The Bishopess's hurried footsteps echoed through the empty church halls, each tap underscoring her urgency.
The more she walked through, the more deserted her surroundings became, until not even the faint sound of prayers could be heard anymore.
Finally, she arrived at a colossal double door. The doorway was decorated with symbols and mystic creatures that evoked marvel, making it look all the more magnificent.
The Bishopess didn't have to push it open to enter, as the door slid by itself, as if aware of her presence.
She lowered her head and advanced, steps careful and more measured this time.
The interior of the room was surprisingly simplistic considering the grandeur of the entrance, with only white-colored walls and a soft pink carpet at the center.
At the opposite side of the room sat another figure on a golden throne. "Rise."
Upon hearing the heavenly voice, the Bishopess had to suppress a shiver as she cautiously raised her head.
Unfortunately, the moment her sight encountered the crossed heeled legs, all her composure vanished, and she started violently twitching, not from pain, but from the overwhelming pleasure that kept assaulting her mind from just laying eyes upon feet.
Thankfully, white fog appeared in time to shield the sight of the woman from view and spare her from the torture of pleasure.
It seeped from the throne itself, flowing like fluid through the air, enacting a merciful veil that coiled between Mary's gaze and the divine form before her.
"It seems that you aren't ready yet to lay eyes upon me, Mary… A pity." Her voice resounded again, this time in a more earthly frequency, but still absurdly melodious nonetheless.
"I'm sorry to have disappointed you, Mistress. I'll strive harder to meet your expectations next time," said the Bishopess, Mary, her tone carrying genuine remorse.
The Mistress of Desire, Lord of Lust, and Queen of ecstasy, spoke once more; this time, her sweet voice was tinged with indifference. "It matters not. You may continue as you are. Lust is not something to rush, after all." She then added, "For now, report the Church's current general state."
"Yes." Mary's face took a serious cast as she started her report.
"With the new wave of nuns since the last Esperrian selection, our resources had been stretched somewhat thin, especially the enerleaf pills and captured Narkals used for training purposes."
She paused to gather her thoughts. "Thankfully, after two months, we have already stabilized and restocked, and now everything is back on track."
The Sin Lord nodded, but Mary couldn't see it through the fog. "The Lust Domain is the safest human domain, which also makes it an economic center and guarantees a constant flow of wealth, especially in Paradise, its capital."
She let out a sigh that was meant to sound weary, yet carried a naturally sultry undertone. "As long as we remain uncorrupted, poverty will never touch us. So, keep investing in new blood."
Her voice became even softer. "And remember—our prosperity is built on the sacrifices of the other domains. Use this wealth wisely. We are humanity's foremost healers, and we shall remain so."
"Yes, Mistress, it shall be as you decree." Mary took note of every word her Sin Lord uttered.
"Now, are there any new promising nuns?" The Desire Mistress asked. "I've heard of someone curious… Seraphine, was it?"
Mary froze for an instant before letting out a breath. 'So this is the real reason I was called.' The thought barely flickered, but she didn't dare linger and answered promptly.
"Yes, Seraphine is her name. She is known to be the first woman to reach the sixth step in under half a year."
"Impressive." The Mistress murmured, sounding genuinely impressed for once. "And? How is she faring now?"
"She had some difficulties acclimating at first, but now she is doing great."
Mary hesitated for a moment, recalling Seraphine's tortured face as she withered in pain. Still, she ultimately replied as such.
She hadn't seen the girl in that state for a long while. And besides, she knew the Mistress cared little for details when the overall result was satisfactory.
"As long as she is fine now, how's her talent?" The Lust Queen asked again.
The Bishopess nodded, more firmly this time. "Her talent is astonishing, Mistress. I have never seen someone grasp the intricacies of spellcrafting that easily, and the hardest part, which is putting one's will and emotion into mana, comes naturally to her, as if the Eternal Himself blessed her."
Mary took a steadying breath, trying to temper her rising enthusiasm. "Not to mention that her Thema is geared toward healing. If she is properly raised, I assure you that she will be one of our most accomplished healers ever."
