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⭑. ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭ ⭑.𖥔 ݁ ˖₊˚✩.𖥔 ݁ ˖๋ ࣭

Elysia clasped her hands together and prayed to the gods. That she could safely become a man’s mistress today. 

Built on the edge of a cliff in the South’s most sacred land, the church was the Duchy’s only holy sanctuary and overlooked the vast sea.

As it was a weekday morning just after dawn service, the place was empty. Elysia sat on a long marble-adorned bench at the final row of the front eight pews, which was reserved for parishioners and prelates.

“…Gods above. Forgive me for my impure and heinous offence, and protect us siblings from the wiles of the wicked devil……”

Having just turned twenty, beneath Elysia’s innocent eyes and round cheeks were lips that moved restlessly as she recited the prayer. She looked like any other parish maiden that attended the early morning service, with her hair neatly tucked up and a veil draping over it with adorning white lace. Wearing a simple white dress, she nervously fumbled with the rosary in her slender, cotton-gloved hands.

Today, Elysia had planned to meet a man in this church. Someone that was not her husband, not her father, not her brother, but a stranger.

…At the risk of immorality, she dared to declare before God that the man she was waiting for was her only saving grace.

Having made all the preparations, Elysia trembled as she put her hands together and placed them in front of her head.

‘Will that man really come?’

He had clearly promised her. He said he would seek her out in the empty church after the early morning service on Monday, when everyone has left.

‘Don’t be nervous. You mustn’t tremble like an innocent virgin in front of him. You must appear attractive enough for him to desire you. We’ve already met once, and he’s not the ruthless beast you’d imagined. He’s more open to conversation than you’d thought.’

Elysia recalled their previous meeting. The man’s words flashed through her mind.

“How odd. It’s discourteous to say this despite it being our first meeting, but the sight of you crying is rather pleasing to the eye.”

Her fingers trembled as she recalled those words. Elysia was certain. The man would definitely come here in order to meet her.

At that moment, the sound of leather shoes echoed against the marble floor of the church. Thud, thud, thud. The footsteps, echoing with absurd clarity and crispness, sounded as arrogant and confident as its owner. Like the commander of a legion determined to illegally occupy this sacred place, his footsteps were so disrespectful of the most sacred and pure of the holy sanctuaries that it lacked even the slightest hint of decorum.

With each step the man took, the ground seemed to crumble beneath Elysia’s feet. That vibration was like a blow to her heart.

‘Don’t tremble. Elysia. Don’t tremble like a fool.’

Elysia commanded herself, but it was futile. Elysia’s body froze like a prey to a predator, until the footsteps stopped and the towering man sank into the seat beside her.

After a long moment of silence, the man was the one that spoke first.

“…I didn’t expect you to be so devout. But doesn’t the Bible say that a married woman shouldn’t meet a single man alone?”

Elysia’s head turned around instantly, as if the man’s voice had grabbed her by the hair. Even though they were sitting on the same bench, she had to tilt her face upwards.