Chapter 136: Good Evening, Lady Veya; Good Evening... Pope Selena

Translation by: Weebsread👹

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“Good evening, Lady Saintess.”

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“Mm. Good evening, Sister Mary...”

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The Holy See’s lavish corridors glimmered with every step Yalis took, their opulence matching exactly what she had pictured in her childhood dreams. Brilliant crystal chandeliers refracted light across marble floors, bathing the vast interior in a sanctified, mesmerizing glow.

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Yalis moved gracefully forward, raising her hand in greeting as she passed nuns adorned in immaculate white—the women who had watched her grow up. Her delicate, striking features were set in a gentle serenity seldom seen by those outside these sacred halls; here, her aura was every bit as holy as her reputation declared.

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A few priests paused to glance curiously at Lin Wei, the unfamiliar figure trailing behind. But the subtle sanctity that radiated from him was unmistakable. He must be a guest or envoy from another diocese, they reasoned, and quickly turned their attention elsewhere.

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Together, Yalis and Lin Wei ascended the spiraling grand staircase, each step echoing softly through the stillness. It was a climb toward the Holy See’s highest sanctuary, the hush amplifying the sense of revelation hovering in the air.

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The moment the last echo faded, Yalis finally allowed herself to relax. The frosty dignity she’d worked so hard to display—shoulders squared, eyes forward—slipped away. A barely suppressed thrill welled up inside her. For all her vows and solemn responsibilities, sneaking Mr. Lin Wei into the innermost sanctum, away from watchful eyes, was... exhilarating. Even a bit wicked.

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Besides, how had Mr. Lin Wei learned to wield holy light? Without that, surely one of the more zealous clerics would have questioned them by now.

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Now, she halted at the far end of a quiet corridor. Before her stood a modest door, unremarkable amidst the grandeur, and she inhaled deeply to steady her nerves. Turning, she spoke in a low, urgent whisper.

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“This is it, Mr. Lin Wei.”

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For now, the questions roiling in her mind could wait.

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She motioned toward the door, dropping her voice even further.

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“Ah…thank you.”

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The words escaped Lin Wei before he could stop them—simple, almost childlike in their plain gratitude. He caught himself; the Saintess was staring in bemusement, one hand absently rubbing her temple as though uncertain whether to scold his awkwardness or laugh at it.

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Recovering, Lin Wei offered that familiar wry grin—the one he always wore when feigning composure in tense moments. “It’s my first time in the Holy See. Of course I’m nervous,” he quipped, half-joking, half-resigned.

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He glanced at the door before them, neither thick nor imposing. Was this all that separated him from the truth, after all these years of searching? One flimsy partition—the only thing between him and answers. It almost made him want to laugh.

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“So,” he said lightly, forcing a tone of levity, “what’s our plan? You knock, and I try to peek from behind the door? Is that it?”

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He could scarcely believe this was happening: all the returns, all the days tangled together in trouble and banter and tentative trust—he and this proud, secretly softhearted Saintess, who hid her truest self behind icy reticence—had brought them here.

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Outside, disaster threatened; inside, secrets long buried quivered on the edge of revelation, unearthed by a single careless word from their adversary. And now, on the threshold, he was about to discover the truth: Was the Pope—that persistent, infuriatingly gentle presence who never left his side—truly the one he’d suspected all along?

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In this moment, every frantic, chaotic emotion was stilled. For now, there was only desire for the answer.

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“The Pope should be busy at this hour,” Yalis whispered, her words edged with playful mischief. “If we knock, we’ll only disturb her~ So let’s peek inside—a tiny bit.”

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She winked at him. “And if anyone questions us, we’ll just say we were checking on the Secretary after tonight’s commotion. Easy.”

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Yalis had rehearsed every excuse before she’d even dared promise Mr. Lin Wei entry.

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After confirming no one lingered in the shadowed halls behind them, she crept lightly to the door at the corridor’s heart.

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Creak—

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She pushed it open a sliver, just enough for them to slip inside.

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Within, a broad desk took pride of place, stacked high with official documents and crisp, handwritten letters. The plush carpet was embroidered with exquisitely detailed patterns; every step was muted and soft. An airy, intoxicating fragrance whispered through the room—a cool, floral sweetness Lin Wei knew deeper than memory itself.

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His fists clenched unconsciously as he scanned the chamber, searching—until his eyes found the figure collapsed at the far side of the desk, fast asleep.

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Long, silvery-gray hair cascaded carelessly over scattered papers, exposing a pale, elegantly delicate nape. The white-and-gold vestments bore the sigils of the clergy; the slim shoulders beneath them rose and fell in quiet, even rhythm, as if worry and fatigue had faded into some gentle dream.

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He didn’t need to see her face. The silhouette alone was more familiar—and more precious—than anything in the world.

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There was no more room for doubt.

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Lin Wei’s fists slowly uncurled at his sides, breath catching in his throat. His heart thudded wildly—the irrational fear that had haunted him all the way here pressing close again, tighter with every second.

