Chapter 85

“Dear Father, may the prince use your bath?” Bill asked respectfully.

“Of course,” the priest smiled, “I’ve told you,
anytime.”

“Thank you, dear Father. You’re truly kind. May God bless you.”

Bill had become one of the priest’s most devout followers. After receiving
his blessing, he left satisfied and went downstairs to report to the prince,
“The priest is as generous as ever, welcoming you to use his bath
anytime.”

The prince sat by the window, hands resting on his cane, feeling somewhat
nervous. However, he didn’t let his attendants see it. “Then, go up and
get ready now.”

“Very well, Your Highness.”

The prince let out a gentle sigh. The scent of plants wafted in, and he
looked out at the tall oak tree with a somewhat solemn expression.

“Yarlin, I feel my body growing weaker by the day, my mind less clear.
My eyes are starting to blur, and sometimes I can’t tell whether it’s day or
night. Every moment in front of me feels like a sunset. I see the end of my
fate, but I can’t see the future of Leipzig.”

Yarlin held his unusual son’s hand. “I can no longer make any accurate
judgments. I am a failed king, and Lecy is declining under my rule. Randes, I
know you’re different. I’ve known since you were twelve that you are brave and
fearless, a good and honest child. Oh, Randes…” Yarlin shed tears,
kissing his son’s hand, helpless like a child. “I wish time could turn
back. If I could go back, I would never have overlooked you because of your
disability, and never let you suffer such great harm. Forgive me, I am an
incompetent king.”

“And forgive your brother too. Everyone makes mistakes in life; the
difference lies in whether they are forgiven. Randes, I want you to promise me
to become the ruler of Lecy and not harm any of your brothers.”

Randes didn’t react, but the king began to cry. Not only that, he held onto Randes’s
hand tightly, begging him incessantly to promise. The noise outside was
irritating, and Randes wanted to leave the palace as soon as possible. Finally,
he nodded.

The king was overjoyed, but Randes was inwardly disdainful. Not all promises
had to be kept. He wasn’t as stubborn as Brune.

“Your Highness,” Bill came down, “everything is ready.”

Randes picked up his cane. After spending so many days in the infirmary, he
hadn’t properly bathed. He needed to cleanse his body thoroughly.

The stairs creaked underfoot as they ascended. The prince’s steps were
cautious and measured.

Colby’s experience greatly changed the prince’s attitude towards the priest.
The years of sharing joys and sorrows, along with the genuine exchanges they
had, had greatly improved their relationship. Of course, the most important
thing was that it helped the prince recognize his own feelings.

Falling in love at first sight wasn’t a big deal. On the Auston Continent,
tens of thousands of men fell in love at first sight every day, as did tens of
thousands of women. Even animals, like a bull in the heat for a cow, were a
common occurrence. Of course, the prince didn’t liken himself to an animal; he
was just comforting himself. It was a common occurrence, and he didn’t need to
be overly concerned or surprised. Who knows, he might experience hundreds or
thousands of loves at first sight in his lifetime.

The priest’s room was on the third floor, even higher. The scent of plants
was stronger there, guiding the prince like a beacon. The higher he went, the
lighter his steps became, and the creaking of the stairs made his heart race.
He was really nervous, to put it crudely, his heart felt like it was about to
jump out of his chest.

It was two o’clock in the afternoon, and the weather was still hot. The
priest was impeccably dressed, standing in the middle of the room, seemingly
waiting for the prince’s arrival.

“Your Highness.”

The priest greeted the prince politely and amiably.

The prince returned the courtesy. “Father, thank you for your
generosity.”

“It’s what I should do.”

Both men were polite and respectful, to an extreme degree.

The prince felt a little awkward, but fortunately, because the priest was
blind, he could freely observe the priest with his gaze.

The priest looked very good, with fair skin and shiny hair.

“Has the priest bathed?”

“Yes, while you were at the palace.”

“Very good.”

The prince moved his nose, attempting to catch a whiff of the priest’s
post-bath fragrance from a few feet away, but he failed.

“The bath is all ready, Mr. Wood is indeed a thoughtful servant.”

Randes nodded, remembering that the priest couldn’t see, he responded,
“Okay.”

