The Holy Man of Another Century Gospel

Chapter 77: Separation of Body and Mind
Daybreak had already begun when the last batch of candles had not yet burned out.

A nun yawned as she came into the church. She looked at the candle that was not even half burned out and wondered if she could go back and lie down for a while.

"It's almost dawn, there's no need to change the candles." The voice of the quasi-saint suddenly came from in front of the statue.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Eric's legs were numb from kneeling all night, but he was still in good spirits after some fitful sleep while praying.

"It's really torturing young people..."

After finishing his morning prayers before the candles burned out completely, Eric looked at the sky outside the church and thought that his mission should be completed and it was almost time to go down the mountain.

A moment later, Alena came to the church.

"..."

The moment they looked at each other, she subconsciously avoided his gaze, though she quickly moved it back. "Your Highness, you have completed your prayer of thanksgiving and may leave the mountain."

"I see."

It was hard for Eric not to feel awkward.

They had been living together peacefully for half a year, but because of a small accident, he lost control and their relationship was completely irreversible.

Eric looked up at the silent Yela statue.

Let's go back to the monastery first...

"We still have to walk down the mountain. Let the nuns and knights eat something before preparing to go down the mountain." Eric said.

"Yes." After his gaze moved away, Alena stared at his face for a moment, then turned and left the church.

After praying to God, Eric stopped kneeling and stood up with his numb legs, moving them slowly.

It was already bright outside, and after a night of wind and snow, there was a brief moment of peace in the morning.

Eric arrived outside the church and saw the two knights on duty standing motionless, with a thick layer of snow on their heads and shoulders.

He told them not to stand guard anymore and to go eat something and prepare to go down the mountain.

"Yes, Your Highness."

Eric walked forward a little further, looking down at Leselle alone.

The earth was covered with snow, but two tall towers still stood, overlooking the entire holy city.

"The Church, the nobility, the empire..."

A question that seemed insignificant at the moment suddenly got an answer.

"Under the Vatican's increasingly conservative strategy, its influence over the imperial court is effectively dependent on the Emperor alone. The root cause of the Vatican's declining influence is the significant reduction in the Emperor's power."

"Is this the answer you got after thinking about it all night on the Holy Mountain?" In the Holy Maiden's abode, the Holy Maiden looked at Eric below and asked.

Actually, it was just a flash of inspiration in the morning. I didn’t have the heart to think about homework at night...

Eric's expression remained unchanged, and he lowered his head and replied, "Yes."

"Have you ever thought about what impact this will have on the Saint?" the Saint asked again.

Eric glanced up and said, "I'm afraid it's not good. The empire is declining, and it's hard for the nobles to remain unaffected."

"So what's your solution?"

"Don't be a saint."

"..."

The old man looked around and searched for something handy on the table. He was indeed in much better spirits than the previous two days.

Eric quickly spoke to appease him, "Your Highness, do you think this is a problem I can solve?"

"Whether it can be solved is one thing, and the attitude towards solving it is another." The saint glared at him and stopped looking for things to throw at him.

"We have to take one step at a time. I don't have the rich life experience that Your Highness has, so I can't think that far ahead for now." Eric said in a nice way.

"That's right..."

The Saint sighed and shook her head. "Forget it. It's still unclear whether there will be any more Saints in the future. Why should I worry about it?"

Eric looked at his toes and said nothing.

The Saint waved her hand and said, "Alright, your performance this time was pretty good. There's nothing for you to do next, so go down."

"Yes."

It was already noon when they came down from the holy mountain. There were only a few days left until the New Year, so the saint did not let Eric continue his classes.

When I returned to the side house, I couldn't find Alena. They had clearly returned to the Holy Maiden's Abbey together.

Eric guessed that as soon as she separated from him, she went to hide in the Holy Maiden Palace to avoid the foreseeable solitude that would follow.

...Although she can't hide for long, she will have to come back here sooner or later.

The awkwardness that had been put aside for a long time was brought up again, and Eric felt regret and headache.

He had a vague feeling that Alena wasn't resisting, but because of their respective identities, she would at most acquiesce to a momentary ambiguity in the dark, and it was impossible for them to have any deeper contact. But perhaps that was just a submission to his status.

Regardless of whether it is just a physical relationship or a deeper love that rises to the spiritual level, it cannot be put on the table here.

"I can't scare people away..." Eric muttered to himself while sitting in the study.

He would definitely leave the convent, and there had to be someone he completely trusted left at the convent to convey his will exactly.

At present, the only such people in the convent are Alena and Sophie.

The problem with little Sister Sophie was that she was too young and lacked the abilities and qualifications he needed.

His only real choice was Alena.

Having experienced life and death together, and having lived together day and night for more than half a year, he also solved the teacher's retirement problem that had troubled her for many years. He believed that Alena would never betray him, but the sudden accident forced him to make a choice between two paths.

Or, let Alena become his completely from heart to body;

Or, they could keep the same distance as before, and let Alena just be a tool who is completely loyal to him, and shine in the offline monastery of the saint in the future.

Judging from the effect he wants, the latter seems more suitable: no personal feelings, only absolute loyalty.

Eric knocked unconsciously on the table.

He likes Alena very much, even if he gives up his desire, he still likes her and wants her to be his, but because of this love, his choice still depends on her attitude.

With a plan in mind, Eric sat in the study, flipping through books and waiting. It was not until dark that he heard the deliberate sound of closing the door outside.

"Alaina—"

"..."

"Come to the study."

"...Yes, Your Highness."

The nun pushed the door open and sat silently in front of the desk.

The quasi-saint behind the desk looked at her for a while and suddenly stood up.

Alena felt her chest skip a beat and her breathing slowed unconsciously.

He walked up to her, stopped just one step away, and stared down at her face... or the more prominent presence below.

Alena was shorter than him, and with her eyes lowered, she was even less able to sense his true thoughts at the moment.

No matter what the final result is, at least this moment is inevitable, she had a premonition of this.

"What happened last night..."

He suddenly spoke and raised his hand. Alena immediately recalled the overly intimate contact last night and subconsciously took a step back.

She still didn't know to what extent the Saint's gaze on this place was severe. At least, she couldn't do that here...

His hand stopped.

Then she heard a faint sigh.

Her acquiescence last night was indeed just her obedience to his status as a quasi-saint.

"I want to apologize to you."

Route 1 didn't work, so Eric regretfully but without hesitation jumped directly to Route 2, removing all ambiguity and sincerely apologizing to her.

"I was momentarily possessed by the devil and did something against your will. You did nothing wrong; this was entirely my fault. I promise you, this will never happen again."

"..."

It can never happen again...?
Alena subconsciously looked up at him.

She didn't know how many struggles she had made throughout the day and night. She had imagined countless times how she would react if he wanted to do something to her again. When she heard his solemn promise, the first emotion that surged in her heart was disappointment.

Seeing that she didn't respond, Eric continued: "I can swear to God..."

"No need! ... I trust Your Highness."

Alena stopped him from swearing, not knowing how to describe her feelings.

This is obviously the best outcome... Given her and his status, any intimate contact would be a betrayal of God and a fall from grace.

She couldn't face the growing sense of loss in her heart, and the dangerous desire for him to stay close to her.

"I believe Your Highness..." was all she could repeat.

Eric was silent for a moment. "There's nothing else to do. Go and have some rest. I'm going to read for a while. Don't worry about me."

"Yes, Your Highness."

Alena gave him one last look, turned and left the study, closing the door behind her.

pat.

Inside and outside the room, both of them let out the same silent sigh.

(End of this chapter)