Saint's Prison - Chapter 44

The Pilgrim and Soot

“Andy-sama, what’s your plan for today?”

Amal softly handed me my clothes and asked me in a modest voice. I took the clothes and put them on. Then, I thought about today’s schedule.

“Uh, I’ll go to the Pilgrim Building with Francesco in the morning. In the afternoon, I have work in the fields.”

“…Is that so?”

Amal looked up at me anxiously.

She doesn’t like it when I go to the pilgrimage building.

The pilgrimage building is a place in Stonehurst where pilgrims who are on a journey to a holy place are lodged and welcomed.

Those who are poor and can only make a pilgrimage on foot stay for free. Those who have the means to ride horses and the like are asked for a donation in exchange for lodging.

Also, on long and harsh journeys, many pilgrims get injured or sick, and treatments and end-of-life care are also provided in the pilgrimage building. Therefore, keeping the Pilgrim Building clean at all times is an important duty for the monastery.

This time, it’s not regular cleaning, but taking care of the pilgrim who visited a few days ago.

“Andy-sama, you don’t have to… do such things…”

“No, it’s fine. I enjoy talking to people from outside, and it’s a change of pace.”

“… If Andy-sama says so…”

Amal obviously dropped her shoulders.

She probably doesn’t want me to meet the pilgrims from outside as much as possible. She thinks I might become interested in the outside world and leave this place. I think it’s for such a reason.

Whether she’s being brave or anxious, I don’t know. We’ve been together so many times, exchanged love, but it’s still not enough.

I flicked her forehead as she looked down and depressed.

“Ouch, Andy-sama…”

I chuckled at Amal’s whining.

“Don’t worry, I’m not going out with the pilgrims.”

“…Is that true? Absolutely, absolutely, right?”

“It’s true and absolute. I won’t leave you. I swear to God as many times as it takes.”

Hearing this, Amal smiled as if relieved. Then, she jumped at me with the momentum of a puppy wagging its tail. I caught her properly and hugged her back.

“…By the way, we’re always having this conversation. You should have more confidence.”

“Andy-sama… but I’m always worried…”

“…Well, it can’t be helped.”

I stroked her head as if petting a puppy. Amal snorted comfortably.

Then she gently tugged at my clothes, begging for a kiss.

I complied with her request, placed my hand on her chin to tilt her face upward, and lightly kissed her pale pink lips.

A sensual lip sound echoed in the quiet room. I felt a strong excitement but clenched my lower abdomen to endure.

“Ah, Andy-sama, I want more…”

“…No, you have to wait.”

I pulled away from Amal who was begging for more.

Amal puffed up her cheeks and looked up at me. Even if she makes that face, what’s not possible is not possible.

“I’ll do it as much as you want at night, so endure it.”

“…Can you promise me?”

“Yeah, I promise.”

“Then, I’ll endure it. …Andy-sama, my beloved, I’ll be waiting here forever.”

“I understand. I’ll come back as soon as possible.”

“Yes, I’ll be waiting.”

She hugged me tightly again. Amal entrusted her body to me and rubbed her face against my chest.

***

The Pilgrim Building is simple in design, unlike the Gothic-style monastery.

It’s made of stone, but it has the warm impression of a two-story house. Francesco and I entered the Pilgrim Building and visited the pilgrim.

A woman about my age was praying with her hands on the long table in the open living room.

When she recognized us, she stood up and bowed. I also slightly bowed my head.

“Hello, Sophia-san.”

“…Ah, Brother. I appreciate your visit.”

“You don’t have to be so formal. …So, how are you feeling?”

“Yes, thanks to you, I’m much better.”

The woman’s name was Sophia Rome.

A few days ago, she visited Stonehurst, barely breathing. She was quite weakened from her long journey, but after some nursing, she recovered enough to walk on her own.

“You’ve just recovered, so don’t push yourself too much.”

“Francesco is right. You should rest in bed.”

“…Yes, I’m sorry for the trouble.”

Sophia-san, who was very apologetic, bowed her head. I deliberately smiled.

“Don’t think it’s a bother. I’m just worried about you. Now, don’t worry and rest.”

“Yes, thank you.”

Sophia-san made the sign of the cross, then once again bowed deeply and went up to the bedroom on the second floor.

“Anyway, it’s good to see Sophia-san getting better.”

“Yes, it must have been a hard journey for her alone. Now, let’s let her rest.”

Francesco said that and smiled. I nodded in agreement.

The two of us started cleaning.

We swept the floor with a broom, wiped the tables and furniture with a cloth, collected the charcoal from the fireplace, and spread it in the fields.

We repeated this several times. Our faces and hands were black.

While Francesco was sweeping away the cobwebs from the ceiling with a broom, he looked at me and laughed.

I got angry and wrote “meat” on Francesco’s forehead with my soot-covered hand. Seeing Francesco frowning in trouble, I snorted in satisfaction.