A saintess? She's just a bad woman.

Page 91

Has someone beaten them to it?

As Santa Karina thought this, she walked to the area filled with hot water. She unconsciously held her breath, her eyes wide open, her whole body stiff as she stared at the scene before her.

The beautiful young woman, Ernest VII, who had shed her royal attire, was taking a bath. She appeared to be preparing for her bath, and at her feet lay a rather rough-looking, bluish-green object.

It must be said that the basin of hot water poured over her actually complemented Ernest VII's fair complexion.

"Hmm? Oh, it's you. Miss Saint Karina."

When Ernest VII noticed someone behind her, she turned around. Although she saw Saint Karina standing there in a daze, she felt no embarrassment and made no attempt to cover herself; instead, she smiled gently.

"Why are you greeting me like an acquaintance, Your Highness?"

At this time, she was not yet the high and mighty Emperor, but a princess who needed manpower and loyal subordinates before becoming Ernest VII.

So, at that time she didn't have any of the airs of royalty.

Saint Karina was frozen in place, unable to move, staring intently at Ernest VII's perfect, goddess-like body.

Golden strands of hair outlined alluring lines and clung to her snow-white skin. Water droplets dripped from her shapely breasts, and her firm waist and soft, rounded hips formed seductive curves. Even her usual smile looked extra radiant.

A stream slid down her neck, then flowed between the peaks and into the valley below.

"Even though we're both girls, and you have what I have, and everyone has what I have... I still feel shy when you stare at me like that."

As he said this, Ernest VII said with a rare hint of unease, a blush creeping onto his cheeks.

Unlike her initial openness, after a while, Ernest VII found St. Karina's gaze too intense.

Upon hearing Ernest VII's shameful accusations, Saint Karina finally came to her senses and quickly turned her back to him.

"I'm so sorry! I didn't know anyone was here. I thought you were busy tonight, but I didn't expect..."

Santa Karina spoke very quickly, but it sounded more like a vague and incoherent excuse, which made her even more nervous.

Because he had always been a human being and was sexually attracted to women, he had never seen a body as beautiful as Ernest VII before. His face burned like fire, and his heart pounded violently.

Because she was in such a sorry state, she couldn't help but close her eyes. However, the snow-white body that had just been imprinted on her vision was now clearly visible beneath her eyelids.

Is this the difference between reality and the people in picture books?

Recalling the wonderful sensations she had felt while looking at the scene, Saint Karina immediately wanted to cover her head and cry out in despair.

All of this was too stimulating for her.

"There's nothing to apologize for. You're just here to shower, right? Don't turn your back to me, come over here already!"

Ernest VII felt that rather than apologizing, being in the same boat would actually strengthen their revolutionary friendship and ease the awkwardness.

After all, staring at her like that would definitely make her feel a little embarrassed and ashamed.

As for the other people in the mansion, although the bathroom was communal, once they knew that their master, Ernest VII, liked to use it, the other servants would not come, even though they were all of the same sex.

In any case, each room had a shower, and other floors also had public bathhouses similar to large public baths, so no one wanted to disturb Ernest VII's peace and quiet.

"Um... I'm really sorry... I just asked you where the bathhouse was before, I didn't expect you to come at this time."

However, contrary to Ernest VII's wishes, Saint Karina did not go over immediately, but continued to explain earnestly.

She didn't have any such lucky idea; it was just an accident.

Although it's normal for girls to bathe together, she was already exhausted just from having her maid help her get dressed, and she couldn't even imagine looking at other girls' bodies. So, Saint Karina struggled to get her brain working properly due to overheating, and finally managed to squeeze out these words.

"What are you thinking, Miss St. Karina? I didn't mean to blame you. My nervousness just now was just because I wasn't mature enough."

Ernest VII meant no sarcasm whatsoever.

She genuinely believed that she, as the mistress and the boss of the family, was not mature enough.

