The Pious Priest's Sinful Collection - Chapter 3
The man, who wore the simple robes of a layman, flushed red as their eyes met and quickly reached to take the dishes from her.
“It’s alright, Brother,” Daphne said, easily stepping aside to avoid his hand.
Caught off guard, the man stammered, but Daphne offered him a gentle, composed smile as she politely declined.
“This is part of my duties. You needn’t trouble yourself over it.”
“But still…”
“May the Father’s grace be with you.”
With that, Daphne continued on her way, leaving the man sighing with regret.
One of his companions, who had been watching from a distance, came over and slung an arm around his shoulder.
“Told you, didn’t I? That priestess is a lost cause.”
“…Still, she could marry if she ever left the Temple.”
“Yeah, right. She doesn’t give anyone an opening. What, are you just gonna go up and confess out of nowhere?”
“Come on, Alec. She’s different from the other novices, okay? Someone once asked if she was planning to leave the clergy, and they swore she cursed him with her eyes.”
“Damn. What a waste…”
Despite his companions’ teasing, the devotee Alec couldn’t take his eyes off the direction where Daphne had disappeared. His friends nudged him to move on already. Grumbling his agreement, Alec turned to cross the corridor.
Thump!
He slammed into something big and fell flat on his rear with a yelp. Crash! The clatter echoed embarrassingly through the hall as Alec sprawled out in an undignified heap, his pain made worse by the sting of humiliation. He shot a glare up at the person he’d bumped into.
“What the hell? Can’t you watch where you’re…!”
“Oh dear.”
A large shadow loomed over Alec’s head.
His silver hair, gleaming gold in the afternoon sunlight, was somewhat frizzy, resembling a white lion’s mane, and the golden eyes that gazed straight ahead were sunken in, making him look downcast.
The man’s broad shoulders and stony expression gave off an intense presence. Alec instinctively clamped his mouth shut, startled.
“I didn’t see you there, Brother. Are you hurt?”
The moment their eyes met, the man’s hard expression melted into a polite smile as he extended a hand.
“A-Are you kidding me? That’s Cardinal Theodore Valentino!” one of Alec’s companions whispered in awe.
Theodore Valentino.
The youngest cardinal in history. Known for his upright character and the overwhelming grace of the Holy Father bestowed upon him, he bore the silver hair and golden eyes said to be marks of divine favor. There were even whispers he possessed stronger holy power than the current Pope.
However, he was also famously elusive — seldom seen outside formal rites or high ceremonies. So naturally, Alec’s companions were stunned.
But Alec wasn’t about to admit he’d been rattled by a rare sighting of the famously unreachable cardinal.
“…Ha ha! Wow, well, this is awkward.”
Trying to play it cool, Alec took Cardinal Theodore’s offered hand to stand, but the moment their palms met, a crushing grip clamped down on him. He nearly screamed. Instead, he clenched his teeth hard enough to pop a molar.
He was already embarrassed enough from that fall. If he showed any more weakness now, especially in front of the attendant priestess who might still be watching, he’d be remembered as nothing more than some pathetic guy.
Ignoring the throbbing in his backside and the ache in his hand, Alec cleared his throat and forced a casual tone.
“I should be the one apologizing… ahem! I wasn’t looking where I was going. Nothing to worry about, Your Eminence.”
“Is that so?”
Cardinal Theodore gazed at him with unreadable golden eyes — then offered a faint, polite smile.
“I’m glad to hear that. May the Holy Father’s grace be upon you and your companions.”
Bringing his palms together, the cardinal bowed his head and walked past. Only when his tall figure had receded down the corridor did Alec’s friends let out the breaths they’d been holding.
“That really was Theodore Valentino, right? He’s huge. For a second I thought he was a bear.”
“No kidding. He’s got a whole head on most people!”
“Did you see his face? With looks like that, women must be lining up around the temple for a glimpse. Why couldn’t my mom have given me a face like that?”
“Dude. That’s the kind of comment that gets your mom to smack you upside the head.”
As the group bantered between envy and self-pity, Alec growled.
“What’s the point? He’s sworn to celibacy. What’s popularity worth if you’re a flower with no nectar?!”
He opened and closed the hand that had been in Theodore’s iron grip. It still throbbed like hell. There was no way that wasn’t on purpose. Alec couldn’t hide his irritation as he stormed across the hall, stomping like a man wronged.
“What’s his problem?”
“Leave him be. He just got rejected.”
As his companions shook their heads, a pair of golden eyes quietly followed Alec’s retreating back.