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What was it Yalis had just said, offhand and unknowing?

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That Pope Selena no longer had a single relative left in this world.

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Her parents had died on the front lines sixteen years ago, during the Demonkin invasion. Her mentor, the Dawnstar Pope, too—slain by the Demon Lord’s own hand.

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There were two she could never forgive in this lifetime.

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The traitor who had betrayed the Holy See—and the Demon Lord, who drove the Demonkin’s massacres.

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Would it matter if he tried to explain, tried to say he’d only held the title of Demon Lord for a handful of years?

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Her parents’ deaths, he had no part in. The Dawnstar Pope… how could he explain that?

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No. Never.

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Resolve crystallized within his heart—cold, absolute.

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Lin Wei clenched his hands tight, a deadly chill flashing in his eyes.

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He could never let Veya know the truth of his Demon Lord identity.

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Anyone who threatened that secret—he would silence, without hesitation.

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Anyone who might tell Veya would be consigned to the abyss, damned alongside devils.

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He still didn't know how to face Veya. But one truth stood sharp and unyielding:

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As long as he lived, Veya could not—must not—know.

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“Miss Saintess, what are you doing?!”

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A startled whisper shattered the tense hush, nearly making Yalis—halfway through the door—jump out of her skin.

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She turned, wide-eyed. Behind her stood a young cleric: gentle features, a soft voice, a warmth that reached through stone walls.

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An awkward silence passed as Yalis caught sight of Peri, peering curiously inside.

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“Miss Peri!”

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Of course—Yalis knew her at once.

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Peri was a clerical officer here at the Holy See—a direct subordinate to the Secretary.

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“Are you here to deliver a report to Her Holiness?” Yalis asked, throwing a wary glance at the unfamiliar clergy nearby.

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Peri lowered her voice and leaned in, as if sharing a secret. “It’s been non-stop for Her Holiness today. Just earlier, Vice Commander Guga brought the latest mission reports, and right after, Her Holiness herself dispelled the last trace of that Evil God’s power from Miss Rennie.”

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“She’s finally managed to catch her breath. Maybe best not to disturb her for now?”

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The Pope truly never found a moment’s peace.

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Yalis hurriedly shut the door, stepping away and rubbing her burning cheeks.

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“I was present when they captured Duke Ous. I just wanted to see how Her Holiness planned to handle the aftermath, and check on the Secretary…”

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“In that case, maybe let’s not trouble her tonight. By the way, how is the Secretary? Where is she resting?”

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She hadn’t glimpsed the Secretary clearly before—now was hardly the time to go prying.

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Yalis gave Lin Wei an apologetic look, and quickly shifted the conversation.

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“She’s resting in her private quarters. I was just about to deliver these calming elixirs to her.”

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Peri appeared wholly unsuspicious, simply raising a vial and smiling gently.

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“If you want to see Miss Rennie, shall we go together?”

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“Ah—um—could you… could you wait just a moment…?”

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Yalis’s expression flickered with uncertainty.

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She wanted to check on the Secretary, but she couldn’t abandon Mr. Lin Wei now. They hadn’t even met with Her Holiness yet. At the very least, she ought to see her promise through.

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“Saintess, why don’t you go with her?”

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Lin Wei’s words sliced clean through her hesitation.

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It was as if he could read her heart. Setting aside his own concerns, Lin Wei answered calmly,

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“I’m nearly done here.”

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“If Her Holiness is resting, I’ll look for Vice Commander Guga and head out. Please do check on the Secretary for me—and pass on my regards.”

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Mr. Lin Wei is going to look for Vice Commander Guga?

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How did I not know about this? …He’s just making that up to reassure Miss Peri, isn’t he?

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Yalis understood his intentions immediately, a wry smile lifting her lips.

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It was the only way to explain her being outside Her Holiness’s office with a stranger. Any other story would have been awkward—dangerous, even.

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“Well, I suppose that’s fine, then. Do you know where Vice Commander Guga is, though?”

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“I could take you, then visit the Secretary. It’d be no trouble—”

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But Lin Wei only shook his head, unhurried and gentle.

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“As long as I’m in the Church, someone will point me toward the Retribution Knights. Let me explore a bit—think of it as a small thank you for tonight’s help.”

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“This…”

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Truthfully, she wanted to check on the Secretary too.

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She’d lingered here only for Mr. Lin Wei’s sake.

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Yet now, hearing his words, she realized he meant it—he genuinely wanted to look around.

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After a moment, Yalis relented. It was fair, after all. Who wouldn’t be curious, visiting the Holy See for the first time?

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“All right then, Mr. Lin Wei. I’ll head off.”

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“If you need anything, come find me. Until tomorrow?”

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“Yes. And please give the Secretary my regards.”

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Lin Wei gave a casual wave, watching silently as the Saintess and her companion disappeared down the hall.

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Snippets of conversation drifted from around the corner: “Who was that man?” “Isn’t that Lin Wei, the alchemist who takes the Holy See’s commissions?” “Why would he be here?”

