Chapter 98: The Morning After

In the convent, Menglinna, a nun being groomed by the headmistress, walked into a small room with Nanaya, a candidate for sainthood.

Though there was some confusion about their close relationship, no one dared to bring it up.

Nanaya was only a candidate; whether she would become a saint was uncertain. But Menglinna’s father was a genuine noble, and the convent itself belonged to her family.

Playing with a little girl wasn’t a big deal—at least by noble standards. However, the headmistress had ambitions to climb higher in the church, and she didn’t want her promising seedling ruined by Menglinna.

“Feeling a bit warm,” Menglinna said as she cracked open the door. “Nanaya, I’m so sorry!”

“What’s the matter?” Nanaya asked, puzzled. “Why are you apologizing, sister?”

“Because I’m about to take away your most precious thing, Nanaya!”

Pinned against the wall by the tall, blonde older woman, Nanaya’s heart fluttered with panic.

Nanaya knew she was dreaming of the past again, but she could only watch helplessly as events replayed.

In the past, she had shyly closed her eyes and said, “If it’s you, sister, then it’s okay.”

“Little fool,” Menglinna sighed at the last moment, flicking Nanaya’s forehead instead. “You can’t just say yes to something like that.”

…

Nanaya said nothing, merely glaring at her angrily. She had mustered so much courage to say that!

“Alright, now scream.”

“Scream? Why?”

While Nanaya was still confused, Menglinna suddenly acted, tearing open the young saint candidate’s robe.

“Hey! What are you doing, sister?”

Tearing the robe wasn’t enough; Menglinna grabbed her underwear too. Throughout it all, Nanaya just stared dumbly, not stopping her.

“What’s going on?”

Nanaya’s scream slipped through the crack in the door, drawing the attention of the monks outside.

“I’m sorry. Please forgive your sister’s selfishness. I’m a bad woman after all,” Menglinna said, draping her coat over Nanaya just as the monks entered. “Protect yourself in the days to come.”

The guards burst in, and Nanaya’s dream ended.

****

Menglinna woke early as usual. Recalling her failed attempt due to impatience, she felt annoyed.

Just thinking about the possibility of sleeping under the same roof as the Flame Evil God made her restless.

Nanaya might be deceived by the Flame Evil God’s kindness, but as a regional bishop who had crusaded against heretics, Menglinna knew the tricks of these evil gods well.

They pretend to be benevolent, a normal god falsely accused, gradually earning your trust before striking from behind.

In her past life, Menglinna had almost suffered greatly from such a trap.

Regardless, she had to ensure that evil god never set foot on this land again.

“Looks like she’s sleeping soundly?”

Through the mosquito net, she could hear Nanaya’s heavy snoring. Knowing it would be a while before she could implement her bathtub plan, Menglinna’s impatience grew.

Just then, Nanaya murmured in her sleep, “Don’t go…”

“?”

Menglinna froze. For a moment, she thought Nanaya had discovered her intentions and was scolding her.

Waiting a while and hearing nothing more, she relaxed.

“Nanaya?” she whispered, feigning concern, even though she knew it was just a dream. “Were you calling me?”

Of course, there was no reply—it was just sleep-talking.

But the scoundrel decided to take it as an invitation. She stood before the mosquito net and asked cautiously, “Can you repeat what you just said? I didn’t hear clearly.”

Still no reply. Growing bolder, she pulled aside the net. “Are you asking me to come in?”

Without the net, Nanaya’s sleeping face was fully exposed. She seemed to be having a nightmare, her expression pained, hugging the blanket tightly as if afraid it would escape.

With the blanket displaced, Nanaya’s shoulders were almost entirely visible. If she looked closely, she might even catch a glimpse of today’s color of her undergarments…

But at least in what she could see, there was no mark of the Flame Evil God. Perhaps it was hidden somewhere more private?

I’m doing this for a good reason!

Menglinna justified herself inwardly as her gaze slowly moved upward.

Due to the nightmare, the saint candidate’s face was twisted in pain, almost making one’s heart ache.

From what Menglinna knew, Nanaya had lost both parents at age ten. If not for the goddess’s favor she later showed, she might have been sold as a serf on some farm.

Poor little thing. She never had a proper childhood. Malnourished, she stood only 1.5 meters tall, and even as an adult, she kept a loli-like appearance.

Menglinna looked at her with a hint of pity.

Then Nanaya opened her eyes and met Menglinna’s gaze directly.

“You’re still here? I thought…” She stopped mid-sentence, realizing she was awake now, not in a dream.

Menglinna noticed she seemed disoriented and quickly explained, “You seemed to be calling me, so I came over.”

“Calling you?” Nanaya sat up in bed. “Maybe. Or maybe you misheard.”

“Then I’ll take it as a mistake.”

Seizing the opportunity, Menglinna slipped out.

Nanaya was left alone, sitting on the bed, gently patting her cheeks.

****

After the morning incident, Menglinna felt a bit awkward talking to Nanaya.

She had escaped while Nanaya was still groggy, but once she fully woke, she would surely realize Menglinna had been up to something bad, right?

Yet at breakfast after morning prayers, Nanaya didn’t bring up the morning’s events.

It dawned on Menglinna: Nanaya must have been dreaming about her, which is why she believed her excuse.

And it was true—Nanaya had been talking in her sleep. It wasn’t really a lie, was it?

📚 Also on NHV Novels

Heemin’s One-Sided Love

AdultBoys LoveDrama

Read Now →
Not interested