The Pious Priest's Sinful Collection - Chapter 11
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She had told herself over and over not to have strange thoughts.
“You’re free to look through any of the books from here to there. If you need additional materials, please let me know…”
Why did this man bring her to a place like this, making her feel this way?
Daphne was beginning to understand exactly what it meant to feel like your soul had left your body, especially when confronted with the sight of a large chest, wrapped in priestly robes, rising and falling right before her eyes.
‘Oh, Holy Father…’
She had been summoned by Bishop Isabella to Cardinal Theodore’s office, an office inside the Great Temple.
She couldn’t help but wonder if someone like her, a mere novice born under the Three Stars, was even allowed to be here.
But Bishop Isabella, who had personally brought her, reassured her gently, saying the Cardinal simply wished to assist Daphne in her ministry, so there was nothing to worry about.
Saying it would surely be a valuable experience, she’d given Daphne a little push and left her with no time to protest before she was swept into the cardinal’s office.
At first, she’d been entirely distracted by the unexpectedly simple interior.
She had heard that the current Pope’s office was filled with extravagant artworks, yet the office of Theodore Valentino — one of the most likely successors to the papacy — was astonishingly austere.
While it’s true that the dignity of a pope and that of a cardinal could hardly be compared, the fact that there wasn’t a single ornament in the entire space made it feel like the room of a true ascetic.
And what completed that space perfectly was none other than Cardinal Theodore Valentino himself — his very presence a testament to the divine grace he carried.
‘They say outside these walls, he’s praised as a gift from the gods…’
He had awakened to divine power in early childhood and was placed in the Grand Temple not long after. By fifteen, he was formally ordained as a priest, and soon after, his name began to spread — borne on the wings of tireless charity and boundless service.
‘Who would’ve thought that scrawny little boy only two years older than me would one day grow into such a fine chest… no, no, such a fine man? Even if you told me in the past, I wouldn’t have believed you.’
He had always been the son of Duke Valentino — that much was true. But when he first arrived at the temple, there had been nothing noble about him. Small, thin, almost shockingly so. Even to Daphne, who herself had just come in from the outside world, his frailty had seemed excessive and almost unnatural. She remembered it clearly.
Later, of course, she’d heard he came from nobility. But back then? He had looked like a boy who might vanish if a strong wind passed through.
It wasn’t until his adolescence that the signs began to show — the graceful bearing, the effortless elegance, the quiet aura of someone born to be above others.
“Sister Daphne?”
“…Yes?”
Lost in her thoughts, Daphne jolted at the sound of his voice. She met Theodore’s eyes and snapped back to herself, caught in his gently puzzled gaze.
“Right. Um… you were saying my authorized section runs from Column J-5 to I-9, correct?”
“Indeed. I’m glad to see you were listening.”
“Haha, of course…”
She offered a sheepish smile, brushing aside her embarrassment as she turned her attention back to him. Theodore, who had been eyeing her with a subtle, unreadable expression, gave the faintest nod and continued.
“While tending to the young novices is certainly part of your duties, it’s equally important that you familiarize yourself with how the monastery is financed. The texts I just mentioned will serve as a useful reference for that.”
“In other words… I’m to take over Bishop Isabella’s records and should be well-versed in the funding details beforehand.”
“That’s right.”
At Daphne’s response, Theodore smiled faintly, just enough for the sharp line of his lips to soften into something almost gentle.
“We have to ensure the supplies needed for the next generation of novices to be provided properly — all within the budget allocated to the monastery.”
“I see…”
Her voice trailed off as her gaze lingered, unblinking, on his face. There was something disarming in the way he smiled. Soft, serene, but not without weight. Daphne nodded, trying to reclaim her focus.
“It’s because the operating costs are covered by the donations from the faithful, correct?”
“Yes. Every coin is a precious offering to the Father, and not a single one should be spent carelessly.”
That seemed to mark the end of his explanation. With measured grace, Theodore turned and led her toward a desk set to one side of the office that was positioned diagonally across from the Cardinal’s own.
Daphne swallowed hard.
It was close enough to see him when she turned her head. And just far enough that he could see her too, if he so chose.
“You’ll be working here from now on. Two hours a day from three to five. That should be enough time for the assignments I give you.”
He tapped a stack of ledgers on the desk, adding softly that she’d need to stay focused to finish on time. Once he turned his back, Daphne leaned forward with quiet urgency and flipped through the documents.
The pile was thick. Unreasonably thick for a first day. A quick glance at the years scrawled across the headers confirmed her suspicions.
It was a record of nearly two decades’ worth of finances.
