light as the color of the priest’s eyes?

There was another reason she wanted to go to the ocean, but she kept that question hidden deep inside along with her true feelings. Instead, as if searching for the ocean hidden in his deep eyes filled with an affectionate smile, Florencia tilted her head slightly.

“If you want a resort with beautiful ocean colors, Leila Island in the south is the most famous. Of course, it’s quite far so not easily accessible…… But next time when we have time, I’ll take you there, Laura.”

“Thank you, Father!”

Ludwig added that this meeting in Stefain was attended by high-ranking clergy from various countries due to a sudden agenda, and while he wasn’t originally supposed to attend, he was just showing his face on behalf of his mentor.

“By the way, Stefain is also famous for its hot springs. If we get the chance during our stay, it would be nice to soak in the hot spring water.”

Hot springs…… At his words, Florencia unconsciously blushed.

“If the hot spring has a lot of steam and is dark, I’ll consider it. But if the water is too clear and you can see through it, that would be troublesome……”

Ludwig responded to her words without hiding his amusement.

“What are you saying, Laura? Surely you didn’t think I would enter the same bath as you?”

“Ah…!”

“Our little miss really has a head full of lewd thoughts. Even though I pray every day and blow holy power into your lower mouth to purify you.”

Well, getting in together wouldn’t be bad either, he said with a clearly teasing tone as he raised the corner of his mouth.

“Laura, are you angry?”

“……No.”

“Then why aren’t you saying anything?”

“I’m just a little tired, that’s all.”

“Is that so? Since it will take several hours to arrive, you should sleep if you’re tired. I’m going to read a book.”

True to his word, Ludwig took out a book and began reading. Though the carriage was quite spacious, his long stretched legs reached the opposite seat. Florencia tried to stretch her legs out too, but there was still plenty of space left.

‘If I had known this would happen, I should have brought my academy homework……’

Ludwig really spent more than two hours reading his book without moving. Florencia passed the time watching the meaningless scenery passing by outside the window.

She had been excited at the thought of taking a carriage ride far away with just the two of them for the first time, as if they were going on a trip…… But for some reason, even though he was alone with Florencia in a confined space, he didn’t touch her body, come close, or even kiss her.

‘What am I thinking right now…!’

Her face flushed hot when thoughts arose while secretly looking at his handsome face. If someone noticed these thoughts of hers…… But as if reading her mind, Ludwig, who had been focusing only on his book, raised his head.

He smiled and asked from the opposite seat.

“What’s wrong, Laura? Is there something on my face?”

“Ah, no……”

“If not that, then what? Perhaps you want me to kiss you?”

“Th-that’s not it!”

Florencia was startled by how loud her voice came out. Feeling her face burning, she hurriedly opened the window to cool down. As she tried to let the outside breeze hit her heated skin, an elegant hand that knew her too well closed the window again with a graceful movement.

Looking up in disbelief, those annoyingly handsome lips spoke right next to her.

“This road has a lot of dust, so opening the window isn’t a good idea.”

In contrast to how annoying he had been for quite some time, after that, Ludwig tried to make her comfortable as usual by making conversation, adjusting cushions for her, and trying to entertain her.

However, unlike what had often happened recently, he didn’t intensely kiss her using ‘education’ as an excuse or slide his hands under her clothes to explore her bare skin. Instead, he asked about her recent grades, checked if her graduation exam preparations were going well, and tested her foreign language skills, acting like a ‘kind priest who had taken care of her since childhood.’

Florencia had unconsciously worried and strangely anticipated what would happen if the priest demanded something more embarrassing while they were alone in the carriage. She felt an inexplicable disappointment at his unexpectedly plain attitude.

“Laura, we’ve been in the carriage for quite a while. Are you hungry or thirsty?”

“……No, I’m fine.”

“I still think you should eat something. Ah, would you like an apple?”

Without waiting for her answer, Ludwig opened a lid that looked like an empty chair and took out several well-ripened red apples. She thought he might bite into one directly after wiping it with a handkerchief, but surprisingly, he took out a small knife from his pocket and skillfully peeled the apple.

“Here, open your mouth.”

“……”

A small piece of apple was placed in her mouth. As she chewed, the sweet apple juice with its refreshing aroma filled her senses. Of course, that didn’t make the emptiness she felt disappear.

“Laura, I wonder why you look so sulky while eating a delicious apple. Is there something else you’d like to do? Hmm, would you like to play a word game?”

“I don’t want to right now, I won’t do it.”

Since when had she been able to express her dissatisfaction to him so openly?

Even while thinking she shouldn’t……

Her body, already knowing the sweet pleasure he gave, constantly craved it. Might sharing bodies also mean sharing hearts? Her heart, having learned the joy of receiving, increasingly desired something greater.

Ludwig observed Florencia and laughed quietly to himself.

He hadn’t intended to tease her this much.

Actually, he deliberately didn’t touch her at first because he thought he wouldn’t be able to control himself if they spent a long time alone in the enclosed carriage. Seeing her dressed so lovingly since early morning for their carriage trip naturally made him want to do various things, but……

When he didn’t touch her at all and saw her pretending to be a woman and acting prickly, he found it so cute that he wanted to keep teasing her.

‘Laura. It’s entirely your fault for being too cute that I’ve become such a bad person.’

Thanks to consistently blowing holy power into her under the pretext of education, Florencia now emanated quite good energy.

‘But to take her to the Elysium Temple…… she’s still far from ready.’

He glanced at Florencia from the corner of his eye while pretending to look out the window. The innocent girl who believed his ridiculous lies when he first started her ‘education’ without any doubt.

By next year at the latest, Ludwig would become the new pope and have to leave for the Elysium Temple. It was a land of saints where only those chosen by God could enter. That place where ordinary people without holy power couldn’t withstand the energy and would have their hearts burst just by stepping inside.

But he could never give up Florencia.

‘I’ll be able to take her to Elysium.’

Even if his selfish love meant she would be confined for life.

‘If I fill her from head to toe with my power and hide her in the deepest room of the temple, she’ll be recognized as a consecrated holy object and remain safe.’