Chapter 71: The Love Saint Strikes Again

Adonis’s eyes were wide open.

He couldn’t move. Claire’s hand still held his collar, her tongue was in his mouth, and all he could do was stand there like a statue that would collapse at any moment.

Her tongue was warm, like any girl’s. There was a lot of saliva too, thick and very hot, and he could feel it sliding along his own tongue and down his throat.

’She doesn’t know how to kiss either.’

Adonis wasn’t an expert, he’d only slept with one woman. But even he could tell this was not technique. This was a woman trying to reach his stomach by the shortest route possible. She was pushing so hard that he was sure she couldn’t breathe.

And through all of it, she kept grinning.

Prussia’s hand tightened on her sword hilt. She wanted to cut that grin in half. But Adonis was in the middle, and a wrong move would only make things harder for him, so she stood there and watched.

"...Puaaahh!"

Claire finally pulled away, gasping. A thick strand of saliva still linked their open mouths. Adonis’s hung slightly slack from shock. Claire’s was a small, trembling "O", her cheeks were red, and steam puffed from her rosy lips.

She was so drunk on bliss that she wasn’t sure if she was looking at a wall or at Prussia. She rubbed her flat belly with one hand and tilted her head.

"Mmm~ You’re such a loser... You’ll never taste my pet brother’s saliva burning in your belly... hehehe~"

[Claire Falsbane – Affection: 100+]

Adonis sighed at the panel.

As much as he wanted to say this made no sense, it did.

Claire had always thought her little brother was pretty, ever since the day he was born. In the original story Adonis died, Claire stayed in the Demon Continent honing her skills, and when the news reached her she broke down, then healed and got over her unhealthy obsession with him.

That wouldn’t happen here.

’And she wasn’t even a heroine until the later volumes, when the author remembered she existed.’

She’s the wildest card in the deck.

He stroked his chin. What was he supposed to do with a crazy, obsessive sister who watched his every move and wouldn’t let him breathe without reporting it? She’d ruin his plans to destroy the Church and become king.

"Aiyaahh!"

Claire was suddenly in his face, smiling with crazy eyes.

"Unnn~ you’ve been thinking for so long. Did you like the kiss? I hope you did. I’ve been practicing."

Her hand slipped under her dark-blue and silver armored crop top, and she grabbed herself there, again and again.

"Ohhnn~ and you’ve betrayed me, Addy. You gave your virginity to another woman..."

She growled like a mad dog and unsheathed her emerald rapier murderously.

Adonis stepped back, dismissively waving both hands with an awkward smile.

"Ahaha, there’s no way you’d know that! Like usual you’re just overreacting, big sister. It’s no big deal! Besides, I—"

Her glare cut him off.

"Strip. I’ll inspect your dick myself, and see if you cheated on me while I was gone."

Prussia, who’d been furious that ANOTHER woman was kissing Adonis, almost felt sorry for him now.

’What in the hell goes on in this family?’

First the King with his five wives. Then the brothers fighting over her. Then that business with his stepmother, and now his stepsister? She shook her head and sighed.

Meanwhile Claire kept waving her rapier at her little brother and demanding he strip. But the closer she got to him, the slower she moved, until...

Pshhh!

Blood burst from her nose, and she collapsed on the floor.

Prussia blinked. "...What just happened?"

"Oh, I almost forgot." Adonis scratched his cheek. "She’s the second oldest in the family and a full adult, but she’s way too inexperienced. Even a little kiss makes her heart race so fast that she passes out. She won’t wake up until tomorrow or so?"

"...Or so?"

He put a hand on his chest. "Okeh, safe!"

Then he fetched a blanket and laid it over her.

Prussia quietly stood there rubbing one arm and looking uncomfortably at the floor.

’Because of his sister... the night is ruined.’

Adonis patted Claire’s head and turned around.

Prussia’s disappointment was written all over her face, and one look at her white silk nightdress that was ruined with sword tears told him everything. She had wanted to look nice for him.

He smiled.

"You look really pretty, Miss Prussia."

She kept rubbing her muscular arm, but her cheeks flushed and she looked away.

"W-, Well, thank you. I wanted to... never mind. It’s pointless. You’d laugh if I told you. That’s how you are, after all."

Her eyes dimmed.

Then, out of nowhere, Adonis hugged her from behind.

Prussia jerked upright, her body pressed against hers, and she could feel him against her back.

