Free Web NovelChapter 24: Chapter 24: The Priest Who Was Nothing Like a Priest
The maid dragged her through a corridor, and soon they reached an area where three other temple maids were already waiting.
With Yue Yue added, they became five. Each maid was given a tray filled with different items... flowers, essential oils, bath medicines, herbs, and many luxurious materials she had never seen before.
The trays were heavy, but the maids carried them with ease. Yue Yue adjusted her tray carefully so she wouldn’t drop anything.
A senior temple maid appeared and ordered them to follow. They walked quietly into a large bathing chamber.
When Yue Yue saw the size of it, her eyes widened slightly despite keeping her head low. It was huge... like a white swimming pool made of crystal stone, built only for someone with high status.
The maids started decorating the pool together, pouring essential oils, mixing herbs into the water, placing flowers on the surface, and organizing every item in a precise pattern.
The scent in the air became warm and soothing. For a moment, Yue Yue wondered if this was truly for a bath or something more sacred.
But the peaceful atmosphere broke instantly when she heard a deep, heavy footstep echoing from behind the curtains. Her entire body tensed. She recognized the aura without being told. fгee𝑤ebɳoveɭ.cøm
It was the Fourth Villain. Her chest tightened, and she almost lifted her head to see him, but the maid next to her grabbed her wrist and whispered fiercely, "Eyes down." Yue Yue obeyed immediately, her heart thumping in her throat.
The footsteps came closer slowly. Heavy enough to show strength, yet light enough to reveal elegance.
Yue Yue saw only the white feet passing by her... a pair so pale and smooth that her first thought was whether this man even had blood inside him. His skin looked almost glowing against the marble.
Then the footsteps stopped. Right in front of her. Her breath caught, and she felt her heart jump up to her neck.
But a second later, the footsteps moved again, walking past her toward the pool. She heard the rustle of a long robe dropping to the ground. Then a deep, cold masculine voice filled the room.
"All of you may leave." ƒreewebɳovel.com
The maids bowed quickly and hurried toward the exit without a second’s delay. Yue Yue followed them, walking slowly because she felt conflicted, how was she would do her missions if she left... so she was trying to take her time to think of a plan and stay here.
But when she couldn’t find any reasonable thing... she could only walk, and as she was the last one approaching the door, almost out of the chamber, the same masculine voice responded again, enough to make her stumble...
"You... come back."
Her entire body jolted. She froze. The voice was directed at her.
She bowed immediately, her voice low. "Yes, Priest."
She stepped back into the room slowly. Now alone with him, she kept her head lowered but couldn’t stop her curiosity. After a long second of silence, she gathered her courage and lifted her eyes... just a little... to finally look at the Fourth Villain.
Yue Yue slowly lifted her head, her heart beating painfully loud in her ears. She peeked up... just a quick look, only for a moment... because the man’s presence was too strong to ignore. The moment her eyes landed on him, she froze.
The Fourth Villain was leaning against the edge of the enormous white pool.
His hands rested on either side of the pool’s edge, long pale fingers gripping the smooth stone.
His strong broad and steady back faced her, with muscles that looked like they had been carved by some stubborn artist who refused to let even one line be imperfect.
His long snow white hair fell down his back in smooth waves, like strands of winter itself sliding down ice.
For a second, Yue Yue forgot how to breathe.
This man... was a priest?
A priest?
She swallowed hard. Her throat felt dry as sand.
From every story she ever heard, priests were supposed to look gentle, soft, kind eyed, calm like peaceful lakes. But this man? He didn’t look soft anywhere. Not even a little.
His back alone had more muscle than she had ever seen. And his arms... good heavens... his arms tightened as he shifted, and she actually heard herself choke softly.
"What kind of priest is built like this?" she thought desperately. "He doesn’t look holy... he has the kind of beauty that could definitely stir some unholy thought in another... just by one look of him people would be willing to sin..."
She didn’t dare say that out loud. Not in this life. Maybe not even in the next one.
As she stood there, the man finally pushed himself up from the water, the muscles in his shoulders tightening naturally. Water slid down his back like shining threads, and she wanted to scream at herself for staring.
Then he spoke.
His deep voice echoed against the walls, calm yet dangerous.
"You are bold to look at me directly," he said without turning. "Do you not want your eyes?"
A cold chill ran down Yue Yue’s entire spine. Her knees almost buckled.
She immediately bowed her head so fast she almost head butted the ground. "S-sorry, Priest! I... I wasn’t..."
Her voice trembled. Her hands shook at her sides.
Even though she was standing very far away, he had noticed her tiny peek. Just one second of looking. And he still caught her. This man’s sensitivity was terrifying. Truly terrifying.
"Yes, Priest," she said quickly, trying to keep her voice steady. "Do you... need my help?"
Silence came for a moment. Then the man replied, still calm but firm.
"...Help me wash."
Those three words hit Yue Yue like fireworks exploding inside her head.
Help him wash. That was exactly her mission!
Inside her mind she cheered wildly. "Yes! Yes! Perfect timing! I didn’t even need to chase him or look for chances. He asked himself! This is great! I can definitely lower his villain mood by two percent. Maybe even more!"
Trying her best to act like a normal temple maid, she walked closer with small careful steps. She picked up the soft white sponge like cloth from the tray. The priest leaned on the edge of the pool now, his back turned toward her, waiting.
Yue Yue wetted the sponge in warm water. She slowly reached out toward his back, gently placing the cloth against his shoulder.
Just as she touched him... he flinched.
His head turned sharply, his white hair shifting as he faced her. And then only Yue Yue realized his eyes were closed, even looking toward her did not open them at all.
Yue Yue froze mid motion, the sponge still in her hand.
Her heart thudded painfully. She didn’t even dare breathe. His aura alone was enough to make her feel she was standing on thin ice, and one wrong move would crack it completely.
She held the sponge loosely, waiting for him to say something, not knowing if she should pull her hand back or continue.
And the priest just stared toward her with his closed eyes, but his aura was far too suffocating for a supposed holy man.
