I Thought It Was the Monster Duke's Fake Sedative - Chapter 65

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Chapter 65
Soon enough, grumbling filled the vast Experimental Facility.
“If they’re going to conduct experiments this loudly, why haven’t they managed to produce artificial Holy Power yet?”
“Look at how many Test Subjects went into that experiment. If we’d been given a share, we’d have proper results by now.”
“Speaking of Holy Power, did you hear?”
“Hear what?”
The one who’d raised the topic suddenly lowered his voice.
“About the new True Mate causing an uproar outside right now.”
“The one who appeared at the Duke’s wedding?”
“That’s the one. I caught wind of it—there’s a rumor going around that she was supposed to be a Test Subject here originally.”
Bang!
This time it was a different sort of loud noise, distinct from the explosions.
It was the sound of the outer entrance door to the secret facility swinging wide open—not from the chamber they’d been watching.
“……!”
The researchers startled briefly, turning to look at the door.
And the moment they caught sight of the Holy Knight Commander striding in, they hastily averted their eyes.
Everyone feigned concentration on their work while still stealing glances in the direction he walked, unable to help themselves.
It was always one of two things when he came.
Either someone was being commended, or someone was being taken away for a mistake.
‘What is this about?’
‘Who is it this time?’
Since either possibility mattered greatly, the furtive glances continued without pause.
The Commander paid them no mind, walking straight to the end of the corridor and pushing open a door without hesitation.
He waved away the smoke pouring from the doorway, then frowned at the sight within.
“…….”
Bone fragments of those who had once possessed Holy Power were scattered everywhere after a recent explosion, reduced to fine dust.
As if peace could never be granted to them.
“Where did I go wrong? How intriguing. This combination doesn’t seem right. The other combinations….”
The man responsible for this devastation stood with his back to the Commander, muttering continuously to himself.
“I’m almost there… but it’s still not quite enough. If I could only get a reaction from a living specimen….”
“Doctor Gemini.”
“Why aren’t children with Holy Power being born? It might be connected to the disappearance of Sacred Marks. Or perhaps they’re simply not manifesting? No, wait—I need to find that village… surely the clue I saw there was the Well….”
“Doctor.”
“The Well, that’s it—”
“Doctor Gemini!”
Whip.
Only then did the man turn around.
Despite the disaster he’d created, his handsome face wore a bewildered expression.
“What is it? I’m in the middle of something important.”
“His Holiness the Pope wishes to see you.”
“Mm?”
Gemini, whose pale blue hair was tied up haphazardly, scratched his head and tilted it in confusion.
“I mean, I am producing the finest results in this facility, but it seems too early to be receiving commendation.”
“…….”
“As for punishment… surely His Holiness wouldn’t punish me just because I made a bit of a mess like this….”
“Come along, please.”
At the Commander’s cold words, Gemini flinched slightly before nodding obediently.
The other researchers who watched Gemini leave with the Holy Knight Commander suppressed their smirks.
They were certain he was being taken away for punishment.
‘There’s no way he’s getting another commendation—this time it’s definitely punishment.’
‘He’s grown too reckless relying on favoritism. This is what he deserves.’
‘Finally, our chance to conduct research….’
Gemini paid no attention to those stares.
‘What on earth is this?’
No matter how he thought about it, it seemed to be neither commendation nor punishment.
Something smelled odd about it.
The scent of something new.
Gemini climbed the stairs of the laboratory behind the Holy Knight Commander and stepped into the vast Vatican on the ground level above.
At the end of his footsteps lay the Pope’s Office—the grandest and most ornate chamber in the entire Vatican.
“Your Holiness. I’ve brought the Doctor.”
“Come in, Gemini.”
The Holy Knight Commander closed the door and left.
Soon Gemini’s gaze fell upon a woman sitting primly beside the Pope.
‘The Holy Maiden Sepina?’
The Pope and Gemini’s masterwork.
Sepina was beautiful and pure beyond compare, no matter how many times one looked upon her.
It seemed the Pope wasn’t the only one who needed something from him—Sepina did as well.
‘What could this be about?’
