That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 69

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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That’s not what kissing means!

Episode 69

At the Temple, the center of the Holy Kingdom, there was a personal space prepared for the Grand Cleric.

One small building belonged to him, a sacred space that none dared even look upon except those who had received permission.

Successive Grand Clerics had lived here, continuing their religious lives.

Uniquely, in the middle of the building was a central courtyard made of glass.

Officially it was called the Glass Greenhouse, but those who knew its existence deeply regarded it as the heart of the Temple.

The Grand Cleric only permitted access to this space to those who understood his cause.

The dome-shaped greenhouse’s ceiling was transparent, and sunlight passed through it, casting a mystical glow.

The Grand Cleric slowly entered the greenhouse.

On the floor, holy water flowed gently along waterways.

At first glance, it seemed like a peaceful sanctuary.

He walked among his greenhouse spaces. Unknown plants were positioned throughout.

Then, he stopped while looking at one flower garden.

White flowers resembling roses had red traces sprouting here and there.

The red energy staining from below looked almost like human blood vessels.

“You’re not in a good mood today.”

The Grand Cleric said while looking at the flowers.

“I had a nightmare after a long time. A dream of my Mentor from long ago.”

He gritted his teeth at the rising unpleasantness again.

“Human memory is truly mysterious.”

Then he gently caressed the soil of the flower garden with his fingers.

“Even though I’ve enjoyed glory for so long…”

Soon the pile of dirt began to crumble in his fist.

“This disgusting filth won’t be erased from my mind.”

The Grand Cleric then recalled when he first met his Mentor.

The day his entire life was turned upside down.

Though over a hundred years had passed, the memories from that time were still vivid.

Born and raised in the slums without knowing his parents, he had to put anything and everything into his mouth to avoid starving to death.

So he could know.

What rotting soil tasted like, how a small neglected illness could gnaw away at the body.

His Mentor, who was the Grand Cleric at the time, recognized the child’s holy power at a glance.

‘Come with me. From now on, your name is Lucannus.’

He gave a name to someone who had nothing but the survival instinct to live.

He taught him etiquette and learning, creating him into a proper human being.

The Grand Cleric was everything to Lucannus.

He was like an omnipotent and merciful god.

Even as time passed, his youth remained, and his holy power shone brilliantly.

Lucannus believed that the beauty before his eyes would be eternal.

Foolishly.

His blind faith was shattered after he became an adult.

‘I can no longer hear the Goddess’s words.’

The Grand Cleric smiled bitterly.

‘My prayers do not reach Her.’

Lucannus asked.

‘What is the reason? Are you not God’s representative?’

The answer that came back shocked him.

‘There is no eternal position. The Goddess always prepares for what comes next.’

Then he said to Lucannus.

‘Perhaps next will be your turn.’

‘…’

‘You possess holy power superior to past Grand Clerics. You will be Her servant for a long time.’

‘A long time…? How long is that?’

Even to his desperate question, his Mentor did not give an answer.

The nightmare always started from this moment.

Last night, Lucannus once again grabbed his weary Mentor and kept asking questions.

“When is that supposed to be!”

Even knowing it was a dream, he asked to the point of exhaustion, and eventually grabbed his shoulders and shook them.

“Does that mean I too will someday grow old, fall ill, and die?”

Finally, he buried his face in his hands.

The power and youth he had enjoyed, the glory and vitality… it had all been borrowed from God.

The moment its usefulness ended, it would all crumble.

Lucannus, who had closed his eyes, felt the surroundings become quiet.

He couldn’t even hear his Mentor’s breathing.

He felt chilled and goosebumps rose on his back.

He slowly removed his hands from his face. Then he began to lift his head.

“…!”

A white-haired skull was greeting him.

It was the end of his Mentor who had lost his holy power.

Then, bone joints without a single piece of flesh came toward him.

Creaking finger bones tightly gripped his neck.

“Do you think you can escape death!”

Because his airway was compressed, he couldn’t even breathe properly.

His whole body grew cold and his vision began to blur.

“Gasp!”

That’s how he woke from the dream.

It was truly a nightmare after a long time.

“If you were going to take it away… you shouldn’t have given it in the first place.”

He shouldn’t have taken him in that day.

He should have left him to starve to death in that dirty, empty alley.

Isn’t it too cruel to lose everything in an instant after enjoying so much?

Why does God give His servant such a great sense of loss?

The Grand Cleric looked once more at his flowers spread wide before him.

“I don’t like the fact that you hold my life in your hands.”

With slow movements, he drew a dagger from within his robes.

Rolling up the sleeves of his white clerical vestments revealed smooth skin.

After drawing the dagger from its sheath, he slashed deeply across his own arm without hesitation.

The sharp blade immediately pierced into the tender flesh.

Droplets of blood formed, then began flowing down like a stream of rain.

As he extended his wounded arm toward the flower garden, the white flowers eagerly lapped it up.

The red traces, like blood vessels, spread even wider.

The Grand Cleric offered himself to them for quite some time.

These were flowers he had tamed with his blood since birth.

Throughout their short lives, they would depend on him and serve him as their master.

“Are you outside?”

When the Grand Cleric called for someone, a dry-faced cleric entered.

“The flowers will be ready soon. Prepare them in a week.”

“I’ll make them into tea as before.”

The Grand Cleric nodded with satisfaction.

Before long, the wound on his arm had completely disappeared.

* * *

These days, Evelyn found it difficult to face Theo.

Though most work was handled at the manor, even that was done alongside retainers or advisors.

Since they had to tackle all their upcoming tasks at once, she was spending incredibly busy days without a moment to breathe.

It wasn’t as if Evelyn was idle either.

Theo had actively encouraged her training with Vanessa.

During the day she learned self-defense with Vanessa, and in the evenings she had to transcribe the contents of forbidden books into her notebook.

Fortunately, Yulia’s Stone remained quiet without interfering with them.

‘At least the child is well-behaved, thank goodness.’

Evelyn, who had been thinking this, shook her head vigorously.

What on earth am I thinking!

Do I have some kind of crazy disease? And I caught it from there?

Evelyn, who had been screaming silently, looked around her surroundings.

This was the Dowager Duchess’s Drawing Room.

Knowing that Evelyn loved nature, Theo had readily offered her the room closest to the garden.

‘It’s a place no one uses anyway. If even one person stays here, Mother would be happy too.’

Even while immersed in work, seeing the flower garden spread before her eyes naturally cleared her mind.

She could understand why the Duchess had loved this place so much.

According to Robert, she was someone who loved embroidery and reading, and treasured time spent with family.

Perhaps because of this, the Duchess’s handiwork hung throughout the walls.

Perhaps it was because of the works that warmed one’s heart just by looking at them, but she felt a pleasant comfort whenever she came to the drawing room.

Unlike today’s studies, that is.

“Let’s see, today’s material to memorize is…”

Evelyn muttered and practiced the vital points that Vanessa had taught her.

Just then, Robert came with sweet refreshments.

Seeing Evelyn absorbed in her studies, he quietly approached.

‘She’s deeply concentrated. I mustn’t disturb her.’

He set the tray down on the side table and whispered quietly.

“I’ve brought some warm tea.”

Then a small but clear voice could be heard.

“The moment they open their mouth, the tongue…”

The terrible content pierced Robert’s ears.

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