Seeing the guest awkwardly bent over with his head in his hands, Ernest VII explained with some difficulty:

“As I just said, I still get shy when stared at. But I am a princess of the Lorian Empire, and you are my saintess, as well as the subject and teacher I have chosen to assist me. Therefore, as the owner of this mansion, the person who governs and works here, and the lord of the land where the residents live, I must always maintain the manners and behavior befitting this status.”

"Normally, even if I were accidentally seen by someone of the same sex, especially during my childhood, my heart would pound and I would be so shy that I would almost stop breathing, but I couldn't scream like a naive young girl."

Ernest VII then emphasized that the person who saw his body was a servant of the same sex, as someone who served him.

She didn't want Saint Karina to misunderstand, and the servants were assigned to take care of her because she was still young.

"Ah, oh... I see."

If Saint Karina had been a little calmer, she might have noticed that Ernest VII's flushing sound, which he made while speaking as if nothing was wrong, sounded slightly hurried.

Ernest VII was not as composed as she claimed.

"Um, are you the only one here at the bathhouse? Where are the guards or protectors?"

Saint Karina asked, somewhat puzzled.

“I just asked them to leave. Having them around me all the time would suffocate me. Just take a shower and a bath, and relax.”

"Even so, wasn't this far too unprepared? The election for the throne has already begun, hasn't it?"

In any case, Ernest VII was a strong candidate for the throne.

“I am not unprepared; my sword is right beside me.”

Only after she said that did Saint Karina notice the longsword that Ernest VII often used leaning against the bathtub.

She felt uneasy about what she said, but Saint Karina couldn't muster the courage to ask further.

"Is Miss Ernest VII finished with her work now?"

"How could that be? Because of the intelligence from all sides, there are mountains of things to do every day. But this place is very close to my office and room, so I come here often. The servants, out of concern for me, have gradually stopped coming near here. Perhaps I should have told you sooner."

"I'm so sorry, I'll be more careful next time."

Then another sound of water was heard.

It was the sound of Ernest VII rinsing off before finishing his bath, stepping into the tub, and his body gradually sinking into the water.

"Aren't you coming over?"

"I'll go over after you're done."

He initially thought she was joking when she invited him to bathe together, but her voice sounded quite natural.

St. Karina couldn't think of a reply to Ernest VII, so she could only try her best to answer in a cold voice.

"I understand. Please wait a moment."

The sound of flowing water rose again, and Saint Karina unconsciously looked up at the ceiling, which was gradually being adorned with beautiful decorations.

Although he was lost in thought, the thought of Ernest VII standing behind him in the Emperor's New Clothes made it impossible for him to calm down. The sound of the flowing water also seemed exceptionally loud.

—Wouldn't it be better to apologize and leave immediately?

But since she asked me to wait a moment, it would be too late to leave now. Besides, wouldn't it be impolite?

After all, Ernest VII was also her master, although she was loyal to the Church and the Eternal Goddess, while Ernest VII sought the throne. However, the Lorian Empire was a theocratic state, and their goals were ultimately aligned, which is why they were able to come together and walk on the same path.

"This is really troubling... Sigh."

Just as Saint Karina was struggling with how to escape and began to sigh in self-pity, an unexpected change occurred.

Suddenly, she heard a rushing sound of water behind her, and something was approaching her.

Hold your breath.

Ernest VII’s voice came from behind.

His hot breath was blowing onto Saint Karina's bare neck, making her shrink back uncomfortably and instinctively comply.

Then--

"thump!"

Her body was pulled backward by a force, and she fell into the water.

"Cough cough cough cough."

Water rushed into her mouth and nose, and although she was reminded to hold her breath, she couldn't.

In short, it all happened in an instant. Because the event was so sudden, Saint Karina, who was pulled down and whose heart was pounding, was still in a very bad state.

With her nose tilted back, and due to her posture, Saint Karina, who was floating to the surface of the bathtub with the help of the reaction force as she placed her fair soles and slender toes on the bathtub tiles, coughed violently.

Hey! What are you doing all of a sudden?!

Saint Karina said irritably.

She hadn't changed her clothes, and now her whole body was extremely disheveled, inside and out. The embarrassment she felt when she saw Ernest VII's body earlier had lessened considerably.