Gemini, belonging to the rare few who knew that she possessed almost no Holy Power, tilted his head in confusion.
‘There shouldn’t be any reason for him to call me for some time.’
Back when he’d used the Holy Power Extraction Tool he created to draw Holy Power from Test Subjects, it would have been natural for Sepina to summon him.
It was Gemini’s duty to check every few months whether the Holy Power was transferring properly and whether Sepina’s health was sound.
In truth, he’d been far more interested in whether his own experiment was progressing well than in Sepina’s health, so he’d checked meticulously.
But the Test Subject in question had fled quite some time ago.
As a result, not only had he but his other researchers as well thrown themselves into studying the creation of artificial Holy Power, exhausting themselves in the process.
More time was still needed before results could be reported.
It also meant he hadn’t seen Sepina in quite a while.
“Your Holiness, if this is about the Holy Power Transplantation research….”
Gemini began, his expression puzzled.
“Of course that’s important too, but that’s not why I called you here today.”
The Pope spoke, his face deliberately grave.
Then his gaze shifted slowly toward Sepina.
Receiving his look, Sepina opened her mouth in a voice like singing.
“Doctor Gemini, the thing is….”
…….
“I saw something when I went to Teseron.”
At her words, Gemini’s eyes widened.
* * *
“My lady, are you all right?”
“Mm….”
Luciana, who had been lying in the spacious bed, let out a groan as she pushed herself up.
She was aware she’d slept late, but her attendants were too busy fretting over her to scold her.
“Heavens. I do hope you haven’t caught a cold.”
“You’ve been struggling with fever every morning like this. I should really brew more medicinal tea and bring it up….”
As Luciana listened to her attendants’ worries, her ears gradually turned red.
She understood far too well the reason for her body’s condition.
A few days ago.
After they’d rubbed and sucked on each other at length, and Luciana had fainted once again, bringing the first night to its end.
When she’d opened her eyes in the pre-dawn heat that crept upon her….
“…Luciana, hah, Luciana….”
Edward was calling her name as he comforted himself.
Her reclining body held between his thighs.
Though he held himself above, careful not to crush her completely beneath him.
Watching Luciana, who had flushed involuntarily and gone rigid, Edward opened his mouth with an intent gaze.
“Just lie there.”
“Duke….”
“You said it was difficult.”
…….
“Stay still.”
Luciana, flushed crimson, watched and watched again as Edward pleasured himself before her.
Edward’s body, caught in the pale dawn light, glistened with sweat, tinged faintly blue.
No matter how many times she looked, it was muscular, beautiful, and utterly sensual.
Even after Edward bit his lip and spilled his seed, and carefully wiped clean what had scattered upon Luciana’s body, he kept her from moving.
It seemed he was determined not to let things escalate if she so much as stirred to help him.
“Duke, that….”
“If you want to help me, exercise instead.”
…….
“Do it.”
“Yes….”
That was all he did—repeat it that way and urge her to build up her strength.
Edward didn’t let go until he’d cooled down enough to feel even a semblance of satisfaction, holding Luciana close as he drifted into sleep.
Luciana lay awake through the night in a daze, finally managing to fall asleep just before dawn broke.
This had been repeating itself for days now.
As a result, whenever she woke in the morning and saw Edward, the warmth she’d felt remained in her body, heating her through the day.
With barely any sleep, she had no choice but to languish in this state.
‘…I can hardly discuss this with the maids, though.’
Of course, they wouldn’t be entirely clueless either.
The story of Edward sweeping Luciana into his arms the moment the wedding ended and rushing off to consummate the marriage had spread throughout the Duchy until not a soul remained ignorant of it.
Whenever she walked through the training grounds or strolled the gardens, it was hardly rare to catch the servants sending her knowing glances.
As if the rumor had just crossed her mind, one of the maids nudged Luciana’s side with deliberate subtlety.
She was one of the servants who’d grown familiar with Sepina.
“My lady. If you should… have need of such things, our family has passed down a most excellent vitality tonic….”
Cough, cough!
At those words, Luciana broke into a fit of coughing.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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