The atmosphere seemed somewhat awkward. The prince turned towards the
bathroom, and from the slow “tap-tap” of the cane, the priest sensed
the prince’s cautiousness and couldn’t help but smile.

Actually, the prince was very intelligent and practical. The priest was
quite satisfied with the prince’s kneeling in front of Colby in public.

It showed that the prince had realized who had the upper hand between them.

While the power of religion may have declined, unlike the monarchy, the
people actually didn’t care much about the life or death of the monarchy. But
for the church, as long as there was a spark, that power would immediately
resurge throughout the continent.

Compared to a mere member of the royal family, an ambitious and strategic
clergyman could easily overthrow a country.

“Father.”

The prince’s voice came from the bathroom, and the priest turned towards it.
“Your Highness?”

“I have two matters I’d like to discuss with you.”

“Please, go ahead.”

The prince was soaking naked in the warm water, his hands resting on the
edge of the bathtub, eyebrows slightly furrowed. “The king’s body won’t
last much longer.”

“Oh, that sounds unfortunate.”

“Perhaps,” the prince muttered softly because the priest’s tone
was too calm, almost indifferent. The prince didn’t actually feel too sad about
his father’s serious illness. He continued, “The throne will be
mine.”

“That sounds like a good thing.”

The priest’s tone remained calm. The prince turned his face away, raising
his voice slightly, “I accept your baptism and coronation, Father.”

“At your coronation ceremony?”

The prince fell silent for a few seconds, his eyes shooting a sharp gaze
towards the door. “Father, are you perhaps joking with me?”

Before the Auston Continent split, the dominance of religion was already
crumbling. Elo III directly rejected the pope’s coronation at the coronation
ceremony and instead crowned himself, marking the decline of the church’s power
throughout the continent.

Afterward, Austen was torn apart by wars, and the split countries had
different beliefs. But even the countries that revered the church still
followed the traditions of the Auston Empire, where the king either crowned
himself or was crowned by the previous king. There was no longer a pope on the
continent, and the power of religion no longer exceeded that of the king.

“Of course not.”

The priest’s figure appeared at the door of the bathroom, half of his face
hidden outside the door, while one serene eye was fixed accurately on the
prince in the water. “I want to baptize you and then crown you.”

Though the priest was blind, the prince still felt a bit uneasy. He lowered
himself slightly, and the sound of the water ripples reached the priest’s ears.
The priest raised the corner of his lips, reminding him, “Your Highness, I
can’t see anything. You don’t need to feel embarrassed.”

“Thank you for your consideration,” the prince gritted his teeth
slightly.

“Your Highness, I think we should come to an agreement. To revive the
power of religion across the continent, Lecy should set an example first. This
is important for Lecy to become the center of religious power on the entire
continent. Only then can you truly gain the assistance of this power, don’t you
agree?”

“The clergy are indeed eloquent.”

“Thank you for your recognition,” the priest said, “So, do
you agree to let me baptize and crown you?”

It’s indeed difficult to overturn centuries-old beliefs in an instant, but Randes
was never someone bound by old things. From the moment he chose to pledge his
loyalty to the priest, he was prepared for what he would do in the future. It
was a rational choice, not a sign of failure.

“Yes.”

The prince’s tone was calm, devoid of instinctual sarcasm. The prince’s
gorgeous and deep voice was truly wonderful.

The priest considered whether to give the prince a little bit of sweetness,
but also to find some new pleasure for himself. The prince continued,
“There’s a second matter I’d like to seek your help with.”

“Please, go ahead.”

“The palace is hosting a ball next week, as you should know, and for
those idle nobles, attending such events is crucial. I must go, but
unfortunately, I’ve never learned to dance.”

“Dance?”

The priest’s beautiful face twisted slightly. “That’s nothing
difficult.”

The prince emerged from the bathtub, the gushing sound of water catching the
priest’s ear.

“You truly are a jack-of-all-trades, Father,” the prince grabbed a
clean towel and began drying himself, “Perhaps you could teach me?”

“Oh, I think it might be more appropriate for the court’s dance
instructor to teach you.”

“I dislike the way those people hide their fear and disgust behind
their obsequious attitude in my presence.”

