The Pious Priest's Sinful Collection - Chapter 7
The young cardinal and the watchman of the Three Stars, he had his hand resting gently on her shoulder. Below his sharp nose, a deep voice spoke.
“Are you alright?”
“…!”
Startled, Daphne jerked away from his supportive embrace.
‘Oh my God… Did I just think that I should feel the firm muscles of his chest against my face?’
Instead of feeling grateful, she was embarrassed by the thought!
‘Daphne, you crazy fool! How could you dare have such thoughts in front of the cardinal?’
If he hadn’t caught her, she would have been rolling on the ground by now. With her face turning crimson, Daphne clutched the blanket tightly and lowered her head.
“T-thank you, Your Eminence. Thanks to you, I’ve avoided the trouble of having to start over with the laundry.”
“…”
Despite Daphne’s gratitude, Theodore Valentino remained silent. As the silence stretched on, Daphne swallowed dryly.
Is this not what I should have said?
She cautiously lifted her head, and her gaze met the golden eyes that were still staring at her. He was opening and closing the hand that had been gripping her arm.
‘Why is he staring at me like that? It’s so embarrassing.’
Daphne couldn’t stop thinking about the firm yet soft sensation of the chest muscles she had felt against the back of her head. She didn’t want to remember, but the moment had been so intense and the sensation so vivid that it lingered in her mind.
She squeezed her eyes shut and asked in a voice barely above a whisper:
“W-what brings you here, Your Eminence…?”
Oh, how embarrassing. Her nervousness caused her voice to crack. Daphne bit her lip tightly.
In general, cardinals serve the pope, lead the bishops, and conduct masses, including blessings, but they also oversee people like her, who bear original sin, and decide on their fate.
If the cardinal had come to the convent today, there must have been some specific reason.
‘Could it be… did he find out about that? No, no. Even if it was discovered, he wouldn’t know which space I use. Besides, if it were truly discovered, I would have been taken away by now.’
As she thought of her secret, something no one else knew about, Daphne’s mouth felt dry. What exactly was he waiting to say? Why the pause?
Despite believing that there was no way he had found out, a strange tension made her lower abdomen tighten. She cursed herself silently for not having an answer.
‘He’s probably just taking his time deciding what punishment to give me.’
Daphne’s hands trembled as she clenched them tightly. Finally, Theodore’s lips parted.
“The ground is still frozen. You could get seriously hurt. Be careful.”
“Ah…”
Oh, goodness. Cardinal Theodore was just worried about me.
“Thank you for your concern, Your Eminence.”
“…”
“…Do you have anything else to say?”
Despite his fist still being clenched, Theodore kept opening and closing his other hand as he responded to Daphne’s cautious question, his lips twitching.
“Well…”
“Oh, Your Eminence!”
After a few seconds of hesitation, Theodore finally opened his mouth, but before he could speak, an urgent voice called out from not far away. It was Bishop Caleb. His elderly forehead, nearly bald, shone under the midday sun.
“Well, then, we will be on our way.”
“Take care, Your Eminence!”
At Theodore’s arrival, the attendants who had been frozen in place quickly scattered. Daphne, too, was about to follow them and escape when—
Thud.
Theodore’s large hand grabbed her arm. The warmth of his body, felt through her clerical robes, was intense. Startled, Daphne nearly dropped the blanket.
“Why… why are you…?”
Daphne looked up at Theodore with a pale face. At her reaction, Theodore, who had been about to say something, shut his lips tightly. Only when Bishop Caleb had nearly reached them did Theodore release her arm and speak.
“If anything is needed for the next group of novice clerics’ duties, please let me know. Allow me to assist you.”
Daphne’s eyes widened in surprise at his unexpected words. How did he know that she wanted to serve? Only Bishop Isabella knew about it.
‘…Ah. Did he overhear the conversation I had with the others?’
Yes, that must be it. Bishop Isabella wouldn’t be the type to rush off and tell the cardinal about us.
“I appreciate your kind words.”
Daphne smiled politely, having accepted his offer in her own way. Perhaps sensing that she regarded his words as empty courtesy, Theodore’s brow furrowed ever so slightly.
“It’s not just words…”
