Saint's Prison - Chapter 10

Whispers of Love

I return yet another book to the shelf.

I’m having a hard time finding a book with the information I’m looking for. It’s almost time for the Mass to end. I can’t stay much longer, so I’ll just check one more book.

Compared to my time in Japan, where I worked every minute and second without any spare time, this place is like heaven.

There’s more than enough time here, I don’t need to rush. I can research again tomorrow, at a leisurely pace.

I rotate my stiff neck, easing the tension. Come to think of it, I haven’t really checked the top shelves of the bookcase. Stretching my body, I reach up to the highest shelf and stand on my tiptoes.

Being tall is definitely convenient at times like these. The library doesn’t have any stepstools, so considering the height of the priests, they probably can’t reach the top shelf.

I pull a book from the top shelf.

In that moment, something that looks like a piece of paper flutters down.

“What is this?”

I first return the book to its original position and pick up the paper.

An old, discolored piece of parchment… or maybe it’s sheepskin?

The browned sheepskin has some tears around the edges.

This sheepskin itself seems to be quite old. Flipping it over, I see messily written characters that look like some sort of memo. The dampness has caused the writing to smudge, making it difficult to read.

I squint my eyes and try to read the writing.

“…
A vow. One, do not look…
Two, do not speak.
Three, do not touch…
Do not…
do not leave this place.
Six, do not be together…
Seven, do not…
Eight, do not…
Nine, protect everything.
Ten,
…”

Is this a hastily written set of rules?

The crucial parts are blurred and unreadable.

It doesn’t seem particularly related…

Just then, I faintly hear the sound of the large doors of the chapel opening.

The chapel is a separate building where Mass and sacraments take place. It’s a large and impressive structure, but the doors seem to be poorly fitted, making a high-pitched noise when opened and closed. This sound echoes all the way to the library, so I use it as a makeshift timer.

It seems the Mass has ended.

Not wanting to waste time returning the sheepskin to its original position, I stuff the paper into my jacket pocket and hurry out of the library.

I walk down the hallway, trying to look innocent.

Then, I hear the sound of someone running hurriedly down the hallway behind me.

Before I can turn around to see what’s going on, I feel an impact on my back.

A soft, translucent white hand reaches around me.

“Amal. You surprised me, coming from behind like that. What’s going on?”

“…Andy-sama, where have you been? I thought you had disappeared again.”

Amal rubs her head against my back, acting like a spoiled child.

She must have headed straight to my room after the Mass ended and couldn’t find me, so she searched the whole monastery to find me.

I laugh and overlap my hand with hers, which is wrapped around my chest. She seems to have become more clingy due to yesterday’s incident.

“I won’t disappear just a day after yesterday. See, I’m still here, right?”

“…Yes.”

I turn my head back just enough to smile.

Amal looks relieved, and the tension leaves her shoulders.

＊＊＊

Together with Amal, I return to the room.

As soon as I sit down on the bed, Amal removes her hood and immediately sits down beside me, wrapping her arm around mine.

“Andy-sama, please stroke my head.”

She looks up at me shyly.

I can’t help but laugh. What a cute creature.

She holds out her head, urging me to pet her. She wants my attention, to be spoiled like a puppy.

I pat her head, running my fingers through her glossy, abundant silver hair that flows down her back.

“Mmm, Andy-sama…”

Amal closes her eyes, looking pleased.

I think back to half a year ago when she couldn’t bring herself to act this spoiled. Now, she’s like this all the time. It’s somewhat nostalgic.

As time passes and we spend more time together, the distance between Amal and me grows closer, and now it’s practically nonexistent.

When I sit down on the bed, she automatically sits beside me and wraps her arm around mine.

To be honest, this might be closer to the distance of lovers than that of siblings or friends.

Even without declarations or vows, we’re practically in a de facto relationship.

Since I still haven’t given up on returning to Japan, I can’t respond to Amal’s feelings or take responsibility. If that’s the case, I think I shouldn’t engage in these acts too much. But…

I can’t help but spoil Amal, thinking that she might have been living in Stonehurst Monastery, separated from the secular world and her family, unable to be spoiled by anyone for a long time.

Each time I stroke her head, a sweet, gentle fragrance fills the air.

A natural scent, like blooming flowers or ripened fruits. The faint aroma has a unique freshness and allure to it, specific to young girls.

I bury my face in Amal’s slender neck and take a deep breath. It truly smells wonderful. I want to keep smelling it forever.

Is she using some special perfume? Or is it her natural body scent?

“Andy-sama… Mmm, it’s embarrassing.”

I quickly lift my face.

It was an unconscious action.

Doing such a thing to an underage girl, or an adult woman by this world’s standards, without her consent, burying my face in her neck and even smelling her scent.

What am I doing, What happened to me who said he couldn’t take responsibility? It’s definitely out of line.

“I’m sorry! I just thought it smelled so good, I didn’t realize what I was doing!”

“No, it’s not that! I don’t mind. If it’s Andy-sama’s wish, I’ll do anything. It’s just a little embarrassing… But I’m fine now. Please, use me as you like!”

Amal brushes her hair aside, exposing her neck. The movement has a strangely captivating quality to it, and I gulp. Of course, I should refuse, but if I do so now, I can’t help but think I’d be causing her unnecessary embarrassment.

With a great determination, I bury my face in her neck once more. Amal wraps her arms around my back and hugs me. Her soft chest presses against my shoulder, making me feel dizzy. I resist the urge to pounce on her.

I recite the Heart Sutra in my mind, praying for my desires to fade away as quickly as possible.