After dressing neatly, the prince approached the priest.

The scent of the priest’s cleaned body, with perhaps a hint of the special
scent that the priest liked, permeated the air.

The prince grabbed the priest’s left hand, and the priest didn’t resist,
allowing the prince’s hand to cover his face.

Even after bathing, the sensation of the old scar was still vivid. The
priest murmured softly, “God bless you.”

“My mother died of shame due to my congenital disability, and my father
has too many children. Unfortunately, I am the one he doesn’t like much.
Father, your favor surprises me, your condemnation of my arrogance has made me
change my attitude towards you. I believe you will sincerely help me, won’t
you?”

The esteemed prince had learned another set of skills, but the priest indeed
found it more useful. To make such a proud person subtly beg for his favor, it
was both interesting and satisfying for the priest. The priest smiled slightly.
“As you wish.”

“It’s too hot now. I’ll come up to find you when the sun goes down. How
does that sound?”

“That sounds good.”

The two made an appointment to dance together at night. The prince released
the priest’s hand from his face, exerted a bit of force on his arm, and
completed a one-sided hug with the priest.

“Thank you,” the prince lightly sniffed the scent on the priest,
“I look forward to seeing you tonight.”

*

During dinner, Bunier noticed that the prince often looked their way,
obviously looking at the priest. Bunier reminded the priest, “The prince
seems to be looking at you.”

“Is that so?”

The priest had actually already felt the prince’s gaze.

It was scorching.

The prince was very bold, and it was also thanks to the fact that they were
in the Holy See. The doctrine harshly condemned emotions between people of the
same sex, considering homosexuality as sinful and incestuous behavior.
Therefore, the pure monks would never think in that direction.

“He probably wants to confess to me.”

Bunier was pleased. “The prince is truly devout.”

Let it be, thought the priest. If Bunier knew that the prince had once
desperately wanted to have a relationship with him, he would probably rush to
condemn the prince to hell.

After dinner, the priest returned to his room. Instead of praying as usual,
he opened the window to let the breeze into his room. The door was also open,
allowing the air to flow freely, causing the hem of his monk’s robe to flutter
back and forth.

Soon after, the priest heard familiar footsteps and the sound of a cane
tapping on the steps.

The priest didn’t turn around but kept his face towards the breeze outside
the window.

After the prince entered, he didn’t speak but gently leaned his cane against
the wall. Without the help of the cane, the prince’s walking became slower, and
the depth of his footsteps could be distinguished from his ears.

The prince stopped behind the priest. “Father, I’m here.”

The priest turned slightly, his golden hair fluttering slightly. “Let’s
begin.”

“May I ask how you learned to dance?” the prince stepped back a
bit.

The priest said, “I didn’t.”

“What?”

“I don’t know how to dance.”

“…”

Randes’s face stiffened. “You don’t know how to dance?!”

The priest remained calm. “What gave you the impression that a blind
man would know how to dance?”

“But you said it wasn’t difficult!”

“Learning to dance is probably easier than learning to write, don’t you
think?”

Randes felt like he had been played again. What was infuriating was that he
had brought it up himself! And he even used his “pitiful” background
as leverage to persuade the priest to agree!

“Don’t rush, Your Highness,” the priest stood up straight,
gracefully extending his arms, “I think I know what to do.”

The prince looked at the priest.

The priest gestured inward with his fingers. “Come on, Your Highness,
don’t tell me you only wanted me to teach you to dance, or that you dislike the
strange looks of those people at court. I believe you don’t feel inferior
because of it. Instead, you probably feel proud of intimidating those
self-righteous individuals with your appearance, am I right, Your
Highness?”

Randes was once again speechless. He should have realized it earlier; the
priest understood him better than anyone else in the world. It was because the
priest didn’t see him with his eyes, but with something else, he couldn’t
explain… A mixture of embarrassment and excitement overwhelmed him. The
prince took a step forward, coming close to the priest. “Since you’ve
figured it out, why did you agree to tonight’s invitation?”

The priest smiled. “Since you’ve publicly pledged your loyalty, I
believe it’s necessary to reward you.”