"I’m sorry for how I’ve been treating you, Prussia..."

She perked up a little. "It’s fine. Don’t worry about it."

He tightened his strong arms and pressed his face against her slender neck.

"I know you’re hurt, but can we stay like this for a while?"

Prussia gently placed her hands over his, the ones wrapped around her waist, and smiled.

"...That’s fine."

...

Days later, the Spiritual Week officially began.

All the nuns stood in neat rows in the announcement hall. Not far from them stood the men chosen for the Church event, along with Lloyd, Adonis, and even Godfrey.

Prussia and Alpis were dressed in nun’s attire too, though Adonis had made some "stylish" adjustments.

Alpis wore a dark-blue mini pinafore dress over a shorter white dress with puffy sleeves, and white thigh-high socks that were tight around her supple thighs.

Prussia stood with her hands clasped behind her back like a soldier, unlike the nuns who held theirs against their chests. Her sleeveless deep-blue dress hugged her full chest and narrow waist, then flared into a short skirt edged with white ruffles. Her smooth thighs were bare.

Adonis had wanted to make it just a bit longer so men wouldn’t hit on her so much.

But she demanded it short, and wouldn’t say why.

’Of course it’s to seduce him.’

She could see him looking at her from across the sea of nuns and her honey-toned skin took on a soft blush.

At the front, Sword Sister Rita raised her voice.

"Spiritual Week is a sacred time. You will all be well-behaved. You will be welcoming, even to the brothers who have joined us. Above all, you will focus on celibacy and on helping the less fortunate, which is the most important thing..."

She kept talking.

Adonis wasn’t listening as he’s too busy playfully shoving Godfrey in the side.

"This is so boring, right?"

"..."

Godfrey looked away, saying nothing.

Adonis lifted a brow.

’He’s ignoring me?’

By then Rita had finished. She pointed to the upper dais, where Lady Euphemia lay majestically on a daybed. Her daughter Noelle sat quietly beside her, fanning herself.

Her eyes were narrowed at the golden-haired prince.

’That arrogant bastard suddenly shows up, after I spent so much time running around looking for him. How rude. Doesn’t he know it’s an honor for me to seek him out?’

[Notice! Noelle’s impression of you has decreased!]

Adonis smiled past the panel, feeling very optimistic.

Lady Euphemia reclined regally on her daybed, legs crossed, unrolling a scroll.

Every brother slated to stay at the convent stood at attention, waiting to be called. Before beginning, Euphemia cast a sharp glance toward the nuns stationed near the doors.

"If you see anyone other than these approved men crossing the convent grounds, tie them down and beat them."

That went without saying.

With security protocol established, she began reading the roll that comprised of a few lowborn nobles and commoners who each stepped forward and answered, [Present!].

"Lloyd Halcyon."

Chest puffed out with pride, Lloyd stepped up.

"Present!"

A few younger nuns actually covered their mouths and giggled, swooning at his confidence.

"Godfrey Falsbane."

At that name, a low murmur rippled through the crowd.

"Isn’t that the First Prince?"

"A total role model... He’s been a devout member of the church since he was a child!"

Godfrey offered a humble, dignified nod. "Present."

Euphemia scanned down the parchment as her eyes landed on the next name.

"Nonie..."

Before the syllable could even leave her lips—

"PUUUURRESENT!"

Adonis shouted at the top of his lungs, his hand shot straight up with blinding enthusiasm.

The Holy Mother blinked, momentarily startled, before a warm smile touched her lips.

’My, my, what an eager young man. He must be truly motivated to reform and do better.’

...Unfortunately, the rest of the room didn’t share her innocent interpretation.

They’re all shocked to the bone.

Sword Sister Rita turned a nuclear shade of red as her face burned with deep embarrassment.

’Did... did the Holy Mother just call him ’Nonie’? Is that a secret pet name?! Since when did those two get so dangerously close behind closed doors?!’

Noelle whipped her head toward Adonis, then snapped her gaze to her mother.

She’s fiercely irritated, she bit her lower lip frustratedly.

’She’s done it again. Mother is actually trying to snatch up another man I’m even remotely interested in... and she’s already calling him ’Nonie’?!’

But nobody was more enraged than Lloyd.

Veins bulging on his forehead, Lloyd glared venomously at Adonis who’s smiling with a smug cat face.

’You bastard, what the hell did you do?!’