"Haha, I'm sorry, Miss Saint Karina. I felt the atmosphere was really awkward, so I couldn't help but joke with you. Besides, I am the host, and it wouldn't be right for you to stay up there and wait for me to finish washing before leaving."

She knew that Saint Karina probably wouldn't go into the water, so she pretended to be waiting for Ernest VII to finish his business. As soon as Ernest VII left, she probably wouldn't step into the water, but would instead flee like a rabbit with its tail between its legs.

"Don't say my deduction is wrong. You know, my intuition is very accurate."

His tone was quite confident. Ernest VII then produced a long white towel from somewhere, seemingly after Saint Karina turned to look at the ceiling.

In this way, while bathing together was still shameful, it was not entirely unacceptable for Saint Karina.

Even wrapped in a bath towel, Ernest VII's beautiful figure still showed curves, especially his long, white legs, which were so stunning they could make one's nose bleed.

Moreover, the elusive feeling, far from causing regret at not being able to see the whole panorama, and contrary to the "it's actually quite good" principle, actually stimulated it. That sense of wanting to see more but not being able to, not being able to see everything, actually made the mind work faster and let the imagination run wild.

"Never mind, after all, you're the one who got seen naked. Sigh, I was just being mean, sorry."

Without intending to take off her clothes, Santa Karina simply soaked them without any regard for their condition.

Although it's a bit unfair to the clothes I bought before, I just asked the maid to wash and dry them after they got wet, and then put them in the closet.

Saint Karina couldn't be completely naked like Ernest VII before, or wrapped in a towel like she is now; this was the only way she could manage.

Aren't you going to take off your clothes?

"No need, the maids are usually very capable. Just soak in the water, then wash and dry it when you get back."

Saint Karina shook her head and refused.

Her competence is not a verb, but an adjective, describing a woman who is very capable and usually does things very well, without needing others to worry about her.

"Okay, although I think you must be very uncomfortable taking a bath like this, I won't force you."

Ernest VII sounded indifferent, but those who knew her well would know that she was actually a little disappointed.

However, Saint Karina's body does not belong to Saint Karina alone; it also belongs to the eternal goddess of the religion. Moreover, forcing things in this way will not only fail to bring intimacy or progress, but will have the opposite effect, pushing people further apart.

Afterwards, taking a bath while still dressed was hardly comfortable. After Ernest VII finished bathing and changed his clothes, St. Karina would change her clothes while he was changing, following the three-second rule: she would put her wet clothes on the floor and put on new, clean clothes without any excess moisture the next second.

After this incident, a mentally exhausted Saint Karina returned to her guest room, tossed her wet clothes to her maid, briefly explained the situation, and then lay down on the bed and fell into a deep sleep, completely ignoring Ernest VII's somewhat resentful expression as he looked at her before leaving.

The painting depicting Ernest VII in his office is probably referring to this famous painting.

171. Night Train

"Your Holiness, what are you daydreaming about?"

She noticed that Saint Karina's eyes were fixed on the woman's strength, and at first she thought it was something a pervert usually did, but after a while she realized something was wrong.

It seemed she was just spacing out.

Because in Leiriella's view, her expression and eyes were very dazed, and Saint Karina had been in the same position for quite a while.

"I'm sorry, I was just thinking about some things from the past."

"I'd be happy to listen to you."

"She was just a woman from the past. It doesn't matter whether we talk about her or not. Hundreds of years have passed. If nothing unexpected happens, she should be dead beyond any doubt."

Saint Karina made a prediction that Ernest VII might rise from the dead, but she herself was unaware of this.

Five hundred years have passed. In terms of the normal lifespan of humans, humans are not immortal. Even if Ernest VII lived to be a hundred, he would not be here by now.

"You can leave in a bit."

"Are you going to send me away, Your Holiness?"

“No… it’s just that we’re not strangers after all, ma’am.”

After a long silence, Leiri fell silent.

However, they were indeed enemies in the past. Even if they took a hot bath together and were completely naked, it didn't mean they could sit down and drink tea or alcohol or sleep naked together.

"What do you think about me?"