That’s Not What Kissing Means! - Chapter 73

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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 73

The Envoy had to hurriedly leave the reception room due to his tight schedule.

This was why he couldn’t refuse Evelyn and Theo until the end.

Before seeing them off, the Envoy spoke in a gentle voice.

“As I mentioned, officially you’re here to experience being clerics. Please follow Sophia well.”

“Yes, understood.”

Evelyn left the Duke’s Mansion together with Theo.

They entered the garden again. After confirming they were away from everyone, she let out a big breath.

At the same time, as if the strength left her legs, she staggered.

If Theo hadn’t quickly caught her, she might have collapsed to the floor.

“You did well, so why are you like this.”

He chuckled softly while supporting Evelyn. After seating her on a bench in the corner, he rubbed her back.

“I thought I’d die from nervousness… I thought my lips would freeze up…”

Evelyn clutched at her chest.

Demanding a certificate was crazy even by her own standards.

However, she couldn’t trust a promise made only verbally.

“Why did you push yourself? When you were so nervous.”

At Theo’s question, she replied with a disgusted expression.

“His smiling made me feel sick.”

“…What?”

Evelyn looked around and whispered her answer.

“That constant smiling seemed like he had some ulterior motive.”

At those words, Theo laughed out loud.

He’d heard endless praise for the Envoy, but this was the first time he’d heard someone badmouth him.

But Evelyn had been wary of the Envoy from the moment she first met him.

She had felt an unpleasant sense of déjà vu.

And only today did she realize the reason.

He had the same expression as the con artist who had once turned Adrianne Territory upside down.

That man had smiled constantly while luring everyone in, then took their business investment money and fled the estate.

After that, her mother had said:

Anyone who smiles constantly for no reason is a con artist.

The Envoy’s angelic face and smooth voice reminded her of him.

That’s why she had pretended to be oblivious and deliberately held onto the Envoy with an innocent expression.

Because it seemed like he would cleverly change his words and back out at any time.

After hearing even the con artist story, Theo laughed even louder.

Theo also knew that she had shown tremendous courage.

“You were amazing. I was impressed by this new side of you.”

Despite the continued praise, Evelyn’s face remained stiffly frozen, as if she hadn’t calmed down.

Then, a cheerful voice was heard from afar.

“Lord Theo, Lady Evelyn!”

Sophia had come looking for them.

Evelyn composed her expression as if nothing had happened and stood up.

“We’re here, Priest Sophia!”

“There you are. We’ll be starting the purification ritual soon, so please prepare.”

Purification ritual…?

What was that supposed to be?

It was a somehow unsettling term.

A Male Priest appeared from behind Sophia.

“Lord Theo, please follow me. You must first bathe to purify your body.”

At the same time, Sophia also led Evelyn.

“I’ll guide you each to your lodging. After putting down your luggage, please come to the bathhouse at the very end of the corridor.”

The quarters she led her to was the Women’s Residence.

On one side, stone pillars created arched passages, while the other wall had rooms for clerics lined up in a row.

Evelyn’s room was simple.

It contained only a monochrome single bed, a small table, and a chair.

“Guest rooms have separate bathrooms prepared. After bathing, please change into the priest robes hanging on the wall.”

“Thank you.”

“The green bathwater is made by adding herbs that symbolize Goddess Yulia. There are scripture passages at the head of the bathtub, so you must not come out until you’ve read them all.”

“Then is the purification ritual finished?”

“The first ritual will be finished. And no meals are provided on the first day. This is to completely empty the body.”

The first…?

So there were more rituals remaining?

Fatigue was already washing over her.

And they wanted her to starve on the first day!

That was an even bigger shock.

Evelyn wanted to cry while holding her empty stomach.

* * *

After bathing, Evelyn had to change into the priest robes given to her.

The white priest robes were loose-fitting overall. The Holy Kingdom’s emblem was embroidered in gold thread from the shoulders to the chest.

The scripture content was quite long, longer than expected. She was learning for the first time that Goddess Yulia was so talkative.

Every time she walked, the scent of herbs wafted from her body.

The bitter fragrance was so strong that it seemed like it would remain until the next day.

So Theo had undergone the same ritual too?

Thinking that far made her laugh.

Then, Sophia knocked on her door.

“Lady Evelyn, may I come in?”

As soon as Sophia entered, she adjusted Evelyn’s attire.

“Lord Theo has also finished the first ritual. Now it’s time for the next purification ritual.”

“How many more rituals are left?”

“This is the last one. You two will go to the Prayer Hall. You just need to confess and reflect on the sins you’ve committed before the Statue of Yulia.”

She had to hold back a sigh of relief that was about to escape at the word “last.”

Leaving the quarters, other buildings came into view.

“That’s where the clerics live communally. Meals are served there, and worship and prayers are held next to it.”

The Chapel had the most magnificent scale in the entire Temple.

At the very back was a giant Statue of Yulia, in front of it was an ornate platform for sermons, and most of the space was occupied by long benches for worship.

“Please go to the front seats.”

As she approached the front, Goddess Julia’s overwhelming presence filled her vision.

When she finally reached the seat closest to the platform, she was able to face Theo.

Having already finished bathing, he had been waiting for Evelyn.

The reverent priest robes suited Theo’s ascetic face very well.

He blended in naturally as if he had been born and raised in this place.

After seating them both in one place, Sophia spoke in a solemn voice.

“We will now withdraw. Please clasp your hands together, close your eyes, and confess your past wrongdoings.”

As Evelyn and Theo followed his instructions, Sophia left the spacious Chapel with a pleased expression.

As soon as the sound of the door closing was heard, a low bass voice tickled her ear.

“You smell like grass.”

“Theo is the same.”

A strong herbal scent spread from each other.

“Let’s be quiet now.”

Evelyn continued speaking with her eyes still closed.

If we’re going to do this, we might as well do it properly.

She began to recall her sins from the moments she could remember.

The day she secretly bought candy from Mr. Wilson’s shop behind her mother’s back, the day she gave salt instead of sugar to a friend who was teasing her, making them drink salty tea, and…

“…”

“…”

How many minutes had passed? She couldn’t think of any more wrongdoings she had committed.

‘I think I’ve lived a pretty good life?’

Who knew staying still in the same position could be this boring…

Maybe if she studied ancient languages, but this was such tedious time.

How long do we have to keep doing this?

Is Theo doing well?

Evelyn quietly opened her eyes.

The moment she looked to the side with narrowed eyes, she immediately met violet pupils.

“What!”

As startled Evelyn cried out, the sound of someone loudly knocking on the chapel door was heard.

The priests were guarding the front of the door.

She quickly lowered her voice and whispered.

“You were watching me the whole time? How long have you had your eyes open…!”

“From the beginning.”

At his nonchalant tone, Evelyn let out a hollow laugh as if dumbfounded.

“I told you to confess your sins.”

“But I haven’t committed any sins?”

Along with his shameless answer, Theo shrugged his shoulders.

“Unlike you, I’m a flawless person.”

“What’s that supposed to mean about me?”

“You closed your eyes and started reflecting from the beginning.”

“That was unavoidable for the purification ritual.”

“Right, because you have sins to confess. But I have nothing to report to God from the start.”

…I’d rather not say anything.

Evelyn shook her head back and forth.

Theo looked at her and laughed quietly.

“There’s something interesting written on the altar.”

“You were reading something else in the meantime?”

“I wanted to know the purpose of the service.”

He wore a smile.

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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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