Why Would a Holy Knight Be Afflicted with Such a Curse? - Chapter 17

I knew that Leocel had become a priest not out of faith, but out of curiosity. I had even encouraged him, saying it was quite a creative approach.

In other words… I was practically someone who had urged Leocel toward his death.

And Celesto also roughly knew this fact.

In a situation like this, the correct choice would be to avoid talking about Leocel. Or to bring up some old story and change the subject.

But there was something that had been bothering me. Something I had not been able to bring myself to ask ever since the day I reunited with Celesto.

“…Come to think of it, you said it before too. That you knew about me and Leocel.”

“Ah, damn it.”

“How did you know? Did you see us?”

“Well, the two of you were always doing it in the places where I went to rest. You could’ve at least had the decency to tone it down.”

Celesto, who had revealed his thoughts against his will, let out a scream.

“Damn it! You should’ve said something earlier.”

Hearing that, I ended up letting out a similar exclamation.

Ah, I really hadn’t thought about that.

Leocel and I hadn’t been anything special, but when we met, we usually did things that could hardly be called “nothing.”

Unlike Celesto, who had lived more than twenty years without even m**********g, Leocel was a man who relieved his stress through s*x.

The fact that someone like him had taken a vow of chastity and become a priest should already say enough, but the information Leocel was searching for could not be obtained anywhere outside the Order.

Going to bed early, waking up early. Filling his stomach with a bland diet that contained no stimulation whatsoever. And on top of that, spending a third of each day in prayer.

Living such a routine—one that every scholar would avoid—Leocel’s mental endurance quickly reached its limit.

So Leocel made a deal with me. In exchange for gathering information about things forbidden within the clergy, including the vow of chastity, he asked me to help relieve his urges.

Even thinking back on it now, it wasn’t a particularly bad arrangement.

More than anything, Leocel was the kind of man who lacked a proper sense of conscience. Setting aside the fact that he was a bastard who disgraced religion, he was a decent partner who preferred sharing pleasure with someone rather than finishing alone.

And so, Leocel and I occasionally met and enjoyed ourselves together.

But there were not many places where the two of us could be alone.

Even if he lacked faith, he was still a priest, and although I studied forbidden studies at the academy, I was also the daughter of a noble family.

As a result, we ended up doing it in practically every secluded place except a bedroom…

Now that I think about it, all of those places overlap with the hideouts of my friend who lacks social skills and likes being alone.

I fanned my hand in front of my face, trying to cool my burning cheeks. I had thought Celesto and I had already seen everything there was to see between us, but today was the first time I realized I had exposed this much of my life.

“Ahem.”

First, I cleared my throat. There were still things I needed to ask while the truth serum was in effect.

“Tell me where, how, and under what circumstances you got cursed.”

“In the basement of the old chapel… ah, seriously.”

“Why? Just say it. I have to hear it anyway.”

“I already told you the important parts.”

“I’ll be the one to decide what’s important or not, so you just talk. Clients like you aren’t exactly new to me.”

Celesto’s forehead crumpled into a deep frown. It was obvious he did not want to say any more.

It was impressive that he was holding out even under the effects of the truth serum, but that was as far as it went. As Celesto knew well, scholars were the sort of people who could abandon even basic human decency in the face of something they wanted to know.

“Then tell me about the sensations you feel because of the curse. And the symptoms when they build up.”

Celesto’s body, which had been slumped across the sofa, jerked sharply. If the truth serum hadn’t left his body so sluggish, he probably would have jumped to his feet again like before.

“You…”