Finally, the bell rang to end classes. The Academy students left in groups of a few close ladies to go to dinner. Florencia, nursing her painful b*ttocks, awkwardly got up from her seat and headed to the infirmary.

“Excuse me, could I possibly get some ointment for wounds?”

“Oh dear, what should we do? The infirmary is currently out of medical supplies…… The cart bringing supplies is scheduled to arrive the morning after tomorrow.”

“Ah….. I see.”

“Are you feeling unwell somewhere, young lady? If so, I can call a doctor from the city for you.”

“Oh, no. I’m fine.”

Florencia came out after deliberately declining the infirmary maid’s offer to call a doctor. Although she was used to most pain from being beaten frequently by her half-siblings in the Count’s family since childhood, she felt that she couldn’t leave the wounds untreated if she wanted to sit through classes tomorrow.

But even if she called a doctor, she had no money to pay the medical fees. When other ladies fell ill, they usually contacted their homes to send their family physician, but the Hazel family would never send a doctor for her. Eriendna’s room was stocked with special ointments and basic medical supplies brought from the mansion, but if she asked to borrow them, it was obvious that Eriendna would make unreasonable demands in return.

At times like this, there was only one person in the world she could rely on. Enduring the pain alone without even eating dinner, Florencia, after much deliberation, slipped out of the Academy and headed to the Temple in the capital.

“Laura, why have you come at this hour? Are you here to pray?”

“Father Ludwig……”

“Well, you’re welcome anyway. Have you had dinner?”

As she entered the central chapel of the Temple, the kind priest in pure white vestments greeted her warmly as always.

“Hmm, you don’t look well. Are you feeling sick somewhere?”

“No, I, actually……”

Ludwig carefully examined her with deep blue eyes that seemed to see through people. Florencia finally felt unbearable and told him the whole story.

Ludwig, who had been listening to her story, frowned his handsome brow, seemingly regretful.

“Oh my, that’s terrible. If it’s caning wounds, I could easily heal them with holy power, but…… it’s a bit difficult right now. There’s a major event at the imperial palace tomorrow morning that requires holy power, so I can’t use my powers now.”

Of course, that was a lie. If his holy power was so limited that he couldn’t use it for something like this, he wouldn’t have become a High Priest at such a young age, nor would he have been designated as the next Pope for several years.

But innocent Florencia, who knew nothing of this fact, hastily waved her hands.

“No, not at all! Father! I wouldn’t dare think of borrowing your holy power for something like this…… I just came to ask if there might be some emergency medicine at the Temple, perhaps some ointment for wounds.”

“Don’t worry about that. I have a special ointment infused with holy power; if you apply it to the injured area and sleep, it will heal quickly. However, even though they are medicines, everything in the Temple contains holy power and is sacred, so ordinary people cannot handle them. But I will apply it for you directly, Laura, so there’s nothing to worry about.”

Ludwig smiled gently once more and rolled up the long sleeves of his priestly robe.

“Laura, where were you caned? Your palms? Or were your calves struck? Come up here and show me your wounds.”

Not seeing or pretending not to see Florencia’s face that looked like she might cry at any moment, he calmly brought a medicine box and pointed to a low marble shelf in front of him.

“Um, Father, that’s…… I, I was hit on my b*ttocks.”

“Your b*ttocks? They hit a grown lady on her b*ttocks like a child? Besides, ladies have thick petticoats, so even if struck there, wounds shouldn’t easily form.”

Ludwig raised his eyebrows with a puzzled expression.

Florencia had no choice but to reveal the circumstances of the incident. Along with the embarrassing story that she had spent the entire day without underwear, n*ked under her clothes…… With her face turning bright red, she stammered through the story while Ludwig watched her with interest.

“Um, Father. Since I will become a saintess after graduation…… perhaps just this once, could I apply the medicine myself?”

Florencia asked carefully, but he immediately hardened his face with a stern expression.

“That’s not possible, Florencia. Someone who has not yet been listed in the register of saints cannot casually touch sacred objects.”

“Yes…… I’m sorry for making an unreasonable request.”

Florencia answered weakly in a small voice at the firm rejection.

‘No matter how much I need to apply medicine, I can’t show such a place to Father Ludwig……’

Perhaps because she had known him since she was very young, she often felt that Ludwig still treated her like a child. It seemed like he wouldn’t even blink if she undressed right in front of him…….

Even so, the thought of lifting her dress and showing her bare skin without underwear in front of him made her face burn just thinking about it. It was incomparably more embarrassing than being caned in front of the other ladies.