“Reward?” The prince’s deep brown eyes flashed with a hint of
fierceness. He wasn’t satisfied with that term. “It seems you know exactly
what I’m up to, Father.”

Before the priest could reply, the prince took another step forward and
firmly embraced the priest around the waist.

The priest placed his arms on the prince’s shoulders and whispered softly,
“I think you probably want to dance a gentleman’s dance with me.”

The prince’s grasp was strong, holding the waist under the monk’s robe
tightly in his arms. He turned his face, lightly touching the priest’s soft
golden hair with his nose, sniffing the special fragrance on the priest’s body
that could only come from long-term contact with holy water.
“Unfortunately, I don’t know how to dance either.”

“It’s okay. Dancing isn’t difficult,” the priest’s right arm slid
down the prince’s shoulder, reaching the prince’s hand and clasping his waist,
“First, the posture must be correct.”

“Hold my hand.”

As if enchanted, the prince loosened his grip on the priest’s waist and
slowly moved his fingers, finally grasping the priest’s hand as instructed.

The priest’s hand was soft and delicate, while the prince’s hand was rough
and calloused. When they held hands, it was difficult to tell which one was the
true noble.

The priest leaned back slightly. “Don’t hold on so tight, Your
Highness. You’re supposed to dance with me, not kidnap me.”

“Who says I’m not?” the prince said as he loosened the arm around
the priest’s waist.

The priest chuckled. “Unfortunately, you can’t.”

“Oh, really?”

Outside the window, the oak trees were lush green, and the silver moonlight
mixed with the greenery scattered onto the windowsill. The prince looked down
at the priest in his arms. His heart was beating so fast as if he were falling
ill again.

The prince’s breath sprayed onto the priest’s face.

Once again, the priest leaned back, his golden hair hanging down,
intermingled with the shadow on the windowsill.

The prince slowly lowered his face.

The priest remained still.

As the lips were about to meet, the prince stopped. He whispered softly,
“Father, you should know that I’m very close to you now, right?”

Close enough that his lips could almost touch the priest’s when he spoke.

The warm touch was fleeting, like the wind brushing over petals, maddeningly
brief. The prince swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the priest’s bewildered yet
beautiful green eyes.

“I was just about to ask you to be careful.”

The priest remained calm, and as he spoke, his thin lips also briefly
touched the prince’s.

The prince clenched his teeth, his Adam’s apple rolling deeply. He couldn’t
afford to make a fool of himself, at least not the same fool as before. The
prince slowly tilted his head back, and the priest gradually straightened up.
At that moment, the prince suddenly exerted force with the hand on the priest’s
waist—

The prince’s lips were as hot as he remembered, and the kiss was still as
savage as ever. He kissed the priest’s lips, sucked his tongue, and held his
waist, like a bandit plundering everything. The wooden floor creaked under
their disordered steps.

Downstairs, Bill was tidying up the room, muttering to himself, “The
Father really can dance.”

The priest was kissed so passionately by the prince that his nostrils
tightened. He was pushed against the wall by the prince, and his lips became
extremely wet and moist from the overly intense kiss, making the sound of the
kiss even louder. But this couldn’t overshadow the sound of the prince’s
heartbeat. He rubbed the priest’s body through the monk’s robe, muttering
incomprehensible requests to the priest amidst the passionate kiss.

“No…”

The priest also hesitantly refused, even though his lips were swollen from
the kisses, and his tongue was wet from being licked. His arms remained on the
prince’s arms throughout, clutching the prince’s shirt.

The prince kissed from the priest’s lips to his cheeks, leaving wet and hot
kisses one after another on the priest’s face. “For God’s sake, you know,
you know I’m almost being driven crazy by you…”

The priest gently curved his lips, feeling a strange fire igniting inside
him. Under the prince’s powerful and intense assault, the flames surged through
his limbs, making his spine tingle.

The prince’s palm vigorously lifted the priest’s monk’s robe.

The priest’s face slowly leaned towards the prince’s shoulder. Sensing this
subtle acceptance, the prince hesitated for a moment before suddenly lifting
the priest up with both arms!

The priest’s palm caressed the prince’s face, whispering softly, “To
the bed.”