She let the end of her sentence linger for a moment as she became aware of her foolishly excited appearance. Despite that, she still couldn't stop a last mumble from escaping. "Even her whip skills are nothing to scoff at."
The Temptress Sovereign merely smiled at her eagerness, unbothered. "It seems that you have such a high opinion of this nun's talent. What about her character, then? Does it measure up to her talent?"
Mary bowed her head again, careful not to mistake leniency for permission to overstep. Her next words came softer, though the praise carried even more weight.
"Her nature is what is most charming about her, Your Lordship. Her very presence brightens everyone's day and keeps them hopeful."
"She doesn't yield to despair," Mary continued, recalling Seraphine's composure when she heard of her man's possible demise.
"She's unwaveringly loyal," she added, remembering that first conversation when Seraphine had sworn she'd rather die than betray him.
"...She returns respect and affection tenfold," Mary murmured, a faint smile touching her lips at the memory of the nun selflessly tending to her sisters' troubles.
Her tone softened, almost fond. "But beneath her kindness, she carries a hidden blade. In my opinion, that side of her will serve her well in this treacherous world."
She pressed her hands together in prayer. "May the Eternal bless her."
The Sin Lord said nothing at first. Instead, her low, silken voice rang to ask yet again, "...And her faith?"
"Genuine." Her answer was only one word, but sometimes, a single word could be more than enough.
This was one of those times, as the Lust Lord was finally able to come to a decision.
"I shall decree, in my capacity as Sovereign of the Lust Domain and Lord of the Pathway of Lust, that Seraphine Kingsley shall be named the Everlasting Covenant's Second Saintess—once she reaches the fourth step of her path."
"..."
The Bishopess stood frozen beneath the golden throne, her mind blank. 'Saintess? Impossible... The last Saintess was the Sin Lord herself... Does this mean Seraphine bears the same qualifications?'
She drew in a steadying breath, the faint tremor in her hands betraying her inner storm.
Bowing her head with solemnity, she intoned, "By your will, Sovereign. The Covenant shall honor this decree, and I shall see to its fulfillment."
Though her words were measured and reverent, the slight uneasiness didn't escape the Mistress's notice.
"Are you dissatisfied with my decision, Mary?" The Lust Lord wouldn't find it strange, given the amount of authority a Saintess could naturally wield.
"No, my Lady. It's not that, it's just..."
She was cut off by her Lord's authoritative tone. "Say it."
"...Seraphine refuses to embody her pathway with anyone aside from one man," Mary spoke in resignation.
The Mistress naturally uncrossed her legs and crossed the other leg around. "And where is this man?"
"Ashbastion..." Came Mary's helpless answer.
With palm supporting her cheek, she smoothly continued, "Does she know the conditions there?"
"Yes, and she refuses to believe that he will die." The Bishopess's voice sounded in shame, thinking it was her blunder for not mentioning this first before the decree.
"...Seraphine will stay a Saintess candidate still," the verdict came after a short pause.
The Bishopess was now positively confused. "But what if the man dies, my Lady? Seraphine is obsessively dependent on him. I don't think she'd tolerate anyone else taking his place, even with his demise."
"If that occurs, then she will be sanctified by the Aegis of Innocence." The answer came cold, almost ruthless in tone.
Mary's pupils shrank. "Mistress, please, mercy! She is only at the sixth step! She will surely die if she undergoes the ritual, then..."
"All shall answer for their deeds, whether virtuous or vile." The Mistress stayed indifferent to Mary's pleas. "Those are the laws the Eternal bade us uphold."
"If her man proves unworthy, unable to match the weight of her desires while ensnaring her in his web, then she may hold only herself accountable for the choices she made, and their consequences."
The Bishopess bit her lip and lowered her head, knowing not to contradict her Mistress when she went as far as invoking one of the Eternal's commandments.
"Now... let us see if our dear Saintess's choice of man rises to meet her title, hmm~" A soft, lingering laugh curled from the Mistress's lips, warm, teasing, and dripping with temptation.
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