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But none of that mattered anymore—their doubts and gossip belonged to another world.

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Soon, silence returned to the solemn corridor, dignity woven into every marble shadow.

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Lin Wei stood for a moment, unmoving, before turning and quietly slipping through a heavy door.

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No wards or enchantments barred his passage. Yet when the door thudded closed behind him, it felt as though the room was sealed away from the world’s prying eyes, thick with secrets. No outsider could have entered here without permission.

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“So this is the place you work,” Lin Wei murmured.

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The office was as bright as it was austere, radiating the same gravity found throughout the Holy See. Every inch of wallpaper, each carefully chosen hue, echoed the Church’s identity. Towering bookshelves loomed over a vast desk, their shelves sagging under the weight of ancient tomes and scrolls.

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Some scrolls were yellowed relics, nearly forgotten; others so brittle that time itself seemed to drift from their pages. High atop their stacks, volumes sat undisturbed: records of Popes past, the goddess’s oracles, laws and doctrines, relics of belief preserved since the Church’s founding.

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Lin Wei lingered over each inscribed name—names once the Demon Lords’ sworn foes, names both revered and reviled, with a power that still shivered in the silence.

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He stood there quietly, bearing the weight of grudges and memories centuries old.

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For a moment, he took in his enemy’s sanctum—the birthplace of judgments and destinies. At last, his gaze fell on the sleeping figure sprawled atop the desk: the woman every Demon Lord called nemesis.

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So different now from the woman he knew at home.

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Her face—still achingly beautiful—was free of self-mockery and mischief, solemn and composed.

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Even in sleep, she carried the unapproachable dignity of a ruler, an aura that kept all others at a reverent distance.

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Her cheeks were delicately sculpted, luminous and fair, touched by holiness itself. Lin Wei wondered, not without mischief, what she would do if he reached out to pinch them now.

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Her figure was just as captivating—elegant and poised, her ceremonial robes gently tracing her slender waist and subtle curves. He couldn’t help imagining how perfectly she’d fit in his arms.

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This was Pope Selena—the “Useless Pope,” the “good-for-nothing,” the almost-deposed.

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But at home, she was merely my Veya: forever scolded by him.

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“Tch… What am I going to do with you?”

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She did not stir; even asleep, Selena—his Veya—looked at peace, the usual frost in her features softening to a rare tenderness.

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It was as though, here, at last, she could let the burdens fall away, letting the exhaustion seep out of her with each breath.

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Lin Wei pulled up a chair, sitting quietly beside her to watch over his slumbering wife.

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Absently, he flipped through the papers strewn across her desk. The anxiety of earlier faded, replaced by quiet, rare contentment at her side.

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Whatever happens… she’s still my Veya.

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A faint smile played on his lips as he recalled, “The moment you discovered my hidden strength, you lost your temper—you even blurted out your feelings for me, by accident, right in the middle of your shouting.”

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“I still can’t believe it. You put me through a six-hour inquisition, wringing out every secret… all while guarding your own identity. What was the point of all that effort?”

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Lin Wei shook his head, amused despite himself.

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So much work to hide his true nature as the Demon Lord—living quietly on the empire’s fringe, counting coins, longing only for an ordinary baron’s life.

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He was always anxious that Holy See priests would sniff him out. Even in the Imperial Capital, he’d never dared enter the cathedral’s doors.

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Above all, he feared facing the Pope herself—a woman blessed with a fragment of the goddess Alicia’s authority, who could have unmasked him with a single look.

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And in the end… it had all been for nothing.

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“So,” he murmured with a laugh, “the Holy See was yours all along. Oh wise Pope—husband to Your Holiness—what in the world were you rebelling against?”

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“And since when do you sleep with a frown? Can’t relax, even here?”

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Even now, though her tense expression had softened, Selena’s brow remained faintly furrowed—a habit born of long vigilance.

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Gently, Lin Wei reached out and smoothed her brow, then let his gaze wander over the mountain of paperwork on her desk.

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Night deepened, and time slipped quietly by.

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At last, Selena—the Pope—began to stir, slowly waking from her doze.

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The warmth beside her was unmistakable. Even in a haze of sleep, she sensed it—Lin Wei, just as close as ever.

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Sleep lent a drowsy softness to her expression, a laziness that even papal dignity could not erase.

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Wait… Wasn’t I supposed to be working…?

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How could Lin Wei possibly be here…?

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“Good evening, my lovely Veya,” Lin Wei teased, his voice bright with laughter.

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She blinked her eyes open, and there he was in the lamplight: the same familiar, smiling figure as ever.

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Just as cheeky as that first day—when he’d pulled her from the water, gasping and soaked.

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He spoke again, his tone both casual and impossibly gentle. She still couldn’t quite make sense of him—except for—

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That feeling, of being truly seen and cherished. It flickered in her heart, quietly burning.

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He set aside the documents, looking her in the eyes.

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Then, in a formal voice threaded with warmth no title could contain, he repeated his greeting.

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“Good evening, Your Holiness. Pope Selena.”