Chapter 16
For a moment, Wakako couldn’t tell whether this was reality or just her imagination. If it were an illusion, the sensations felt far too real. But if this was reality… how could Miki say such things?
The Saint would never lower herself to… to do such things… for her! It was too absurd! Absolutely impossible.
She had been far too daring. Even in a dream, she shouldn’t conjure up such scenes. Wasn’t it blasphemous towards the Saint and the divine?
Yet when she looked down, the cool body of Miki was nestled in her arms, resting naturally against her shoulder, waiting for her response.
“Is it okay?” Miki asked softly again.
With a slight tug of her fingers, her sash fell away, and the collar of her inner robes loosened, revealing a glimpse of the skin beneath.
Wakako’s eyes were already hazy. “No,” she whispered, repeating continuously, “No, it’s dirty, we can’t…”
She pushed the person in her arms away, unable to control her strength during such an intense moment.
Miki suddenly fell off the bed, but luckily there was a small, soft couch below, preventing her from getting hurt.
She looked down and asked, “Dirty?”
The Saint sat on the small couch, slightly aggrieved, poking Wakako’s arm with her finger.
“I’m not dirty. I bathe many times a day, and I rinse my mouth and clean my teeth at least three times. You know that…” Her tone was calm, yet there was an underlying hint of reproach. “And you pushed me.”
Miki touched the spot where she had bumped herself when she fell, her white robe slipping slightly to reveal the mark.
She took Wakako’s hand again and placed it on her shoulder. “It hurts, rub it for me.”
Miki’s skin was delicate, and the impact had already caused a small swelling.
The delicate Saint needed careful attention and constant care, otherwise, she would be easily injured, just like now.
Guided by Miki, Wakako massaged the swollen area, but it didn’t seem to help. Instead, it worsened with every touch, spreading an unnatural flush from her shoulder to her collarbone and neck.
Miki’s shoulders were straight and thin, fragile to the touch. Wakako felt an urge to grip them tightly, even to hurt them.
Her willpower was on the verge of collapse.
“You’re not dirty, it’s me,” Wakako said hoarsely, “I can’t let the Saint do this kind of…”
Before she could finish, Miki leaned forward and placed a light kiss on Wakako’s forehead, interrupting her unfinished words.
“You want to break me, but because I’m your master, you hold back. You’re about to suffocate yourself, aren’t you?”
The Saint’s lips brushed against her ear. “I love to see you holding back.”
It made Wakako feel as if an invisible chain was around her neck, and Miki held the end of it tightly in her hand.
“Just think of it as your reward,” Miki’s cool left hand caressed Wakako’s burning cheek. “You’re not allowed to say no.”
Not allowed.
Again, not allowed.
These two words were like heavy shackles, binding Wakako entirely. She wanted to resist, to push them away, but each time she tried, the mere thought of defiance brought with it an unprecedented surge of pain. It was both unbearable and addictive, something she couldn’t escape.
She completely abandoned resistance, allowing her pheromones to diffuse, her inner robe to slip from her body. All she could see was Miki’s lowered head and the messy cascade of black hair as Miki actually, truly used her lips and tongue…
Wakako collapsed backward, her mind blank, unable to process anything but the sensations overtaking her.
After a long while, Miki lifted herself from between Wakako’s legs, her arms propped against the bed as she tilted her head slightly.
Her face was still as beautiful and flawless as white jade. The only imperfection was the glistening moisture on the corner of her lips, stained by something unknown.
It was as if she was waiting for Wakako to wipe away the blemish that marred the Saint’s pristine appearance.
***
Wakako’s heat ended as swiftly as it had begun, like a flower blooming for only a moment.
When Senryu came to open the door, she was surprised to find that the food prepared for Wakako had been completely consumed. “Lady Wakako, this was enough food for three people…”
Wakako remained silent for a moment, then simply told her that mercenaries needed to eat well to have the strength to work, and their appetites were much larger than ordinary people.
While this was true, there was another reason: someone had been climbing into her bed every night, tempting her into exhausting herself all night long.
