As a villain, he could do whatever he wanted.

Page 188

Lius knew that Helen's question was not out of boredom or curiosity, but rather stemmed from the deepest part of her heart, from that completely blank space called "family," in which the girl's most vulnerable side would be revealed, and her purest and most instinctive feelings of confusion and yearning would be exposed.

Meanwhile, Sophia, sitting on the other side, had also recovered from the chaotic shock she had felt earlier regarding her mother and Lius. Miss Helen looked at Helen, recalling the whispers filled with loss and longing. The slight unease and confusion in Sophia's heart caused by her family's complicated relationships were unconsciously replaced by a stronger, more heartfelt sympathy and resonance.

Looking at the girl in front of her, who held a high position in the church but had never experienced even the most basic, ordinary parent-child affection, a strange, bittersweet tenderness welled up in her heart.

So... even someone as powerful as Bishop Helen has such a... heartbreaking side?

At that moment, the invisible barrier between the two, created by their different identities and positions, seemed to melt away instantly. For the first time, Soya no longer saw Helen as a "church bishop" whom he needed to respect or even somewhat revere, but as a living "girl" who, like himself, had worries, desires, and felt lost.

"that.

Almost simultaneously, both Leus and Sophia wanted to say something to comfort the red-haired girl who was clearly feeling down, but in the end, Leus spoke first.

Instead of directly answering the somewhat absurd question about whether it's normal to share a husband, he took a longer-term and gentler view.

"So, Helen, what kind of relationship do you actually desire?"

This question was like a precise key, instantly unlocking a long-sealed door in Helen's heart that had never been opened to anyone before.

"I expect her to repeat Lius's words with a certain nonchalance, and a look of longing and yearning appeared in her azure eyes."

"I... I used to see it occasionally when I was on patrol in the streets of town. I saw it."

She lowered her head, looking at her hands, which had developed a thin layer of calluses from years of wielding a sword. Her voice became somewhat unsteady, as if she had fallen into a distant fantasy.

“I saw a lot. Mothers would hold their daughters’ hands affectionately and go shopping together. They would patiently accompany their daughters to choose beautiful clothes and favorite accessories. They would buy hot and delicious snacks from roadside stalls and share them with each other, laughing as they ate.”

Helen's voice was soft, carrying a hint of deep envy that she herself was unaware of. She described the most ordinary things that happened in the daily lives of ordinary citizens, but when she spoke them, it was as if she were telling a fairy tale full of happiness and brilliance from a faraway land.

“I…I’ve also seen many daughters who, after being wronged outside, would run into their mothers’ arms, crying and whining…and their mothers would gently hold them, patting their backs softly until they stopped crying…” As Helen spoke, her voice trembled slightly, almost imperceptibly. After taking a deep breath, she raised her head again, her beautiful eyes now misty with a thin layer of tears, carrying an almost humble, small longing.

“I…I have never had a similar experience in my life.” Helen smiled self-deprecatingly, her smile filled with bitterness and loneliness. Although…although Her Holiness the Pope raised me and taught me many things, I…I am truly grateful to her. Without her, I would not be who I am today…But after a pause, a turn of events revealed all the regrets in her heart.

"But she... she was more like a strict, respectable teacher to me than a mother. She would teach me swordsmanship, magic, how to handle church affairs, praise my progress, and punish my mistakes... but she never smiled at me like other mothers, never showed me that kind of... that kind of..."

It seemed impossible to find a suitable word to describe it. In the end, Helen could only use the simplest and most essential two words to summarize all the hopes in her heart.

“I am straightforward about family affection, and I long for it all.” When those last words came out of her mouth, a crystal-clear, scalding tear finally could no longer be held back and quietly slid down her smooth cheek, dripping onto the soft velvet bedding, leaving a dark, tiny mark.

The room fell silent once again, but this time the silence was not filled with awkwardness and oppression, but rather enveloped by a deeper emotion, one of pity and tenderness.

Looking at the girl, Lius listened quietly without interrupting or saying a word. He simply reached out and handed her a soft handkerchief, his gentle eyes conveying a silent comfort as tender as moonlight.

And so, Leus continued to gaze at Helen until her emotions had calmed down somewhat, at which point he slowly nodded, a thoughtful expression on his face.

“The work of the saintess is indeed very busy.” Gazing at Helen, Lius seemed to be talking to himself, or perhaps explaining to the two girls, “As the spiritual symbol of the church, her every word and action represents the will of God. Therefore, she rarely appears in the public eye and must always maintain that holiness and dignity, and cannot show too much human emotion.”

The boy's words were objective and calm, as if stating an undeniable fact. "For her personally, this might also be a kind of helpless constraint."

Upon hearing this, Helen nodded subconsciously, a complex and helpless emotion towards her mother showing in her eyes.

