Warning: These chapters touch on a very suggestive topic. I'm putting it at the beginning because I don't want you to know that this could get very spicy and I don't want any complaints that there were no warnings. I hope you like it.
After a week of travel, I finally arrived at the Imperial Capital. And today… today I come with a decision. With an ambition I wouldn't dare say out loud: to support Aurelio in his revolution.
Personally, I hold no grudge against the current king. I don't think he's doing such a bad job… but he has recently weakened the Church's power significantly. Besides, I doubt father and son are all that different. Both were raised in castles, pampered by maids and nobles. Not like Aurelio, who worked beside me feeding beggars. I remember those times… just the two of us, hehe. Those muscles lifting grain sacks, that sun-kissed skin…
No, no… it's not because of that. I believe in the greater cause. This isn't about Aurelio. Although… I wouldn't mind if he praised me, hehe.
The carriage passed through a massive iron gate, guarded by several soldiers who checked my identification. Seeing them, I wondered: if they have so much money, why don't they help the people more? And another important question… why are all the guards so handsome? Is it on purpose? Shh! They only care about looks, not real virtue.
What Yuri didn't know was that the Royal Guard was made up of the best of the best. Most were sons of counts or dukes who had received private instruction, so their attractiveness was inevitable. And with rigorous training, their bodies ended up sculpted. To her, all of it was just nepotism disguised as discipline.
She stepped down from the carriage. It was time to begin the plan.
The idea was simple (in theory): seduce the third prince, provoke the duke's daughter into catching them, accuse the prince of being a pervert, ruin the royal family's prestige… and sever the alliance with the ducal house. She gripped her robe tightly for courage. She was ready.
High-ranking priests weren't forbidden from having partners or spouses, regardless of gender, but she had been raised in the temples as a healer mage, alchemist, and officiant of mass. In her 24 years, she'd never had a partner. She only knew a few handsome priests or beggars she helped with care. And of course, there was Aurelio…
That's why, when she saw the king—who received her personally—she couldn't help but freeze.
A man with blond hair, hazel eyes, firm yet elegant posture… a beauty she had never encountered. She stood silent, stunned.
"They told me you were sent to oversee the vows and prepare the wedding ceremony," said the king solemnly.
"Yes, Your Majesty. I know rituals are usually performed before the marriage, but since this is a special case, we'll do them afterward. To bless the union between the third prince and the duchess," she answered, kneeling with her head bowed.
"Relax, don't be so formal. You'll help us greatly with the vows. I also need you to prepare a letter, as there will be a second wedding. I want the Church to sponsor that one too. It will be in a month."
"Of course, Your Majesty."
Yuri understood why Aurelio had sent her. She was the only one who could get close without raising suspicion. And if what the king said was true… she had to act fast.
Minutes later, she was escorted to her room. She unpacked, sat on the bed, and pulled out a book from her luggage titled: "How to Make Your Husband Happy."
She swallowed hard. The idea of flirting, even sleeping with someone unfamiliar, turned her stomach. But she had no choice. Ruby had given her this book as a tool to seduce the prince. In fact, her mother had given it to her!
When she opened it, she was speechless. Her face burned like a torch.
"Men have several erogenous zones. Before the act, you can start by nibbling gently on his ear and slowly licking it… But don't stop there. Your hands will be your best allies. Start by caressing the inside of his thighs until you reach…"
"WHAT?!" Yuri slammed the book shut.
How could it be so explicit? It was supposed to be basic noble education! Blasphemy!
She took a deep breath and looked at the cover. A voluptuous woman smiled mischievously. Yuri didn't consider herself voluptuous, but she believed her breasts were of good size. She had a slender, elegant figure. She shouldn't be afraid. Besides… some priests had stared a little too long at her from behind. That gave her pride.
So she decided to go to the castle's training hall. According to the guards, Yuan had been training there lately…
When she arrived, she discreetly sat in the stands. From there, she saw a young man facing off against a guard in the center of the field, while others cheered.
"Come on, third prince! Don't let him beat you!" "I'm next! I'll be the one to defeat him!"
Apparently, the prince was popular among the guards. Everyone knew it, but now she was seeing it herself.
Both fighters moved quickly. Swords clashed with strength. The prince held a defensive stance, dodging with lateral movements. "Good technique," Yuri thought. "Reminds me a bit of Rafael…" Though he didn't seem very strong, as the guard was pressuring him constantly.
Even so, he didn't fall behind. His style wasn't typical of the kingdom. When the guard launched a final blow, Yuan rolled to the ground and delivered an upward slash that disarmed his opponent. It was impressive.
