“It is an honor for us. But I’m concerned whether Your Excellency will find it uncomfortable to stay in such a humble place.”

So he knows it’s shabby. The bishop muttered with a greasy face, speaking in an obvious manner.

“Oh, by the way, I have a request for you.”

“Please, say anything.”

“The position of my assistant is currently vacant. I sent them back to the main house due to urgent matters.”

“Oh dear, I see. It must be quite inconvenient amidst your busy schedule.”

“So, I was wondering if you could assign someone to that position.”

The bishop nodded readily.

“Of course. Shall I find someone among the priests? Your Excellency is so highly respected that everyone would be eager for your guidance.”

“I appreciate the offer, but I tend to be a bit shy.”

After a brief pause, Nicholas finally brought up the main point he’d been hiding.

“I heard there’s a nun here from the Central Temple.”

“Oh, if you’re referring to the nun from the Central Temple… Do you mean Rarien Claude?”

“Yes, Rarien Claude.”

It was unusual for His Excellency to appoint a nun instead of a priest as his assistant, but pleasing the benefactor was the priority.

“Are you acquainted with her?”

“Yes, well, a little.”

Nicholas replied indifferently.

Oops. Did I pry too much? When the atmosphere suddenly became tense, the bishop began to gauge the situation.

“Oh, I’ve heard she was highly praised even at the Central Temple. Very diligent and always does her best in her duties. She works well, is responsible, and also—”

“Is it possible or not?”

Nicholas Reinhart cut him off with a gentle face. Perhaps because he was a direct descendant of Reinhart, even though he spoke in a calm tone, there was an overwhelming sense of authority. He was kind yet oddly arrogant. It was likely an inherent aura from someone who had never bowed to anyone.

“Of course, it’s possible. Absolutely. I’ll make sure there are no inconveniences for Your Excellency.”

“Yes, that’s a relief. I have quite a lot of work to handle. Please exclude Rarien Claude from all other duties.”

“Yes.”

That was all the business he had. Nicholas was about to stand after moistening his lips with tea when he suddenly remembered another important matter.

“Oh, and by the way, I have a personal curiosity.”

“Yes, please go ahead.”

“Is there someone named Benjamin here?”

The bishop scrutinized Nicholas’s expression at the somewhat abrupt question. Nicholas Reinhart appeared very serious.

“Benjamin?”

“Yes. Whether it’s a real name, a pseudonym, or a nickname… Anyway, I heard the name Benjamin.”

“There is someone by that name.”

For a moment, a strange light flickered in Nicholas’s eyes.

“Can I meet him right away?”

***

The temple’s stable.

It was a place Nicholas Reinhart would never normally visit, but he was here to meet Benjamin.

“I was surprised that Your Excellency knew Benjamin. He’s the finest horse in our temple. Isn’t he handsome?”

The bishop asked proudly. Nicholas looked at Benjamin with a very displeased expression.

“Well… he is handsome.”

Though not a human.

Nicholas Reinhart didn’t know how to define this situation. Benjamin was a stallion, the pride of the southern temple.

“Do you like horses?”

“Seems so. It’s quite an unusual preference.”

“Well, it can happen. He’s a stallion anyone would desire.”

Nicholas’s gaze inadvertently fell to Benjamin’s lower belly. Indeed, he was impressive. He had a club hanging there.

He was confident in his own size, but… that was a bit much. Wasn’t it beyond human limits?

“You can ride him if you like. He loves people and is well-trained.”

No matter how insane of a pervert she was, this was too much.

No way, it can’t be. He didn’t want to believe it.

Even if you’re crazy about women, there’s a limit. To entertain such an unrealistic suspicion… He must have been blinded by lovesickness.

She could barely take this c*ck in such a narrow, small hole. And yet that? Of course, it made no sense.

Logically, it was absolutely not possible, but—

“I love you! Benjamin!”

It was a memory too vivid to forget. The voice of the woman shouting her love for Benjamin was still clear in his ears.

Just imagining it was outrageous and disgusting. Nicholas felt a deep sense of self-pity, thinking he was pathetic.

Even though he knew it was a story that could never be true, he just felt anxious for no reason.

For his own mental health, it seemed best to completely block out the possibility from the start.

“While I’m staying here, can I use Benjamin exclusively?”

“Of course.”

“Please make sure no one else touches him without my permission. Actually, I’d like to purchase him.”

Why is that? Did Benjamin impress him so much? The bishop was bewildered by Nicholas’s sudden action.

***

Walking down the temple corridor, Rarien was restless. The reason was that she had just received the worst proposal from the bishop.

“You’re going to have a position everyone envies.”

…So why do I, who do not envy that position, have to go there?

She wanted to argue, but she felt so drained that she couldn’t speak.

“Of course, you’ll be excluded from all other duties as well.”

“……”

“It’s an exceptional privilege. It’s not an opportunity that comes easily.”

It was a groundbreaking proposal, but there must be a clear reason. She knew better than anyone how busy Nicholas had been during her time working at the Central Temple. When the boss is busy, the assistant is inevitably worked hard.

After hesitating for a moment, Rarien finally opened her mouth with difficulty.

“Still, I’m a bit….”

“Please consider the temple’s position.”

It was a clear message not to argue. If it were the old, naïve Rarien, she would have just accepted without a word…

“Those who take promises and responsibilities lightly will certainly pay a corresponding price.”

Recalling Nicholas Reinhart’s sermon sent chills down her spine. Rarien felt her safety was at risk.

“Well, I don’t really know him…”

“But His Grace seems to know you well. He specifically named Rarien Claude.”

“……”

With every word she uttered, it felt like her escape routes were being blocked.

“It’s just… I feel too burdened. He’s such a high-ranking person.”

“Please, just this once, can’t you help us?”

…No, that’s what I should be saying.

It was the first time seeing the usually stern bishop pleading so earnestly.

It made her feel very uncomfortable.

“His Grace is also our temple’s biggest patron. It’s no exaggeration to say that the fate of the southern temple rests on Rarien Claude.”

They say the one above the creator is the sponsor. She had heard he was a patron, but she didn’t know the bishop was this flustered. At this point, it seemed like further words would be in vain.

She came here to live the rest of her life comfortably. Life, however, was not easy until the end. She wanted to run away.

It wasn’t that she hated seeing him. Of course, she liked him… but she had her own guilt, and having heard such an eerie sermon made it all the more difficult.

“Still, I…”

“Just meet him first and decide.”

The bishop replied firmly. Rarien couldn’t shake the feeling of being led to the slaughter.

Well, if he went so far as to summon her through the bishop, she would have to face him sooner or later. It was something that had to be done at least once.

As she reached the door where Nicholas was staying, Rarien swallowed hard.

Knock, knock—

“Come in.”

The voice granting entry hadn’t changed since then. Of course, the pressure of entering a lion’s den was the same as always.

The bishop entered first. When Rarien hesitated at the door, he gestured for her to come quickly.

Reluctantly, Rarien stepped into the room. The air inside was sharp, prickling her skin.

“It’s been a while, Rarien Claude.”

At the sound of her name, Rarien slowly lifted her head. As their eyes met, Nicholas’s golden eyes curved into a chillingly bright smile.

Her heart seemed to drop with a thud.

“I’d like to have a word alone. Could you give us some privacy?”

The low voice felt like a death sentence.