As she was about to give up and stand, Ludwig, who had been watching her for a moment, narrowed his brow as if slightly angry and said coldly,

“Are you going to leave your wounds untreated just because you’re reluctant to show your bare skin? I thought you relied on me more than others and felt especially close to me, but seeing you today, it seems I was mistaken.”

“No, no! Father! I really do rely on you sincerely, very much so.”

“Then, stop hesitating and get up here to show me your wounds. I’m also very busy today. I’ll just apply the medicine quickly and go to the prayer room.”

“Yes…… I’m really sorry, Father.”

Florencia hesitantly climbed onto the marble shelf, watching his reaction. Looking at her, Ludwig smiled silently so that she wouldn’t notice.

The marble shelf, which she expected to be cold, was surprisingly not very cold, just slightly cool. Though she lay down on it as instructed, her hands hesitated to lift her dress.

“I don’t have time, hurry up.”

Looking at her hesitating hands, Ludwig lightly urged her and then swiftly lifted her skirt up to her waist. In an instant, her bare b*ttocks without underwear were exposed.

“Kyaa!”

Startled by the sudden exposure of her bare skin, Florencia screamed.

“Oh my, Laura.”

Ludwig, who was examining the wounds while gently pressing down on Florencia’s waist as she tried to get up, clicked his tongue.

“The wounds are much worse than I thought. It must have been very painful.”

“Yes……”

“But you did well to endure and come find me. You did the right thing. I’m proud of you.”

He had already returned to his usual gentle tone and stroked Florencia’s head as if comforting her. Whether from the embarrassment of showing her bare flesh or from hearing the kind words of comfort, she bit her lip as tears threatened to fall.

“But there’s too much heat coming from the wounds. Before applying the ointment, I need to massage you with a cooled oil to prevent infection.”

Ludwig, who had rolled up the sleeves of his priestly robe, explained in a low voice as he took out a small bottle from the medicine box.

“This oil is made with herbs that have antibacterial and anti-inflammatory effects. It disinfects wounds and reduces heat.”

“Thank you.”

“Hmm, your dress is so voluminous that the medicine might stain it like this. Ah, let’s do it this way.”

He touched the ribbon on Florencia’s back as if he had a good idea. Her dress was designed to be fastened at the back with both the bodice and skirt secured by several ribbons.

Ludwig quickly untied all the ribbons running from the bodice to the skirt and spread them to both sides. Without a corset, her snow-white back, slender waist, b*ttocks, and legs were all completely exposed.

“Kyaa, Father……”

The startled Florencia tried to get up. However, with her arms still in the loose sleeves of her dress, she was essentially n*ked on the spread-out dress like a blanket and couldn’t move.

“If the oil gets on your dress, it will be difficult to remove, Laura. Now, let’s begin the treatment.”

“Yes……”

A cold liquid was placed on Florencia’s b*ttocks. She flinched and trembled slightly as she felt Ludwig’s hands rubbing it in.

Ludwig observed her reactions as he applied the oil evenly. His long, elegant fingers slowly massaged her entire b*ttocks with subtle, gentle strokes.

“How is it, Laura? Does the pain seem to be lessening?”

“Yes…… Father.”

Ludwig’s long fingers caressing her exposed skin were smooth and beautiful. But since he was still a man, his palm that cupped her b*ttocks was large enough to cover one side completely.

“Spread your legs a little more.”

The pain and burning sensation from the wounds had miraculously subsided quickly, but now there was a problem with another area feeling hot. Just showing and having her bare b*ttocks touched was embarrassing enough to die from, but Florencia worried whether her intimate parts might be visible between her spread legs.

“A little more.”

Ludwig’s touch, which stroked down the lower part of the round hills, was precariously close to slipping between her legs and brushing against her s*x. Her legs kept closing involuntarily, but each time, they were gently yet firmly spread open again.

After a long massage, Ludwig softly wiped Florencia’s b*ttocks with a warm wet towel and then carefully applied ointment to the wounded areas with his fingers.

“All done.”

“Thank you so much.”

From the embarrassment that continued throughout the treatment, Florencia’s entire body had turned pink. She hurriedly tried to get up to dress herself.

“Wait a moment, Laura.”

“Yes?”

Ludwig’s hand stopped her from rising.

“The wounds are more serious than I thought, so just the topical medicine might not be enough.”

“Not enough? Then…… should I take some oral medication?”