"Impressive, isn't it?" said a voice behind her.
Yuri quickly turned and saw Duchess Evelin, who placed a hand on her shoulder and kept her seated.
"Relax. No need for so much formality. We'll be spending the week together. I was informed, so… let's be friends. Call me Evelin."
"I can't do that, Duchess. It would be disrespectful," said Yuri coldly. She had no interest in making friends. She had a plan.
Evelin paused for a second, then smiled as if nothing was wrong.
"Don't you find it amazing how men train? I think there's nothing more sensual than a man exercising. What do you think?"
"I don't know what you mean, Duchess. I only admire their effort."
"Look at them. How they laugh. How the sweat runs down their sculpted bodies. All particularly handsome, don't you think? Look at the captain's neck… so thick…"
"Of course I know. My fiancé is the best. Look how he's coming."
Yuri turned her head and saw the third prince approaching. Part of his clothes was torn, revealing well-defined abs. His body was strong but elegant. His face softer than the king's, but just as handsome. Yuri had to discreetly bite her lip.
"Hello, love. What are you doing here? Oh, excuse me. Let me introduce myself. I'm the third prince. You must be the priestess sent by the Church. I apologize for the inconvenience caused by our sudden wedding."
"Don't worry, it's a pleasure to meet you, Prince Yuan," she replied with a slight bow.
"I'd like to talk more with you, but I don't think I'm in the proper condition. I'll accompany you later."
And with that, the prince left. Yuri was about to follow him when Evelin gently took her hand.
"I've prepared lunch. How about we eat together?"
Yuri followed Evelin to a small chapel in the castle gardens. The place was beautiful: full of exotic flowers, a fresh breeze, and a large table covered with all kinds of desserts. Fruit tarts, glazed cupcakes, strawberry mousse, heart-shaped cookies… each one more expensive than the last.
"Please, sit. Eat whatever you like," Evelin invited with a charming smile.
Yuri sat cautiously. Everything looked spectacular, but the taste didn't impress her. It couldn't compare to the freshly baked bread she used to hand out at the church. Worst of all, the conversation didn't help either: they only talked about trivial noble matters. So she decided to play along with a fake smile, nodding occasionally—until a woman who seemed to have elven blood, judging by her pointed ears, approached carrying something covered with a cloth.
"I brought what you requested, my lady," she said respectfully.
"Thank you very much, Sara," Evelin replied. The young woman bowed and left.
Yuri tilted her head, confused. The elf had placed a crystal sphere on the table. At first glance, it looked like a magical transmission device—a kind of crystal ball that projected images remotely. But… why bring something like that to tea?
"Something I've learned over time," Evelin said in a soft, playful voice, "is how to recognize birds of a feather. That's why I prepared a special show for you."
"A… show?" Yuri asked, frowning.
Before she could say more, the sphere glowed, and an image began projecting, floating above the table.
Yuri froze.
In the image, a group of men were changing clothes in a training room. They laughed, talked, and joked while taking off their shirts. Tall, short, dark, blond, brown… each one stunningly handsome. Some had scars on their backs, but instead of being unpleasant, they gave a rugged, manly air. All were toned, defined. One even looked like he'd stepped out of a romance novel.
"You like handsome men too, don't you?" Evelin asked with a mischievous smile.
"H-Huh?"
"I saw you. At training. The way you looked at the guards… You can't fool me. That wasn't spiritual admiration. That was visual hunger, sister."
Yuri remained silent, trembling inside. Her voice struggled to stay calm, but she felt her magic becoming unstable. In the temple, intense emotions affected the purity of healing spells. That's why, although priests were allowed to marry or enjoy pleasure, their relationships were expected to be cold and balanced. No burning passions. No racing hearts.
And yet, there she was, face flushed, heart pounding, magic fluttering inside her like it was about to burst.
"Tell me," Evelin pressed, leaning in with a feline gaze, "what do you prefer? Tall or short? Muscular or lean? Bearded or clean-shaven? We can zoom in on whichever you like."
In that moment, Yuri remembered the book Ruby gave her—the one about erogenous zones and curious tongues. Unintentionally, her mind drifted.
She imagined one of the guards… shirtless… approaching her in a room… the crystal ball floating above them, recording a forbidden scene…
"No no no no no!" she screamed internally, jumping up suddenly.
"Is everything alright, Sister Yuri?" Evelin asked, feigning concern.
"I-I'm so sorry, Duchess! I… I feel unwell. I must return to my room," Yuri said, bowing awkwardly and practically running away, her face completely red.
What she didn't see was the smile Evelin wore as she watched her flee, then calmly returned to her desk and wrote something in a small notebook.