Meanwhile, after laying the groundwork, Lius abruptly changed the subject. "However... things might not be without a chance of turning around."

As he said this, a confident and playful smile slowly appeared on Lius's face, and his deep eyes shone with a strange light that seemed to make the impossible possible.

"Hmm? Young Master Leus, are you... serious? A turning point?" Helen looked at him in surprise. "Of course."

Nodding again, Leus's gaze fell on Helen's pretty face, still streaked with tears and filled with surprise and confusion. In a gentle yet resolute tone, as if making a promise, he slowly said:

"Anything is possible. Rules are rigid, but people are flexible. If it were me personally making the request to Her Majesty the Pope..."

He paused slightly, his smile deepening. "Perhaps we'll get some... special treatment."

Chapter 446: On Emotional Life (Part 4)

"Perhaps there will be exceptions."

Lius's seemingly casual yet incredibly confident and powerful words were like a refreshing rain falling on Helen's nearly parched heart, instantly illuminating her azure eyes, which had just been veiled with a thin layer of mist, with an incomparably brilliant and intense light.

"An exceptional case?"

She repeated the word softly, almost in disbelief, as if it were a sacred word from some distant myth, powerful enough to change one's destiny. Two beautiful blushes, caused by excessive excitement, instantly appeared on her pretty face, which had previously been stained with tears and looked forlorn.

In the next instant, almost instinctively, she leaned sharply towards Leus, her petite body trembling slightly from the overwhelming turmoil within her. Her clear eyes were fixed on Leus's gentle, smiling face, and in a trembling voice, a mixture of anticipation, longing, and disbelief, she urgently asked for confirmation:

“Young Master Leus, are you telling the truth? Really? Is it really possible?” Her breathing became rapid, the immense hope that had suddenly risen from the depths of despair making it almost impossible for her to think clearly. “Is it really possible… for me and my mother… to… to spend some time together like… like you said, like ordinary people…?”

She asked this question with such caution and longing, like a dying traveler in the desert who had finally spotted a distant mirage, yearning for it to be a real oasis yet fearing it was just a phantom that would plunge him into deeper despair. Faced with her almost overflowing expectant gaze, Lius stopped teasing her and nodded slowly to her with an incredibly gentle yet unwavering demeanor.

"Ah."

The boy's smile was gentle yet reassuring, and his deep eyes held an absolute confidence that seemed to manipulate all rules. "Helen, I promise you, I will help you fulfill this wish."

"Ah, the moment that unquestionable promise entered her ears, Helen felt her brain go completely blank. The sudden, immense happiness that came from the depths of despair, like the most violent and warmest tide, instantly overwhelmed all her reason."

"Thank you! Really. Thank you so much, Prince Leus!"

Unable to contain her excitement any longer, she almost instinctively reached out and grasped Lius's arm tightly. She stammered words of gratitude, shaking his arm uncontrollably like a child who had received their favorite candy, as if trying to express her overflowing joy and gratitude in the most direct and pure way. "I...I don't know what to say...really. Thank you so much. If...if only..." She was so overwhelmed with emotion that she couldn't utter a complete sentence. Tears welled up in her beautiful blue eyes once more, but this time, they were not tears of sadness and desolation, but tears of pure happiness.

The entire room was instantly filled with her pure and fervent joy, and even the air seemed to become sweet.

Amidst this atmosphere of pure joy, another person in the room maintained a calm and clear-headed demeanor that seemed completely out of place with the fervor.

Sophia sat quietly on the edge of the bed, looking at the scene before her filled with warmth and emotion. In her heart, she was also overjoyed for Helen. However... her brain, which had grown up in the Chamber of Commerce and was used to analyzing everything with reason and logic, was simultaneously and uncontrollably and calmly at the same time.

Is it really that easy for a saint to leave the church and go shopping with her daughter like an ordinary mother?

Sophia's brow furrowed quietly and subtly in a corner unnoticed by anyone. Although she was not as knowledgeable about the inner workings of the church as Helen, as a member of the Aurora Caravan, she possessed a far more acute understanding of the power structure of the entire kingdom than most people.

The role of a saint is not merely a religious office or a motherly one.

She is the living spiritual symbol of the entire church, the spokesperson of God on earth. Her every move represents not only herself, but also the will of the entire church and the majesty of God. Every public appearance requires extremely complicated etiquette and security arrangements. Her itinerary is comparable to a queen's tour, a major event that can affect the emotions of believers throughout the kingdom.

To allow someone of such supreme prestige, whose symbolic significance outweighs everything, to appear like an ordinary citizen, removing their holy robes, changing into casual clothes, without guards or attendants, simply to fulfill their daughter's wish to "go shopping," is, in Sofia's view, a matter almost as difficult as asking the moon to change its trajectory for a single person. This is no longer just a private matter; it involves the prestige of the church, the emotions of believers, and even deeper, more complex political and religious issues.

