An exceedingly curious phenomenon had appeared at old Castro's Manor.
The lady of the house, Lady Ophelia, reclined on a gilded couch, her fingertips stroking the rim of a crystal glass. Amusement glimmered in her eyes. "Have you noticed? His Lordship the Personal Guard has been avoiding Deacon Lina lately."
Wengennis was combing her waterfall of golden hair. She chuckled at that. "Hasn't he just? I ran into them in the corridor yesterday, and His Lordship turned around and bolted toward the garden. He moved faster than if he'd cast a divine spell."
Isabella smiled without saying a word, because she knew why Lina sent Li Chen fleeing despite having a figure that could drive any man wild.
Had it been another woman, Li Chen might well have made his move long ago.
At that moment, Li Chen was hiding in the castle's highest tower, peeking through a crystal window at the silver-haired figure in the courtyard.
Deacon Lina was kneeling beside the fountain, devoutly copying something down.
The mist had dampened her nun's habit, outlining breathtaking curves, but Li Chen only felt a chill down his spine.
"What a sin," Li Chen muttered, rubbing his temples.
That morning, he had merely offered an offhand explanation of a metaphor in the Holy Scripture, and Lina's eyes had suddenly grown dazed as her whole body trembled. Even the hem of her habit had become soaked. Don't misunderstand-that was holy water she had knocked over in her excitement.
Such pure religious fanaticism was more frightening than the most wanton desire.
Li Chen finally understood why the Holy See had been able to rule the Eternal Day Empire for so many years.
Fanatics like Lina were often absurdly powerful, yet they also had one-track minds and clung stubbornly to their convictions.
"My lord."