Though not to the point of exhaustion, it naturally increased her appetite when awake.
Senryu handed her a few items. “These are the disguise and ship’s pass prepared for you by the Saint. If you need to travel by sea, depart from Port Hert. Once on board, I’m sure you’ll find a way to slip away.”
In the past, travel between the two Kingdoms was possible by both land and sea, but now that relations had soured to the point of open hostility, both routes had been cut off. Sea routes were under strict control, and without the proper documents, no one could board a ship. The areas near Mios’ borders were especially off-limits.
Wakako had her own ways of returning, but obtaining a permit from the Eagle Kingdom would certainly be more convenient.
She took the mask and pass. It would take considerable effort to apply the mask to her face. She should have been using this time to disguise herself, but she hesitated.
Senryu assumed she had further concerns. “Lady Wakako? Would you like me to help?”
Wakako came back to her senses. “No,” she paused, then asked, “Is the Saint not in the courtyard?”
Senryu replied honestly, “Today is the day the Saint offers prayers to God. People from the royal palace came to fetch her early this morning.”
Three days was neither long nor short. It was enough for Wakako to endure her long-overdue heat cycle, and enough for the news of the Eagle Kingdom’s newly acquired Saint to spread throughout the entire kingdom.
Ever since the wedding at the Hyman manor, many nobles had witnessed the Saint’s grace firsthand and been sprinkled with her holy water. Through word of mouth, the Saint’s reputation had become even more divine and miraculous.
Moreover, it had been a long time since the Eagle Kingdom had a Saint, and the public’s desire to see her was even more fervent. Considering this, the sacred ritual seemed like an unavoidable step.
The ritual involved the Saint communing with God in the temple at dawn and then parading through the streets at sunset, carrying the divine message and sharing blessings with the people.
Servants alongside her would scatter white flower petals, though not too many. It was said that those who caught a petal would be blessed with good fortune until the next ritual.
Back in Mios, Miki had naturally performed the ritual as well. However, at that time, Wakako was still a servant and ineligible to participate.
While everyone else could gather in the streets, vying for a chance to catch a petal, she could only chat with the other servants of the Saionji household to pass the time, waiting for Miki’s return.
But it wouldn’t be quick. After the parade, Miki would have to return to the temple to worship God again and complete a series of complex rituals. In addition, the royal palace would also extend an invitation, making the entire process last at least five or six days.
Unable to participate and unable to see Miki, those were Wakako’s most loneliest moments.
As a young girl, she would occasionally say with envy, “I also want to catch a white petal and have good luck. Sigh, when will I be able to participate?”
Wakako thought, perhaps now she could.
So much had happened in such a short time, and her mind was a chaotic mess.
The Saint had disappeared for five years, vanishing without a trace, only to suddenly reappear in the Eagle Kingdom. Her motives were a mystery. Wakako was a mercenary of Mios, and the Saint was an enemy of Mios, essentially standing on the opposing side.
But the Saint was more than just the Saint; she was also her master, Miki. Her master was truly cruel, abandoning her to fly away, yet hiding her away during her heat period.
On the eve of the sacred ritual, when she should have been purifying herself, Miki had instead snuck into her room and engaged in passionate nights.
Before leaving, Miki had thoughtfully prepared a travel permit for her, but without a word of explanation.
Wakako didn’t know what their relationship truly was, nor did she understand Miki’s true intentions. She only knew that she felt deeply hurt.
After the news of Miki’s death spread five years ago, her heart felt like it had a gaping hole. The moment she saw Miki again, she felt a sense of security, but it hadn’t lasted long before that hole was ripped open again, returning her to the same emptiness.
As a mercenary, Wakako knew exactly what she needed to do. She had to leave as quickly as possible, regroup with her comrades, and, if necessary, return to Mios to report the new developments in Eagle Kingdom to the Queen and other ministers.
But as Miki’s servant… what was she supposed to do?
What choices did she even have?
Wakako couldn’t figure it out yet.
But at least before leaving the Eagle Kingdom, she had one wish she wanted to fulfill.