"Prince Leus is indeed very powerful, but on such a momentous issue that could shake the very foundations of a nation's faith, does he really... have that much say?"

For the first time, Sophia felt a... reasonable doubt about Leus's seemingly omnipotent abilities.

She glanced at Helen, who was immersed in immense happiness and practically clung to Lius's arm, and a hint of reluctance flashed in her clear, bright eyes.

She didn't want Helen's pure and precious hope to ultimately vanish due to cruel reality. Such a blow would be far too cruel for this girl who already longed for family affection.

Finally, after a brief and intense internal struggle, she made up her mind. She needed to... confirm it.

Sophia silently rose from the edge of the bed, like a cat gliding in the shadows, and then, taking advantage of Helen's excited shaking of Leus, moved quietly to the other side of Leus.

"Young Master Lius, she slowly leaned down, gently bringing her soft body, which carried a hint of girlish fragrance, close to Lius's ear. A few strands of her smooth, long black hair even playfully brushed against Lius's cheek."

Then, in a low, hushed voice, barely audible to the two of them, she asked in a soft, urgent, and solemn tone:

"What you just said...are you really... sure?"

She raised her eyes, her beautiful eyes, sparkling with reason and worry, almost touching Lius's deep, smiling gaze.

"As far as I know... the church has the most stringent and demanding regulations regarding the saintess's travels. This is not just a simple security issue, but also an important part of maintaining the church's dignity and mystery. To break these regulations, I'm afraid... even you wouldn't find it so easy, would you?"

"Prince Leus is indeed very powerful, but on such a momentous issue that could shake the very foundations of a nation's faith, does he really... have that much say?"

For the first time, Sophia felt a... reasonable doubt about Leus's seemingly omnipotent abilities.

She glanced at Helen, who was immersed in immense happiness and practically clung to Lius's arm, and a hint of reluctance flashed in her clear, bright eyes.

She didn't want Helen's pure and precious hope to ultimately vanish due to cruel reality. Such a blow would be far too cruel for this girl who already longed for family affection.

Finally, after a brief and intense internal struggle, she made up her mind. She needed to... confirm it.

Sophia, silently and swiftly like a cat gliding through the shadows, rose gently from the edge of the bed. Then, seizing the moment when Helen was still excitedly rocking Leus, she subtly moved to Leus's other side. "Young Master Leus," she said, slowly leaning down and gently bringing her soft, girlishly fragrant body close to Leus's ear. A few strands of her long, flowing black hair playfully brushed against Leus's cheek. Then, in a whisper, low and urgent voice that only the two of them could hear, she asked softly:

"What you just said... is it really true? Are you sure?"

She raised her eyes, her beautiful eyes, sparkling with reason and worry, almost touching Lius's deep, smiling gaze.

"As far as I know... the church has the most stringent and demanding regulations regarding the saintess's travels. This is not just a simple security issue, but also an important part of maintaining the church's dignity and mystery. To break these regulations, I'm afraid... even you wouldn't find it so easy, would you?"

Chapter 447: On Emotional Life (Part 5)

Faced with Sophia's soft, rational, and worried inquiry, Lius showed no surprise. He simply turned his head slightly, a gentle smile playing on his lips, to meet Sophia's almost imperceptible gaze, and then softly replied in a voice only the two of them could hear:

"Don't worry, Miss Sophia."

The boy's voice sounded very steady, yet carried a reassuring and undeniable power, just like the emotion he had displayed in the battle earlier—an absolute confidence in controlling everything.

"Since I said I could do it, I definitely can. Just leave it to me, and I'll definitely give you a big surprise, hehe." But despite the boy's smile, Sophia's brows remained furrowed. She didn't doubt Lius's sincerity, but simply couldn't understand the feasibility of this from a logical and realistic perspective.

Leus, seeing through all her concerns, deepened his smile, adding a touch of mystery, and softly continued:

"Of course, breaking the mold requires more than just brute force; it needs some finesse and a little... assistance." "Assistance," that's right, assistance.

At this point, Lius nodded slightly, and continued with a smile, "And this assistance might require the help of the Aurora Merchant Guild, as well as Miss Sophia's own assistance." "Requires...our assistance?"

This unexpected suggestion made Sophia pause slightly, her eyes showing even more weariness. "It's not convenient to say more about the specifics right now."

Leus did not immediately answer her question, but continued to look at her with a smile in his eyes, which seemed to see right through people, and slowly said:

"I can only tell you that I need your Chamber of Commerce to send a request for a high-level business visit to the Church on a certain day in the future, under the pretext of offering the Holy Maiden the latest developed sacred incense for prayer. That will suffice. As for the rest, leave it to me."

