Chapter 564: No More Than A Puppet (II)
Edmund looked at her in confusion before slowly taking the flowers back from her hands.
"Will I be punished if the Cardinal finds out about this?" he asked.
The Saintess gently shook her head. "Nothing will happen to you."
Edmund wanted to ask more, but the Saintess had already walked past him because it was time for her to head to the confession room.
[I thought the Saintess had more authority than the Cardinal,] Edmund thought. [I guess I was wrong.]
He let out a soft sigh before following a few steps behind her, just as he always did.
As they passed the open windows, he quietly tossed the flowers outside. Watching them disappear, Primrose couldn’t help feeling a dull ache in her heart.
Even though this was only a memory from the past, she could clearly feel that the Saintess truly loved the flowers Edmund had brought her.
After all, she often stood on the small balcony outside her room for long moments, silently gazing at the colorful flowers blooming in the garden below. It was one of the few things that brought a little life into her quiet, lonely days.
Perhaps Edmund had noticed that and perhaps that was why he had started bringing flowers to her.
He didn’t do that because she had asked for them, but because he wanted to give her a small piece of the world she could never reach.
===
The temple maiden greeted the Saintess with a respectful bow as soon as Primrose arrived outside the confession room.
"Your Holiness, you won’t need to use the public confession room today," she said gently. "The Grand Duke of Vior has arrived and requested a private confession with you."
The Saintess’s body suddenly went rigid. It lasted for only a second, but Primrose clearly felt her body stiffen before she forced herself to relax again. The Saintess quietly swallowed the lump in her throat and gave a calm nod.
"I understand," she said softly. "Please ask him to wait for me in the private confession room."
The temple maiden bowed once more. "As you wish, Your Holiness."
Primrose frowned. What was that?
A strange feeling suddenly settled deep inside her chest, so heavy that it almost made it hard to breathe.
It wasn’t her own emotion, but it belonged to the Saintess.
It felt as though every part of her body wanted to turn around and run as far away as possible. But no matter how strong that urge was, she couldn’t.
The Saintess walked forward in silence until they finally reached the private confession room.
As she reached for the doorknob, her hand trembled ever so slightly.
Edmund noticed it immediately. "Your Holiness," he asked with concern, "are you feeling unwell?"
The Saintess quickly shook her head. "I’m fine." She turned to him with a faint smile. "You have to wait outside. But don’t wander too far from here."
Edmund nodded. "Of course, Your Holiness."
[She looks pale,] Edmund thought. [Is she really alright? Should I call the physician just in case something is wrong with her?]
"Just... stay here," the Saintess suddenly said before he could move. "Don’t do anything."
At that moment, Primrose began to suspect that the Saintess could hear Edmund’s inner thoughts as well.
After all, every time she heard Edmund say something sweet in his mind, the Saintess also felt a gentle warmth bloom in her heart.
Was that why Primrose could hear Edmund’s inner thoughts in this lifetime too?
She wanted to think about it more, but the moment the Saintess stepped into the private confession room, all those thoughts disappeared from her mind.
The room itself wasn’t anything unusual. It looked like an ordinary reception room, with two comfortable couches facing each other, a soft fur rug covering the floor, and a fireplace burning quietly in one corner.
Along one wall stood several closed wooden cabinets. Beside them was a tall bookshelf filled with what looked like religious books and old scriptures.
Everything looked normal, but why did the Saintess feel anxiety creeping into her heart?
"Your Holiness." The Grand Duke of Vior greeted her the moment their eyes met.
He was a middle-aged man with a receding hairline and a slightly round belly. His expensive clothes and polished appearance gave him the appearance of a prestige nobleman, but for some reason, the moment Primrose saw him, an uneasy feeling crept into her heart once again.
"Your Grace," the Saintess greeted with a gentle smile. "It’s been a long time since you last visited the Temple. Is everything alright?"
The Grand Duke smiled back warmly. "I’ve been doing well," he replied. "I’ve just been very busy lately. The Cardinal and I recently started a new business together, and it’s taken up most of my time."
He let out a soft chuckle before shaking his head. "But as you know, Your Holiness, running a business is never easy. Sometimes, without even realizing it, I end up committing new sins."
As he spoke, the Grand Duke slowly walked closer to her. "So today, I came here to confess them." His smile remained calm and polite. "And I hope you’ll help me cleanse my soul once again."
The Saintess lowered her eyes for a brief moment. "Of course, Your Grace," she replied softly. "Please take a seat."
The Grand Duke nodded and settled onto one of the couches without hesitation, as though he had done this countless times before.
The Saintess walked to one of the wooden cabinets and unlocked it with a small silver key hanging from her waist.
Inside were several neatly arranged items used for private confessions.
Her hand paused for a second before she reached for a braided leather whip.
Primrose gasped inwardly. A whip?!
She stared in disbelief as the Saintess silently closed the cabinet and turned around.
The Grand Duke showed no surprise. Instead, he calmly removed his coat and folded it over the arm of the couch before loosening the collar of his shirt.
"I’ll leave it to you, Your Holiness," he said with a peaceful smile.
The Saintess gave a faint nod. "As always," she whispered.