"Oh? Is that all there is to it?"

Faced with Lius's nonchalant words, Sophia glanced at him, seemingly surprised, yet also with a hint of barely concealed anticipation.

Looking at the blond boy before her, at his eyes that gleamed with confidence in the moonlight, the rational doubt in her heart was unconsciously replaced by a stronger curiosity.

At this moment, she desperately wanted to know how Leus would use this seemingly normal business activity to lure the reclusive saintess out of the church and get her to spend time with Helen.

This curiosity, like the most alluring poison, was irresistible to her. After some thought, Sophia slowly straightened up. The worry and doubt in her beautiful eyes had completely faded away, replaced by a light that belonged to a collaborator, full of reason and interest.

"Young Master Leus, go to Leus," Sophia nodded solemnly, saying, "I understand. I will convey your suggestion to my mother, and our caravan is ready to provide you with any necessary assistance."

"Ha, thank you very much then. As expected, Miss Sophia, you are the easiest to talk to. You are indeed the person I have chosen."

"Oh. Is that a compliment? It's not as exaggerated as you say. I was just going along with your words a little, it's nothing serious..."

Faced with Lius's words, Sophia blushed slightly and pursed her lips, while Lius smiled with satisfaction at Sophia's charming demeanor. Thus, their brief but efficient "secret conversation" came to an end.

Meanwhile, Helen, who was immersed in great joy, finally calmed down a little from the dizzying feeling of happiness. She let go of Lius's arm, wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes with some embarrassment, and wore a bright smile like the sun after the rain.

For the next half hour, the atmosphere in the room returned to its previous harmony. However, beneath this harmony, everyone felt something different. Helen was filled with unprecedented anticipation and expectation for the future, while Sophia was filled with curiosity and curiosity about the "miracle" that Leus was about to perform. Leus, on the other hand, maintained his gentle smile, as if nothing had happened, simply accompanying the two girls as they rested.

After all three felt their mental and physical exhaustion had been fully relieved, Leus considerately told the two girls to go back to their rooms to bathe and rest. After saying goodnight to each other, Sophia and Helen left Leus's room with mixed feelings of joy and excitement.

"boom."

The moment the heavy door was gently closed, only Lius remained in the room.

The night grew even deeper. Moonlight streamed through the window, falling silently onto the floor and casting a patch of cool, silvery light.

The room was dark, except for a few magic gems on the bookshelf used for moisture protection, which emitted a faint, ghostly blue glow, casting a dim and quiet silhouette over everything around them.

In this atmosphere, Lius slowly walked to the window, looking at the tranquil courtyard bathed in moonlight. The smile on his face faded, replaced by a calm and peaceful expression. He stood there quietly for a few minutes, as if he were thinking about something, or as if he was simply enjoying this absolute tranquility that belonged only to him.

"Yes, everything can be arranged. Let's do it this way."

After a long while, he slowly raised his hand, reached into the inner pocket of his well-fitting casual clothes, and took out a sound transmission crystal. He gently held the black crystal in his palm, lightly touched it, and slightly parted his lips to softly utter a name to the crystal.

"Ms. Nottica, are you there?"

His voice was very soft, yet it sounded incredibly clear in the quiet room.

The moment the words fell, the originally pitch-black sound transmission crystal suddenly lit up with a soft, yet sacred, pale golden halo. The halo flowed slowly within the crystal, as if it were alive, and was quite eye-catching.

Immediately following, under this light, a calm yet reverent and melodious female voice clearly emanated from the crystal:

"Yes, Your Majesty."

Chapter 448: On Emotional Life (Part 6)

"Ms. Nottica, are you there?" "Yes... I am, Your Holiness."

As the young woman's familiar voice rang out, golden light enveloped the room, shining through the crystal and illuminating Lius.

Under this light, Lius gently extended his finger and touched the crystal again. The next moment, the quiet, softly golden sound transmission crystal in the room paused slightly. Then, the light quickly gathered and flowed inside the crystal, finally condensing into a clear and stable human-shaped light and shadow, which slowly emerged on the crystal.

It was a figure clad in a strict black nun's habit, yet it still couldn't conceal her stunningly voluptuous curves. The well-fitting clothes tightly outlined her full, high breasts, her slender waist that seemed impossible to grasp, and her pert, rounded, almost exaggeratedly full buttocks. Every inch of her curves was filled with the unique, heart-pounding beauty of a mature woman's voluptuous waist, making her exceptionally pleasing to the eye.

Her beautiful face was covered by a thin, semi-transparent black veil, beneath which one could vaguely see a pair of captivating eyes that shone with a gentle and devout light, like the finest rubies. Every time Lius gazed into her eyes, he felt a profound sense of peace, and this was no exception.